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Postgraduate study in the School of Psychology

Foundations in Clinical Psychology

Image of a clinical psychologist treating a patient

Clinical psychology involves applying psychological understanding to difficulties connected with mental or physical health problems. Using this understanding, clinical psychologists assess and treat people of all ages and ability levels who are experiencing psychological distress, behavioural problems or related issues. Students taking the MSc in Foundations of Clinical Psychology will be introduced to the theory and knowledge that underpins effective practice in clinical psychology, will explore this in relation to a range of conditions, will gain an understanding of the range of research methods used by clinical psychologists, and will conduct their own research project in a relevant area.

How the course can further your career progression

This course will be of particular interest to:

  • graduates in psychology who are aiming for a career in clinical psychology and who do not yet have relevant work experience. Completing the MSc provides a sound basis for obtaining employment as an assistant psychologist and later gaining entry to clinical training.

  • graduates in psychology who are aiming for a career in clinical psychology and who have already gained relevant work experience. Completing the MSs course provides evidence of academic and research skills which is valuable when making applications for clinical training.

  • graduates in psychology or closely-related disciplines who are keen to pursue research in the area of clinical psychology. The MSc course is accredited as providing an appropriate research training for those wishing to progress to a PhD or to employment in a research post.

  • qualified health professionals with an appropriate academic background who wish to extend their understanding of clinical psychology.

Clinical psychology training in the UK involves the completion of a three-year training programme leading to a doctorate in clinical psychology and eligibility to apply for chartered clinical psychologist status. The training is funded by the National Health Service (NHS) and almost all trainees go on to work in the NHS after qualifying. Entry to these programmes is highly competitive and applicants must have good academic and research skills as well as relevant work experience, usually two years in a paid, full-time assistant psychologist position or equivalent. The MSc Foundations of Clinical Psychology aims to provide students with a profile of academic knowledge and research skills which, combined with relevant work experience, will equip them to make a credible application for clinical psychology training, either in the UK or elsewhere. The School of Psychology offers both the MSc Foundations of Clinical Psychology and the MSc Foundations of Clinical Neuropsychology; both these courses are equally relevant as a precursor to clinical psychology training.

About the School of Psychology

The School of Psychology at Bangor, which was rated 5*A in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (along with only six other psychology departments in the UK), brings together a large group of outstanding scientists with international research reputations in clinical psychology, neuropsychology and clinical and cognitive neuroscience. A number of staff also hold appointments as consultant psychologists or medical consultants with the NHS and contribute to clinical practice as well as to the training of clinical psychologists, medical students and NHS staff. The School runs its own clinical psychology training programme, leading to the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.

Key research strengths within the clinical psychology domain include dementia, neuropsychology and rehabilitation, learning disability, developmental disorders, addictions, and cognitive-behavioural approaches. Close links with other departments, such as the Institute of Medical and Social Care Research (IMSCaR) and with NHS services produce tremendous opportunities for collaborative clinical psychology research. The School supports the practical implementation of research findings to improve patient care by hosting groups such as the Dementia Services Development Centre Wales.

The School has an extensive library of psychological tests and measures. Participant recruitment is facilitated through the availability of research panels for neurological patients and people with dementia, as well as student and community participation panels, supported by the School’s full-time patient co-ordinator. The School has a range of specialist laboratories and researchers in the School use a wide range of the latest techniques for understanding brain-behaviour relationships, including functional brain mapping with event related potentials (ERP), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

The School has a vibrant, diverse postgraduate community. Students on our MSc programmes are drawn from a range of backgrounds and nationalities. The School is known for its friendly and informal atmosphere, which combined with excellent facilities helps to ensure that studying here is a pleasant and enjoyable experience.

What the course consists of

The course includes three components: content modules, research methods modules, and a research thesis. Content and methods modules are all 15 credit modules and the research thesis is worth 60 credits. Students achieving 120 credits on the taught modules, but not completing a research thesis, may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma.

The content modules are designed to provide an in-depth look at theory, evidence and practice in clinical psychology. You will take:

The aim of this module is to provide students with a more in-depth awareness than that gained at undergraduate level of a range of theoretical models used to understand psychopathology. Particular types of diagnostic problems will be utilised as exemplars to illustrate the contribution of different models to our understanding of mental disorder.

This course reviews the theory and practice of clinical neuropsychology: the discipline which seeks to understand and treat psychological changes that occur after brain disease. The course aims to (a) build on students' existing knowledge of neuroanatomy, especially in relation to the reading of CT and MRI scans, and (b) build on students' existing knowledge of neuropsychology to review the wide range of neuropsychological deficit seen after brain injury. The course will also (c) discuss the principles and practicalities of neuropsychological assessment and (d) review the nature of the neuropathology seen after cerebro-vascular accident, closed-head injury and degenerative disorders - which frequently predicts the type of neuropsychological deficit typically seen in patients with such conditions.

This module provides students with an integrated perspective on psychological disorders that emphasizes the biological contributions to behaviours. The course will focus on the neural substrates associated with deficits of both affective and cognitive mechanisms. The module will illustrate how a convergent interdisciplinary approach between basic neuroscience, cognitive neuropsychology and clinical psychiatry is providing a new and integrated model from which we can better understand psychological disorders.

The research methods modules are designed to provide a comprehensive training in research skills. You will take:

This module provides students with an understanding of the background, issues and controversies surrounding some of the methodologies and statistics used to accomplish research objectives.

This course should be considered as a follow-on to undergraduate psychology courses in statistics. It focuses on the statistical techniques which are used in studying psychology, and provides some of the basic skills needed to read about and conduct research in the discipline.


The course is an introduction to communicating research in psychology. It takes the form of group-focused practical work, consolidated by short lectures associated with specific aspects of communication in psychology. Written, graphic and oral forms of communication in psychology will be covered during the course.

For the research thesis, you will work with a research supervisor to develop and conduct an independent empirical study on a neuropsychological topic. This will involve the following stages:


In Advanced Research Methods and Proposal 1 and 2, students prepare a research proposal and work out practical methods for conducting the research. The goal of these modules is to fully prepare the student for successful completion of the research thesis.

For the research thesis, students implement their research proposal and conduct an empirical study. They collect, analyse and interpret their data, and present their complete project in a formal thesis.

When you join the course you will be given full details of the potential project supervisors and their area of interest, and invited to choose the supervisor(s) with whom you would most like to work.

How the course is structured

The course lasts one full calendar year if taken full-time. During Semester 1 and Semester 2 you will combine taught modules with work on your research project. During the summer period all your time is devoted to completing and writing up the research project. This is a summary of the course structure:

Semester 1

Credits

Semester 2

Credits

Summer

Credits

Advanced research methods and proposal 1

15

Advanced research methods and proposal 2

15

Thesis

60

Biological bases of psychological disorders

15

Advanced statistics

15

    

Clinical neuro-

psychology

15

Communicating research in psychology

15

    

Research design in  clinical psychology

15

Theoretical models in clinical psychology

15

    

A variety of teaching approaches are used including lectures, case presentations, small-group sessions and seminars, and individual or group supervision. Assessment will include coursework and examinations, and the research thesis.

Academic staff

The course is organised and taught by staff within the School of Psychology. The Course Director is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist and Practitioner Full Member of the British Psychological Society’s Division of Neuropsychology.

Course director

Dr Linda Clare

Module organisers, lecturers and research supervisors include:

Professor Kim Shapiro

Professor Jane Raymond

Dr Michaela Swales

Dr Oliver Turnbull

Professor Robert Rafal

Dr David Linden

Dr Maggie Hoerger

Dr Martyn Bracewell

Professor Richard Hastings

Professor Miles Cox

  • You can find out more about staff members’ research interests on the School of Psychology website and by visiting individual staff webpages.

Funding

The School may have some bursaries available for Master's students, and can advise on alternative funding sources.

Entry Requirements

UK applicants should normally have a BPS-accredited first degree or a conversion degree in Psychology, usually with a 2:1 or equivalent. International applicants will be given individual consideration.

How to apply

Application material is available from our Postgraduate Admissions Secretary. Alternatively, you can download the application form from the University website: http://www.bangor.ac.uk/mapro/prospect/postgrad/pgapp.html

Further information

If, having reviewed this information, you find that you have additional questions about academic aspects of the course, you may e-mail the Course Director.