Curious about studying PG Diploma (Postgraduate Diploma) Theoretical and Practical Clinical Neuropsychologyat University of Bristol? 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.
Postgraduate Diploma
Clifton Campus
Full Time
Jan 2027
1 Year
Our professional programmes in clinical neuropsychology are delivered in partnership with North Bristol NHS Trust. Our clinical programmes aim to engage and inspire clinicians to enhance their skills in clinical neuropsychology and support entry onto the BPS Specialist Register of Clinical Neuropsychologists (SRCN). This diploma supports the adult knowledge and practice component of the competency requirements for advanced training in clinical neuropsychology. This diploma is similar to our MSc in Clinical Neuropsychology and delivers both knowledge component (adult only) and practice component required for entry to the SRCN. However, it allows you to bring forward learning and case experience from your DClinPsych to streamline and accelerate the postdoctoral training required to enter the SRCN. To be eligible to apply to this degree, you must be studying a DClinPsych at a UK University which has a collaborative agreement with the University of Bristol. Around 80% of the taught content is delivered by practising clinicians. You will learn about a range of neuropsychological disorders and pathologies, as well as focusing on principles of assessment, formulation and rehabilitation. To accrue relevant clinical experience for the practice component of this degree, it's your responsibility to secure paid employment within a neuropsychology service during your enrolment in the diploma. It's also your responsibility to secure supervision for your work when enrolled on the course. However, we provide additional oversight and support towards developing your case portfolio and helping to ensure that your clinical experience demonstrates the required competencies for entry to the SRCN. This support is provided by clinicians on the SRCN and offers opportunities for feedback on case reports, including a practice viva experience, a mid-study review of progress and regular formulation workshops to facilitate peer discussion of cases and conceptual issues relevant to neuropsychological practice.
Students attend peer-delivered evidence based reviews of the literature linking theoretical issues to applications in neuropsychological practice and/or critically appraising an aspect of neuropsychological practice on the basis of recent evidence and/or delivering a case presentation which describes evidence-based assessment of a patient. Students are expected to engage in constructive debate of papers/cases which they observe being delivered by their peers and are also required to give an assessed presentation (30 minutes) and deal effectively with questions from assessors and those posed by peers. The core of the review will focus upon a specific published neuropsychological paper or published assessment technique or experience of a specific patient or review a clinical case report which focuses upon a single patient. Assessed presentations must also include a thorough critical analysis which draws additional theory and evidence from sources beyond the content of the focus article/patient case review. Papers for presentation will be selected by the programme team and the choice will be guided by requirements of the BPS syllabus for the Qualification in Clinical Neuropsychological Knowledge Dimension syllabus. The aims are to assist in the development of (1) critical appraisal skills and appreciation of evidence-based practice within clinical neuropsychology, (2) the development of the capacity for continued self-directed professional development, (3) the development of academic and professional writing skills via examination of a range of peer-reviewed papers.
This unit comprises two components described as ?Part A - Issues in Neuropsychology? and ?Part B - Functional neuroanatomy and neuroscience methods?. Part A: Issues in Neuropsychology. Students will develop an understanding of the psychological and neuropsychological impact of living with a neurological disease or disability. The unit will help students understand the common themes of grief, adjustment, depression, anxiety, disability and coping as they pertain to specific neurological diseases and acquired brain injury. The unit will help students to understand abnormal reactions to illness and disability including malingering, factitious disorder, somatoform disorder and conversion disorder. Students will be encouraged to appreciate the wider systemic and psychosocial effects of neurological illness including the effects on an individual?s family, work life, social life and quality of life. Students will be helped to understand rehabilitation and psychological treatment options across different conditions and at different stages of chronic diseases. Throughout the unit, moral, ethical and legal aspects of clinical practice will be considered. Part B: Functional neuroanatomy and neuroscience methods. Part B has two central aims. First, it reviews the functional neuroanatomy of the human brain, and thus provides an absolute core set of knowledge for Neuropsychology. Second, the Unit gives a comprehensive review of the major techniques and methods employed to study the human brain (since these provide information about function at various levels in the brain). These techniques will allow students to appreciate the theoretical interpretation of both spatial and temporal aspects of cerebral activity. The unit will cover the entire brain and will not simply focus upon structures typically associated with higher-order cognitive function.
This unit comprises two components described as ?Part A - Clinical Neuropsychology in Practice? and ?Part B - Theoretical Neuropsychology?. Part A: Clinical Neuropsychology in Practice Part A seeks to provide students with a detailed understanding of a diverse range of issues connected to clinical neuropsychology in practice. One component of the teaching provides students with taught content provided by subject matter experts across a range of medically relevant disciplines (e.g. neurosurgery, neurophysiology, dementia, epilepsy, movement disorders, sleep disorders, radiology, MRI). Candidates can discuss and probe the experts? roles and knowledge and in particular explore how these various related disciplines interface with the role of a clinical neuropsychologist in a day to day medical context. Part B: Theoretical Neuropsychology Part B focuses upon key theoretical issues within Neuropsychology. The Unit involves weekly lectures, and each focuses upon a basic function (e.g. attention, memory, emotion) while also focusing upon a major neuropsychological syndrome that is related to that function (e.g. neglect, emotional disorders). This means that students will learn both about theories of brain function and about particular syndromes that might be typically observed following various kinds of brain damage or dysfunction. The Unit will involve coverage of both cortical and subcortical function and will emphasise system-wide contributions to integrated cognition and behaviour.
This unit requires students to give presentations of a specific clinical case indicating symptoms/reasons for referral, assessment of accompanying medical reports, details of neuropsychological tests administered (and why), implications of the test results, inferences and formulations concerning the patient presentation (including differential diagnosis where relevant), consideration of other factors relevant to patient (e.g. socio-economic, family problems, existence of parallel conditions or pre-conditions), suggestions for therapeutic interventions (and their assessment when tried), details of long term follow up, recommendations for treatment and assessment of treatment regimes.
This unit aims to provide clinicians with support to meet the BPS Qualification in Clinical Neuropsychology Practice Dimension which includes assessment of supervised practice. Supervised practice is the experiential process designed to develop a candidate?s knowledge and skills so that s/he is competent to practise independently as a clinical neuropsychologist. Supervised practice builds upon the academic components of the QICN by requiring the development and demonstration of practical skills in applied settings.
This course aims to provide students with an understanding of the effects of brain damage / disease across the life span. Students will develop an understanding of the principles of biological recovery from brain damage and will experience critical analysis of evidence concerning methods of rehabilitation for acquired neuropsychological disabilities caused by neurological disease / brain damage. Students will be exposed to a variety of perspectives on rehabilitation following brain damage across the different phases following injury, including acute medical, acute rehabilitation, post-acute rehabilitation and social and work integration. Students will gain an understanding of the role of medical input in rehabilitation including pharmacological approaches to symptom management. Students will develop an understanding of contemporary approaches to cognitive rehabilitation, problematic behaviour management and the management of adjustment and emotional symptoms in rehabilitation. Students will develop an understanding of the need for, but complexities associated with, meaningfully evaluating outcome from rehabilitation intervention. Throughout the unit, moral, ethical and legal aspects of clinical practice will be considered.
Accommodation fee - Living expenses - As a guide, most students spend between £9,000 and £15,000 per year including accommodation.
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