School of Psychology 1

Three years full-time

Clinical Psychology Doctorate

Individually tailored training equipping

clinical psychologists for the challenges
of the future.

School of Psychology
2 School of Psychology
About the course
This is an integrated three-year course leading to a professional
qualification in Clinical Psychology (Clinical Psychology Doctorate)
and eligibility to apply for registration with the Health and Care
Professions Council.
Beginning in 1967 and producing over 500
qualified clinical psychologists, the Clinical
Psychology Doctorate has a long and
distinguished history at the School of
Psychology here at Birmingham. As well as
being based in a School ranked 3rd in the UK in
the last Research Assessment Exercise, the
course also benefits from being well integrated
with clinical psychology services in Birmingham,
Solihull and the Black Country where clinical
psychology is a strong and well-developed
profession. Local clinicians sit on all course
committees and provide valuable input to the
delivery and design of the curriculum.
The University has over 28,000 students and is
situated on a beautiful campus close to the city
centre. The School of Psychology has nearly
800 undergraduate and postgraduate students,
46 lecturers and 50 research staff. The Clinical
Psychology Group is comparatively large and
the majority of our staff are actively engaged in
both clinical work and research.
Course philosophy
This course provides the opportunity for you to
acquire a wide range of knowledge and skills in
order to solve problems in clinical settings. We
encourage an attitude of critical open-
mindedness to a range of theories and, in line
with current NHS trends, we emphasise the
importance of evidence-based practice and
evaluation of therapeutic interventions.
We encourage trainees to reflect on their
clinical work in reflective practice groups,
teaching and in written assessments. As with
all courses in the UK special consideration is
given to cognitive-behavioural approaches.
However, trainees are also introduced to other
models including behavioural, psychodynamic,
and systemic.
Entry requirements
You must have either: a 1st class degree; a
high 2:1 (ie, a GPA of 65 or above); or if a
lower 2:1, a clinically relevant Masters degree
in addition. You must also have one years
full-time clinically relevant experience (which
can include placement experience from a
clinically relevant Masters degree) such that
you can demonstrate you have been either
applying psychological principles in a clinical
setting or engaged in research that is relevant
to a clinical population (eg, as a research
assistant or as part of a three-year PhD). The
experience could be spread across two years
but must equate to one year full-time. Mature
candidates with relevant professional
backgrounds and qualifications will be
considered on an individual basis.
Applicants should have experience that
includes significant exposure to relevant
client groups, is sufficient to provide them with
specialist knowledge of clinical psychology and
shows that they have the skills to cope with
the real life demands of work in clinical settings.
This might include clinical research (eg, a PhD
or work on a clinically relevant research project)
or service delivery (eg, Assistant Psychologist).
We are very conscious of being situated in an
area of rich ethnic diversity, and try to ensure
that ethnic and racial issues are fully addressed
in all aspects of the course. The University is an
equal opportunities employer and we welcome
applications from ethnic minority groups. We
make every effort to meet the needs of trainees
with a disability.
You must also have Graduate Basis for
Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British
Psychological Society (BPS). People who
have taken conversion courses are not at a
disadvantage in our process but their first
degree must be of a high standard as specified
above. Candidates seeking GBC through
application to the BPS must have attained this
by the time of interview. NB this does not apply
to candidates waiting to complete their first
degree. Undergraduate psychologists are only
considered if they have one years full-time
clinically relevant experience prior to their
first degree.
For candidates whose first language is not
English or whose first degree was not taught
in English, we have a set of standards as a
minimum requirement. Please check online
for full details. Each year we consider a small
number of non-EU, overseas self-funding
applicants. Such applicants must meet the
same entry criteria as those applying for
NHS funded places (see previous) and also
have overseas fees status. Applications are
made directly to the University of Birmingham
and not through the Clearing House.
For further details please email:
clinpsyd-admissions@contacts.bham.ac.uk

The selection process
All applicants will be invited to attend a written
test. Therefore, you should only apply if you
meet our minimum criteria as even if you do
well on the written test, you will not be invited
for interview if you do not meet the above
criteria. Between 60 and 70 applicants will
be invited for interview based on performance
on the written test, which will be assessed
by members of the course team and local
clinicians. This invitation is also subject to
satisfactory references. Those with a disability
should inform the course and they will be given
appropriate support during the written test.
The written test will take place in February, and
applicants should ensure that they are available
to attend at the University of Birmingham
around this time.
Short-listed candidates are invited to attend for
the day which includes three interviews (each
with two people). Service users, clinicians and
course team members are involved in this
process. After the final interview date, offers
are made to the most suitable candidates.
Written feedback is given on interview
performance but unfortunately we are unable
to provide feedback on the written test.
Financial support and conditions
of employment
Most trainees are funded by NHS West
Midlands which pays trainees a salary
throughout their training. NHS funded trainees
have an employment contract with one of the
local NHS Trusts. All trainees are required to
sign a generic code of professional conduct
and fitness to practice statement. The salary is
on band 6 of the agenda for change pay scales.
For further details on pay please see:
www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/working-in-the-nhs/
pay-and-benefits/agenda-for-change-pay-rates/
NHS West Midlands will only fund citizens of
the European Union who can work in the NHS
without a work permit. However, we do offer a
small number of overseas, non-EU, self-funded
places. Please contact Dr Ruth Howard,
Admissions Tutor for further details at
r.a.howard.20@bham.ac.uk
Course structure
Your time on the course will be divided
between teaching, academic work and clinical
practice. Teaching consists of workshops,
lectures and seminars provided in term time of
the three-year period. Placements are provided
mainly by the NHS and occasionally by third
sector organisations.
School of Psychology 3
Academic curriculum
Teaching in Years 1 and 2 is organised to link
in with the requirements of placement including
teaching in: Adult Mental Health, Child,
Learning Disabilities and work with Older
People. At the same time academic courses
in all three years cover a broad range of topics
in psychology, providing the knowledge base
for clinical practice and training in clinical,
professional, therapeutic and research skills.
The essential components of the course
are given below:
Year 1
In the first few weeks of the course trainees
participate in intensive training workshops
designed to provide them with basic skills
prior to their first clinical placement. Amongst
the topics covered are: communication skills;
problem formulation; the basics of cognitive
behavioural, behavioural, systemic and
psychodynamic models; working with people
across the age span; working with people
with disability; and reflective practice. A range
of topics are covered in the rest of the first
year including: more teaching on the four
therapeutic models; therapeutic issues;
research methods in clinical practice; and
personal and professional issues (including
self-care, introduction to specialist areas, eg,
neuropsychology and addictive behaviours).
Year 2
Second year teaching builds on the areas
covered in the first year and also includes
specialist training on: psychological therapies;
neuropsychology; clinical health psychology;
severe and enduring mental health issues;
addictions; forensic work; and advanced
professional issues. Sub-courses at an
advanced level continue into the third year
along with individual research supervision.
Year 3
Specialist workshops
Much of the teaching in the third year consists
of one-day specialist workshops that take place
in collaboration with the Coventry and Warwick
ClinPsyD course. Trainees select from a list of
workshops covering a wide range of topics
relevant to clinical psychology. Optional
workshops take place at both the University
of Birmingham and the University of Warwick.
4 School of Psychology
Research project
An individually chosen and supervised research
project is initiated in the Spring term of the first
year and completed by the summer of the third
year. The choice of potential topics is wide and
each trainee has a clinical and academic
supervisor. The project is written up in a
format for submission for publication in a
suitable academic or professional journal. The
final research volume consists of a literature
review, an empirical study and a short public
domain briefing document. Staff have a diverse
range of research interests that include the use
of quantitative and qualitative methodologies in
areas that span all ages and most specialities.
Clinical experience
Clinical placements, which account for 50 per
cent of the course, take place in a wide range
of NHS hospitals, clinics, community centres
and third sector organisations.
These are within Birmingham, Solihull and
the Black Country. There is one 10-month
foundation placement in the first year,
during which trainees begin to acquire core
competencies. This could be in any of the main
specialities. In the second year there are two
five-month placements depending on the
competencies that trainees still need to
acquire. In the third year trainees have the
opportunity to express choices for their
final two placements (dependent on where
competencies need to be achieved and built
on) that may be carried out in series or parallel.
These are chosen from the wide range of
opportunities available across the geographical
areas covered by both the Birmingham and
Coventry and Warwick courses.
Further details relating to the management
of clinical placements will be provided to
short-listed applicants. Possession of a car
or other means of transport is highly desirable
as some placements are at a distance from
the University.
Trainee support
An Appraisal Tutor, who is a member of the
course team, will monitor progress and
achievement of core competencies, academic
attainment, research progress and help
to integrate clinical and academic experience
throughout the three years. An individual
Personal Tutor (from outside the University) also
provides support throughout the three years.
Reflective Practice Groups are a compulsory
element of the three years of training. There are
8 trainees in each group and they are facilitated
by practising clinical psychologists and
members of the course team.
Trainee feedback on course
We place great importance on gaining regular
feedback from trainees on all aspects of the
course. Such feedback plays an important part
in shaping the course and there is trainee
representation on all course committees.
Assessment
Academic
The degree of ClinPsyD is awarded after
three years on the basis of written assignments,
clinical practice reports, ratings of clinical work
for all placements and the research project.
There are no formal written examinations.
Instead we operate a system of continuous
assessment designed to sample fully and
equally both academic knowledge and clinical
skills. In July of the third year of the course
there is a viva examination on the research
project conducted by two examiners one
external and one internal.
Clinical
All components (placements and clinical
practice reports) must be passed separately.
University regulations specify the rules for
re-submitting failed components.
At the beginning of each clinical placement,
supervisors and trainees agree on the goals
to be achieved. At the end of the placement
the extent to which those goals have been
achieved is reviewed and rated by the
supervisor. Trainees must keep an on-going
record of the competencies they acquire on
each placement. They also evaluate their
experiences on placement. The clinical
placement components of the course must
be passed each year, separately from the
academic components, in order to qualify
for the award of the degree.
Course fees
For NHS funded trainees these are met by
Health Education West Midlands. Overseas
self-funding candidates should refer to the
course website for overseas fees please see:
www.birmingham.ac.uk/ClinPsyD
Clinical supervisors
In all, about 160 professionally qualified clinical
psychologists are available to provide supervision
of trainees on clinical placements. This group
also provides much of the academic teaching in
specialist areas. Supervisors take part in regular
BPS accredited STAR training events and
additional workshops and meetings for the
discussion of issues relating to supervision.
 School of Psychology 5

Our staff

The main organisation of the course is carried out by the members

of the course team listed below with their specialist areas, though
many other research associates and honorary staff make a
particular contribution to course organisation and teaching.

Theresa Powell Neuropsychology BSc, MSc, PhD, AFBPsS t.powell@bham.ac.uk

(Programme Director)

Biza Kroese (Senior Lecturer) Learning Disability BSc, PhD, MSc, CPsychol b.stenfert-kroese@bham.ac.uk

Hermine Graham (Senior Lecturer) Addictions/Psychosis BSc, ClinPsyD h.l.graham@bham.ac.uk

Gary Law Child BSc (Hons), DClinPsychol g.u.law@bham.ac.uk

(Year 1 Tutor/Senior Academic
Tutor/MSci Director)

Chris Jones (Research Director) Neuropsychology BA, ClinPsyD c.a.jones@bham.ac.uk

Michael Larkin (Research Tutor) Qualitative Research Methods BA, PGcert, PhD, ILTHE m.larkin@bham.ac.uk

John Rose Learning Disabilities BSc, MSc, MClinPsych, j.l.rose@bham.ac.uk

(Academic Director and PhD, AFBPsS
Associate Professor)

Gerry Riley Neuropsychology BSc, MSc, PhD g.a.riley@bham.ac.uk

(Assessment Tutor/Lecturer)

Ruth Howard Clinical Health M.A. (Hons), MPhil, r.a.howard.20@bham.ac.uk

(Senior Academic Tutor and ClinPsyD, CPsychol,
Admissions Tutor) AFBPsS

Michelle Fisher (Clinical Director) Adult Mental Health BSc, MSc, ClinPsyD m.oshea@bham.ac.uk

Liz Kent (Clinical Tutor) Adult Mental Health and Learning Disabilities BA, ClinPsyD e.kent.1@bham.ac.uk

Teresa Madurai (Clinical Tutor) Child BSc, ClinPsyD t.j.madurai@bham.ac.uk

Ruth Butterworth Child BSc, DClinPsy r.e.butterworth@bham.ac.uk

(Year 2 Tutor, Academic Tutor)

Elizabeth Newton Psychosis BSc, DClinPsy, BABCP e.k.newton@bham.ac.uk

(Year 3 Tutor, Academic Tutor) Accredited (CBT)

Rupy Kahlon Programme Administrator and r.kahlon@bham.ac.uk

Curriculum/Assessment Administrator

Jo Price Placement and Employment Administrator j.price@bham.ac.uk

Ann Begum Clinical Administrator a.a.begum@bham.ac.uk

Karen Kings Clinical Administrator k.s.kings@bham.ac.uk

6 School of Psychology
What is Clinical Psychology?
What is Clinical Psychology?
It is the mixture and synthesis of competencies,
built on the body of psychological theory and
data, which are applied to helping people solve
personal, family, group, work or organisational
problems that makes clinical psychology unique
in health and social care.
Core Purpose
The process of becoming a Clinical
Psychologist
Discovering that your degree is only the start!
To become a Psychologist of any division
(eg. occupational, educational or clinical)
postgraduate training is required. To become
a Clinical Psychologist you must:
n Complete an undergraduate degree in
psychology (3+ years)
n Have at least one years work experience,
preferably as an Assistant/Research
Psychologist (1+ years)
n Gain entry onto a Doctorate Course in
Clinical Psychology (3 years)
There are 30 Clinical Psychology courses in
the UK. In 2013 there were 2969 applicants
to the 617 places offered. The first steps to
being offered one of these sought-after places
are as follows:
n Your degree qualification must be such
that you are eligible for the Graduate Basis
for Chartership (GBC) of the British
Psychological Society (BPS)
n A 2:1 Degree classification is preferred
and is mandatory for some courses (please
see Birmingham entry criteria on page 2).
n It is recommended that you join the BPS
as an undergraduate, finances permitting
(see www.bps.org.uk for further details).
You will receive The Psychologist and the
BPS Appointments Memorandum monthly.
Work experience
The more the better!
Fellow Assistants have found that Assistant
Psychology posts are in high demand and
experience is key to finding a suitable job. So
to get ahead, our advice is to do at least one of
the following as an undergraduate:
n If you have the option, complete a
placement year as part of an undergraduate
sandwich course
n Do voluntary work
n Work as a nursing assistant
n Be a support worker
n The four main areas where experience
is desirable are as follows:
Adult Mental Health
Learning Disability
Children and Adolescents
Older People
Previous work experience with the above
client groups (even if not directly related
to psychology) demonstrates interest and
commitment to a career in Clinical Psychology,
and may get you that first Assistant
Psychologist interview.
There is an advantage in plugging in to
a psychology network for information and
support, as well as the selection advantage
which previous experience gives.
To find out about Assistant Psychologist
and research posts you should access the:
n BPS Appointments Memorandum
n The Guardian (Society in Wednesdays issue)
n Local newspapers
n Flyers sent to universities
n Internal vacancy advertisements within
psychology departments (one of the
benefits of plugging in to a service)
Further skills and abilities
Clinical psychologists not only have a role in
providing assessment and treatment, but also
have an important role in evaluating health care.
There is a strong emphasis on the following:
n Integration of theoretical knowledge and
scientific research you need to be fully
conversant with research methodology
and statistical analyses
n Published articles of research submit
your undergraduate dissertation or a
research project to a relevant journal
n Teaching and training other professionals
 School of Psychology 7

Along with academic and occupational Suggested reading

expertise the abilities below should be
considered:
n A full clean drivers licence and access to a
car are often listed as desirable in Assistant
Psychologist job descriptions
n You may have to be geographically mobile
in order to find an Assistant post and posts
are usually for twelve months fixed term
Desirable qualities
If you can demonstrate the following qualities,
it will aid you in striving to achieve each stage
of professional development:
n Have care and respect for clients
and colleagues alike
n Be confident and enthusiastic
n Have excellent coping mechanisms
for stress and anxiety
n Be friendly and out-going
n Be committed to furthering a career
in Clinical Psychology
n Be open-minded and reflective
n Have the ability to work as a member of
a multidisciplinary team, or independently
as an individual using your own initiative
n Finally, BE PATIENT because the hard
work and dedication is worth it in the end
We have found the following text books
both beneficial and easy to read:
n Beinart, H., Kennedy, P & Llewelyn, S.
(2009). Clinical psychology in practice.
BPS Blackwell.
n Harvey, P. (2001) (ed). The Core
Purpose and Philosophy of the Profession.
British Psychological Society, Division of
Clinical Psychology.
As a member, you can also access the
BPS careers literature pertaining to
Clinical Psychology.
Questions, comments and suggestions
If you would like any more information please
contact us at the address below. We have tried
to address the issues we feel are important and
hope this information is relevant and helpful to
your professional development in psychology.
www.birmingham.ac.uk/ClinPsyD

Learn more The Clinical Psychology

General enquiries should be
directed to the Course Administrator
Rupy Kahlon
Tel: +44 (0) 121 414 4915
Email: r.kahlon@bham.ac.uk
Doctorate Course in Clinical Psychology
Frankland Building
School of Psychology
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
Course Director: Dr Theresa Powell
Admissions Tutor: Dr Ruth Howard
Doctorate made it possible
for me to follow up my
own ideas and therapeutic
stance so as to develop
into what I wanted to be
as a clinician, rather than
some textbook ideal.
Clinical Psychology Doctorate student
www.birmingham.ac.uk
This leaflet was written several months in advance of the start of the
academic year. It is intended to provide prospective students with a general
picture of the programmes and courses offered by the School. Please note
that not all programmes or all courses are offered every year. Also, because
our research is constantly exploring new areas and directions of study some
courses may be dropped and new ones offered in their place.
a School of Psychology

10118 University of Birmingham 2014. Printed on a recycled grade paper containing 100% post-consumer waste.

College of Life and

Environmental Sciences
Edgbaston, Birmingham,
B15 2TT, United Kingdom
www.birmingham.ac.uk