Course summary

The core purpose of the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology course is to provide professional training in clinical psychology for those entering the profession. The programme seeks to provide trainees with a broad range of psychological expertise based on academic knowledge, research and clinical skills. The programme aims to promote the development of the core competencies of the profession (assessment, formulation, intervention and evaluation) which can be applied to different settings and client groups and at different levels of the health care system. Our programme is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the statutory regulator for practitioner psychologists and courses in the UK. The programme is also accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). The BPS is the professional body responsible for developing and supporting the discipline of psychology and disseminating psychological knowledge to the public and policy makers. It is the key professional body for psychology and psychologists. Successful completion of the programme confers the right to apply for Chartered Membership of the BPS and full membership of the Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP). Please see www.bps.org.uk/membership for further information. The Doctorate in Clinical Psychology embraces the reflective scientist-practitioner ethos of clinical psychology practice. Trainees are taught to rigorously appreciate, evaluate and apply psychological and professional practice knowledge to promote psychological well-being and alleviate psychological distress. In addition, the programme promotes critically self-reflective practice and, through their own research endeavours, trainees are enabled to contribute to, as well as utilise, evidenced-based and published literature in the field of clinical psychology. The programme is a joint enterprise between the University and the NHS, with trainee salaries and fees funded by the DHSSPS. Trainees are fully funded and have trainee contracts with the Health and Social Care Business Services Organisation (BSO) so for these trainees, there is an expectation that they will remain in employment within Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland (HSC), if so required, for a period of at least two years following successful completion of the course.The programme is a three year (36 month) postgraduate professional training course, accredited by the British Psychological Society as conferring eligibility for chartered status and approved by the Health and Care Professions Council as conferring eligibility to apply for registration as a clinical psychologist. Our Doctorate in Clinical Psychology consists of 18 compulsory modules including: Clinical presentations Psychological assessment and formulation Psychological therapies Personal and professional development Practice placements Research