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Undergraduate study
clinical psychology degree, clinical psychology bsc hons

Psychology with Clinical Psychology (with Foundation Year) BSc (Hons)

Help people heal. Study clinical psychology and understand the complexities of mental and physical health problems, considering ethics and professional conduct.

 

C804 BSc/PCPFY

Course routes:

 
  • Study at the top North East uni for student experience (Teaching Excellence Framework 2023).
 

Course overview

Accredited

You study core psychology modules, alongside specific clinical psychology related modules to develop a deeper understanding of the more challenging sides of human experience, from working with mental health difficulties, dementia and suicide, to the impact of trauma and bullying. You explore how a person’s history can impact on their present day, and also how to help alleviate their distress.

You develop relevant clinical skills relevant to careers in sectors including education, housing, mental health services, housing, charities, or to further study on our Doctorate courses.

Clinical skills are developed by assessment (including administering tests and interviewing patients), how to make sense of a patient’s story, to resolve some of their clinical issues and how to develop an evidence-based treatment plan.

You matter – and will be part of a community which encourages you to find your voice to make a valued and meaningful contribution, with professional and personal supervision, and support specific to your needs.

This course includes a foundation year - ideal if you need additional preparation or if you don't have sufficient grades to join Year 1 of a degree.

Top reasons to study this course

  • Skills for the future: 90% of applied psychology students agreed that their course has developed the knowledge and skills they think they will need for their future (National Student Survey 2024, tees.ac.uk/source).
  • Focus on a personal interest or specialism for your research project such as eating disorders, addictions, homelessness and young people’s mental health.
  • You will be taught by qualified practitioner psychologists with professional experience of working with people with mental health difficulties
  • You learn how to work with people across the lifespan, including adults, children, older adults and people with learning disabilities
  • Opportunities for work experience or a work-related learning project, including Volun-tees. These credits can help you make employment decisions and provide real world experience to include on your CV.

Download pdf Order prospectus

 

Course details

Course structure

Foundation year core modules

 

Year 1 core modules

Critical Thinking about Psychology

This module provides students with many of the skills needed to critically evaluate psychological theories and studies. It uses examples from psychology to highlight the common errors that people make when assessing arguments and evaluating evidence.

The module provides step-by-step guidance on how to overcome widespread mistakes and how to construct logical, balanced and coherent arguments. The module also requires students to assess the validity of a number of extraordinary claims, such as parapsychology, alternative medicine, astrology and mediumship. Students will be encouraged to be open-minded, yet require appropriate standards of proof when evaluating such claims.

Human Development and Social Psychology

You gain an understanding of two of the five core areas of study specified by the British Psychological Society (BPS): developmental psychology and social psychology. You consider theoretical and empirical work within human development and social psychology and are introduced to ethics in psychology, psychological research skills and report writing.

Introduction to Clinical Psychology

You are introduced to the field of clinical psychology and the roles, responsibilities and ethics which underpin it. You gain an introductory knowledge of the roles of a clinical psychologist. This includes an awareness of formulation, ethics, and working across the lifespan. Lectures focus on the four core areas in clinical psychology work: adult, child, older adult and learning disabilities. You are also offered the opportunity to learn about the changing role of the clinical psychologist, in terms of delivering team-based interventions, training and supervision, and working as part of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT). Throughout the module, you develop an understanding of the importance of evidence-based practice, drawing upon relevant literature to support your work on the module.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

You are introduced to the field of mental health and wellbeing. The module includes discussion of key theories and specific conditions which are amenable to psychological intervention. Brief introductions are given to different therapeutic approaches, medical, social and resilience-based models of mental health and wellbeing. You are given the opportunity to participate in weekly discussion workshops/taster sessions, where topics from the lecture are considered in more depth. During discussion groups you have the opportunity to work on your interpersonal and group management skills using a compassion focused approach to group skills management.

Psychobiology, Cognition and Individual Differences

You gain an understanding of three of the five core areas of study specified by the British Psychological Society (BPS): biological psychology, cognitive psychology and individual differences. You consider theoretical and empirical work within biological and developmental psychology and individual differences and also develop psychological research skills and report writing in more depth to provide you with the skills necessary to plan, conduct and report psychological research.

Psychological Research Design and Analysis 1

Providing a foundation in psychological research methods and analysis, this module covers a range of experimental and non-experimental methodological approaches.

You are introduced to the Windows SPSS package for statistical analysis and graph drawing, and you learn about simple qualitative research and data collection methods.

The module covers ethics in research, qualitative and quantitative methods, survey design, simple non-experimental and experimental designs, reliability and validity, probability, hypothesis testing, descriptive data analysis, simple non-parametric and parametric statistical analysis and research report writing.

By the end of the module, you’ll be able to identify the appropriate method for a range of research questions, analyse the resulting data and draw appropriate conclusions.

 

Year 2 core modules

Applied Research in Psychology

The module continues to foster advanced research design and analysis, building on the Conducting Research in Psychology module. It will facilitate the further development of knowledge and skills in using advanced research designs, including the use of quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques. Module content includes conceptual issues in advanced research designs, focusing on experimental and quasi-experimental quantitative research designs, planning of sample size, quantitative data analysis (ANOVA and ANCOVA), and advanced qualitative research techniques.

Biological and Social Psychology

The module is divided into two halves: biopsychology and social psychology. Biological, neurological and social explanations for a series of identified psychological topics are explored, as well as introducing the concept of evolutionary explanations for human behaviour and the scientific approach to the study of our social behaviour.

You are required to complete a two-hour unseen written examination for your assessment on this module.

Clinical Skills in Psychology

You are introduced to the skills needed when working as an assistant psychologist or in low intensity psychological roles. The module focuses on an introduction to the theory and skills around psychological assessment, including conducting interviews, using self-report scales and introduction to psychometric assessment. It also introduces basic models of formulation and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) based interventions. Sessions run as three hour workshops to allow sufficient flexibility to introduce new material/techniques and demonstrate practical skills. The module develops formative skills around assessment, formulation and intervention, appropriate for the level of study and potential future roles. 

This module does not turn you into a qualified practitioner psychologist. Rather, students completing the module will be psychology undergraduate students who possess awareness of basic clinical skills. Skills developed in this module should only be used in practice under the supervision of an appropriately qualified practitioner psychologist or clinical team.

Conducting Research in Psychology

The module deals with advanced research design and analysis, building on the module Research Design and Analysis 1. It facilitates the development of knowledge and skills in using advanced research designs, including the use of quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques. Module content includes conceptual issues in advanced research designs, a focus on non-experimental/correlational quantitative research designs, regression techniques, assessment design and qualitative data collection and analysis.

Development, Cognitive Processes and Disorders

This module is delivered in two parts. In the first half, competing perspectives, contemporary debates, historical perspectives and applied topics within developmental psychology are studied using a lifespan perspective. In the second half, a range of cognitive processes are discussed in relation to both healthy and disordered functioning, drawing evidence from experimental psychology, neuropsychological case studies and cognitive neuroscience perspectives.

Psychopathologies and Individual Differences

You develop a knowledge and understanding of psychopathologies and individual differences in psychology. In addition, you develop skills in psychometric measurement and an in-depth knowledge of these areas along with the necessary skills to distinguish between theories and critically evaluate them.

 

Final-year core modules

Clinical Psychology, Diversity and Complexity

This module further develops your awareness of the wider roles that clinical psychologists play in practice and develop skills around service evaluation and audit. The module builds upon existing knowledge of working with clients across the lifespan, to consider the adaptation of interventions to specialist populations. You are given the opportunity to reflect on issues around health inequalities and diversity, including power and service user involvement.

This is a 10-credit module.

Employability and Work-Related Learning

You develop your graduate skills in preparation for employment in a professional context. You have the opportunity to gain academic credit based on your participation in work experience, a short period of professional activity or work-related learning relevant to the discipline or area of professional interest. You develop an understanding of graduate employment pathways, opportunities, reflective practice and experiential learning. The core focus of the module will be helping you prepare for a graduate career, developing an understanding of professional working contexts and enabling you to identify and evidence your own graduate skills.

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Issues in Psychology

This module is aimed to introduce students to a number of debates in applied psychology. The module content is aimed to meet learning needs of students interested in aspects of applied psychology and to foster self-directed learning.

Psychology Dissertation

The module provides you with an opportunity to apply your learning from earlier modules by conducting a self-initiated, substantial data driven research project in a specific area of interest. You demonstrate your skills in data collection, analysis, interpretation and communication of findings of an empirical piece of research.

Psychology in Clinical Practice

You examine some of the areas of work of practitioner psychologists, structured around the core competencies inherent in training to become a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society. You engage with professional and ethical issues inherent in the design and development of research, training, consultancy and interventions in clinical settings, and are introduced to the requirements of postgraduate study in psychology.

Completion of this module does not provide eligibility for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society.

 

Modules offered may vary.

 

How you learn

Teaching is delivered using a range of lectures, seminars and laboratory classes. We emphasise study skills so you learn how to use all our extensive facilities such as electronic journals, virtual learning environments and computer programs. You also have access to our computer suites and specialist laboratories where you develop practical skills in the investigation of human behaviour.

How you are assessed

Our varied assessments develop the skills most valued by employers and are reviewed annually. They include essays, exams, group and individual presentations, poster presentations, portfolios and a dissertation.



Our Disability Services team provide an inclusive and empowering learning environment and have specialist staff to support disabled students access any additional tailored resources needed. If you have a specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism, sensory impairment, chronic health condition or any other disability please contact a Disability Services as early as possible.
Find out more about our disability services

Find out more about financial support
Find out more about our course related costs

 

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

A typical offer is 32-64 tariff points from at least two A levels, T level or equivalent, and GCSE grade 4 (grade C) or equivalent in English and maths.

For general information please see our overview of entry requirements

International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country


You can gain considerable knowledge from work, volunteering and life. Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credit for this which can be credited towards the course you want to study.
Find out more about RPL

 

Employability

Career opportunities

Although this is an academic course rather than a professional training course, the skills and knowledge developed are particularly suited to prepare you for postgraduate study to begin your journey to become a Chartered Psychologist in any area of psychology. To work towards a career as a chartered psychologist you need to complete BPS and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) recognised qualifications at postgraduate level. You can also enter a broad range of careers including health and social welfare, voluntary organisations and the public sector.

All programmes are designed to incorporate employability skills development alongside your degree. Our staff use their extensive connections to provide many and varied opportunities to engage with potential employers through fairs, guest lecture sessions, live projects and site visits. We also offer a series of workshops and events in the first, second and third years that equip you with both degree level subject knowledge plus the practical skills that employers are looking for in new graduate recruits.

 

Information for international applicants

Qualifications

International applicants - find out what qualifications you need by selecting your country below.

Select your country:

  
 

Useful information

Visit our international pages for useful information for non-UK students and applicants.

Talk to us

Talk to an international student enrolment adviser

 
 

Professional accreditation

The British Psycholigical Society Accredited

This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society.

Other course routes

Full-time

Entry to 2025-26 academic year

Fee for UK applicants
£9,535 a year

* Subject to passing of legislation expected in early 2025.

More details about our fees

Fee for international applicants
£17,000 a year

More details about our fees for international applicants


What is included in your tuition fee?

  • Length: 4 years
  • UCAS code: C804 BSc/PCPFY
  • Start date: September
  • Semester dates
  • Typical offer: 32-64 points

Apply online (full-time) through UCAS

 

Part-time

  • Not available part-time
 

Choose Teesside

 
 
 

Psychology

Studying Psychology at the School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law gives you access to outstanding facilities, including eye-trackers, EEG and Near-infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS). You also get to use specialist interviewing labs and our replica courtroom.

 

Get in touch

UK students

Email: ssshladmissions@tees.ac.uk

Telephone: 01642 738801


Online chat (general enquiries)

International students

Email: internationalenquiries@tees.ac.uk

Telephone: +44 (0) 1642 738900


More international contacts

 

Open days and events

Sat

18

Jan

Undergraduate open day

9.00am - 3.00pm

On campus


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