MSc Clinical Health Psychology
Belfast, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
30 Jun 2026
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 27,600 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* international fee
Key Summary
Clinical health psychology (sometimes referred to as behavioural medicine, medical psychology or psychosomatic medicine) is an applied discipline that focuses on people with a health condition that could be prevented, treated or rehabilitated using psychological techniques or procedures.
The primary interest is on problems that present as physical complaints rather than emotional or mental health issues. Nevertheless, clinical health psychology is concerned with the emotional problems that may arise because of a physical health complaint. The topics covered in the MSc include: research methods, health behaviour change, psycho-oncology and adjustment to long term physical illness.
This MSc aims to provide graduate students with an opportunity for advanced study in specialist topics in clinical health psychology. It prepares graduate students for more advanced research in clinical health psychology, professional training in psychology or other discipline-related professional training, and successful future careers.
Students will develop a critical awareness of issues in the scientific and applied areas of clinical health psychology, and the methodological skills to contribute to, and interrogate the discipline.
Applications for this course received after 30th June 2026 may not be accepted. In addition, a deposit will be required to secure a place.
**Note: This course does not confer eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society. This course does not provide the Stage 1 qualification in Health Psychology that is a prerequisite for stage 2/doctorate training in Health Psychology. Find further information from the British Psychological Society website.
Clinical Health Psychology Highlights
Student Experience
The programme offers key theoretical and applied clinical and health psychology topics alongside methodological concepts to distinguish it from other programmes in the UK
Internationally Renowned Experts
Students on the programme will be taught the latest advancements in clinical health psychology by dedicated staff who are prominent, influential researchers and/or practitioners in the field.
Career Development
Students can avail of placement opportunities in a range of settings related to clinical and health psychology.
The MSc Clinical Health Psychology provides a strong grounding in clinical health psychology including research, theory, and practical applications. Graduates who wish to pursue a career as an applied psychologist either progressing into research or a PhD, into further clinical training such as clinical psychology, or into other health related roles will find this course of interest.
Employment after the Course
The focus of the course also supports graduates into careers in health policymaking, service development, public health, assistant psychology roles, and the charitable and voluntary sector. It also equips graduates with the skills and knowledge necessary to work in non-governmental organisations or other global health professional roles. The range of professional and research skills that our graduates develop support their employability in the third sector or private settings.
While the course offers an excellent starting point for those aspiring to become applied psychologists it does not provide a direct qualification for clinical practice in the UK. To become a Clinical Psychologist, a three-year doctorate in Clinical Psychology is required. This MSc, however, lays groundwork for further clinical training and related career progression. For additional information on pursuing a career in psychology in the UK, the British Psychological Society website is an excellent resource.
Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.
Course Structure
This MSc contains taught modules that comprise clinical health content and research methods. One-third of the MSc is a dissertation.
Optional placement
Employer surveys suggest that graduates who have spent time in a workplace whilst studying are at an advantage when it comes to applying for graduate employment. In the light of these findings, we offer an optional placement module to our students.
We work with a range of organisations who engage with clinical health related populations to secure projects to enable students to develop valuable skills in:
- Researching a particular area of clinical health
- Understanding the lived experience of people experiencing difficulty
- Developing and testing evidence-based strategies and interventions
- Communicating important health messages
- Evaluating the impact
- Writing of a report or developing a resource pack
Clinical health populations our students gain experience in working with and the project examples are:
- Development of a transitions programme to support people with addictions to transfer back to community living from a residential care unit
- Evaluation of Take 5 programme and development of a new programme to support positive mental health in young people
- Development of psycho-educational resources for patients of who have had plastic surgery after a traumatic accident.
- Evaluation of the impact on a Arts and Sports Programme for adults with Acquire Brain Injury
- Research and development of resource for teachers and parents of children who are experiencing school-based anxiety
- Research on the impact of employee health and wellbeing on the delivery of patient care
- Research and development of an intervention to raise awareness of and reduce usage of vaping
- Development of a community Emotional Wellbeing Framework
- Development of an online support hub to support people with ADHD in work
- Development of trauma informed wellbeing hub for homeless women
- Research on aging factors such a cognitive, social and emotional wellbeing in residents in supported living and development of service provision
Students apply for the project that suits their skills, experience or aspirations and are placed in an organisation for 15-20 days in Semester 2 to carry out the project. Students are fully supported to carry out the project by a professional within the organisation - who may not always be a Psychologist.
How do I fund my study?
The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study. Tuition fee loan information.
A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas (excluding Initial Teacher Education/PGCE, where undergraduate student finance is available). Criteria, eligibility, repayment and application information are available on the UK government website.