Curious about studying Clinical Psychology Professional Doctorateat University of Staffordshire? We've gathered all the key details—entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Hear from real students by checking out reviews, or take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
Professional Doctorate
Stoke-on-Trent Campus
Full Time
Sep 2026
1 Year
Our professional doctorate represents a unique blend of academic study, clinical experience and research which will enable you to qualify as a registered Clinical Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).An important strand running through the course is the impact of society upon psychological wellbeing. We encourage you to be alert to and involved in the wider context of changing health, social and economic needs of the population.The teaching elements of the course are closely linked to the work you’ll be doing in your clinical placements and your research activities. The links between theory, practice and personal development are developed through a strong emphasis on reflective practice.The course has been commended by the British Psychological Society (BPS) for the high regard in which the course team and its students are held by NHS stakeholders and service users who play an active role in its development and implementation.Upon successful completion of the course, you’ll be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council and membership of the Division of Clinical Psychology in the BPS.The course is a partnership between Staffordshire University, the NHS and practising clinical psychologists in Shropshire and Staffordshire. As a trainee clinical psychologist, under current funding arrangements, you’ll be employed full-time by one of two local NHS Trusts.
In this module you will undertake a piece of real world audit and evaluation within the service with which you have an employment (or honorary employment) contract. You will work collaboratively with your training colleagues and service heads to produce a comprehensive and meaningful service audit and or evaluation. You will learn about a range of leadership styles and be able to apply them to your own practice. You will be required to take on a leadership role in relation to at least one clear element of a service evaluation. To help you to identify areas of good practice you will participate in a series of workshops where clinical psychologists will share areas of good (and challenging) practice within the region.
This module will examine the philosophical underpinnings of research approaches and the challenges of conducting ethically sound and practically relevant research by psychologists within clinical contexts under experimental and non-experimental conditions. The module will introduce the critical appraisal of evidence, with reference to standardised appraisal tools such as CASP and PRISM. A range of research designs and methods will be introduced, including qualitative and quantitative designs, participatory approaches such as action research, and wider designs such as Q methodology and repertory grid technique. The use of 'industry standard' statistical software such as SPSS will be introduced.
The module includes a range of teaching methods, for example, lectures, workshops, group-work, role plays and guided reading to introduce and facilitate trainees understanding of critical perspectives on psychological theories and models. Actual (anonymised) case study material will be drawn on in order to illustrate real life clinical examples thus making the teaching more concordant with the clinical work you will undertake on placementThe teaching will focus on psychological assessment, formulation and interventions across client groups and settings, for example, child, learning disability, adult, older adult Teaching will also consider assessment, formulation and interventions during periods of transition for people across the lifespan You will be introduced to cognitive behavioural (CBT), systemic and psychodynamic models, as well as giving consideration to working with models in a more flexible and reflexive way based on the client group, complexity of presenting difficulties and evidence base Introductory teaching workshops will focus on the importance of the therapeutic relationship, core conditions for supporting its development and engagement skills. Skills workshops will also be utilised to facilitate and consolidate trainees therapeutic skills, for example, building rapport with a client, communicating sensitive information, using formulation in therapy.
In this module you will learn about the regulatory frameworks and professional guidance that informs the work of clinical psychologists. You will identify how such guidance is applied in clinical settings and take a critical approach to understanding such frameworks. You will consider issues that impact upon your professional development and learn how to integrate safe and ethical principles of working into your practice. You will be required to reflect on your practice. You will also learn about group processes and team working and consider ways to communicate within teams. To help support your reflection and application of these things you will be required to engage in group working and problem based learning tasks.
This module will require you to gain an introductory and basic level understanding of the nine overarching competencies, as specified by the Committee for Training in Clinical Psychology, through engagement in clinical practice placements across the year. The nine competencies are:-Generalisable meta-competencies-Psychological Assessment-Psychological Formulation-Psychological Intervention-Evaluation-Research-Personal and Professional Skills and Values-Communication and Teaching-Organisational and Systemic Influence and Leadership
This module will require you to gain an intermediate-level acquisition of the nine overarching competencies, as specified by the Committee for Training in Clinical Psychology, through engagement in clinical practice placements across the year. The nine competencies are:-Generalisable meta-competencies-Psychological Assessment-Psychological Formulation-Psychological Intervention-Evaluation-Research-Personal and Professional Skills and Values-Communication and Teaching-Organisational and Systemic Influence and Leadership
In this module you will be taught about at least two psychological models, looking specifically at the psychological processes present in therapy. You will learn about assessment across a range of specialist services, neuropsychological, learning disability and older adults. Specialist lecturers will demonstrate ways that they go on to formulate clinical problems and work collaboratively with service users to develop psychological interventions.
Teaching includes a mix of lectures, workshops and computer laboratory sessions. Research topics, process, governance, ethics, and advanced statistical and qualitative methods and techniques will be explained, discussed and explored/practised. Research approaches included will be questionnaire design and analysis, multiple regression, analysis of variance, single n designs, narrative or discourse analysis, IPA and grounded theory. Advanced research governance will be covered by means of mandatory Good Clinical Practice training (certificated).There will be focused teaching around conducting a systematic literature search and conducting/ writing a literature review.
In this module you will undertake a single case design based on methods developed in psychological and behavioural research. The module will introduce you to a range of complex models of formulation and intervention for people with complex needs who are hard to reach through traditional services. You will learn how to apply single case methodology collaboratively and systematically with people to ensure that your interventions are ethically sound and that you can take responsive action to ensure that you are not placing people at risk of further harm. Within clinical workshops trainees will use generic psychological meta-competences to apply psychological methods to complex casework. You will learn how write up n=1 designs and how to use single case methodology in practice as a method of ensuring that people receive high quality clinical services, based on their individual needs.
This module will require you to gain an enhanced-level acquisition of the nine overarching competencies, as specified by the Committee for Training in Clinical Psychology, through engagement in clinical practice placements across the year. The nine competencies are:-Generalisable meta-competencies-Psychological Assessment-Psychological Formulation-Psychological Intervention-Evaluation-Research-Personal and Professional Skills and Values-Communication and Teaching-Organisational and Systemic Influence and Leadership.
This module focuses on the practical process of conducting research within the NHS, social care and related clinical settings, with a particular focus on relevance and application to clinical psychology. Dedicated workshops are held on writing the research report to the standard required for submission to a peer reviewed journal; writing an executive summary/practice report, presenting material orally, and on preparing material for publication. Attention will also be given to the use of research supervision and to the oral defence of the thesis.
Fees are currently paid by Health Education England.
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