Psychology (Top-up) Doctorate

Course overview

This programme provides a unique opportunity for qualified applied practitioner psychologists to update their level of academic qualification to doctorate status.

If you currently have Registered Practitioner Status at master’s level, this course provides you with the opportunity to study theory and research related to a specialised area of psychology to doctorate level. The production of advanced independent work also allows you to enhance your understanding of conducting research and of the ethical issues involved in this process.

How you learn

You learn through lectures, small discussion groups and on-going individual supervision. The virtual learning environment is also used to provide learning resources for each module and an interactive learning environment to enable you to discuss materials with other students and the teaching staff.

How you are assessed

There is a variety of assessment methods used throughout the programme. These include an oral and written presentation of the research proposal, ethics submission and the production of a 35-40,000-word advanced independent work followed by a viva voce.

Career opportunities

The programme provides a route whereby psychologists who are fully licensed by the statutory regulator to practise as psychologists can top up their qualification to a doctorate award and develop advanced research methods skills.