Whether you're an aspiring clinical psychologist, researcher, or intellectually curious, enhance your understanding of the key clinical and professional knowledge and skills that lie at the heart of clinical psychology.
By studying the MSc Clinical Psychology at Kent, you will enhance your knowledge and critical understanding of mental health, explore psychological assessment, formulation, and intervention, and create your own clinical research to establish yourself in the field.
You'll learn from clinical experts with real-world experience, embracing the scientist-practitioner model. The course is co-designed by academics, professional clinical psychologists, students, and those with lived experience, ensuring you explore up-to-date developments that are relevant to real world practice.
Our course is designed to be engaging and experiential, and you'll have access to a signposting database to help you gain clinical experience. You will gain a deep understanding of the psychological models of clinical disorders, develop therapeutic skills, and build your confidence in working with individuals facing mental health challenges.
Finally, through a clinically relevant research project, you'll prepare for a future PhD or clinical psychology doctorate, which you’ll need to launch a career as a qualified clinical psychologist in the UK.
You must hold, or have applied for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership with the British Psychological Society (BPS). Please note that Graduate Membership of the BPS is not accepted.
You will normally have GBC status if you hold a Psychology honours degree accredited by the BPS. Otherwise, you can apply to have your existing degree assessed by the BPS, or take a conversion course. If you are not sure whether you hold GBC status, please contact the BPS directly.
A first or second class honours degree in a relevant subject or equivalent.
All applications are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.
An assessed piece of coursework must also be submitted as part of the application for review by the programme director. This piece of work should include the use of statistical analysis (a practical report or dissertation).
This programme includes a one-year statistics sequence which you must normally pass in order to receive your award. The teaching assumes that you are familiar with the following topics:
Therefore, your existing degree transcript should note that you have taken and passed a minimum of one term each in statistics and social science research methods courses (or two terms of a joint statistics and research methods course). A British Psychological Society-accredited degree will likely meet this requirement. Applicants with other degrees may be asked to provide additional evidence of training in statistics.
All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.
Please see our International Student website for entry requirements by country and other relevant information. Due to visa restrictions, students who require a student visa to study cannot study part-time unless undertaking a distance or blended-learning programme with no on-campus provision.
This course requires a Good level of English language, equivalent to B2 on CEFR.
Details on how to meet this requirement can be found on our English Language requirements webpage.
Examples:
IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component
PTE Academic 63 with a minimum of 59 in each sub-test
A degree from a UK university
A degree from a Majority English Speaking Country
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
The modules below are indicative of those offered on this programme. This list is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
You must take all compulsory modules and select two modules from the list of optional modules.
How can research methods and statistics answer advanced research questions in psychology? As a postgraduate student, this module will deepen your ability to answer research questions such as how children improve in their skills year on year, whether a given training module improves the ability to correctly identify faces, or what factors predict prejudice in the workplace. You will learn about the logic of qualitative analysis and the many different forms it takes, and gain a firmer understanding of quantitative analysis, sampling, and statistical inference. In preparation for understanding and conducting research, you will learn advanced insights about correlational and experimental methods to understand relationships, causes and effects among variables. Building on this understanding, you will learn in-depth how simple correlations underlie understanding of multiple regression and its assumptions, and how regression in turn supports the general linear model, which is key to the other advanced topics taught in the module. The teaching will keep up-to-date with the latest advances in open science and transparent reporting of evidence. We will also use open-source software to support practical lessons and assessments in data analysis, so that you can produce as well as understand the techniques being taught. Reporting your results through writing in APA style and appropriate data visualisation is an important skill that you will learn for a variety of analyses. There is also a special focus upon learning how to identify which analysis technique is right for any given statistical problem.
Accurately measuring people’s psychological attributes, for example, their personality, abilities and performance is a key goal in quantitative research, educational testing, and organisational selection. In this module, you will gain a postgraduate-level foundation in the theory of psychological tests, measurements, and modelling. You will learn the concepts, methods, and computational techniques needed to effectively evaluate and apply standardised measures in clinical, organisational, educational and research settings. You will be introduced to the fundamental principles of Classical Test Theory such as ‘true score’ and ‘error of measurement’, and key techniques needed for evaluating reliability and validity of test scores. The module covers factor analysis in depth, as a core method to evaluate what the test measures. It also introduces ‘measurement by modelling’ using a Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) framework. Within this framework, you will learn techniques for multivariate data analysis such as path analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, basic longitudinal analysis and multiple-group analysis. You will explore data analysis applications from various fields of behavioural studies, and learn how to model/test statistically complex phenomena such as spurious and indirect effects, growth and change, measurement invariance, and others.
You will gain a deeper knowledge of the profession of clinical psychology and what characterises psychological problems. The module will provide an understanding of core clinical skills, as well as the importance of using reflective practice and clinical supervision. Students will gain an in-depth understanding of different types of psychological problems and mental health disorders across the lifespan, as well as approaches to assessment and formulation. The module will also help enhance students enhance their understanding of the key clinical and professional skills and ethical issues that lie at the heart of Clinical Psychology. The module will also provide students with an opportunity to think about how to work well within a team and how to reflect upon their own experiences.
This module will take you through the journey of psychological intervention from receiving a referral letter, to assessment, to formulation and the beginning of intervention. The module will provide you with an understanding of core generic clinical skills, and you will learn how appropriate assessments are conducted using a range of methodologies and considering a variety of factors. You will learn about formulation and how this is used to inform psychological interventions. You will also be introduced to key techniques and strategies used in psychological interventions. You will gain an understanding of psychological interventions for certain psychological problems, and knowledge of assessing and working with risk, as well as cognitive assessments and neuropsychology. The module will include sessions focusing on cross-cultural factors, sociocultural factors, service-user perspectives and critical perspectives.
Research forms the cornerstone of how we solve psychological problems. You will identify a burning question from a range of psychological sub-disciplines and design a research study that addresses the question using appropriate methodologies. This module will give you the skills to conduct research and communicate research in various forms. You will have the unique opportunity to conduct your research project under the supervision of experts across a range of psychological sub-disciplines. The skills learned in this module will prepare you for the completion of your dissertation and future as psychologists.
Students who have not completed an undergraduate degree in psychology work individually or in groups to identify a gap in the literature, design a study to fill that gap, collect data where appropriate and write up their findings. This work will be an opportunity to use all the research skills they have developed over this programme of study. Students will have an academic member of staff as a Project Supervisor. The area of research students work on will depend on their interests and those of their selected supervisor.
What are the underlying cognitive and brain processes that enable us to make sense of, and interact with, the world around us? How are these processes affected by injury and disease, and what can we learn about cognition from cases of neurological damage? This module with provide you with in-depth understanding of several different domains of neuropsychology, focusing on current research on the relationship between mind and brain in healthy individuals and patients with disordered brain function. Within each domain, we will consider theory and empirical evidence, research methodology, and clinical applications. The knowledge you gain on this module will provide a comprehensive foundation for both further research in the area as well as neuropsychology-related professions.
How does Developmental Psychology inform the work of clinical psychologists and other professionals who work directly with children? In this module you will learn how developmental psychology can be applied in professional settings (e.g clinical, education, healthcare, etc.) involving children and young people. You will receive lectures from clinical psychologists, educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, etc. These professionals will discuss with you the role developmental psychology plays in their professional settings, outline major theories that inform practice, and critically evaluate the role of developmental psychology in their work. Through Case Studies, you will have the opportunity to hear about specific instances where theories and methods from developmental psychology can be applied to a particular problem/issue in a professional setting with children and young people.
Current estimates suggest that up to 1 in 4 children are neurodiverse or experience some form of psychopathology, yet these children are often overlooked in our understanding of development. In this module, you’ll uncover the complexities behind common (neuro)developmental disorders and emotional/behavioural issues that arise in infancy, childhood, and adolescence. You’ll gain a deep understanding of how these disorders manifest and explore their potential psychological, neurobiological, and genetic or environmental causes. You’ll also examine key clinical approaches to supporting individuals with these challenges and learn how to evaluate research on developmental psychopathology, giving you the tools to critically assess study findings, theories, and methodologies. By the end of the module, you’ll be prepared to engage with this field on a deeper, more informed level.
What role do sensory and motor systems play in human cognition? In this module you will survey cutting edge research on their role as well as Tlearningabout the relations between brain, mind and body from physiological, experimental, philosophical, linguistic, and neuroscientific perspectives. You will learn about areas such as sensorimotor interactions, interoception, brain plasticity, body representation, body ownership, the sense of agency, influence of the vestibular system on the self-consciousness, as well as embodied cognition. Implications for cognition, social behaviour and clinical conditions will be emphasised. At the end of this module you will be able to critically read and analyse articles of scientific journals, cleary and coicisely communicate your own ideas and discuss advanced methodological and theoretical topics in cognitive psychology/neuroscience.
How does cognition change as we get older? Is the pattern of cognitive change in advanced age comparable across cognitive domains such as executive functioning, memory, and social cognition? How are these changes reflected in changes at the level of brain structure and function? Finally, how can we understand pathological ageing conditions such as Alzheimer’s Disease and Frontotemporal Dementia from a neuropsychological and cognitive neuroscientific perspective? In this module you will learn about different theories of cognitive ageing and apply these to understanding healthy and pathological ageing and critiquing evidence on methods of slowing or preventing the ageing process. Additionally you will learn from individuals with pathological ageing conditions and also how clinical psychology/clinical neuropsychology benefits from ageing research and provides tailored assessments and therapies for older adults.
Why do we study the brain? This module will provide you a coherent foundation for understanding the biological bases of human behaviour and on how different cognitive processes are instantiated in the brain. You will learn how to critically appraise the contribution of the various disciplines that comprise cognitive psychology and neuropsychology to our understanding of the human mind and behaviour. You will achieve this while by studying some of the methodological and theoretical issues that are currently considered important in the study of cognitive psychology and neuropsychology such as body perception, emotion, memory and psychopathology.
How do we learn to think, reason, and understand others as we grow? In this module, you will explore groundbreaking research in cognitive development, examining how key cognitive and social-cognitive functions change throughout childhood and the unique psychological methods used to study them. By the end of this module, you’ll be equipped to critically assess research findings, understand the conceptual foundations, and analyse the strengths and limitations of various methodologies. Equipped with these advanced skills, you’ll have the tools to propose your own original research project on a topic that sparks your curiosity.
The programme includes lecture, workshop and seminar-based teaching, as well as an individually supervised empirical research project.
Advanced Statistics and Methodology is assessed by examination. All other taught modules are assessed by written work and presentations. Research is assessed by two articles: one empirical paper and one review article on your chosen topic.
For course aims and learning outcomes please see the course specification.
The School has excellent facilities for both laboratory and field research, including advanced laboratory and teaching facilities. Resources include:
Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books. Among others, they have recently contributed to: Journal of Experimental Social Psychology; Journal of Personality and Social Psychology; Child Development; Clinical Psychology Review. Details of recently published books can be found within the staff research interests.
All students registered for a taught Master's programme are eligible to apply for a place on our Global Skills Award Programme. The programme is designed to broaden your understanding of global issues and current affairs as well as to develop personal skills which will enhance your employability.
Our postgraduate students commonly go into the fields of health, teaching or further education. For instance, many of our graduates take up roles as assistant psychologists in the NHS with a view to becoming a professional clinical or forensic psychologist. Upon completing our Master’s courses, graduates have also pursued doctoral study and academic careers at higher education institutions, so if you want to practice as a clinical psychologist in the UK, this MSc programme is a great first step before studying for your doctorate and starting professional practice.
The programmes we offer help you to develop general critical, analytic and problem-solving skills that can be applied in a wide range of settings.
All of our taught Master’s (MSc) programmes have been recognised by the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as meeting the nationally recognised criteria for preparation training for PhD research.
The 2025/26 annual tuition fees for this course are:
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy. If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk.
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy. If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk.
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Next steps
Learn more about the application process or begin your application by clicking on a link below.
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