Foundations in Clinical Psychology Newcastle University

This course allows you to understand important areas of clinical psychology. You learn through expert-led clinical, health and forensic psychology, cultural and historical perspectives on mental health issues, and research apprenticeships. Colleagues in the NHS provide an introductory course in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) through distance learning.

The Foundations in Clinical Psychology MSc is aimed at students who have had little exposure to clinical psychology in their first degree and for intercalating MBBS students. It provides you with the knowledge, understanding and skills required for careers in the clinical psychology sectors.

The course provides you with a sound basis to apply for an assistant psychologist post. It will also provide the necessary academic and research skills for you to apply for further training, if you have the relevant work experience. This might include vocational training eg doctoral training in Clinical Psychology, training as a Forensic Psychologist or Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programmes.

You also benefit from this course if you are a Psychology graduate who is keen to pursue a research career in the clinical aspects of psychology, including clinically-oriented PhDs.

As a student on this course you will gain knowledge and understanding of:

• theories, research methods, history, culture of clinical psychology
• assessing and synthesising information and formulating arguments
• professional contexts in which clinical psychologists work
• ethical issues and legislation
• conditions, aetiology, maintaining factors, interventions and therapies associated with clinical psychology
• the link between stress, health and illness

Delivery

This course is taught and based on the Newcastle campus and delivered by the School of Psychology. You are typically expected to attend 12 hours of contact time per week with an additional 28 hours of independent study per week. These times will vary depending on the modules taken.

Teaching is normally delivered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, there may occasionally be sessions on other days particularly in Semester 2.

The MSc comprises taught modules and a supervised project and dissertation. The academic content of this programme is centred on forensic psychology, wellbeing and psychopathology. The research component is rooted in psychological methodology.

The MSc draws upon existing postgraduate programmes and expertise within the School of Psychology and Faculty of Medical Sciences. Existing programmes include: Doctor of Clinical Psychology (DClinPsychol); Low Intensity Psychological Therapies, PGCert; Forensic Psychology, MSc, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Anxiety Disorders, PGCert, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, PGDip and Neuroscience, MRes.

Facilities

The School of Psychology provides high quality facilities to all our students, researchers and staff. We are located in the Ridley Building where you will have access to a postgraduate resources room with networked computers and printer.

Entry requirements

A 2:1 honours degree or international equivalent in psychology or a related subject. We are looking for students who have:

• performed consistently well throughout their degree
• evidence of research excellence.

English Language Requirements

Direct Entry: IELTS 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 7.0 in all sub-skills).

If you have lower English Language scores, you may be accepted onto a Pre-sessional English course.

Direct Entry: IELTS 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 7.0 in all sub-skills).

10 week Pre-sessional English Language courses are accepted as an alternative entry to this course.

Our typical English Language requirements are listed as IELTS scores but we also accept a wide range of English Language tests.

The equivalent academic qualifications that we accept are listed on our country pages.

Pre-sessional English Language Course Requirements

• 10 week Pre-sessional entry: IELTS 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 6.5 in all sub-skills)

You can study a pre-sessional English course at our INTO Newcastle Centre.