Course summary

Clinical Psychologists aim to reduce psychological distress and to enhance and promote psychological well-being. Working within this field you will deal with a wide range of mental and physical health problems including addiction, anxiety, learning difficulties and maybe relationship issues. Undertaking clinical assessments and developing the skills to utilise a broad knowledge of psychometric tests, interviews and observation of behaviour your assessments may lead to advice, counselling or therapy for the clients that you work with. A thoroughly challenging and rewarding career awaits for those work within this field having completed the degree and pursued postgraduate study to become a Chartered Psychologist. The first year of the course provides a broad understanding of the core elements of psychology alongside optional modules that permit you to explore not only Clinical Psychology but to study other areas from our wide range of courses. This permits you to explore new interests, or consolidate existing ones. Year 2 provides you with the core curriculum of the British Psychological Society through the compulsory modules and develops your understanding of Clinical Psychology alongside this core material. The Clinical module provides you with a breadth of content related to clinical psychology and is the basis for the final year, where two thirds of your degree will be within Clinical Psychology. Alongside your compulsory modules in the second year you choose a specialist module from one of our other routes to provide not only flexibility in your final year degree route but also to ensure a wider appreciated of psychology At the end of Year 2 you may choose to spend a year on placement to develop your work place skills and enhance your employment prospects. Alternatively you may take a placement over the summer between Year 2 and 3 as one of your final year modules. For your final year your study two compulsory modules in Clinical Psychology developing both your theoretical understanding of the area and the application of clinical skills across a range of settings. Alongside these modules you complete an independent piece of research: your final year project. Additionally you chose two further options from our range of courses that enable you to develop the further skills and interests that meet your own career aspirations and requirements. The course is based in the School of Psychology in the purpose built Darwin Building. This provides you with specialist teaching and research facilities that ensures that you learn not only the theoretical skills required of a Clinical Psychologist but also develop the practical application of these through a range of different laboratories: notably the Clinical and Health Psychology Suite (CHPS), our Brain Imaging Laboratory (BiL), the Developmental Cognitive Neuropsychology Laboratory (DCN). You may also use the Child Observation Suite (COS) or the Cognitive Psychology Complex (CPC) which includes eye-tracking, virtual reality and face-recognition labs The three year degree programme involves a mixture of lectures, seminars/workshops and laboratory classes (all of which can be experienced at one of our Applicant Days) and is delivered by staff who are often Chartered Members (C. Psychol) of the British Psychological Society meaning that they have developed the highest, recognised understanding of their area and continue to practice within their Chartered field. Where possible the assignments that you complete have been designed to replicate the tasks that you might undertake after graduation when working within Clinical Psychology or applying your psychological knowledge in a range of other employment situations. We assess your skills and knowledge through a range of coursework and some examinations designed to permit you to demonstrate the understanding you have gained from the course.

Course details