School of Psychology

DClinPsy Clinical Psychology

Duration

3 years
Course type

Full-time
Study location Â鶹´«Ã½

Become a competent and capable clinical psychologist. Receive training which emphasises psychotherapy, reflective practice, complex clinical issues and applicable research skills. As the first in the country to be approved through a joint partnership between the Health and Care Professions Council (HPC) and the British Psychological Society (BPS), and having run since 1982, this programme will enhance your psychological career and enable you to become a highly reflective scientist practitioner.

Key features
  • Benefit from service user involvement through working closely with the Service User and Carer Consultative Group. 
  • Widening participation in clinical psychology – candidates from diverse backgrounds and experiences are welcome.
  • Benefit from our commitment to producing competent and capable clinical psychologists who work as highly reflective scientist practitioners.
  • Become eligible to apply for registration as clinical psychologists with the , with the opportunity to gain Chartered Psychologist (C.Psychol) status, and full membership of the Division of Clinical Psychology with the
  • Take advantage of excellent relationships with local services in the South West of England; local clinicians are committed to supporting training and offer a wide range of placements in both rural and urban settings.
  • Select the current job description and person specification for the position of Trainee Clinical Psychologist.

Course details

  • Year 1

  • Each year of this programme begins with an extended teaching block, the remaining teaching is then spread regularly throughout the year. The remainder of your time will be spent on clinical placements with teaching interspersed to complement the clinical experience you gain. Over the duration of the programme you will also undertake year-long placement periods. During your first year of study you will work with children, young people and families, and people with learning disabilities. As a first year trainee you will also gain a foundation level qualification in systemic family therapy (independently accredited by the Association of Family Therapy).

    Core modules

    CPSY620
    Clinical Practice (Year 1)

    Develops core competencies in clinical practice and psychological therapy through practice-based learning usually with children, young people and learning disabled people. Includes establishing effective therapeutic relationships; inter-disciplinary team working; assessment and formulation; intervention and evaluation; communication; training and consultancy; professional practice; supervision and personal development.

    CPSY621
    Academic Competence (Year 1)

    This module establishes knowledge for the trainees in the 5 core course themes and core course philosophy underpinning clinical psychology.

    CPSY622
    Research 1

    This module constitutes the learning necessary to acquire the knowledge and skills in research methods required during the first year of the programme.

  • Year 2

  • In your second year, you will gain experience interacting with adults and older adults. In this year greater emphasis is placed on working with individuals.

    Core modules

    CPSY623
    Clinical Practice (Year 2)

    Consolidates application of core psychological proficiencies. Encompasses therapy; inter-disciplinary team working; assessment and formulation; intervention and evaluation; organisational change, training and consultancy; professional practice; supervision and personal development. Learning is through supervised practice in adult services. The clinical study focuses on systemic work.

    CPSY624
    Academic Competence (Year 2)

    This module constitutes the learning necessary to acquire the academic knowledge and skills required during the second year of the programme. It develops further critical thinking in the 5 core course themes and core course philosophy underpinning clinical psychology.

    CPSY625
    Research 2

    This module constitutes the learning necessary to acquire the knowledge and skills in research methods required during the second year of the programme.

  • Third year

  • Your third year is a time for consolidating your new skills and preparing for future work in the health service. This year will take account of current legislation and policy with regard to the role of clinical psychologists in the National Health Service. For example, emphasis has been placed on acquiring competencies in supervision, consultation and leadership in line with recent policy guidelines. Research activities bridge the academic and clinical components of the programme with time allocated particularly in year three for a major empirical research project.

    Core modules

    CPSY626
    Clinical Practice (Year 3)

    Consolidates application of core psychological proficiencies at advanced level. Encompasses therapy; inter-disciplinary team working; assessment and formulation; intervention and evaluation; organisational change, training and consultancy; professional practice; supervision and personal development. Learning is through supervised practice in services. The clinical study focuses on organisational interventions.

    CPSY627
    Academic Competence (Year 3)

    This module constitutes the learning necessary to acquire the academic knowledge and skills required during the third year of the programme. It develops further critical and reflexive thinking, analysis and synthesis within clinical psychology and prepares trainees for commencing professional practice in the NHS.

    CPSY628
    Research 3

    This module constitutes the learning necessary to acquire the sophisticated knowledge and skills in research methods for them to be able to complete their major piece of empirical research.

The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.

Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:

DClinPsy Clinical Psychology programme specification_4083

Entry requirements
We invite applications from people who are qualified to train for three years, full time, at doctoral level to become clinical psychologists who will be eligible for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council. The programme is based at the Â鶹´«Ã½ and trainees have placements in Cornwall, Â鶹´«Ã½ and South Devon.
We have two entry requirements.
One is a degree in psychology, or other degree plus a conversion course (at diploma or masters level), and eligibility at the time of application for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS). We do have specific requirements for applicants' degree classification in that we require a 2:1 or above at undergraduate, or a Merit or above for a Master's conversion degree. We welcome applicants with an interest in learning from their life experiences, both personally and professionally.
The second entry requirement is relevant experience of at least one year whole time equivalent (not including undergraduate placements). This will preferably comprise evidence of several months in a single role. It is helpful to have had clinical experience that has been supervised by a qualified clinical psychologist and to have current understanding of the profession of clinical psychology. Please see the entry requirements section of our website for further details about relevant clinical experience provided by our Clinical Lead.
Our English proficiency requirement is IELTS (7.0) in all components or a TOEFL score of 93.
The course welcomes applicants from diverse cultural and personal contexts, mature applicants with extensive life experience. We welcome applications from people with disabilities, please contact us to discuss your specific situation. The University operates an equal opportunities policy. The recruitment and selection processes for the Â鶹´«Ã½ Doctorate in Clinical Psychology programme comply with the Â鶹´«Ã½ Admissions Policy. 
For further general entry requirements please visit the .

Fees, costs and funding
International applicants: we are preparing to accept self-funded applications from international applicants for our 2026 intake via our Â鶹´«Ã½ admissions process, please continue to check here for updates and information about how to apply.
Home fees applicants: currently applicants must be eligible for home fees status. For questions about fee status please check the Clearing House website or UKCISA website.
Current UK trainees are full-time employees of the health service and have annual leave and other benefits in line with usual NHS entitlements. On entry to the programme all trainees commence on the first spine point of Band 6 of the Agenda for Change pay scales. Travelling expenses are paid for travel to placement and University fees are paid directly by the NHS
For specific questions please contact Michele Thomas , Course Administrator.

How to apply

Discover more

Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
Our selection process

Find out more about the selection process you will participate in when applying to our DClinPsy programme.
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
Placements

During this programme you will spend at least half of your time in training on clinical placements.
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
Research

This programme in particular emphasises the intimate relationships between clinical practice and research.

Nicole Parish presented her research at the final of the Vitae Three Minute Thesis competition

“Studying at Â鶹´«Ã½ has really encouraged me to take a critical look at all aspects of my practice, and this presentation will be a great way to showcase my work to a distinguished audience.â€
Nicole’s doctoral thesis is centred around the collaborative work necessary in accurately diagnosing cases of autism.

DClinPsy Clinical Psychology at Â鶹´«Ã½

Find out more about the programme in our video.

Staff teaching on the DClin course