Clinical Psychology Doctorate
The length of programme registration will be longer as it includes the maximum writing-up phase. See further details on how research degrees are structured at Hull and thesis submission expectations.
This unique programme is an exclusive opportunity for BSc Psychology students at the universities of Hull and York to fast track their clinical psychology career, with their fees paid for them, and earning a salary while they train.
About our Clinical Psychology Doctorate
Unlike other universities, you don't need to take one or two years out after your degree to gain employment or voluntary experience before applying for doctorate in clinical psychology.
As long as you’ve successfully completed specialist clinical psychology modules in the third year of your psychology degree at Hull or York universities, you can apply.
Your week will be split between training on clinical placement over three days, and two days a week in academic teaching and research work.
Over a total of six placements, you’ll work across a range of teams and healthcare settings. You’ll work directly with clients and their families, under the supervision of qualified and experienced clinical psychologists. Working holistically, you’ll liaise with the teams and other professionals who are supporting clients.
You’ll develop psychological assessment and intervention skills, learn how to evaluate psychological services and outcomes, and build your research skills with your own project. You’ll also learn how to write papers for publication.
Employed by the NHS as a Trainee Clinical Psychologist, you’ll earn a salary and have your fees paid1. You’ll also get the same benefits as other members of NHS staff including a pension and access to the full range of wellbeing and continuous professional development support.1
The programme is accredited by the BPS, so when you graduate you can apply for Chartered Membership. It’s also HCPC approved. So you can apply to register to practise as a clinical psychologist after you’ve graduated.
Research topics
As part of the programme, you’ll dedicate two days per week to academic teaching and research. This includes developing core research skills through hands-on experience, culminating in your own research project. You’ll explore areas relevant to clinical psychology practice, such as psychological assessment, intervention, and service evaluation.
You’ll learn how to design and conduct research, critically evaluate evidence, and translate findings into practice. The programme also supports you in developing skills to write for publication, contributing to the wider body of psychological knowledge.
The Postgraduate Training Scheme
It is now widely recognised by employers, professional bodies and research funding agencies that specialist expertise alone is not sufficient preparation either for research or a subsequent career. With this in mind, we require all our postgraduate research students to follow a research training programme relating both to their particular field of study and to generic skills; for example, information technology and communication skills.
Programme structure
The Doctorate is a full time, three year programme. You will be expected to take responsibility for your own learning – with guidance and supervision – and you will have many opportunities to learn from and with your fellow trainees.
The Doctorate includes the following:
- Much of your teaching will be by NHS clinical psychologists, so your learning will be grounded in clinical practice.
- You will spend three days of each week on placement in a range of teams and health settings and two days a week on academic teaching and research work at the University of Hull.
- You will be working both directly with clients and their families and also with teams and other professionals who are supporting clients, under the supervision of qualified and experienced clinical psychologists.
- As a full time employee of Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust you will have the same benefits and responsibilities as other members of staff.
It is a legal requirement that anyone who wishes to practice using the protected title “Clinical Psychologist” is on the HCPC Register. The Hull Clinical Psychology Doctorate Course has full approval from the HCPC. Successful completion of this Course provides eligibility to apply for registration with the HCPC.
Entry Requirements
What do I need?
The Doctorate is only open to applications from students in the third year of the BSc Psychology at the University of Hull and the University of York.
Typical offer
2:1 in a relevant subject area
The Doctorate is only open to applications from students in the third year of the BSc Psychology at the University of Hull and the University of York.
Fees & Funding
How much is it?
Future prospects
There’s a strong demand for qualified clinical psychologists across the UK and this programme is a unique opportunity to enter the profession early.
Clinical psychologists work with a range of clients from children, young people and their families, to adults with mental health challenges, injuries, chronic ill-health and disabilities. And within a variety of clinical settings including hospitals, clinics, health centres and community teams.
Our graduates go on to a range of careers within the field including one-to-one psychological therapy, teaching and training, consultancy, forensic clinical psychology, service evaluation, research, supervision and clinical psychology leadership roles.
Ready to get started?
Like what you’ve seen? Then it’s time to apply.
Make your application online now, and our admissions team will get back to you as soon as possible to make you an offer.
Got questions? We've got answers.
We’ve time for you anytime. Call or email our postgraduate admissions team today, and we'll be happy to help you.
International student? Please use the link below to get in touch with our international team for answers and advice.
The National Health Service (NHS) currently provides the funding for most of the places on clinical psychology courses. People accepted on these NHS-funded places are currently employed by the NHS as Trainee Clinical Psychologists while they study. The starting salary is at the bottom of Band 6 on the Agenda for Change pay scale (please NHS Health Careers website for more information about NHS pay and benefits). Course fees are usually paid by the NHS.