Programme Specification for the 2025/6 academic year
MSc Clinical Psychology
1. Programme Details
| Programme name | MSc Clinical Psychology | Programme code | PTS1PSYPSY15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study mode(s) | Full Time Part Time |
Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Campus(es) | Streatham (Exeter) |
NQF Level of the Final Award | 7 (Masters) |
2. Description of the Programme
The MSc in Clinical Psychology is a 12-month full-time programme (or 2-year part-time) with a focus on cutting-edge advances in clinical psychology, clinical neuroscience and the psychology of addiction. Modules are taught by experts from Exeter’s Centre of Excellence as well as practitioners and guest speakers. Assessment methods are diverse in order to encourage and develop transferable skills for future training and employment. The MSc features a substantial research component and an optional placement module, giving broad experience for students seeking further training for careers in psychological practice as well as in the field of research.
Based in the Washington-Singer Laboratories on Exeter’s Streatham campus, the Department of Psychology is an expanding centre for academic teaching and research, committed to providing its staff and students with a friendly and stimulating intellectual environment. We are one of the UK's top Psychology departments, providing high-quality programmes for intelligent and highly motivated people, whatever their background. Our teaching staff are recognised internationally for their academic excellence and world-leading research investigating mood disorders, human cognition, animal behaviour, and social, environmental and organisational psychology.
3. Educational Aims of the Programme
We aim to promote the values described by McGovern et al (2010), providing an intellectual environment that allows you to develop into, ‘critical scientific thinkers and ethical and socially responsible participants in their communities’ (p.10).
Specifically, the aims of the programme are:
- To provide an education of high quality in a stimulating and supportive environment that is enriched by research and/or current practice in the discipline;
- To provide training in scientific skills of problem analysis, research design, evaluation of empirical evidence and dissemination;
- To provide a range of academic and key skills that will prepare you confidently for employment, future study, or training for professional practice;
- To provide a thorough grounding in a range of skills, including statistical analysis and research design and methodology;
- Through the research apprenticeship to provide you with practical experience, under supervision, of all or most of the stages of an empirical research project in clinical psychology, including collection and analysis of data, and writing a substantial research report. You will gain the necessary skills for conducting independent research by carrying out an in-depth research project. The taught programme will also provide you with the essential background to previous research within the main fields of clinical psychology, and enable you to keep up to date with current research.
In doing so, we aim to encourage you to develop into individuals who, on graduation, will:
- Have a well-defined vocabulary and basic knowledge of the critical subject matter of clinical psychology
- Value the intellectual challenges required to use scientific thinking and the disciplined analysis of information to evaluate alternative courses of action
- Take a creative and amiable sceptic approach to problem solving
- Act ethically
- Be competent in using and evaluating information technology
- Communicate effectively in different modes and with many different audiences
- Recognise, understand and foster respect for diversity
- Be insightful and reflective about your own and other’s behaviour and mental processes
4. Programme Structure
The MSc Clinical Psychology is a 1-year full-time (or 2-year part-time) programme of study at Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) level 7 (as confirmed against the FHEQ). The programme is divided into units of study called ‘modules’ which are assigned a number of ‘credits’. The credit rating of a module is proportional to the total workload, with 1 credit being nominally equivalent to 10 hours of work.
Exit Awards
- A Postgraduate Diploma is awarded when a student gains at least 120 credits, including at least 90 at Level M on a designated programme.
- A Postgraduate Certificate is awarded when a student gains at least 60 credits including at least 45 at Level M on a designated programme.
5. Programme Modules
The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.
You may take optional modules as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module.
Sequencing for part-time programme:
Year 1: PSYM201 (Advanced Statistics); Advances in Clinical Psychology & Neuroscience; Advances in the Psychology of Addiction; Current Research Issues in Clinical Psychology OR Clinical Psychology Placement - 75 credits)
Year 2: PSYM202 (Behaviour Science Research Skills) & PSYM210 (Research Apprenticeship - 105 credits)
Stage 1
Compulsory Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSYM201 | Advanced Statistics | 30 | No |
| PSYM240 | Introduction to Clinical Psychology Practice | 15 | No |
| PSYM210 | Research Apprenticeship | 90 | Yes |
| PSYM230 | Advances in Clinical Psychology and Neuroscience | 15 | No |
| PSYM231 | Critical Perspectives in Addiction Psychology | 15 | No |
Optional Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSYM232 | Current Research Issues in Clinical Psychology | 15 | No |
| PSYM233 | Clinical Psychology Placement | 15 | No |
6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
Intended Learning Outcomes
A: Specialised Subject Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
1. Recount extensive and deep knowledge of research in clinical psychology such that you are able to contribute to the further development of the sub-disciplines. | Workshops and seminars, including prepared presentations, seminar participation, formal lectures and research carried out as part of the research apprenticeship. | Assessment through research methods reports, essays, critical evaluations, thought papers, and the research apprenticeship. |
Intended Learning Outcomes
B: Academic Discipline Core Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
4. Evaluate research at an advanced level. | Workshops and seminars, practical computing sessions, verbal presentations in seminars and communicating science sessions, bibliographic practical exercises and assignments, data analysis | Assessment through research reports, essays, the research apprenticeship, and examinations |
Intended Learning Outcomes
C: Personal/Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
7. Debate critically theoretical and empirical issues through participation in seminar discussion. | Seminar participation, thought papers, research reports, group work, practical training sessions, development of skills of succinct, critical and accurate writing, and reviewing of larger bodies of literature via the research apprenticeship. | Assessment through research reports, thought papers, seminar participation, oral and poster presentations. |
7. Programme Regulations
Classification
Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook. Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.
8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning
You will be allocated a personal tutor who will remain with you throughout the programme. Where possible, your personal tutor will be the supervisor of your research apprenticeship, which allows your tutor to have a good overview of your academic progress based on regular supervision meetings. Personal tutors are able to provide guidance and feedback on assessment performance, guidance in generic academic skills and pastoral support. They are also able to refer you to more specialist support services, both within the College and elsewhere across the University.
In addition, you can expect reasonable access to all teaching staff through drop-in ‘office hours’ and specific appointments, and will in addition receive formative feedback from various discussion groups/in-lecture exercises throughout the delivery of each module and therefore receive essentially continuous feedback during the taught component of the programme. Your progress will be monitored and you can receive up-to-date records of the assessment, achievements and progress at any stage.
All module-based learning resources and student handbooks are hosted by the Exeter Learning Environment (ELE), the University's on-line Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). ELE provides an online set of integrated tools to support e-Learning activities and enables you to access course materials and use tools such as Discussion Forums and Quizzes to interact online. A variety of these tools enhance the learning and teaching activities for every Psychology module, allowing you to access most materials remotely, for example, lecture videos, supporting texts and formative self-test quizzes.
You will have access to the computer cluster in the Washington-Singer Laboratories, when not in use for teaching or assessment purposes, along with the pay-per-print laser printer installed there. University IT Services provide a range of central services, including open and training clusters of PCs - available on a 24/7 basis.
9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning
Please refer to the University Academic Policy and Standards guidelines regarding support for students and students' learning.
10. Admissions Criteria
Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the Undergraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Postgraduate applicants must satisfy the Postgraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Specific requirements required to enrol on this programme are available at the respective Undergraduate or Postgraduate Study Site webpages.
11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards
Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.
The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.
14. Awarding Institution
University of Exeter
15. Lead College / Teaching Institution
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
16. Partner College / Institution
Partner College(s)
Not applicable to this programme
Partner Institution
Not applicable to this programme.
17. Programme Accredited / Validated by
0
18. Final Award
MSc Clinical Psychology
19. UCAS Code
Not applicable to this programme.
20. NQF Level of Final Award
7 (Masters)
21. Credit
| CATS credits | 180 |
ECTS credits | 90 |
|---|
22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group
23. Dates
| Origin Date | 10/07/2023 |
Date of last revision |
|---|
