MSc Applied Clinical Health Psychology

Overview & facilities

Clinical Health Psychology is a branch of Health Psychology that focuses on the relationship between psychological variables and biomedical conditions. It deals with the processes of the psychological treatment of, and response to physical illness of patients in the health care system. In particular, students develop counselling skills to apply to working with clients in the health care system. As such the programme takes a scientist-practitioner approach and thus students develop both skills in research methodology and a range of professional and practical skills. This MSc does not qualify you to practice as a Health Psychologist, Clinical Psychologist, or a counsellor or therapist. However, it will provide you with knowledge and skills relevant to understanding how psychology is applied to the care of the physically ill and how it is applied to maximise the effectiveness of health care delivery.

During the course you will study counselling skills; chronic illness and its management; working with patients in the health care system; health-related behaviour, addiction and treatment; public health, health promotion and behaviour change interventions; stress and stress management; and research methods. You will have access to some of the best and most up-to-date psychology specialist postgraduate computer, laboratory and library study facilities for teaching and research in the UK.

This course is intended for those with or without a degree in psychology but without the Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society (BPS) (normally obtained through completing a psychology degree in the UK). Those with GBC may prefer to apply for our BPS accredited MSc Health Psychology, which includes a placement.

The superb Hatchcroft Building received its grand opening in September 2008 and, so far, remains the latest addition to the Hendon campus. As a student of Psychology at Middlesex, you’ll take full advantage of Hatchcroft’s state-of-the-art facilities which include:

• Fully equipped lecture theatres and tutorial spaces
• Pychophysiology laboratory
• Social observation laboratories
• Video editing suite
• Virtual reality laboratory
• Auditory cognition laboratory
• Testing cubicles

For full time students, teaching is on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
For part time students, teaching is on Tuesdays in year 1 and Thursdays in year 2.  

Content & modules

For full-time students teaching is on Tuesdays and Thursdays and for part-time students it is on Tuesdays in year 1 and Thursdays in year 2.

Coursework includes case studies, health behaviour journal, designing health promotion materials, laboratory reports, research proposals and essays.

Modules

• Year 1

  Advanced Psychology Dissertation (60 Credits) - Compulsory

  To provide students with an opportunity for an in-depth, advanced study in a specific area of applied psychology, pertinent to the degree for which they are registered, guided by, but largely independent of, tutor support. To enable students to apply appropriate principles of empirical research to an issue of their choice within the subject area of their degree registration. To enable students to present their research study in the form of a written thesis, using appropriate styles and conventions

  Applications of Health Psychology (15 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to introduce students to the applications of health psychology to health promotion and in particular, to behaviour change. It aims to help students develop the skills to design and evaluate interventions. The module examines different settings for this work.

  Counselling and Psychotherapy in Applied Psychology (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  The aim of this module is to provide students with an introduction to the main schools of psychological therapy, their theoretical origins and how the theory is applied in practice. The module will also introduce students to the basic principles of communication skills that form the foundation of all counselling and therapy. Finally, the module will familiarise students with the role of counselling and therapy within all areas of applied psychology.

  Processes of Illness and Health Care Delivery (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to introduce students to the biological processes involved in the onset and progression of a variety of long-term illnesses and diseases. The process of health care delivery, from symptom perception through consultation to treatment/management from the perspective of both the patient and the health professional will be discussed. The health care needs and experiences of patients across the lifespan will be considered.

  Psychosocial Foundations of Health and Illness (15 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to introduce students to the discipline of health psychology, setting it apart from other related disciplines. Students will be introduced to the concept of health and the main theories/concepts relating to the psychosocial determinants of health/illness, including stress and health behaviours.

  Research Methods in Applied Psychology (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  The aim of this module is to provide postgraduate students with research skills and expertise from theory to implementation required by areas in Applied Psychology. The module is designed to fulfil training requirements identified in the National Occupational Standards for Applied Psychologists Key roles 2 3 by offering a comprehensive in-depth and systematic account of a range of skills in quantitative and qualitative research strategies, and the use of SPSS software in statistical analysis as applicable to the course syllabus. A variety of teaching methods and assessment will be employed with the aim of inspiring and challenging each student, whilst promoting independent learning and a critical appreciation of the research process. Students will engage in laboratory classes, workshops, lectures/seminars, tutorials, group work, and practical sessions on SPSS and qualitative data analysis. Ultimately the aim is to train students to develop, implement and maintain personal and professional standards and ethical research practice in Applied Psychology.

We focus on supporting your future employability by helping you develop a range of professional, research and transferable skills, especially professional and practitioner skills (e.g. stress management, smoking cessation, cognitive-behavioural therapy, health promotion and health behaviour change).

• Advanced Psychology Dissertation
• Research Methods in Applied Psychology
• Counselling and psychotherapy
• Applications of Health Psychology 
• Processes of Illness and Health Care Delivery 
• Psychosocial Foundations of Health and Illness 

Coursework includes case studies, health behaviour journal, designing health promotion materials, laboratory reports, research proposals and essays.

Entry & applying

This programme will be of interest to students who are interested in health and/or counselling psychology and/or those who have a background or currently work in a health care, mental health or other health-related setting.

Your undergraduate degree should be in an appropriate subject which may include a research methods component, and knowledge or experience of psychological principles.

Both UK and international students and those with and without a psychology degree may apply. Entry qualifications include a degree (2:2 or equivalent or above) in a relevant area and an English language qualification (for home students this is Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification, and for overseas students this is usually IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL (paper based) 550 or TOEFL (internet based) 79 with specified minimum scores for each component).

Qualifications accepted

For a comprehensive list of qualifications accepted by Middlesex, see further information under entry requirements

English language requirements

You must have competence in English language and we normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification. The most common English Language requirements for international students are IELTS 6.5 (with minimum 6.0 in all four components) or TOEFL paper based 575 (no less than 4.5 in test of written English) or TOEFL internet based 90 (with no less than 19 in each component) Middlesex also offers an Intensive Academic English course (Pre-Sessional) that ranges from 5-17 weeks, depending on your level of English. Successful completion of this course would meet English language entry requirements. For more information on applying for the pre-sessional please email english@mdx.ac.uk. For details of other equivalent English language requirements that Middlesex accepts see international entry requirements.

Applying

Applications for postgraduate study should be made directly to the university. You will need to fill in an application form and return it to the appropriate admissions office. UK and EU students should apply directly to the London office. Non-EU international students can apply to our international admissions office in London, or use our network of regional offices across the world to assist you with your application. Apply now

Fees & funding

The tuition fee for MSc Applied Clinical Health Psychology for the academic year 2012/13 is as follows:

UK/EU Students

Full-time students: £7,500
Part-time students: £63 per taught credit

Find out about our flexible payment plans for UK/EU students, and how they can help you spread the cost of your course.

International Students

Full-time students: £10,600
Part-time students: £93 per taught credit

Careers & placements

After completion of the MSc students may work in the health service, public health, organizations, and academia. Work may include helping people to manage and cope with illnesses such as diabetes, pain, cancer, stroke, coronary heart disease etc.; health promotion in communities, schools or the workplace; designing and delivering interventions for weight loss, smoking cessation, stress management, improving uptake of screening for cancers etc.; research and teaching.

In addition, graduates may also pursue further postgraduate training and-or study and those who have the Graduate Basis for Chartership with the British Psychological Society may, for example, pursue clinical training.