The Doctorate in Clinical Psychology course is a three-year, full-time programme accredited by the British Psychological Society. When you graduate, you’ll be eligible for Chartered Clinical Psychologist status, allowing you to practise as a Clinical Psychologist within the NHS.
Introduction
This programme offers clinical placements throughout the year, an academic course and an opportunity to undertake your own research work and dissertation.
Local NHS clinical psychology services on Merseyside offer a particularly rich variety of specialist placements at facilities such as Ashworth High Secure Hospital, the Windsor Clinic (Addictions), the Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery
You will also have the opportunity to work with many esteemed practitioners in their fields such as; family therapy, paediatric liaison, brain injury rehabilitation and eating disorders.
Alongside clinical placements, time is also devoted to the major theoretical paradigms in clinical psychology (e.g. cognitive-behavioural, cognitive analytic therapy, psychodynamic, and systemic), that continue to inform and influence clinical practice.
As you progress in your programme, the time devoted to the formally taught component in Year one with an intensive teaching block reducing through Years two and three as your own research and clinical practice provide the hands-on experience needed for registration to practice.
You will gain in-depth knowledge in the field of clinical psychology and contribute to the development of the mental health care services relating to the elderly or children and young adults from poor households.
In recognition of the challenging and, at times, demanding nature of the programme, your training is underpinned by a range of support structures.
You’ll have regular access to an Academic Advisor(a member of the core team) who’ll support your clinical, academic, research, personal and professional development. You’ll also have regular contact with a Mentor, a qualified clinical psychologist working in the NHS who’ll help you navigate personal learning and career objectives. In addition there’ll be regular Personal and Professional Development (PPD) sessions where you’ll meet with the same group of colleagues to discuss and seek support for personal, ethical and professional issues. You’ll have support from a specialist DClinPsych. support librarian during the programme.
Candidates must apply through Clearing House – click the “Apply Now” button for instructions and full requirements (including Right to Work).
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for students who already have an honours degree in psychology or a conversion degree pass.
This programme is suitable for you if you want to develop your clinical, professional, academic and research skills further to doctoral level, while providing you with a high level of independence, and equipping you to practice competently as a qualified clinical psychologist in the NHS.
What you'll learn
The programme is organised within a series of teaching units covering the theoretical and research bases of clinical psychology including;
Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.
Year one
The programme begins with an introductory academic block of five weeks’ duration, designed to equip you with the basic skills necessary for your first placement experience.
Among the taught modules you’ll be studying are:
Addictions, Behaviours and Cognition, Human Rights, Human Sexuality, Family and System Therapies, Child and Adolescent Psychology, Learning Disabilities, Psychology of Older Adults, Psychological Models and Theories, Psychopharmacology, Psychosis and Recovery, Third Wave Therapies.
Year One also introduces you to a range of methods and issues arising in clinical research, clinical skills and assessment, Mersey Care induction, and ethical and social issues.
Any optional modules listed above are illustrative only and may vary from year to year. Modules may be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved and staff availability. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed.
Year two
In your second year your modules will focus on;
Children, Young People and Family, Eating Disorders, Personality Disorders, Intellectual Disabilities, Orientation taught modules
Clinical Skills / Research Presentations, Family and Systemic Therapies, Third Wave Therapies
Personal and Professional Development, Professional Issues
Research Training Sessions, Presentations and Conferences.
In Year two the curriculum aims to develop research skills and knowledge in conducting empirical studies and literature reviews, critiquing research, as well as understanding recruitment and ethical issues in clinical research applications.
Any optional modules listed above are illustrative only and may vary from year to year. Modules may be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved and staff availability. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed.
Year Three
The taught modules you’ll be studying in Year Two will include;
Addictions, Forensic Practice, Psychosis and Recovery,
Clinical Skills
Enquiry-Based Learning (from practice to research),
Research Sessions
Optional seminars
Professional Issues
Personal and Professional Development
Research Training Sessions
Research Presentations
Research Conference
Any optional modules listed above are illustrative only and may vary from year to year. Modules may be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved and staff availability. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed.
How you'll learn
Much of the teaching on the core psychological topics are completed by the end of the first year, allowing you to make maximum use of this knowledge in subsequent placement experiences.
The programme is founded on giving approximately equivalent time to the major theoretical concepts (e.g. cognitive-behavioural, cognitive analytic therapy, psychodynamic, and systemic), that inform and influence clinical skills, theory and practice.
You’ll be allocated placement experiences so that you gain ‘hands on’ experience of CBT plus at least one other therapeutic approach. The time devoted to the formally taught component decreases as the programme progresses through years two and three.
The clinical practice component of the training programme allows you to apply and supplement the learning and skills gained through the academic programme and which will enable you to obtain the qualification required for registration to practice.
How you're assessed
Specific methods employed for assessment include:
Essays
Clinical case research investigations
Clinical services research investigations
Group presentation and teaching assignment
Dissertation
Viva voce examination
Placement evaluation report
Clinical logbook
E-portfolio
Case presentations
Application for ethics approval
Research proposal
Liverpool Hallmarks
We have a distinctive approach to education, the Liverpool Curriculum Framework, which focuses on research-connected teaching, active learning, and authentic assessment to ensure our students graduate as digitally fluent and confident global citizens.
Course options
Studying with us means you can tailor your degree to suit you. Here's what is available on this course.
Our experts in the Department of Psychology connect the dots between the mind, brain, and human behaviour. And our students are immersed in this world-leading research from day one, whether beginning a psychology career, or looking to qualify as a professional psychologist. The department has links with many special interest groups/regional DCP faculties and other post-qualification activities throughout the North West.
Support for students with differing needs from the Disability advice and guidance team. They can identify and recommend appropriate support provisions for you.
An exciting place for postgraduate study
Internationally recognised qualifications with a wide range of programmes
Access to some of the best specialist units in the UK
World-leading excellence in research and research-connected teaching
The MSc Investigative and Forensic Psychology is renowned worldwide and attracts a large number of international students and visiting speakers each year
Provides specialist training with taught and research components
Work alongside internationally-renowned academic researchers and experts in their field.
Graduate from this programme and you’ll be eligible for Chartered Clinical Psychologist status, allowing you to practise as a Clinical Psychologist within the NHS. The Doctorate in Clinical Psychology programme has an excellent record for employment of graduates.
Career support from day one to graduation and beyond
Clinical Psychology is an expanding profession and graduates will have the opportunity to work within a variety of different settings within the NHS such as hospitals, local clinics and health centres and in community mental health teams.
As you gain more experience in practice you may decide to specialise in a particular area of work, or progress to management. Some graduate decide to pursue careers that combine both leading research and clinical activity.
Fees and funding
Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.
We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any course-related costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.
We accept a 2:2 honours degree from a UK university, or an equivalent academic qualification from a similar non-UK institution, as well as Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) from the British Psychological Society and clinically relevant experience.
You must have the unrestricted right to reside, study, train and work in the UK.
Acceptance onto the programme will be subject to satisfactory health screening and criminal record checks.
International qualifications
If you hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, but don’t meet our entry requirements, a Pre-Master’s can help you gain a place. This specialist preparation course for postgraduate study is offered on campus at the University of Liverpool International College, in partnership with Kaplan International Pathways. Although there’s no direct Pre-Master’s route to this DClinPsychol, completing a Pre-Master’s pathway can guarantee you a place on many other postgraduate courses at The University of Liverpool.
Liverpool bursts with diversity and creativity which makes it ideal for you to undertake your postgraduate studies and access various opportunities for you and your family.
To fully immerse yourself in the university experience living in halls will keep you close to campus where you can always meet new people. Find your home away from home.
Discover what expenses are covered by the cost of your tuition fees and other finance-related information you may need regarding your studies at Liverpool.
Contact us
Have you got a question? Email the admissions team.
