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Hull University Business School

Faculty of Health Sciences

MSc in Clinical Applications of Psychology

Postgraduate - Taught MSc

Open for admission in 2023/24

Start in September

Qualification Full time
MSc 1 year

About the course

The course prepares you for a variety of careers in mental health, including working as an assistant psychologist or a psychology wellbeing practitioner, or applying in the future to study for a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.

You will strengthen your research skills and learn what is required to practise professionally, although the programme does not in itself confer a licence to practise.

Students gain an understanding of the backdrop of current thinking on the nature of mental health, how to formulate problems based on social, psychological and neurological factors, and the best evidence-based interventions. You will learn how to apply this knowledge to treat a variety of mental health problems.

The teaching staff bring a depth of experience to this course which our students have always valued. The programme is enriched by our close working relationships with the Hull Clinical Psychology Training Programme, and with local health and social care services.

What you'll study

Study is full-time over one year and comprises two semesters of taught modules.

Students are taught how to design, plan and conduct mental health related research and how to evaluate papers, theories, findings and methods used in clinical psychology, psychiatry and other mental health related disciplines. Learning takes place in lectures, seminars, laboratories, practical exercises in communication and through directed personal study.

Core modules

All modules are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.


  • Theories of Mental Health

    This module will engage you in debate about key philosophical, theoretical, ethical and practical issues within contemporary mental health practice.

  • Research Methods for Postgraduates (Psychology)

    Learn both basic and advanced quantitative and qualitative methods, using a mixture of interactive lectures and hands-on practical workshops.

  • Psychological Interventions

    You'll be introduced to the evidence-based treatments most commonly used in mental health services, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Practical role-playing exercises help you gain experience and skill in managing an assessment session with a client, while student-led seminars focus on the evidence base for CBT and a range of other psychological therapies.

  • Case Studies in Mental Health

    ​You will be introduced to a variety of common mental health problems including mood disorders, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders and substance abuse. Using fictional case histories, you will develop skills at clinical formulation based in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, even when cases are complex and incomplete.​

  • Professional Practice and Communication Skills (Psychology)

    Explore the skills, issues, and topics surrounding professional and ethical practice and development in Psychology. You'll examine topics such as ethics in research and clinical practice, social media use, professional communication, writing and disseminating research, self-reflective professional evaluation and development, and data protection.

  • Mental Health in Practice

    Engage with a range of services that provide input to people who experience difficulties with their mental health or disability. This module allows you to gather knowledge of real-life settings and reflect on your skill development needs in line with the NHS knowledge and skills framework.

  • Empirical Dissertation

    Enhance your independent research skills for designing, planning, conducting, analysing and writing up a research project relevant to mental health. You'll develop your critical, in-depth knowledge of a specific area of mental health; and increase your academic analytical and writing skills.

Fees and funding

  • Home£11,550

UK students can take out a Masters Loan to help with tuition fees and living costs. For 2023 entry, they provide up to £12,167 for full-time and part-time taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas. Find out more about Postgraduate Loans.

  • International£14,000/year

International applicants may need to pay a tuition fee deposit before the start of the course. Visit our tuition fee deposit page for more information.

Please see the terms and conditions for International fees 2022/23

Graduate PGT Scholarship

The University of Hull is pleased to offer graduates progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate taught study a £1,000 scholarship towards the cost of their tuition fees.

Find out if you’re eligible by visiting the University of Hull Graduate PGT Scholarship page.

International Scholarships and Bursaries

For a list of all scholarships and bursaries for international students, please visit the International Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Scholarships and Bursaries

The University offers a range of scholarships to help you with your studies.

For more information, please visit the Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Our postgraduate programmes allow you to develop practical and technical skills under professional psychologists.

Research has wide links to local organisations, public representatives, charities, artists, clinicians and industry and is part of the White Rose Consortium.

Psychology has been a leading discipline of study at Hull since 1928.

Our cutting-edge facilities include electroencephalography (EEG) for measuring activity in the brain, a brain simulation laboratory, an eye-tracking laboratory, an audiometric laboratory, and much more.

Find out more

Entry requirements

You should have, or expect to obtain, a 2:2 Honours degree (or international equivalent) in psychology or a closely allied discipline. You should also have a minimum of 30 hours of paid or voluntary work experience relevant to the content of the programme. 

Applicants hoping to use the degree to support a future application to Clinical Psychology Training should note that such training courses generally require a 2:1 Honours British Psychological Society accredited degree and this MSc degree will not necessarily compensate for that requirement.

Applicants will be interviewed and take a statistics test before a decision is made.

Application deadlines

As this is a very popular programme and as places are limited, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.


In order to ensure our students have a rich learning and student experience, most of our programmes have a mix of domestic and international students. We reserve the right to close applications early to either group, if application volumes suggest that this blend cannot be achieved. In addition, existing undergraduate students at the University of Hull have a guaranteed ‘Fast Track’ route to any postgraduate programme, subject to meeting the entry criteria (excluding Social Work).

International students

Language requirements

If you require a student visa to study or if your first language is not English you must provide acceptable evidence of your English language proficiency level.

This course requires academic IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 5.5 in each skill. See other accepted English language proficiency qualifications.

If your English currently does not reach the required standard, you may be interested in our pre-sessional English Language programmes.

Visit your country page to find out more about entry requirements.

Future prospects

This course has been designed around the core competencies of clinical psychologists to enhance students’ progress towards becoming mental health practitioners. Students are introduced to core competencies and go on to a wide variety of relevant careers.

Our graduates have gone on to work as clinical psychologists in training, counselling psychologists in training, psychology wellbeing practitioners, assistant psychologists, research assistants, counsellors in primary care, and public health practitioners. Others have gone on to PhD study.

Many of our graduates choose to stay in the region and help to redress the relative lack of psychological input and services here, and tackle local issues of deprivation and inequality. Others have similar roles across the UK and indeed across the globe.

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