MSc Clinical and Health Psychology

Year of entry: 2024

Overview

Degree awarded
MSc
Duration
12 months FT, 24 months PT
Entry requirements

We require you to have:

  • An honours degree (minimum Upper Second) in psychology that confers Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) status with the British Psychological Society (BPS). If you are unsure whether your degree gives you eligibility for the GBC, you can check whether your degree was accredited for your intake year on the BPS website. Home students with a degree that is not listed may need to take an accredited conversion course prior to applying. If you are an overseas student and your degree was not accredited by the BPS you can apply for graduate membership on the BPS website. Please note that due to potential delays it is recommended that you submit your GBC application by 1 June 2024 at the latest.
  • A minimum of an Upper Second in all BSc research methods units and the dissertation.

Full entry requirements

Number of places/applicants

Approximately 25 places

How to apply

Please apply via our online application form . Please write your research proposal in the personal statement section (maximum 300 words not including the reference list).

We do not require a personal statement.

Applications are assessed at periodic academic review panels. We recommend you apply as early as possible. We reserve the right to close applications if the course is full.

2024 review panel dates are:

  • January 16th
  • April 18th
  • July 17th

Please note that the part-time option is only available to home students. The full-time option is available to all.

Course options

Full-time Part-time Full-time distance learning Part-time distance learning
MSc Y Y N N

Course overview

"Although I initially didn't have a clear vision of what I wanted to do after my master's, the high quality of the course, lecturers and university meant that I have got more than I ever hoped for.

"Manchester is my favourite city in the UK and I couldn't recommend/thank the University enough for the platform they've provided me."

Jack Benton / MSc Clinical and Health Psychology graduate and Research Assistant
  • Build your understanding of the psychology behind physical and mental health difficulties.
  • Learn about cutting-edge research from international leaders in their fields, including in the areas of psychological therapy, self-harm and psychosis.
  • We support the transition of high performing students to our Clinical Psychology Doctorate, with additional interview places available for recent graduates of this MSc.
  • Study at a university ranked 7th in the UK for Psychology, according to the 2022 QS World University Rankings.
  • Scholarships and bursaries are available to eligible students. See the Scholarships/sponsorships section for further information.

Open days

For details of the next University Postgraduate open day, go to open days and visits .

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • MSc (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £11,500
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £29,500
  • MSc (part-time)
    UK students (per annum): £5,750
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £15,500

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for international students for the course duration at the year of entry).

For general fees information please visit postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.

Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1,000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

For the latest scholarship and bursary information please visit the fees and funding page.

Contact details

School/Faculty
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Telephone
+44 (0)161 529 4563
Email
Website
https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/psychology/
School/Faculty
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview

We require you to have:

  • An honours degree (minimum Upper Second) in psychology that confers Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) status with the British Psychological Society (BPS). If you are unsure whether your degree gives you eligibility for the GBC, you can check whether your degree was accredited for your intake year on the BPS website. Home students with a degree that is not listed may need to take an accredited conversion course prior to applying. If you are an overseas student and your degree was not accredited by the BPS you can apply for graduate membership on the BPS website. Please note that due to potential delays it is recommended that you submit your GBC application by 1 June 2024 at the latest.
  • A minimum of an Upper Second in all BSc research methods units and the dissertation.

English language

International students must demonstrate English proficiency through a secure and approved testing system.

We ask for English language proof if you are from non-majority English speaking countries (a list of majority English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Home Office, can be found here).

Specifically, we require a minimum of:

  • IELTS: 7.0, you must demonstrate achieving a level 7.0 in all sections
  • TOEFL: 100, including 25 in the written section

See further information about requirements for your country .

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Application and selection

How to apply

Please apply via our online application form . Please write your research proposal in the personal statement section (maximum 300 words not including the reference list).

We do not require a personal statement.

Applications are assessed at periodic academic review panels. We recommend you apply as early as possible. We reserve the right to close applications if the course is full.

2024 review panel dates are:

  • January 16th
  • April 18th
  • July 17th

Please note that the part-time option is only available to home students. The full-time option is available to all.

Advice to applicants

We require the outline of an idea for an original research project within the topic of clinical or health psychology that has not been previously conducted, please write your research proposal in the personal statement section (maximum 300 words not including the reference list). This need not be a project that you would undertake within an MSc, but is intended to demonstrate your ability to identify a research question and appropriate methodology. When evaluating this, we pay attention to your research question and whether the methods you have selected are appropriate.

International students must also upload a scanned copy of their passport.

Applications are assessed at periodic academic review panels. We reserve the right to close applications if the course is full.

Please note that the part-time option is only available to home students. The full-time option is available to all.

Depending on the number of offers made after the final review panel, we may continue to accept applications, impose a new closing date or place any late applications on a waiting list.

We look for strong grades in research methods/statistics units (a minimum of an Upper Second) to support your application. If your course does not include dedicated research methods/statistics units, please provide details of which parts of your degree have included research methods, and details of your grades.

Please submit supporting documentation via the online application form. Personal statements and CVs will not be considered as part of the application process. Only fully completed applications and additional requested documentation (second reference and research proposal) will be considered by the admissions tutor.

How your application is considered

Applicants will be rated on the following criteria:

  • a good first degree in psychology (at least Upper Second);
  • the academic style of your research proposal, including the ability to identify a reasonable research question within the field of clinical or health psychology and translate this into a research project using an appropriate methodology. 

Applications will be held and assessed together at academic review panels. Depending on the number of offers made following the final review panel we may continue to accept applications and impose a new closing date or place any late applications on a waiting list.

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful, you may apply again.

Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved.

We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

Course details

Course description

Are you interested in better understanding the role of psychology in mental and physical health problems, and how psychological therapies and approaches can improve the lives of people?

The MSc in Clinical and Health Psychology provides a thorough grounding in the research, theory and practice of clinical and health psychology.

You will be taught about current and novel developments by leading researchers and clinicians within a highly influential research-active division of a Russell Group university.

The course has been designed to help prepare you for a career in clinical or health psychology and can be taken on a full-time or part-time basis.

You will also learn about the principles and evidence-base of psychological interventions to change behaviour and cognition at the individual, group and population level, as well as the role of psychologists within healthcare settings such as the NHS and how the science of psychology is applied in clinical practice.

In addition, you will receive advanced training in the methodology and analysis techniques used within clinical and health psychology research.

You will benefit from the expertise of clinically active members of the course team who contribute to our teaching sessions and provide research supervision. You will also have the opportunity to attend seminars and a research conference showcasing new clinical and health psychology research at Manchester. 

This MSc does not replace or guarantee entry onto an accredited Clinical Psychology Doctoral training programme.

This MSc is not an accredited Stage 1 Health Psychology programme. Applicants interested in Stage 1 Health Psychology should apply for our BPS-accredited MSc Health Psychology .

PhD with integrated master's

If you're planning to undertake a PhD after your master's, our Integrated PhD programme will enable you to combine your postgraduate taught course with a related PhD project in biology, medicine or health.

You can also visit this page for examples of projects related to integrated master's courses.

Special features

Shortlisting for the Manchester Clinical Psychology Doctoral Programme

Two additional interview places for the Clinical Psychology Doctorate are available for recent graduates from this MSc programme who meet shortlisting criteria and score highest in the application process.

Training in a research active environment

Our training covers a broad range of research methods taught by leading experts in their field.

We prepare you for a future research-active career, whether as an academic, clinical psychologist or another research-practitioner role. You will benefit from being part of a dynamic department with opportunities to attend research seminars and an annual postgraduate health sciences research conference, where you can learn about the work of PhD students and trainee clinical psychologists.

Flexible learning

You can choose to study full-time or part-time, enabling you to fit learning around your other commitments.

Teaching and learning

Our team are passionate about your learning and development. We combine traditional and contemporary teaching methods and formats to provide a varied and engaging learning experience.

These include lectures, group discussions, seminars, workshops, self-paced online training, student presentations and independent supervised study.

You will learn first-hand from clinicians, practitioners and individuals who have lived experience of psychological and physical health problems, giving you an invaluable insight into these difficulties.

Our programme team work to support the individual needs of our students. You will be allocated a personal academic advisor who will guide your academic and professional development, and provide pastoral support.

You will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with influential research-active staff to produce a high quality dissertation using qualitative, quantitative or mixed research methods.

For example, see our recent work on self-harm in lesbian, gay and bisexual students , or developments in the understanding and treatment of trauma .

You will benefit from strong links with our ClinPsyD Doctorate in Clinical Psychology . Clinical members of this programme are actively involved in teaching, supervising and providing support and advice on applying for clinical psychology training. Consequently, the ClinPsyD doctorate in Clinical Psychology often includes students who have graduated from this MSc course.

The course is led by Dr Louisa Shirley.

Find out more about postgraduate teaching and learning methods at Manchester.

Coursework and assessment

We use a range of assessment methods, including exams, essays, presentations, poster conferences, case studies, practical reports and a dissertation.

Course unit details

You will take a combination of taught course units and a supervised research-based dissertation on a chosen topic relating to clinical or health psychology.

Key areas of the curriculum include:

  • evidence-based psychological interventions and therapies for mental and physical health problems
  • approaches to understanding mental health difficulties including self-harm, psychosis and substance abuse
  • integrative theoretical approaches to psychological interventions and behaviour change
  • psychobiology of health and illness
  • sociocultural aspects of health
  • advanced research methodology, encompassing quantitative and qualitative analytic techniques.

As a full-time student you will take four 15-credit taught units in each of Semester 1 and Semester 2. These will be taught using blended learning. There will be asychonrous materials for you to work through prior to a synchronous session (some of these will be online and some will be in person). Two of the synchronous sessions will be taught on Mondays, the other two on Thursdays. If you are a part-time student you will take two taught units each year (you will be expected to attend classes on one day of the week each year).

In addition, you will be allocated a supervisor for the dissertation (60 credits), a unit that runs for the full year (you are also expected to work on the dissertation over the summer). The dissertation consists of an independent piece of research.

Please note: we are aware that you may have other commitments outside of the MSc and we fit teaching into two days of the week to help you to manage multiple commitments. However, this is an intensive, demanding course, so you need to make sure that you are able to fit in full-time (35-40 hours) (or part-time) studying hours around external commitments.

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Critical, creative and comprehensive research methodologies PSYC60001 15 Mandatory
Dissertation PSYC60010 60 Mandatory
Psychology in Clinical Practice 1 PSYC69741 15 Mandatory
Critical, creative and comprehensive research analyses PSYC69802 15 Mandatory
Health and Society PSYC69831 15 Mandatory
Professional Issues PSYC69841 15 Mandatory
Psychology in Clinical Practice 2 PSYC69742 15 Optional
Mind and Body PSYC69822 15 Optional
Health Behaviour Change PSYC69842 15 Optional
Illness & Health Care PSYC69852 15 Optional

Scholarships and bursaries

For the latest scholarship and bursary information please visit the fees and funding page.

What our students say

Read posts from our students on the Biology, Medicine and Health Student blog .

Facilities

You will be able to access and benefit from the excellent range of facilities throughout the University, including our libraries (one of the best resourced in the country), careers, student support and IT services.

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service .

Careers

Career opportunities

"I see healthcare advisory and consultancy as one way you can use health-related research skills in a corporate setting.

"It can be useful to take a step back from the course content sometimes and think outside the box about marketing your key skills and successes."

Alex Norbury / Healthcare Consultant at Mott MacDonald and MSc Clinical and Health Psychology graduate

This course provides an excellent foundation in clinical and health psychology research, theory and practice, which can lead on to a wide range of careers.

Many of our students have gone on to study for PhDs, or train as clinical psychologists at Manchester and elsewhere. However, you could also pursue careers within the third sector or private settings.

The strong grounding we provide in research and analytic methods is valuable if you wish to progress onto a research career or training programmes where research skills are emphasised.

The knowledge and understanding we help develop in relation to theory, evidence and practice will also help if you are considering careers in clinical and applied roles, as well as policy-making and service development.

Our unit on professional development has been designed to help further support students in pursuing their future career goals.

See the British Psychological Society website for more information on training as a psychologist.

I am currently working as an Assistant Psychologist for Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust (Older Adults Learning Disability team). Despite having a lot of prior experience, I struggled to get an interview for AP jobs before doing the MSc and have found that I have been offered an interview for most positions applied for since completing the course. I also feel that the course content has been really beneficial for my current role. Just some extra thoughts to pass on as the course can feel really overwhelming at times but it is definitely worth it.

Jessica Ward /  Clinical & Health Psychology MSc graduate