Tizard Centre

Tizard Centre

About us

The Tizard Centre is at the forefront of research into autism, intellectual disability and community care. Celebrating our 25th anniversary in 2019, our work is highly influential and has helped to improve lives across the UK and internationally. 

Our pioneering approach dates back to our first Director, Jim Mansell who in 2012 was awarded a CBE. In 2013, the Centre received a Queen’s Anniversary Prize in recognition of its outstanding work in the field.  

We aim to share our expertise via study programmes and research projects. The Centre has strong links with health and social care organisations and many students come to Tizard thanks to a personal recommendation. We offer a wide range of postgraduate courses, designed to deepen your knowledge and give you the skills and confidence to make take the next step in your career and make a real change in the field. 

Postgraduate courses

See also 

"The Tizard Centre is about empowering individuals, respecting diversity and working for social justice."

Dr Serena Tomlinson - Senior Lecturer in Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities

Our mission

The Centre has an enduring commitment to social justice and our work is underpinned by values relating to anti-discriminatory practice, social equality and rights. We keep people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families as our main focus, and work enhancing the health, care and education systems surrounding them in proactive ways. This distinctive approach allows us to make a sustained positive difference to people's lives.

We are also pioneering in our focus on people with more complex needs. Our work includes deinstitutionalisation, support for people’s sexuality, supported employment, special education, autism and neurodiversity, and behaviours that challenge.

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If you'd like to be kept informed about the Tizard Centre's activities and research, please sign up to our mailing list.

A student in a lecture.

Research

The Tizard Centre is the leading UK academic group working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and those who support and care for them. It is known worldwide and has an international reputation of excellence. Members of the Centre are selected both for their academic record and for their practical experience in services and in supporting people and their families.  

Current research projects
PhD research projects
Students working at laptops
Nadia Kahn

I had a fantastic experience studying at the Tizard Centre. Lectures were always interesting and engaging

Nadia Khan, Positive Behaviour Support,
Read Nadia's profile

Consultancy

Our consultants are either staff who work within the Tizard Centre or highly-skilled professionals from external organisations who we have experience of working with. These include clinical psychologists, social workers and Tizard graduates (with a Master's or a PhD). All our external consultants are supervised by staff within the Tizard Centre.   

Find out more
Staff in consultancy

Tizard Learning Disability Review

The Tizard Learning Disability Review (TLDR), is a highly esteemed peer-reviewed journal specifically tailored to professionals working in the field of learning disabilities. Recognised for its readability and thought-provoking content, TLDR brings together the invaluable experiences and insights of managers, practitioners, academics, researchers, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and carers. The journal's primary focus is on applied research that directly benefits practitioners, offering them practical knowledge and innovative approaches to enhance their work. By providing a platform for diverse perspectives, TLDR fosters collaboration and encourages the sharing of best practices in the field of learning disabilities.

Read more

Tizard Practitioners’ Network

Open to professionals involved with our work as well as Tizard Centre students, past and present. 

As a member of the network, you will receive information about:

- Job opportunities
- Consultancy opportunities
- Requests for peer-to-peer support

Join our mailing list
A member of staff giving a lecture.

Jack Tizard

Jack Tizard (25 February 1919 – 2 August 1979) was a research psychologist, Professor of Child Development, Research Unit Director, an international adviser on learning disability and childcare, and a President of the British Psychological Society. 

He was among the first psychologists to undertake epidemiological research, study the learning potential of adults with learning disabilities experimentally, and promote the de-institutionalisation of people with learning disabilities. 

He was a great pioneer of the scientific approach to social policy, particularly in developing services for adults and children with learning difficulties. The influence of his work is evident to this day. Our research centre has been named after him to honour his contributions to improving the quality of life of people with learning disabilities. 

More information on Jack Tizard’s contributions can be found in Volume 10, Issue 1 of the Tizard Learning Disability Review

Image right By Jenny Tizard. CC BY-SA 4.0.

Jack Tizard

Postgraduate courses

  • Taught

    Applied Behaviour Analysis and Positive Behaviour Support - MSc

    location-sign Canterbury

    Aimed at recent graduates and experienced practitioners, this postgraduate qualification opens up a range of career opportunities. It also provides the necessary coursework for you to pursue professional certification in the field. This course can be studied in person, full-time or studied through distance learning either full-time or part-time.  

    Apply now
  • Taught

    Intellectual Disabilities and Autism - MA, PCert, PDip

    location-sign Canterbury

    This programme is an advanced professional development programme involving some or all of the following: distance learning; study workshops. Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Studies can be completed mainly by distance learning.

    Apply now
  • Research

    Applied Psychology - PhD

    location-sign Canterbury

    The Centre offers excellent opportunities for full or part-time research in intellectual disability and community care leading to higher degrees. The Tizard Centre has a strong track record of attracting University and ESRC research studentship funding.  

    Apply now
  • Research

    Community Care - MA, PhD

    location-sign Canterbury

    The Centre is at the forefront of learning and research in autism, intellectual disability and community care, and in 2013 received a Queen’s Anniversary Prize in recognition of its outstanding work in these areas.  

    Apply now
  • Research

    Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities - MA, PhD

    location-sign Canterbury

    The Centre offers excellent opportunities for full or part-time research in intellectual disability and community care leading to higher degrees. The Tizard Centre has a strong track record of attracting University and ESRC research studentship funding.  

    Apply now
  • Research

    Mental Health of People with Learning Disabilities - MA, PhD

    location-sign Canterbury

    The Tizard Centre offers excellent opportunities for full or part-time research in intellectual disability, community care and autism leading to higher degrees. The Centre has a strong track record of attracting research studentship funding.  

    Apply now