Practitioner Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsychD)

Entry standards

Graduate basis for Chartered membership from the British Psychological Society (BPS); a minimum of an Upper Second class degree in psychology is typically required; at least nine months (whole time equivalent) sustained, recent, experience in clinically related areas. As the programme is training professionals for the NHS, we cannot accept applications from non-EU countries. Entry to this programme is conditional on a satisfactory Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check.

Applicants are required to hold a current, valid UK driving licence and have access to a car for work purposes.

English language requirements

Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 7.0, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component (or equivalent).

Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre.

Practitioner Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsychD) - structure and modules

Subject information

Clinical Psychology at Surrey 

A core philosophy of the Practitioner Doctorate in Clinical Psychology is the application of academic and research rigour to health and social care contexts. Our programme stresses the need for clinical psychologists to be responsive to changes within the health and social care sectors. As such, the programme emphasises the development of leadership skills so that clinical psychologists are able to integrate, operate and initiate applied clinical psychology theoretical knowledge within community and public, voluntary and organisational systems. 

The programme team and the Department as a whole is involved in research related to the clinical domain, with particular interests in the following areas: 

• Trauma and loss 
• Cognitive models of phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder 
• Positive psychology and wellbeing
• Personality disorders 
• Service provision for adults with learning disabilities 
• Meaning of psychotic experiences and recovery from psychosis 
• User involvement in research and training 
• Leadership and organisational related issues
• Representations of disability 
• Process of change within therapy 
• Health-related audits 

We expect that trainees will do research in one of these interest areas. Programme team members have expertise in quantitative and qualitative methodologies and close research and teaching links exist to the wider Department of Psychology .

Programme Content and Structure 

Training commences with a five-week teaching block that offers experiential therapy skills in preparation for the first placement. You will complete a year-long adult placement in the first year. In the second year, you will complete a placement in two of the following areas: children, people with learning difficulties, and old people.

In the third year, you will undertake some block teaching in every term and be on placement for four days a week, experiencing two placement areas; the remaining placement not taken in year two and a specialist placement. Throughout the three years of training, you will have regular opportunities to link theory and practice through discussions with clinical and research supervisors, within personal and professional learning development groups, problem-based learning and regular meetings with a mentor. These discussions also provide an opportunity for reflection, personal and professional learning, exploration of difference and diversity, the transferability of clinical competencies and knowledge across placements.

Teaching and research are scheduled for Mondays and Tuesdays and placements are scheduled for Wednesdays to Fridays. Study time is also allocated within the timetable. Models of teaching as well as content are regularly reviewed, in consultation with trainees and regional clinical psychologists. Research training is provided through a series of lectures on both quantitative and qualitative methods and put into practice through a service-related research project, a qualitative group project and a major research project. As with all elements in the programme, this is well supported by close supervision.

Practitioner Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsychD) - entry standards

Entry standards

Graduate basis for Chartered membership from the British Psychological Society (BPS); a minimum of an Upper Second class degree in psychology is typically required; at least nine months (whole time equivalent) sustained, recent, experience in clinically related areas. As the programme is training professionals for the NHS, we cannot accept applications from non-EU countries. Entry to this programme is conditional on a satisfactory Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check.

Applicants are required to hold a current, valid UK driving licence and have access to a car for work purposes.

English language requirements

Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 7.0, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component (or equivalent).

Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre.

Application procedure

Please note that applications for this programme are made via the Clearing House for Postgraduate Courses in Clinical Psychology and not directly to the University. For further information on how to apply please visit:
www.leeds.ac.uk/chpccp

Start date

Practitioner Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsychD) - fees and funding

Funding

All places are commissioned by local Strategic Health Authorities and successful candidates will be salaried at Agenda for Change Band 6. University fees are paid by the Strategic Health Authority.

Practitioner Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsychD) - professional context

Professional recognition

The programme is approved by the Health Professions Council and accredited by the British Psychological Society. On completion of the programme, trainees are eligible to apply for registration with the Health Professions Council and Chartership with the British Psychological Society.

Accreditation

Psychology Professional Expertise 

The programme is run jointly with regional health service psychologists and NHS Trusts, and utilises professional expertise across all of the specialist areas of clinical psychology. Trainees are on clinical placement for two and a half days a week, with the remaining time being divided between academic, research and personal study time.

We provide learning environments at the University and in NHS settings to allow for the utilisation, integration and evaluation of a broad range of theoretical perspectives including the major models of psychotherapy, as well as a wide psychological knowledge, scientific and research base. In undertaking these processes, the trainee will be able to integrate a scientist-practitioner and reflective-practitioner approach in their work. The teaching and supervision provides opportunities to consult and collaborate with professional colleagues, service users and carers to ensure the development of responsive and high-quality clinical practice.

Partnership 

The programme is commissioned by the South-East Coast Strategic Health Authority on behalf of the London area as well as their own area. The Strategic Health Authority provides financial support to cover the fees of the trainees and their salaries, and the occupational benefits.

Careers

The Department of Health has raised the profile of applied psychologists in addressing the health of the nation. Applied psychologists are cited in a number of the national service frameworks as necessary for the effective delivery of services. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has published guidance in a number of areas stipulating the need for psychological assessment and psychological therapy access. There is convincing evidence that talking therapies can make a significant difference to people presenting with the widest spectrum of psychological difficulties.

Practitioner Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsychD) - teaching

Staff perspective

Ms Mary John

As a team we are innovative in our use of teaching and learning approaches, ensuring that trainees experience learning in a supportive and contained way. The programme team has a national reputation for leading developments in service user and carer involvement in postgraduate training.

The teaching is pluralistic in relation to its theoretical base and endorses a critical appreciation of a number of psychotherapy approaches. As well as Programme Director, I am a practising clinical psychologist working with children, young people and their families, as well as related professional networks such as education and social services.

During my clinical time I have the opportunity to lead research developments within a pan-county children’s directorate in a Mental Health Trust. The combined aspects of my work contribute to a sense of the excitement and challenge when working.

Formerly, I was head of a psychology and psychological therapy service and have gained a clear perspective of the national drivers for NHS service change and how the workforce needs to be equipped to meet new ways of working.

Working alongside trainees in a teaching and learning environment, both at the University and in clinical practice, is an energising and exciting experience.

Practitioner Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsychD) - learning

Assessment 

All three clinical, academic and research components of the programme are assessed. At the end of the programme trainees submit a portfolio of their work covering academic, clinical and research competence.

Academic component 

Assessment is undertaken through a variety of methods, including essays, problem-based learning exercises, literature reviews, reflective accounts and oral presentations of clinical work. All of these should demonstrate ability for critical and reflexive thinking, knowledge of psychological theories and their application to practice, as well as an understanding of clinical and professional issues. 

Clinical component 

Assessment is via written and oral case reports, supervisor evaluation on placement and logbooks. The five case reports (four written of 5000 words each and one oral) are submitted and assessed at six-monthly intervals. 

Research component 

Assessment of research competencies is via a multiple choice examination in statistics; a service-related research project undertaken in an NHS Trust (3000 words); a group project in qualitative research methods; and a major research project (20,000 words) which will be submitted as a literature review and a paper for publication. These assignments should demonstrate research skills in a variety of domains and cover exploratory, descriptive and confirmatory strategies. The research must include empirical work judged to constitute a contribution to knowledge or practice, and evidence of originality should be demonstrated by the discovery of new facts or by the exercise of independent critical judgement.

Practitioner Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsychD) - graduate profile

Student Profile: Ellie Atkins

PsychD Practitioner Doctorate in Clinical Psychology

The Surrey course in Clinical Psychology is integrative – teaching about a number of different models. I felt that I would learn so much more by studying here, and that I would have opportunities to widen my experience. Additionally Surrey actively
recruits trainees from non-traditional backgrounds. 

As I used to be a teacher I’m not a traditional candidate for the doctoral course and Surrey welcomed my experience. It was very validating to find a course which thought as I did – that my life experience and previous roles could be significantly
helpful and supportive in my new career. 

I’ve enjoyed the varied range of experiences I have gained through training. Additionally the teaching has been high quality. Most lectures are given by external specialists and this means we heard from people who really are experts in the field.

Additionally I think the programme team works hard to support trainees, and thinks carefully about how to provide them with the best experiences whilst on training, both clinically and academically. 

I would definitely recommend Surrey to others. My course is a professional qualification paid for by the NHS. I intend to work as a clinical psychologist. I have secured a job working with children with mental health problems in Ealing, and I’m really excited about using the skills I’ve learnt on training in my new post.

I think training has made me think more carefully and analytically about issues, rather than accepting a quick or easy explanation. I’ve also developed more awareness about wider social issues through my varied placements across three counties. 

Student Profile: Lisa Neffgen

PsychD Practitioner Doctorate in Clinical Psychology

I chose Surrey for my Doctorate primarily because it has a focus on reflective practice on the programme, something which I find is really helpful as a psychologist in
enabling your ‘blind spot’ to be seen. 

As a trainee you are extremely well supported by the programme  team, with a number of tutors, including personal, clinical, academic and research tutors, and a mentor within the NHS. Given the length and demands involved in clinical training, this was another of the programme’s strengths for me.

I have already recommended it to prospective psychologists, and would do so again in the future. Although it’s been hard work, I have had a good experience here at Surrey and feel the teaching team work hard to provide a comprehensive and holistic training programme. 

Over the course of three years I have had placements in a diverse range of settings and client groups. After I graduate I plan to work in the NHS in clinical health psychology. 

My personal and professional skills have developed too – I feel confident in my own leadership abilities. I feel like my professional identity has been strengthened and shaped in a way which I couldn’t have predicted before. 

I find myself being reflective and more curious than ever, which are skills which I associate with the programme. My understanding of myself has definitely grown too, which is important as a clinical psychologist. As well as my therapeutic skills, I have also seen my team skills blossom. Its actually quite a life-changing experience to do a PsychD programme.

Practitioner Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsychD) - more

Your Professional Contribution 

We develop trainees who will contribute to the health service through: 

• A commitment to the maintenance and delivery of high-quality clinical practice grounded in respect for clients from all backgrounds 
• The application of reflective, rigorous and flexible thinking to all aspects of clinical psychology practice 
• An ability to utilise and evaluate psychological theories, knowledge and practice from a wide-ranging clinical, scientific and research base 
• Competence in selecting psychological theory, research and practice appropriate to the context and client groups to which they are applied 
• The ability to function effectively in a range of social, cultural and organisational environments 
• Self-awareness of their personal and professional development, and the implications for clinical practice 
• Active engagement with service users’ and carers’ views and priorities 
• A commitment to working within multidisciplinary settings and with colleagues from other disciplines

Clinical Psychology as a Career 

Most clinical psychologists work within the health and social care sectors. Over the last few years, the Department of Health has been attempting to increase the profession by 15 per cent to meet the psychological and psychotherapeutic needs of the population.

Following the success of the National Service Framework for Mental Health, the government has developed a set of proposals embedded within the New Horizons  document. wellbeing and mental health should be supported. Recently the Government published 'No Health without Mental Health: a cross-Government mental health outcomes strategy for peoples of all ages. Clinical Psychologists will be crucial in delivering this agenda. Contrary to what many potential applicants think, it is not impossible to gain a place on a clinical psychology training course.

At the University of Surrey we are committed to equality of opportunity of access to clinical training. We value diversity and welcome applications from individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds, whether in terms of ethnicity, educational or social background, previous career path, age, gender, disability or sexuality.

Psychology at Surrey 

The Department of Psychology at the University of Surrey is one of the most active and highly regarded psychology departments in the country. We specialise in applied and policy-oriented teaching and research within a strong theoretical context. The international, interdisciplinary, policy and applied strengths of the Department mean that students’ theoretical and methodological research puts them at the cutting edge of the discipline. 

We are one of the highest ranked departments in the country for graduates entering employment, and also one of the largest providers of postgraduate training in the UK. 

The University of Surrey Department of Psychology has been the centre for many cross-national studies and has attracted funding from research councils and local and national government departments, such as ESF, Defra, the MoD, the Home Office, the Environment Agency, the Countryside Agency, Surrey County Council and the EU. 

If you choose to study psychology at the University of Surrey, you will be provided with a combination of opportunities that would be hard to match elsewhere. We offer you a degree that provides a thorough grounding in the theories, methods and practice of contemporary psychology. Our programmes lay particular emphasis on the application of psychology to real-world problems, and also consider issues related to professional practice in preparation for your career as a professional psychologist. 

The basis of good postgraduate courses is the research activity of staff, the incorporation of current research programmes in teaching material and a reciprocal relationship between theory development and applied research in everyday contemporary issues. We believe in involving all postgraduate students in the research life of the Department through active participation in one of the research groups, by attendance at research seminars and, where possible, an attachment to ongoing research projects. As a student of the Department of Psychology, you will also have access to a number of conferences, seminars and workshops hosted throughout the year. 

Practitioner Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsychD) - apply

Please note that applications for this programme are made via the Clearing House for Postgraduate Courses in Clinical Psychology and not directly to the University. For further information on how to apply please visit:
www.leeds.ac.uk/chpccp