University of Kent

MSc Clinical Psychology

Stage 1

Compulsory modules currently include the following

• Advanced Research Methods and Statistics
• Psychological Measurement and Modelling
• Theoretical Approaches to Clinical Practice
• Core Competencies in Clinical Psychology
• Professional Research Skills for Psychologists
• Psychology Research Project

Optional modules may include the following

• Cognition in Health and Disease
• Developmental and Educational Psychology in Professional Practice
• Current Topics in Developmental Psychopathology
• Mind, Brain and the Body
• Neuropsychology of Ageing
• Current Issues in Cognitive Psychology and Neuropsychology
• Current Topics in Developmental Psychology

Programme aims

This programme aims to:

• Foster your intellectual development by providing you with specialised knowledge of a range of theoretical approaches to clinical psychology and statistical and methodological expertise so that you should be well equipped to make your original contribution to psychological knowledge
• provide teaching that is informed by current research and scholarship and that requires you to engage with aspects of work at the frontiers of knowledge
• help you to develop research skills and transferable skills in preparation for entering academic or other careers as psychologists
• satisfy the academic requirements of the knowledge base specified by the British Psychological Society
• enable you to manage your learning and to carry out independent research
• develop a critical awareness and appraisal of the different approaches to Clinical Psychology and related disciplines, and learn a range of different theoretical and methodological approaches.
• to enhance skills and knowledge aligned with the core competencies that Clinical Psychology professions embody, to help advance students to the next stages of the career journey (e.g., apply for Assistant Psychologist roles, Research Assistant roles and following experience the DClinPsy. itself)

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

You will gain knowledge and understanding of:

• a range of general, historical, theoretical and philosophical issues underlying the disciplines of clinical psychology
• the major analytic techniques and research methodologies employed by clinical psychologists
• specialist knowledge and systematic understanding of the key issues in clinical psychology.

Intellectual skills

You develop intellectual skills in:

• The ability to review the evidence base and relate it to practice when considering and deciding upon assessment, formulation and intervention approaches.
• the ability to produce sustained work
• discussion skills
• written analysis and interpretation of relevant material
• the ability to critically appraise Clinical Psychology approaches to the nature of mind, body and behaviour
• the ability to engage in reflective, creative and critical thinking in the area of Clinical Psychology
• the ability to analyse and assess clinically relevant data.

Subject-specific skills

You gain subject-specific skills in:

• how to identify, locate and use material available in the library and online resources
• use the major analytic techniques employed by psychologists
• how to evaluate and select appropriate methods for researching questions in clinical psychology
• how to work appropriately and compassionately with clients who present with a variety of mental health difficulties

Transferable skills

You will gain the following transferable skills:

• Numeracy: the ability to analyse data and make sense of statistical materials, integrate numerical and non-numerical information, understand the limits and potentialities of arguments based on quantitative information
• communication: the ability to organise information clearly, write coherently and concisely about your chosen research area and other areas of clinical psychology, and present the work to a variety of audiences
• working with others: the ability to review the work of others, work co-operatively in groups, understand ethical principles and the procedures for gaining ethics approval for research
• improving your learning: the ability to explore your strengths and weaknesses, develop the skills of time management, review the student-staff relationship, develop specialist learning skills, develop autonomy in learning
• information technology: use computers for data analysis, word processing, graphical display of data for analysis and presentation, bibliographical research, documentation and email
• problem-solving: the ability to identify and define problems, explore alternative solutions and discriminate between them
• teaching and learning: we will provide lecture workshops on computing, drop-in computing surgeries, training in making oral presentations of research material, lecture seminars on writing critical reviews of literature, carrying out literature searches, lecture workshops on career development, media training and training in dissemination of research findings.
• You will also sit computing tests and unseen examinations and write coursework essays.

Prepare for a career supporting people living with mental health and neurological difficulties, either as a clinical psychologist or in a related field.

How to become a qualified clinical psychologist.

To become a qualified clinical psychologist, you need to study an accredited psychology degree at undergraduate level or complete an MSc conversion course. This would be followed by the postgraduate clinical doctorate, along with clinical experience.

This Master’s programme will prepare you for a career in clinical research and academia, or it can give you the competitive advantage when it comes to applying for the highly competitive clinical doctorate.

This course could lead to a career in the following areas:

• Clinical psychologist (on completion of the clinical doctorate)
• Clinical research or career in academia
• Mental health worker roles for example in the NHS or mental health charities

Professional recognition

All of our taught Master’s (MSc) programmes have been recognised by the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as meeting the nationally recognised criteria for preparation training for PhD research.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching and learning style

• Lectures, seminars and directed study will give you the theory you need.
• Practical workshops and role plays will help you apply learning around assessment and treatment approaches.
• Gain in-depth knowledge of research methods and statistics through workshops, drop-in computing surgeries, individual software tuition, and supervision.
• A large-scale research project will give you research experience and the opportunity to specialise.

Assessment methods

• This course uses a range of assessments designed to give students critical skills needed for a career in clinical psychology.
• Assessments are spread throughout the year to help you manage your time.
• Assessment could include a mix of seminar presentations and summaries, coursework essays and assignments, statistical tests and examinations, research proposals, presentations, and in-class tests.
• A larger-scale research project is also completed throughout the course.

Extracurricular and opportunities

• Gain voluntary clinical experience at our on-campus specialist centres such as the Parkinson’s Centre of Integrated Therapy, and Kent Child Development Unit
• Use our signposting database to access clinical opportunities with mental health service providers