MSc Foundations of Clinical Psychology

Study a well-recognised and respected Master’s course with a patient-centred focus, teaching the origins and range of clinical psychology.

Delivery:
Full time according to Funding Council definitions, Part-Time

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Why study MSc Foundations of Clinical Psychology at BU?

Respected course, producing highly thought after and employable graduates for many branches of psychology
Excellent preparation if you wish to enter training to qualify as a clinical psychologist
Patient-centred approach, using case studies to consider a wide range of therapies and disorders
Study advanced research methods to prepare you to undertake independent research
Choose your specialism of interest for your research project, which will be supported by workshops and literature reviews
Delivery is typically two days per week between October and May each year, with supervision for the dissertation in June and July. This delivery pattern allows you to plan and build a clinical portfolio more effectively.

Find out more about the content of this course.

Career opportunities

Image description — Psychology hero hand holding brain connections

Next start date:

September 2022, January 2023, September 2023

Location:

Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus

Duration:

September start: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time, January start: 1 year full-time (no part-time start option for January)

Required subjects:

Psychology

Entry requirements:

A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:1 or equivalent in a required subject.

International entry requirements:

If English is not your first language you'll need IELTS (Academic) 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in writing and 5.5 in speaking, listening and reading or equivalent. For more information check out our full entry requirements.

Course details

Core units

Roots & Range of Psychological Disorders: An introduction to the origins of mainstream psychological disorders. This provides context for the teaching of the subject for the rest of the course, and allows you to gain an in-depth understanding of the range of clinical psychological disorders.
Psychological Therapy: The main psychological therapeutic approaches used in the clinical treatment of disorders.
Advanced Research Methods: The unit covers a range of research methods and a tool used for conducting advanced level research, and describes the intricacies of experimental design in such contexts. The unit aims to prepare students for undertaking independent research using advanced research techniques.
Advanced Statistics: You will learn and apply a range of statistical techniques intended for analysing data from psychological research. These are advanced techniques which are not covered at undergraduate level.
Research Project: You can choose a specialism of interest and explore in detail core aspects of your subject area.

Research apprenticeship scheme

In your second term, you may be offered the chance to work alongside staff to help them with their research. You get the chance to work together with researchers, gathering and analysing data, and working out what experimental findings might mean. You have the opportunity to work with specialist equipment that you might not have been able to otherwise and gain in-depth knowledge of what research really involves.

The scheme also provides you with invaluable experience for your own research project.

Programme specification

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the University's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry. If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

Download the programme specification (pdf 308kb)

Placements

The Department of Psychology has links and connections with health care providers, educational organisations and various charities in the Poole and Bournemouth area. During the course you will have the opportunity to apply for an optional placement, working across the opportunities that may be presented in both clinical and/or research context.

It should be remembered at all times that students on placements will be fully committed members of a real clinical or educational team or charities. The highest standards of professional conduct must be upheld at all times, and students are expected to be dedicated, conscientious and considerate of their role in the lives of vulnerable people.

You should be aware that these are highly completive posts, whilst we work hard to satisfy everyone, we cannot guarantee a placement for every student, or guarantee them their top choice. Opportunities may vary each year and it is important that you discuss a specific area of interest with your Programme Leader.

We’re always on the lookout for new and exciting placement opportunities for students, so the opportunities for this year will be revealed to you when you arrive.

Find out more about placements for postgraduate students

Opportunities while on placement

During the placements, you will be given an honourary contract and will have the opportunity to gain experience in a clinical setting, regularly meeting with clinical psychologists and taking part in professional life in this field. You may be involved in data collection and handling such as PAL interviews, behavioural monitoring, UK Rehabilitation Outcomes Collaborative (UKROC), and/or use of assistive technology.

Some placements may provide research opportunities that may or may not form part of your Research Project. These could involve case studies, literature reviews to support clinical intervention, or the use of assistive technology. This includes dissertation possibilities. In addition, you will have the opportunity to attend multi-disciplinary team meetings (MDTs)/goal setting meetings during which the patient's history, progress and treatment will be discussed.

Applying for a placement

Placements are an optional (zero credit) component of the course. Applications for placements involve submitting a CV and a short expression of interest and undertaking an interview. Placement positions are highly competitive so we cannot guarantee each student a placement or the placement of their choice, but we do our utmost to help everyone who wants one to gain a placement. We additionally encourage students to find their own placements in order to enhance their chances of obtaining a position, but do speak to your Programme Leader before you contact any local organisations.

How long is my placement?

If you do opt for a placement, you must complete a minimum of 156 hours (ideally one day per week), though placements can be longer (subject to agreement between yourself and the placement provider). You will spend eight hours per week on placement (full or half days will be based on the requirement of the placement provider). You will be expected to keep a placement log and undergo a halfway and end of placement review.

Research placements

For those more interested in research, internal placements working with a member of staff in the Psychology Research Group may be offered. External research placements are also a possibility if any opportunities arise or if you are able to secure an agreement with a chosen researcher at another institution.

Research placements offer invaluable experience for those wanting to go on to do PhD-level research. You will be expected to spend the equivalent of 8 hours per week towards a mimimum of 156 hours (during your course), keep a placement log, undergo a half-way and end of placement review. Regular meetings with the academic supervisor will be held.

Your application

What we’re looking for

For MSc Foundations of Clinical Psychology we are looking for applicants who:

Enjoy working with people to help them understand their problems
Are personable
Have excellent communication skills
Have a professional manner
Are able to use their own initiative appropriately.

Applicants should ultimately have an interest in other people and wish to support them in helping them to understand their problems.

How and when to apply

There is no application deadline for this course. However, if you will need a visa to come to the UK to study, think carefully about the length of time it will take for your visa application to be processed and make sure your visa will be ready in time for the beginning of your course.

December and January is one of our busiest application periods and therefore it may take us a little longer to process incoming applications. For courses with a January start date, we recommend submitting your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Click the green ‘Apply now’ button to submit your application free of charge online through myHub, our application portal. You will create your own myHub account so that you can track the progress of your application. Don’t forget to save your application as you go; you can return to it at as many times as you want before you submit it. For more information visit our How to apply section.

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

The normal requirements for embarking upon this course are:

A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:1 or equivalent in Psychology
If you lack the formal academic qualifications needed to enter a postgraduate or post-experience degree, there are several alternative routes to follow. Some of these are based on experience. Contact the Future Students Enquiry Team for more information.

International entry requirements

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

Please see below some examples of the qualifications for entry:

China: 学士学位 (Bachelor degree) with a minimum of 70% overall
India: Bachelor’s degree (4 years) from a recognised HE institution with a minimum overall result of 65%
Nigeria: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution with a minimum classification of 2:1
Thailand: Thai Bachelor's (Honours) degree from a recognised higher education institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0
Turkey: Bachelor’s degree (Lisans Diplomasi - four years) with a minimum overall GPA of 2.7/4.0
Vietnam: Bachelor's degree/Bang tot nghiep dai hoc with an average score of 75/10, or a Master’s degree/Thac si.

All applications will be subject to a minimum grade and your degree will need to be relevant to the Psychology subject area.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you can understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements, for this course are normally:

IELTS (Academic) 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in writing and 5.5 in speaking, listening and reading or equivalent.
You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

View further information about our English language requirements.

Bournemouth University International College offers a number of pre-sessional English and preparatory programmes to prepare international students for postgraduate study at BU. Admission to the degree is guaranteed on successful completion of your course to the required level.

Careers

After completing this course, you will possess the practical skills and theoretical knowledge necessary to continue into an academic career or secure employment in a range of organisations. The course will equip you with an in-depth knowledge of clinical psychology which will enhance your application to training programmes if you seek a career as a qualified clinical psychologist.

Potential job roles

Industries worked in

Further study

Costs and fees

You can find full information about the deposits required and how to pay your fees in our postgraduate fees and funding section, including details of the Postgraduate Loan (subject to fee status).

All fees are quoted in pounds sterling and are per annum. Fees quoted are for tuition only unless stated otherwise. Your tuition fees will be the same for each year of your course.

Find out more about living expenses for postgraduate students

No hidden extras

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

Materials for laboratory and field-based teaching activity.
A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service.
Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, integrated social media and advanced video features.
The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces.
IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow.
Disability and additional learning support according to individual circumstances.
The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills.
24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.

Costs of living and other expenses you need to consider

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

Laptops, tablets and mobile devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, visit our website for information regarding hardship funds.
Text books, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of text books and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shops stock a wide range of stationery supplies on both campuses.
Accommodation and living costs. Please visit our website for more information.
Travel costs for optional field trips, outdoor wear and footwear for mandatory and optional field trips (if applicable).
Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass can be purchased alongside your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchased separately.
SportBU membership.
Expenses relating to placement or research projects e.g. travel etc. up to a maximum of £200 per student. While all aspects of the programme, including required field trips, are included in the fee, additional, optional or extra curricula activities may be available for which a student contribution is required.

Repeat units

Financial help available from BU

Deposits

International (not Rep. of Ireland) students need to pay a non-refundable £3,000 deposit to secure their place on a postgraduate course. You will need to pay your deposit by the date stated in your offer letter. The remainder of your fee will be payable on registration/enrolment. There are two exceptions to the non-refundable rule on the deposit:

You fail to meet the academic or English requirements of your offer
You are refused a visa to enter the UK, provided the reason for the refusal is not a fraudulent application.

Our staff

On this course you will be taught by staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This could include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners and research students, many of whom are actively engaged in research and/or professional practice which is integrated into the teaching of this course. Please note that teaching staff can change.

Dr Shanti Shanker - Programme Leader

Dr Shanti Shanker's research focuses on the brain mechanisms of cognitive control (or inhibition), memory and executive functions. One of her longstanding interest is to understand a) how the striatum and hippocampus based learning systems interact b) the white matter connections between the frontal lobe and the hippocampus, especially, in patients with neurological disorders.

View Dr Shanti Shanker’s staff profile

Dr Helen Bolderston - Senior Lecturer

Dr Helen Bolderston, the course leader, has research interests in acceptance-based psychotherapies, particularly Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; mindfulness.Other interests include processes implicated in the development and maintenance of mental health problems alongside psychological wellbeing and burnout in health and social care students and professionals.

View Dr Helen Bolderston’s staff profile

Dr Maddy Greville-Harris - Lecturer

Dr Bernhard Angele – Senior Lecturer (Academic) in Psychology

Dr Julie Kirkby – Senior Lecturer in Psychology

Dr John McAlaney - Associate Professor in Psychology

Dr John McAlaney is a Chartered Psychologist, Chartered Scientist and Associate Professor of Psychology. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Stirling, MSc at the University of Strathclyde and then his PhD at the University of West of Scotland in 2007. Dr John McAlaney's PhD was on the topic of social psychology and substance use, looking particularly at misperceptions of peer norms. Following this he worked on an AERC funded post-doc position at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine before moving onto a lecturing post at the University of Bradford in 2008. He joined the Department of Psychology at Bournemouth in 2014. Dr John McAlaney is currently undertaking the role of Head of Education, alongside my colleague Dr Jane Elsley.

Dr Ala Yankouskaya - Lecturer in Psychology

Having a medical background, Dr Ala Yankouskaya completed her second PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience at Birmingham University (School of Psychology) in 2012. Prior to coming to Bournemouth, she held post doc and senior post doc positions at The Centre of Cognitive Neuropsychology at Oxford University and lectureship position at Liverpool Hope University.

View Dr Ala Yankouskaya’s staff profile

Course changes

Changes in 2021

Date	Changes to this course
01/03/2021	Where the change was made: Core units Change: Dissertation changed to Research Project
01/03/2021	Where the change was made: Placements Change: An optional placement has been added (minimum of 156 hours within the delivery of the course, usually completed 1 day a week over 6 months)

Changes in 2020

Date	Changes to this course
09/10/2020	Where the change was made: Key information Change: A January enrolment option has been added
01/04/2020	Where the change was made: Key information Change: Part-time study option added. 2 years part-time

What our students say

Alexandra Brown

We get to write and run our own experiments; the facilities are state of the art.

Hear from our staff

Associate Professor Simon Thompson

A really important part of learning at BU is the opportunity for Master’s students to get involved in clinical research and many have co-authored research papers.

Hear from our alumni

Ben Hunt

Being a research assistant is a great privilege as experience is key. Acting as an honorary research assistant so early in your career really makes you stand out.

Statistics shown throughout this page are taken from Unistats and BU institutional data unless otherwise stated.