Logo close icon
Section navigation
Main Baner Image

Clinical Health Psychology and Wellbeing MSc

Learn about the course below
Code
PGC851
Start
September 2023
Duration
1 year full-time
2 years part-time
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Fees
£9,600 (UK) *
£15,100 (EU/INT) *
Course leader
Camille Alexis-Garsee
Nicky Payne

Supporting physical and mental health is central in all areas of life and employment. This master's degree integrates the promotion of health and wellness with a focus on mental and physical health and wellbeing. You'll gain knowledge, practitioner and professional skills to support a future career working with clients and patients in health-related settings. You'll also have the opportunity to undertake hands-on learning through a professional placement.

Why study MSc Clinicial Health Psychology and Wellbeing* at Middlesex University?

This MSc has been developed for psychology graduates (or a related discipline, such as health studies, counselling, mental health, nursing, or public health) and current health and mental healthcare professionals wishing to further their studies, develop their knowledge and skills and enhance their career opportunities.

During the course, you'll be examining health and illness to understand the relationship between psychological variables and biomedical conditions as well as physical and mental health and wellbeing.

You'll focus on application and have the opportunity to apply your knowledge and practice professional skills. These can include communication skills, ethical and reflective practice, judgment and decision-making, and skills related to formulation and assessment, cognitive-behavioural therapy, and health behaviour change.

We have strong partnerships with many health psychology organisations which means that you'll be able to undertake an eight-week work placement and gain valuable hands-on work experience. Previous placements have included working with addiction management, cancer screening, pain management, exercise promotion, stroke rehabilitation.

Course highlights

  • Focus your studies on both physical and mental health and wellbeing
  • Develop your professional skills for intervention and working with clients
  • Undertake a work placement in a health psychology setting
  • Consider and prepare for your future career

Please note that this programme does not lead to a therapy practitioner qualification.


Find out more

Sign up now to receive more information about studying at Middlesex University London.

What will you study on MSc Clinical Health Psychology and Wellbeing?

This master's degree allows you understand how psychology is applied to physical health and psychological wellbeing, and mental and physical ill health. You'll also focus on health promotion and health behaviour change.

During the course you will study counselling skills; interventions to promote health and well-being and to treat mental ill health; chronic illness and its management; health promotion and health behaviour change; and research methods.

What will you gain?

You'll be encouraged to focus on both your personal and professional development in several areas. Your professional skills for example, will include clinical, counselling and research skills, analysing and appraising the usefulness and application of psychological theories, and becoming an ethical and reflective practitioner.

You'll also be continually enhancing your employability by developing your decision making and communication skills as well as practising self-awareness and self-reflection.

Modules

  • Modules - Compulsory

    • Quantitative Research Methods (15 credits)

      This module aims to provide your with core skills and knowledge in quantitative research methods in Psychology. The focus is on understanding how research questions relate to design and appropriate analyses. Across the suite of MSc programmes in Psychology, it provides you with advanced skills in a variety of statistical analyses and enables you to conduct psychological research at master’s level. The module enables you to understand and critically evaluate published quantitative psychological research. It prepares you for your dissertation and enables you to choose appropriate methodologies and analyses for research.

    • Research: Practice and Reporting (60 credits)

      This module aim to provide you with an opportunity for an in-depth, advanced study in a specific area of applied psychology, pertinent to the degree for which you are registered, guided by, but largely independent of, tutor support. You will apply appropriate principles of empirical research, and present your research study in the form of a written journal article, using appropriate styles and conventions.

    • Trauma Impacts and Interventions (30 credits)

      On this module, you will develop a critical understanding of current research evidence and perspectives on psychological trauma and its effects. The impact of trauma on different groups and at different stages of the lifespan will be reviewed. Models of intervention for psychological trauma will be critically examined and the current debates around ameliorating factors and developmental outcomes will be explored.

    • Clinical Health Psychology: Perspectives, Practice and Placement (30 credits)

      This module aims to introduce you to clinical health psychology applied to behaviour change and chronic health conditions, covering wellness and illness and the promotion and enhancement of health and wellbeing. It provides you with an insight into and helps you develop the skills required to work in health psychology settings and you may choose to undertake a placement as part of this. The module focuses on developing your knowledge on the application of theory to health care delivery and wellbeing, and aids your professional development in three areas a) personal development, including self-confidence, self-awareness, self-reflection and awareness of strengths and areas for improvement b) development of professional skills, including clinical skills, analysing and appraising the usefulness and application of psychology theory to practice and becoming an ethical and reflective practitioner, and c) preparation for future employability.

    • Counselling and Psychotherapy in Applied Psychology (30 credits)

      The aim of this module is to provide you 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 you to the basic principles of communication skills that form the foundation of all counselling and therapy. Finally, the module will familiarise you with the role of counselling and therapy within all areas of applied psychology.

    • Qualitative Research Methods (15 credits)

      This module aims to introduce you to qualitative research methods, and to provide you with knowledge and practice by equipping you with a combination of practical and theoretical skills. You will be introduced to and familiarised with a range of qualitative methodologies and methods of generating and analysing data in-depth. The module allows the time and space necessary for sustained immersion. The module aims to enable you to become proficient in your qualitative research knowledge and skills. You will also develop reflexive practice, which is an essential aspect of qualitative research.

      This module also aims to prepare you to conduct qualitative research in the future, such as in your MSc dissertation projects – it will enable you to choose suitable methodologies and analyses for your research. Therefore, this module is both ideal for, and provides a rich learning opportunity for, students who are undertaking a qualitatively-based or mixed methods dissertation project; those who want to study Psychology at a doctoral level; and for those planning a career in research.

More information about this course

See the course specification for more information:

We are regularly reviewing and updating our programmes to ensure you have the best learning experience. We are taking what we have learnt during the pandemic and enhancing our teaching methods with new and innovative ways of learning.

We aim to model a wide range of teaching strategies and approaches on the course which you can adapt to your own setting.

How is the MSc Clinical Health Psychology and Wellbeing taught?

You'll attend interactive classes and workshops where you'll take part in discussions, role-play and problem-solving exercises and group work. There is an opportunity to undertake a short placement as part of the programme.

Assessment

You'll be assessed on the basis of a variety of types of coursework including log books and reflections on practice, case studies, intervention design and reports. A major part of your assessment will be your 57,000 to 10,000-word research report in the style of a journal article.

Support

You have a strong support network available to you to make sure you develop all the necessary academic skills you need to do well on your course.

Our support services will be delivered online and on campus and you have access to a range of different resources so you can get the help you need, whether you’re studying at home or have the opportunity to come to campus.

You have access to one to one and group sessions for personal learning and academic support from our library and IT teams, and our network of learning experts. Our teams will also be here to offer financial advice, and personal wellbeing, mental health and disability support.

  1. Standard entry requirements
  2. International (inc. EU)
  3. How to apply
  1. UK
  2. EU/International
  3. Additional costs
  4. Scholarships and bursaries

How can the MSc Clinical Health Psychology and support your career?

Once you've completed this MSc course, you can choose to work in a variety of sectors such as the health service, public health, charities, organisations and academia.

Work may include helping people deal with diabetes, pain, or stroke; health promotion in communities, schools or the workplace; designing and delivering interventions for weight loss or smoking cessation; promoting well-being and mental health; and research and teaching.

Our graduates have found successful careers as:

  • Child well-being practitioner in the NHS (Mary Oshinnaya)
  • Senior triage and engagement coordinator in a Stop smoking Service (Marcos Castejon)
  • Drug and alcohol recovery worker in the prison service (Dean Soobhen)
  • Specialist support office with young people with complex needs (Hamse Hassan)

You could also choose to continue your studies and training by training as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner to work in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services, applying to study for a PhD (i.e. a research degree) or, if you have the Graduate Basis for Chartership with the British Psychological Society, you could apply for training to become, for example, a counselling or clinical psychologist.

Dr Camille Alexis-Garsee
Associate Professor in Health Psychology

Dr Alexis-Garsee is a Chartered Psychologist with the BPS and is joint Programme Leader of the MSc Clinical Health Psychology and Wellbeing programme, joint Ethics Chair for the Psychology Department and Co-ordinator of the Health Psychology Lab. Her research focuses on on the use of technology for behaviour change and providing solutions for problems impacting population health such as smoking, obesity, and chronic illness.

Dr Nicky Payne
Associate Professor of Psychology

Dr Payne is a Chartered Psychologist with the BPS and a Registered Practitioner Health Psychologist with the HCPC. She is joint programme leader of the MSc Clinical Health Psychology and Wellbeing and the Psychology Research Degrees Coordinator. Her research focuses on health behaviour change, infertility, work stress and work-life balance.

  • Khelan Raghoobar

    Postgraduate Psychology graduate

    Studying at Middlesex has been a fantastic experience. The modules taught have employed many wonderful, multi-disciplined professionals who used varying teaching styles to ensure that we were able to grasp the material, and no one was left behind. In particular, the practical skills and knowledge gained from taught modules have been very useful in preparation for the work placement module, and for the wider working world.

  • Hamse Hassan

    Postgraduate Psychology graduate

    Studying at Middlesex was a thoroughly pleasant and enjoyable experience. The modules improved my knowledge and understanding, analytical and thinking skills as well as enhanced my practical skills through supportive workshops and interactive activities. The placement module was a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate my learning in the work environment and reflect on my understanding. My employment prospects increased significantly after studying at Middlesex as it equipped me with essential tools that allowed me to succeed in my line of work.

  • Marcos Castejon

    Postgraduate Psychology graduate

    I thoroughly enjoyed my time on my degree. I especially liked the variety of health professionals that we got to learn from. The placement module was also excellent, I liked my time at the Behavioural Insights Team so much that I stayed for one more month volunteering after my placement was done.


We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.

Other courses

Mental Health Studies MSc/PGDip / Healthcare Studies PGCert

Start: September 2023, January 2024

Duration: 2 years part-time

Code: MSc: PGB76B, PGB71C

Psychology Conversion MSc

Start: October 2023, EU/INT induction: September 2023

Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time

Code: PGC802

Cognitive Neuroscience MSc by Research

Start: October 2023

Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time

Code: PGY000

Back to top