18Jan
PostgraduateCourse summary
The Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology at Staffordshire University offers a unique opportunity to experience and develop your professional skills in Health Psychology, under the guidance of highly qualified and committed staff. Our Professional Doctorate has been delivered since 2002 and was the first Stage 2 health psychology training programme to be accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). It remains one of the few accredited programmes in the UK, currently attracting students who are working in different placements throughout the UK. This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society. When you’re awarded the degree you’ll gain Stage 2 accreditation towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist and be eligible to apply to register as a Health Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). The programme offers learning and teaching opportunities in health psychology to allow students to demonstrate Level 8 (Doctoral Level) competences in research, psychological interventions, consultancy, aspects of professional practice, and teaching. The focus of the Doctorate is on the acquisition of professional skills through placement learning, with an emphasis on reflection, professional competence, and accountability in professional practice. The programme is a research degree, and therefore also places an emphasis on research. Students will be taught in both quantitative and qualitative methods, and will be guided in supervision sessions to conduct a systematic review and empirical study. Both will be of publishable standard and will be written up as journal articles. Staffordshire University has a thriving Health Psychology research culture, focused in the Staffordshire Centre for Psychological Research, with an excellent national and international reputation. The Health Psychology Programmes at Staffordshire University have nine commendations from the BPS (2018). The Programme staff team are committed to principles of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) promoting diversity in Health Psychology. This is demonstrated across various aspects of the Programme, including selection and recruitment, and while students are training on the course. Please note that this course requires full time students to be on placement for a minimum of two years and to pay the fees detailed per year of study. Students need to allow for an additional period of time for writing up during which there is a writing up fee to be paid each year until completion. On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: Professional Doctorate Health Psychology
Assessment method
Students will initially be required to produce an individual learning plan with a Gantt Chart which details the different competences and describes their plans to complete them over the course of the programme. This is submitted to an Assessment Board for approval, in the January after students begin studying on the programme. Once approved, students are able to complete the range of assessments, which including case studies, a consultancy contract, reflective reports, a communication skills evaluation and two journal articles with associated commentaries. All assessments involve real-life contexts and are usually based around opportunities from placement-based learning. There are two submission dates per year; these are usually in January and June. At least one piece of work needs to be passed each year, in order to progress. Work on this award is only awarded Pass or Fail. At the end of the period of study, and when all assessments have been passed, and approved by a Progress Board, students will be asked to submit a portfolio which contains the work which has been passed and includes an Abstract. Students will then be able to progress to the Viva Examination module. All students will take part in a viva voce examination, where they will discuss their portfolio with an Internal Examiner and an External Examiner who are registered Health Psychologists usually working in a similar area of research. Students must receive pass marks in all assessments, have attended at least 80% of the supportive programme, and perform successfully at the viva examination in order to receive the Professional Doctorate qualification.
Entry requirements
You’ll need: An honours degree recognised by the British Psychological Society (BPS) as offering Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership; To have completed BPS Stage 1 training in Health Psychology. That is either a BPS-accredited MSc in Health Psychology with a grade of merit (or 60% average) or above, or the BPS Stage 1 qualification in Health Psychology with a grade of 60% or more; To have an approved placement; A DBS check. If your first language is not English, you must have achieved Level 7 on all parts of IELTS. If you’re shortlisted, you’ll be interviewed before being admitted on to the course. In this interview you’ll need to put forward a suitable idea for an empirical study which links in with current staff research interests and show that you have access to relevant research populations though your placement. You’ll also need to show how you can complete the competences within the placement.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Provider information
University of Staffordshire
College Road
Stoke on Trent
ST4 2DE