COURSE CURRICULUM

The Clinical and Health Psychology programme provides students with a comprehensive understanding of psychology while developing specialist knowledge of mental health, physical health, wellbeing, and professional psychological practice. The course begins with compulsory modules including Thinking Like a Psychologist, Developing Psychological Knowledge, Questioning Psychology, and Using Psychology in the Real World, introducing students to scientific methods, evidence-based practice, and critical approaches to understanding human behaviour. Students explore how psychologists investigate behaviour through research, data collection, and analysis while examining the practical applications of psychology within clinical, health, and community settings. The first stage of study includes 72 scheduled contact hours and 228 independent learning hours, providing a strong academic foundation across core psychological principles. As students progress, they study compulsory modules including Skills for Today's Psychologists, How We Think: Cognitive Psychology, Absurdities and Atrocities: Social Psychological Explanations of Human Functioning, Traits, Talents and Temperaments: Individual Differences, From Conception to Coffin: Developmental Psychology, People in Context: How Ecological Systems Shape Health, and The Psychology of Wellbeing. These modules develop understanding of cognitive processes, personality, social behaviour, human development, health influences, and wellbeing while strengthening professional skills including communication, teamwork, reflection, ethical practice, self-care, and inclusive working practices. Students also explore career pathways and complete placements or projects to enhance employability and gain practical experience, supported by 25 scheduled contact hours, 240 independent learning hours, and 35 placement hours. In the final stage, students undertake advanced modules including Psychology in Action: Dissertation Research Project, The Social Construction of Reality, Inside the Human Brain: Cognitive Neuroscience, Thriving in Clinical Health Practice: Skills, Ethics and Resilience, Evidence-Based Psychotherapeutic Interventions, Clinical Psychology, and Health Psychology. The dissertation project allows students to design, conduct, and report an original empirical study using qualitative or quantitative research methods while demonstrating ethical awareness and professional research skills. Supported by 26 scheduled contact hours and 274 independent learning hours, the programme prepares graduates for postgraduate training and careers in clinical psychology, health psychology, healthcare services, research, and related professional fields.