Understandably, many people have misconceptions about what it takes to be a psychologist. And, to be honest, they’re usually pretty accurate.
Clinical Psychology is a professional qualification that helps students to become specialist in psychological care and treatment. Students, scholars, and professionals in Clinical Psychology have a choice in venues in which to study in the UK. Want more information regarding doctorate in psychology UK, how to get a doctorate in psychology UK, clinical psychology doctorate London and so much more.
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Best Clinical Psychology Doctoral Programs UK
Clinical psychology is an integration of science, theory, and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and personal development. Central to its practice are psychological assessment, clinical formulation, and psychotherapy, although clinical psychologists also engage in research, teaching, consultation, forensic testimony, and program development and administration. In many countries, clinical psychology is a regulated mental health profession.
The field is generally considered to have begun in 1896 with the opening of the first psychological clinic at the University of Pennsylvania by Lightner Witmer. In the first half of the 20th century, clinical psychology was focused on psychological assessment, with little attention given to treatment. This changed after the 1940s when World War II resulted in the need for a large increase in the number of trained clinicians. Since that time, three main educational models have developed in the USA—the Ph.D. Clinical Science model (heavily focused on research), the Ph.D. science-practitioner model (integrating scientific research and practice), and the Psy.D. practitioner-scholar model (focusing on clinical theory and practice).
In the UK and the Republic of Ireland, the Clinical Psychology Doctorate falls between the latter two of these models, whilst in much of mainland Europe, the training is at the masters level and predominantly psychotherapeutic. Clinical psychologists are expert in providing psychotherapy, and generally train within four primary theoretical orientations—psychodynamic, humanistic, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and systems or family therapy.
Clinical Psychology Training Programmes in the UK for International Applicants
To become a Clinical Psychologist in the UK you must complete a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsych) which takes 3 years.
Entry Requirements
Until recently the UK’s National Health Service (the NHS) had paid for all the available doctoral training places. So there were no places available to foreign students. However, British Universities are opening a small number of training places to international students. The entry requirements for international students vary between universities. But in general they will require that you:
- Obtain a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Candidates often need to hold a British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited psychology degree with a degree classification of 2:1 or above. If your bachelors is not accredited, you can obtain Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) by sitting the BPS’ exam, taking an accredited conversion course or taking an accredited post-graduate course For more information you can view this page on the Clinical Psychology Clearing House Pages or view the BPS website for more information.
- If your first language is not English, you will need to demonstrate a good level of proficiency in both written and spoken English.
- Have some experience of the settings and people that Clinical Psychologists may work with.
Do I need to be licensed or registered to practice as a psychologist in the UK?
Yes. In the UK the title of ‘Clinical Psychologist’ is protected by law. You must be registered by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) to use it. The most common way of obtaining this is by completing the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsych). However, you may not automatically be eligible for this as an international student – it is advisable to check with the course provider.
Who Accredits Psychologists In The UK
Universities offering doctorate programmes in Clinical Psychology have Health & Care Professional Council approval, and British Psychological Society accreditation:
- HCPC Approval: Each programme is required to meet the standards of education and training required by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC), the statutory regulator for practitioner psychologists in the UK.
- BPS Accreditation: Each programme is required to obtain accreditation by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and graduates of the programme are able to apply for Chartered Membership and full membership of the Division of Clinical Psychology providing they also have the Graduate Basis for Registration.
If I train as a Clinical Psychologist in the UK will I be able to practice in my home country?
You should check with the authorities or potential employers in your home country to determine whether a UK qualification will be recognised. The British Clinical Psychology qualification is usually accepted internationally but some countries (for example the USA) may require that you do extra examinations before you can work.
How much will it cost?
The fee for a 3 year Clinical Psychology course in the UK ranges between £20,000 and £30,000 per year. You will also need to be able to afford to live in the UK. The actual cost of living depends on the region in which you live. Universities based in London estimate that you will need £1,000 to £1,200 per month for living costs. More rural Universities estimate that you will need £800 per month but you may need to access to a car to be able to get to your placements. Further estimates of living costs can be found on the Numbeo website. It is not possible to work part-time to cover costs in the UK because the course itself is very demanding. Given the high costs involved the courses generally expect that you will have secured funding in your home country perhaps via your government or another funding organisation.
What are the VISA Requirements for the UK?
International students must obtain a Tier-4 student visa to study in the UK. For more information on visa requirements, please visit www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa.
DClinPsy International Students
The UCL Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) is a professional training course for Clinical Psychologists in the United Kingdom, and welcomes high-calibre candidates from the UK and abroad. The course provides a first-rate training in clinical psychology, leading to a doctoral qualification accredited by the UK’s Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the British Psychological Society (BPS).
Programme starts
September
Modes and duration
Full time: 3 years
Application dates
All applicants Open: 1 November
Tuition fees (2020/21)
UK/EU: £5,555 (FT) Overseas: £26,160 (FT)
Note on fees: The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website. Overseas students must pay a £2,500 Additional Fee Element (AFE or ‘Bench Fee’) in addition to the published fee.Location: London, Bloomsbury
Entry Requirements
Normally a minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor of Science degree from a UK university in an appropriate scientific discipline (e.g. neuroscience, cognitive science, biological and biomedical science, medicine, anatomy, physiology, psychology, computer science) or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Preference will be given to applicants who have both core knowledge of direct relevance to the MRes programme and relevant expertise and skills in empirical research.
English Language Requirements
If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.
The English language level for this programme is: Good
Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.
International Students
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below.
Overview
The DClinPsy at UCL offers a uniquely broad range of clinical and research opportunities to trainees. Current research specialities include treatment outcome, psychotherapy processes, experimental psychopathology, addiction, psychopharmacology, neuropsychology, dementia, eating disorders, internet-based treatments, developmental psychopathology and psychosis.
Research areas
- Neuroscience
- Psychological Therapy
- Society
- Health and Wellbeing
- Children
- Mental health
More information can be found on the department website: Clinical Psychology DClinPsy
Placement
There are six placement periods of six months each.
Additional costs
International students on the D.Clin.Psy may be subject to an Additional Fee Element (AFE). The AFE (also known as a bench fee) is an additional cost, incurred by yourself or your sponsor. It is levied to cover the costs related to weekly clinical supervision within the NHS and private sector, placement travel, occupational health assessments and research fees.For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.
Accessibility
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.
Funding
There are currently no UCL scholarships available for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology for international students.
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
Careers
Many graduates on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology go on to become professional practitioners either in the NHS, local councils, charities, in private practice or other settings.
Employability
Clinical psychology training courses are the primary route to becoming a qualified clinical psychologist in the UK. The UCL DClinPsy is the largest course of its kind in the UK and will give graduates the skills required to become a clinical psychologist working in national and international healthcare settings.
Networking
The department has research collaborations with many institutions including the Anna Freud Centre and Yale Child Study Centre. We also invite speakers from external institutions and professionals working for health services to give lectures to our students.
Why study this degree at UCL?
The DClinPsy programme offers a clinical training supervised by high calibre clinicians including those working in national centres of excellence. This is coupled with the opportunity to undertake research supervised by world-renowned academics who are research leaders in psychotherapy outcomes, psychoanalysis, attachment, psychopharmacology and cognitive behavioural therapy. Our aim is to train ‘thinking psychologists’ who can make significant national and international contributions to clinical psychology services and the development of clinical science.
Department: Clinical, Educational & Health Psychology
Application and next steps
Applications
Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.
Application deadlines
UK/EU students must apply via the Clearing House for Postgraduate Courses in Clinical Psychology www.leeds.ac.uk/chpccp. International students must apply via the UCL online application portal at www.ucl.ac.uk/graduate/apply/apply-now. Detailed information about the application process for both UK/EU and Overseas students is available at www.ucl.ac.uk/dclinpsy/applying.
International Fee-paying candidates
International applicants who do not meet the criteria for home or EU fee status apply via the clearing house. We expect to have up to two places available for the 2021 intake which are not funded by the NHS, and which are available to International Students with overseas fees status. The annual fee for 2020 was £31,750, the fee for 2021 is to be confirmed, and there are additional costs to be incurred, for example with regards to travel expenses and placement costs. For these places you will need to organise your own funding and have the means to support yourself throughout the three years of training, as employment whilst studying will not be a practical option.
Applicants who meet home or EU fee status can apply via the clearing house. This means that applicants must have full UK or EU residency and not require a work permit.
Doctorate In Clinical Psychology Entry Requirements
International Fee-Paying Applicants to the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology programme will be subject to the same initial shortlisting criteria as current home applicants from the UK and EU. Please see the How to Apply page for more information. Following this, an online screening assessment may be undertaken prior to a decision regarding being shortlisted and invited to interview.
Academic requirements
Applicants should have an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in psychology which includes a substantive period of study in psychology. Degrees awarded outside of the UK will need to be assessed for eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) by the BPS; further information about GBC can be found on this web page.
The minimum requirement for entry onto the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology is the equivalent of a high upper second class degree in psychology. Candidates will need to have some experience of undertaking research.
Proficiency in English
If English is not your first language and your university qualifications were not taught and examined in English, you need to submit evidence of your ability in English language with your application. This should be a computer based IELTS test. The minimum scores needed are: 7 with no element below 6.5. Further information regarding the required English Language proficiency for the University of Sheffield more generally can be found on the English language requirements for postgraduates page.
Relevant Experience
Candidates usually need some direct experience of work with clients who may be seen by Clinical Psychologists. Relevant experience can include work in mental health services within the public, private, voluntary or academic sectors. This will usually include regular contact with patients. The purpose of such experience is for candidates to have a realistic idea of working practices within mental health services. Whatever the nature of the experience, it is expected that candidates should be able to apply psychological theory in clinical settings.
Application Process
Applications for 2020 are now closed. Applications for the programme starting in 2021 are due to open in September 2020, and close at the end of November 2020. Applications must be complete with references uploaded, so please allow time for references to be completed and submitted to yourself. Guidance on your choice of referees and the content they should include in their references is provided can be found on the Clearing House website.
Applicants are required to demonstrate Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) and English proficiency at the point of application, and you will need to upload documents to support this application.
Admissions Process
Shortlisted applicants may be required to complete an online screening assessment in the middle of February.
Following this, successful applicants will be invited to attend an interview in Sheffield at the end of March, where possible. We will consult with candidates on an individual basis regarding their attendance at an interview. We have up to 6 interview places available for successfully shortlisted International Fee-paying Candidates, and up to 2 available places on the programme. It is therefore important to note that an invitation to our interview process does not automatically mean you will be offered a place on the programme.