This Master’s programme, delivered jointly by the Universities of Stirling and Dundee, was designed by National Health Service (NHS) professionals and clinical academics to train people to deliver evidence-based psychological therapies to adults in Primary Care.
The MSc will extend the knowledge of the theoretical foundations of human behaviour and psychological disorders and create the necessary competencies to assess and treat common mental health disorders whilst undergoing training and clinical supervision. The programme will develop your knowledge of the prevalence, diagnostic criteria, presentation and current psychological theories of common mental health disorders. Cognitive-behavioural models will be a core framework but other theoretical models will be introduced.
Programme Objectives
This National Health Service Education for Scotland (NES) funded MSc is designed to extend the knowledge of the theoretical foundations of human behaviour and psychological disorders, and to develop the necessary competences to apply a range of psychological therapies to treat common mental health disorders in adults in a primary care setting.
Entrance Requirements
Applicants should hold an Honours degree in Psychology (normally upper second class or above) conferring the Graduate Basis for Chartership with the British Psychological Society. Applicants for this programme should be aware that they are also applying for employment with the NHS and therefore must be eligible for, and have appropriate personal qualities suited to, employment in the NHS. Recruitment will be jointly undertaken by representative senior academic and NHS staff.
Application
The Universities of Dundee and Stirling, jointly with the NHS, will place advertisements in the Scotsman and the Glasgow Herald in late July/early August. Application will be via UKPASS (the UCAS Postgraduate On-line Application System). As part of the UKPASS application process, applicants will also be guided through the NHS forms which are required to be completed for this programme. For further details see www.dundee.ac.uk/postgraduate/ptpc
English Language Requirements
If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence of your proficiency such as a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 (minimum 6 in each skill), or TOEFL: Listening 23, Reading 23, Speaking 23, Writing 23.
Funding
Upon entry to the programme students become salaried employees of the NHS.
Modes of Study
Full-time: 12 months registered with the Universities of Stirling and Dundee. Much of the study for this programme is carried out via distance learning with the student based on site with their local NHS employer. You must attend one or other of the universities for three or four days per month for nine months of the year, in addition to a two-week period during January.
Programme Start Date
January
Application Pack
The Universities of Dundee and Stirling, jointly with the NHS, will place advertisements in the Scotsman and the Glasgow Herald in late July or August. Application will be via UKPASS (the UCAS Postgraduate On-line Application System). As part of the UKPASS application process, applicants will also be guided through the NHS forms which are required to be completed for this programme. For further details click on the following link www.dundee.ac.uk/postgraduate/ptpc
This Master's programme is delivered jointly by the Universities of Stirling and Dundee.
Jen Petrie
Centre for Neuroscience
Psychiatry, Mailbox 5
Ninewells Hospital and Medical School
Dundee DD1 9SY
Tel: +44 (0) 1382 632410 Fax: +44 (0) 1382 633923
Email: j.b.petrie@dundee.ac.uk
Structure and Content
The programme comprises five taught modules and a sixth research module. The first three modules are University of Dundee supervised while the second three are University of Stirling supervised. All modules are core and there are no optional modules:
- Assessment, Diagnosis and Formulation: This overview of the assessment process aims to enable you to conduct clinical assessment and formulation of common mental health disorders in primary care
- Professional and Ethical Issues: This module aims to develop your understanding of the principles and practice of appropriate professional conduct in the National Health Service (NHS)
- Research Project: A supervised empirical investigation, including critical literature review, conducted and reported to publishable standard
- Principles and Methods of Psychological Therapy: This module aims to help you develop and maintain collaborative working alliances and deliver a range of psychological interventions appropriate to common mental health disorders
- Common Mental health Disorders in Primary Care: This module develops understanding of use of theoretical and clinical knowledge of the presentation and evidence-based treatment interventions for common mental health disorders
- Research, Evaluation and Outcome: This module aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills to conduct clinical research
You are allocated an NHS clinical supervisor who oversees and provides guidance on your clinical activity, as well as an NHS tutor who oversees both academic and clinical progress. You are also allocated an academic supervisor (who reviews clinical performance) and a research supervisor.
Delivery and Assessment
Modules will be taught via a combination of clinical workshops, seminars and distance-learning lectures delivered via the internet. NHS employers provide appropriate study facilities including computers and internet connection to allow you to carry out academic work on-site. Clinical activities and delivery of therapeutic interventions will be supervised and guided by an NHS clinical supervisor in the NHS setting, who will provide guidance on all aspects of clinical competence according to agreed guidelines. Ratings of clinical competence will be based on taped evidence of practice in the NHS setting.
The programme will comprise 50 percent academic study and 50 percent practical clinical placement work. Assessment will be by case reports based on NHS clinical work, examinations and a dissertation. In addition, the successful completion of the first three modules listed above depends on the receipt of a satisfactory assessment of clinical competence from your NHS clinical supervisor. Assessments of clinical competence are made six months and nine months into the programme. At these points, any unsatisfactory clinical competence will be highlighted and a programme of remedial action provided that must be undertaken successfully by the end of the modules.
Timetable
Contact the School for information on your timetable and reading lists.
Programme Director
Dr Mike Dow (Psychology; Stirling)
Dr Rob Durham (Department of Psychiatry; Dundee)
RAE Rating
70 percent of research in Psychology at Stirling was recognised as being of a quality that is internationally recognised in terms of originality, significance and rigour in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).
Division Website
http://www.psychology.stir.ac.uk/
