This 3-year programme leading to a Clinical Psychology doctorate (DClinPsych), has been established for over 30 years at the University of BOB体育登录网址_欧宝体育官网平台-APP|下载. It involves a mix of taught and research activities. You’ll join a thriving group of clinical practice programmes which also offer postgraduate qualifications in Educational Psychology and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
After successfully completing the course, you will be eligible to apply for registration with the HCPC and to use the protected title Clinical Psychologist. In addition, you will also be eligible for Chartered clinical psychologist status with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and full membership of the Division of Clinical Psychology.
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Introducing your degree
BOB体育登录网址_欧宝体育官网平台-APP|下载 programme is firmly rooted in the core values of the NHS Constitution and has over 30 years' experience in clinical training in partnership with our local NHS Trusts and related organisations. BOB体育登录网址_欧宝体育官网平台-APP|下载 graduates make a real difference to people's lives.?
The clinical psychology programme practises the scientist-practitioner model and is committed to using evidence-based practice in all areas of clinical work. The primary theoretical orientations are cognitive-behavioural therapy and systemic therapy. There is also a strong emphasis on neuropsychology and leadership.
In addition to specific modalities, the course adopts an ethos of anti-racist and anti-discriminatory practice and values critical community psychology, recovery and wellbeing approaches. The course recognises the inequalities that have been perpetuated by systemic discrimination and actively acts to address this through an ethos of integrating equity, diversity and inclusion throughout the programme.
You’ll learn to evaluate evidence, work within a formulation driven framework as a basis for interventions, and learn to produce high-quality, publishable clinical research to a doctorate level. As clinicians, who work at the boundaries of existing evidence-base, you’ll also learn an evidence-generating approach to clinical practice that is based on the combination of key formulation skills, together with an extensive knowledge of psychological processes and how to modify them within a client-centred approach. These approaches equip you with skills to work with a wide range of clinical presentations across the life span, and to offer consultancy and leadership to a range of professional disciplines.
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) have set out the Standards of Proficiency for practitioner psychologists (SOPs).?For further information and recent update please visit the Clearing House website.
Applications for this?Clinical Psychology doctorate are made 'online' through the Clearing House for Postgraduate Courses in Clinical Psychology.
Key facts
This programme at BOB体育登录网址_欧宝体育官网平台-APP|下载 will equip you with the knowledge and skills to work with clients across the lifespan, ranging from children to older adults, in a variety of settings and contexts.? Your research teaching will enable you to be a reflective-scientist practitioner, capable of adding to the development of Clinical Psychology knowledge and practice.
Visit the Clearing House website for up-to-date information on entry requirements and to apply.
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Programme Structure
Typical course content
Given the philosophy of evidence-based and evidence-generating practice, this clinical psychology doctorate programme structure and content are designed with the aims of developing explicit theory-practice links. It is split between academic study, Clinical Experience, research and private study.
The curriculum is based on the standards of proficiency specified by the HCPC and the core competencies outlined by the BPS. The programme is organised over 3 full time years and trainees are expected to complete all elements. There is no alternate exit award.
The academic curriculum is delivered in structured teaching blocks interspersed with clinical placements.? The teaching is carefully planned so that it can be directly applied to placements.??
During the first 2 years of training, there are 2 clinical practice placements per year in a variety of settings across the region. You will be supervised by an appropriately qualified practitioner.? The first-year placements will usually involve working age and older age adults and the second year with systems that can include children, adolescents, families and neuro-diverse populations.??
Outside of teaching block, you will typically spend 1 day at the University in teaching, 3 days on placement and 1 study day for independent learning, research and completing assignments. You will develop foundation knowledge and clinical skills across the 2 principal theoretical orientations, namely Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Systemic Therapy. There is also a focus on neuropsychology and health.
There is excellent research training throughout the 3 years to allow you to develop a range of research competencies including training in statistics, designing and undertaking both a small-scale research project and a larger thesis project.
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As part of your third year, you will focus on advanced practice knowledge and leadership skills through the academic curriculum and a specialist third year clinical practice placement. This, together with the production of publishable research through your doctoral level research, will enable you to develop a level of autonomy, innovation and clinical skills in preparation for post-qualification practice.
There is also opportunity in some cases to work towards a dual accreditation in either CBT, Systemic Therapy or Neuropsychology. The clinical and leadership skills components will involve a short teaching block and then teaching days which run along-side one longer clinical practice placement with periods of dedicated time to focus on your doctoral research.
Fees for postgraduate research degrees vary across the University. All fees are listed for UK, EU and international full-time and part-time students alphabetically by course name.
List of tuition fees for this course and it's variations
The DClinPsych Doctorate in Clinical Psychology programme is primarily funded by the NHS. As part of this funding, NHS funded students on this programme are salaried band 6 employees of Somerset NHS Trust.??
As a clinical psychology trainee, you will have a dual role as a student at the University of BOB体育登录网址_欧宝体育官网平台-APP|下载 and an NHS employee.? You will be contracted, and should typically expect to work, between the hours of 9am to 5pm (Mondays to Fridays) and as adult learners manage your independent study accordingly which may include working beyond your contracted hours.
In addition to the NHS commission route, the Programme is currently the preferred provider for training clinical psychologists from Jersey and Guernsey. A small number of Clinical Psychology Trainees are specifically commissioned by the Jersey and Guernsey governments per year. ?
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Funding
Scholarships, bursaries, sponsorships or grants may be available to support you through your course. Funding opportunities available to you are linked to your subject area and/or your country of origin. These can be from the University of BOB体育登录网址_欧宝体育官网平台-APP|下载 or other sources.
Psychology, and the University of BOB体育登录网址_欧宝体育官网平台-APP|下载 have excellent research facilities. There are opportunities for DClinPsych Clinical Psychology doctorate students to carry out their research theses in conjunction with specialist academic staff,?or in areas of special interest of other programme team members.
BOB体育登录网址_欧宝体育官网平台-APP|下载 strengths
Equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism
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We are nationally recognised as leaders for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI). We demonstrate a strong, consistent commitment to action in the field and are committed to making EDI a core component of all our teaching. BOB体育登录网址_欧宝体育官网平台-APP|下载 staff and students contribute to the wider voice of EDI both Nationally and Internationally through Programme staff and trainee publications, training, workshops and conference presentations on EDI related topics.?
Experts by experience
We value active and inclusive experts by experience (EbE) Integration in the Programme. We have widespread processes to actively recruit experts by experience alongside robust support for EbE involvement. We gain regular feedback from experts by experience about the positive factors of working with us, highlighting our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, the supportive nature of our Team as well as the personally rewarding nature of doing this type of work.?
Student experience
BOB体育登录网址_欧宝体育官网平台-APP|下载 Programme is rated in the Top 10 of DClin Programmes, out of 37 Programmes nationally, based upon student feedback (BPS Alternative Handbook, 2025).
We are also ranked:
2nd for our focus on research and theoretical knowledge
6th for our EDI work
1st for neuropsychology nationally compared to other DClin Programmes (BPS Alternative Handbook, 2025)
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BOB体育登录网址_欧宝体育官网平台-APP|下载 module lead delivered a workshop on teaching practices at the national neuropsychology conference (November 2024).
Qualitative feedback highlighted that our staff are supportive and responsive, and we pride ourselves on the quality of pastoral care that we offer our trainees.
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Study locations
Highfield Campus, Shackleton Building (B44)
This is Psychology's main base. It is also known as Building 44, and i... Find out more
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