clinical psychology and mental health msc swansea university

OURSE OVERVIEW

Our Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and Mental Health will equip you with a high level of understanding of the theory and practice of clinical psychology within healthcare settings, preparing you for professional clinical training at doctoral level.

You will study core topics including eating disorders, psychopathy and sexual offending, neuropsychology, and psychotherapy, alongside key statistical and research methods.

Throughout your studies, you will refine critical research and analytical skills in relation to clinical psychology practice. 

WHY CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY AND MENTAL HEALTH AT SWANSEA?

The School of Psychology has an outstanding reputation both in the UK and internationally.  According to the Research Excellence Framework 2014, we are one of only four psychology departments in the UK to achieve a 100% 4* rating (maximum score possible) for the reach and significance of our work.

We are also ranked top 20 in the UK for research by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022.

Our state-of-the-art research facilities include a high-density electroencephalography (EEG) suite, a fully fitted sleep laboratory, a social observation suite, eye-tracking, psychophysiological, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and conditioning labs, a lifespan lab and baby room, plus more than 20 all-purpose research rooms.

YOUR CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY AND MENTAL HEALTH EXPERIENCE

Based in the School of Psychology, you will benefit from a diverse teaching and research environment, with many opportunities to make connections across disciplines.

Many of our academic staff are leaders in their specialist fields of research, including clinical and health psychology, brain injury, sleep, cognition, neuroscience and developmental psychology.

You will be joining a university that was named ‘University of the Year’ and ‘Postgraduate’ runner up in the What Uni Student Choice Awards 2019.

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY CAREERS

A Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and Mental Health will provide you with a vital academic foundation for future doctoral training in clinical psychology.

The typical starting salary for an NHS trainee clinical psychologist is £25,783. As your career progresses you could earn between £47,088 and £81,000 or higher. Salaries in private practice vary.

Programme Disclaimer

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 Modules

This is a tightly structured course with ten compulsory modules including a dissertation, and one optional module. Modules are largely theory-based and designed to cover core topics in abnormal and clinical psychology.

MSc 1 Year Full-time

Year 1 (Level 7T)

FHEQ 7 Taught Masters Dissertation

Compulsory Modules

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Research Project	July-September	60	PS-M24

MSc 2 Year Part-time

Year 1 (Level 7T)

FHEQ 7 Taught Masters / PGDip / PGCert

Students choose 60 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules

None found.

Optional Modules

Clinical Psych & MH pt y1 compulsory 

Choose Maximum Of 60 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Students must select up to 60 credits from the following compulsory modules:

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code	Guidance
Eating Disorders	10	September-January	PS-M20
Psychosis	10	September-January	PS-M27
Psychopathy and Sexual Offending	10	September-January	PS-M29
Statistical and Research Methods	20	September-June	PS-M52
Affective Disorders and Trauma	10	September-January	PS-M56
Generic Research Skills – Abnormal and Clinical Psychology	10	September-June	PS-M82
Neuropsychology	10	January-June	PS-M50
Psychology of Health: Theory and Applications	10	January-June	PS-M64
Psychotherapy	20	January-June	PS-M65

OR

Clinical Psych & MH pt y1 compulsory and optional 

Choose Maximum Of 50 credits from the following Modules:

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code	Guidance
Eating Disorders	10	September-January	PS-M20
Psychosis	10	September-January	PS-M27
Psychopathy and Sexual Offending	10	September-January	PS-M29
Statistical and Research Methods	20	September-June	PS-M52
Affective Disorders and Trauma	10	September-January	PS-M56
Generic Research Skills – Abnormal and Clinical Psychology	10	September-June	PS-M82
Neuropsychology	10	January-June	PS-M50
Psychology of Health: Theory and Applications	10	January-June	PS-M64
Psychotherapy	20	January-June	PS-M65

AND

Clinical Psych & MH pt y1 compulsory and optional 

Choose Exactly 10 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : All optional modules to be discussed before selection. Choose one optional module from the list below.

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code	Guidance
Applied Behaviour Analysis	10	January-June	PS-M57

Year 2 (Level 7T)

FHEQ 7 Taught Masters / PGDip / PGCert

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Research Project	July-September	60	PS-M24

Optional Modules

Clinical Psych & MH pt y2 compulsory 

Choose Minimum Of 50 credits from the following Modules:

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code	Guidance
Eating Disorders	10	September-January	PS-M20
Psychosis	10	September-January	PS-M27
Psychopathy and Sexual Offending	10	September-January	PS-M29
Statistical and Research Methods	20	September-June	PS-M52
Affective Disorders and Trauma	10	September-January	PS-M56
Generic Research Skills – Abnormal and Clinical Psychology	10	September-June	PS-M82
Neuropsychology	10	January-June	PS-M50
Psychology of Health: Theory and Applications	10	January-June	PS-M64
Psychotherapy	20	January-June	PS-M65

AND

Clinical Psych & MH pt y2 optional 

Choose Maximum Of 10 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : All optional modules to be discussed before selection. Choose one of the optional modules from the list below.

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code	Guidance
Applied Behaviour Analysis	10	January-June	PS-M57

 Entry Requirements

We recommend you apply as early as possible. We reserve the right to close applications if we reach capacity and our closing date is March 31^st, 2022.  Depending on the number of offers made after the final review panel, we may continue to accept applications, impose a new closing date or place any late applications on a waiting list.

Research Abstract

When applying, you must outline an idea for an original research project within the area of clinical or health psychology (max 250 words abstract format: Objectives, Design, Methods, Proposed Analysis).  You will use this research abstract to demonstrate that you can identify relevant literature/theory on your topic in your Objectives (no reference list is needed), identify a research question and appropriate methodology to test that question. Please write in the format of a journal article abstract.  If you would like to look at some examples of abstracts, please use this link for the British Journal of Clinical Psychology for examples (Click on Abstract underneath an article). Remember though your idea must be original!

We look for strong grades in research methods/statistics units (usually a minimum of an Upper Second) to support your application.

Applicants will be rated on the following criteria:

• a good first degree in psychology (at least 2:1)
• Strong grades in research methods and statistics (at least 2:1)
• A well written and thought out research abstract, including the ability to identify a reasonable research question within the field of clinical psychology, support it with past literature and translate this into a proposed research project using an appropriate methodology. 

Applicants do not need to have completed a psychology degree recognised by the British Psychological Society (BPS) as Graduate basis for chartership (GBC). However, if applicants do not have GBC then they need to be aware that unless they obtain GBC from the BPS they will not be able to progress to a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology after completing this MSc.

 How You’re Taught

In the first two semesters taught modules are provided with the research project typically undertaken during the summer months.

Assessment

Teaching is delivered through group sessions with practical classes provided on research and design topics. These will be assessed via written course work and a written examination. 

Covid update

Teaching block one (TB1) runs from September until January and during this block, for this year, this course will be taught in a ‘blended’ way. This means that some teaching will be done online and some will be on campus. The online teaching, where you will be physically apart from your lecturer, can be ‘live’ with your lecturer present and where you’ll be able to interact. Some of it may be self-directed which means that you can access the learning materials at a time to suit you.

For the academic year 2021-22, your programme will continue to be delivered in a blended way.  

Your blended learning and teaching may include:

• Lectures and other online learning platform, Canvas.
• ‘Live’ lectures delivered in real time, to allow for some interaction, discussion and group work.
• Lecture recordings for revision
• Facilitated teaching (such as workshops and seminars)
• Independent study time
• Academic mentoring
• Zoom sessions
• Guest speakers 
• Small group work

Your on campus sessions may include:  

• University welcome and Induction activities
• Statistics and Maths support
• Academic Mentoring
• Student support services
• Library Services
• Access to wider campus life – library, sports facilities and clubs

 Welsh Provision

 Meet Your Lecturers

 Tuition Fees

 MSc 1 Year Full Time

 MSc 2 Year Part Time

Tuition fees for years of study after your first year are subject to an increase of 3%.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University’s scholarships and bursaries page.

International students and part-time study: It may be possible for some students to study part-time under the Student Visa route. However, this is dependent on factors relating to the course and your individual situation. It may also be possible to study with us if you are already in the UK under a different visa category (e.g. Tier 1 or 2, PBS Dependant, ILR etc.). Please visit the University information on Visas and Immigration for further guidance and support.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.