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Clinical Psychology

Entry requirements.

Applicants should have a minimum of a good upper second-class Honours degree in Psychology. The degree needs to confer eligibility for Graduate Basis for Charted Membership. It is important that candidates show us that they can undertake work at a Doctoral level.

A “good” upper second-class Honours degree shall normally mean an average of at least 67% (or equivalent in other jurisdictions) across all years of study.

Applicants who have achieved an upper second-class Honours degree below this level will need to offer clear evidence of their academic capacity in their application, supported by an academic referee who has monitored your work and can clearly demonstrate that your academic achievements underestimate your academic abilities.

Applicants with a lower second-class Honours degree will not usually be accepted on the programme unless there is unequivocal evidence of subsequent academic achievement (in an appropriate scientific discipline) equivalent to a good upper second-class Honours degree.

It is essential to gain some relevant clinical experience in this field before applying to the programme.

Months of entry

Course content.

The UCL Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) is a professional training course for Clinical Psychologists in the United Kingdom, and welcomes high-calibre candidates from the UK and abroad. The course provides a first-rate training in clinical psychology, leading to a doctoral qualification accredited by the UK Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the British Psychological Society (BPS).

The DClinPsy at UCL offers a uniquely broad range of clinical and research opportunities to trainees. Current research specialities include treatment outcome, psychotherapy processes, experimental psychopathology, addiction, psychopharmacology, neuropsychology, dementia, eating disorders, internet-based treatments, developmental psychopathology and psychosis.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

• Campus-based learning is available for this qualification

Course contact details

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Ucl (university college london): clinical psychology.

Full-Time, 3 years starts Sep 2024

The UCL Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) is a professional training course for Clinical Psychologists in the United Kingdom, and welcomes high-calibre candidates from the UK and abroad. The programme provides a first-rate training in clinical psychology, leading to a doctoral qualification accredited by the UK Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Full-Time, 3 years started Sep 2023

The UCL Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) is a professional training course for Clinical Psychologists in the United Kingdom, and welcomes high-calibre candidates from the UK and abroad. The course provides a first-rate training in clinical psychology, leading to a doctoral qualification accredited by the UK Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the British Psychological Society (BPS).

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University College London

Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology (CEHP) | Division of Psychology and Language Sciences (PaLS) | Faculty of Brain Sciences

Course code:

Course length:

3 years (full-time)

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/clinical-psychology-doctorate/

020 7679 1897

Administration email:

Social media:

@UCL_DClinPsy

Entry requirements

• Selection procedure
• About the programme
• Training with us

Who can apply

• You must have Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the BPS at the point of applying to the course
• You must not still be formally registered for (or re-sitting examinations) for another programme of study at UCL or any other Higher Education Institution at the start of our programme (last week of September each year)
• If you have completed another HEE funded training course, you must please ensure you  check their website for guidance on eligibility to apply to the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology training programme as this would apply to our course. 

If applying for home fee funded places, you must :

• Be eligible for home fee status . Please check the UCL website for details  or contact the admission office directly  if you are still unsure after consulting their website
• Have the right to work in the UK without restriction

If applying for international self-funded places, you must :

• Be eligible for overseas fee status

You can   not apply to both our home fee and self-funded international fee routes simultaneously. If you do, your application will be rejected.  Please contact the admissions office with any queries on this.

As per the UCL graduate admissions policy, command of the English language is considered essential. For both home fee and international fee applicants whose first language is not English, you must demonstrate a level of proficiency in both written and spoken English – for our programme at UCL, applicants are required to achieve a minimum of Level 4 of English proficiency as specified by UCL and provide evidence of this in their application. For more details of qualifications accepted and criteria for Level 4 of English proficiency, please see UCL’s policies on English proficiency

To consider your application, you must have:

• Graduate Basis for Chartered (GBC) membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS) confirmed at the time of applying .
• Your academic transcript must be provided. If the overall percentage mark is not included on your transcript, please provide a letter from the course giving this percentage or confirmation that they are unable to provide this in which case you may provide your own calculation, including detail on how this has been done.  If you do not provide this evidence, your application will not be considered.
• If you received a First, you do not need to provide a mark as it will, by definition, be above 67%
• If your eligibility for GBC was granted by the BPS due to Special Case Criteria, you must have achieved and overall percentage mark of 67% or above in all qualifications contributing to the award.

If you did not receive a high 2:1 or above :

But have a 2:1 with a mark of less than 67% and there were mitigating circumstances (for example mental and/or physical health difficulties, significant caring responsibilities, bereavement) include in your application:

• How you believe the mitigating circumstances impacted your overall mark and therefore does not reflect your academic capabilities.
• Ask your academic referee to note the mitigating circumstances in their reference and their agreement that your mark does not reflect your academic capabilities.

If BOTH of these are not provided, we will be unable to consider your application.

Or you have a 2:1 with a mark of less than 67% or a 2:2 and have completed further relevant postgraduate study (PhD or MSc; NOT a PGDip or a PGCert):

• For an MSc, you must have gained an overall percentage mark of 67% or above and it must have included a research dissertation. As detailed for undergraduate degrees above, you must provide evidence of the mark. If you do not provide this, we will be unable to consider your application.
• If you have not completed your PhD, your thesis will need to be submitted before the course commences and your academic reference should confirm that this is achievable.
• Your academic reference must be from this further study, allowing comment on why this better reflects your academic capability than your undergraduate study.

For applicants outside the UK, please check here for grade equivalents .

To consider your application, at the point of applying as a minimum you must have:

At least 12 months Full Time Equivalent (FTE) of relevant clinical experience in the UK, with at least 6 months in paid employment:

• Experience can be gained across a number of roles, but must add up to at least 12 months FTE in total.
• Work placements undertaken as part of an educational programme, and experience gained prior to GBC, are NOT included in the minimum criteria but will be considered in relation to relevant experience while short-listing.
• 12 months FTE of this experience must have been gained within the last 3 years.

Experience of working directly with client groups clinical psychologists typically work with (this could be in any field or specialty)

Some experience of structured or statutory services (for example NHS, MIND services, hospitals, clinics or related government services such as Social Services, schools or prisons) or in clinically related research roles. Your experience must demonstrate awareness of how the NHS functions and operates day-to-day. 

Experience is considered relevant if it offers opportunities to develop:

• an idea of what clinical psychologists actually do
• direct clinical contact with “typical” users of clinical psychology services, usually gained in a coherent organisational context rather than as a series of "one-off" contacts
• a sense of the organisational contexts in which clinical psychologists usually operate

To count towards the minimum experience requirement above, research roles need to include direct contact with clinically relevant groups that is not limited to recruitment, for example: assessment or testing, delivery of interventions, semi-structured interviews.

References / Statements of suitability

You must provide both an academic and a clinical reference (suitability statement) with your application for it to be considered. Please note, each reference must be able to comment directly on your skills in each area. Your academic reference must be able to comment directly on your academic capacity and the clinical reference must be able to comment directly on your clinical capacity. Please note, these references must come from someone who knows you in a professional or employment capacity, we cannot consider references from friends or someone that knows you well but not in a professional or employment capacity.

At the point of offering places on the course following interviews, the employing Trust (Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust) will also need to complete pre-employment checks, which includes securing a satisfactory employment reference from your most recent employer. All offers are conditional on satisfactory employment references.

Documents required

• A document confirming GBC status
• A transcript of the applicant's undergraduate degree conferring GBC status
• Transcript(s) from any postgraduate degree(s)
• Please provide a letter from the course confirming the final percentage grade. This can either be a letter from the department or email correspondence with the department / registry.
• If your university cannot provide confirmation of the percentage but they give instructions of how to calculate the overall percentage, please do this and include your overall percentage on your application form You should then upload the correspondence detailing the instructions of how to calculate the percentage with your application to explain how you have calculated the percentage.
• If your university is unable to provide confirmation of your overall percentage or instructions for how to do so, please upload the correspondence with your university.  Please also provide a "best guess" calculation of a percentage plus how you calculated it.
• We are unable to consider your application without an overall percentage mark.
• If you were awarded a 1st on your degree, you do not require confirmation of overall percentage as it is, by definition, more than 67%.  

Advice for your application

You should be able to demonstrate:

• Your understanding of the role of the clinical psychologist in contemporary healthcare systems
• An ability to be reflective about your own experience 
• A capacity for analytical, critical thought
• Research experience, including any experience of service evaluation 
• Demonstration of NHS core values and commitment to service users  

International applicants

• We accept applications for overseas fee candidates via our international route.
• The academic and clinical requirements would be the same for our international applicants as they are for our home fee applicants, please see the sections which outline our entry requirements for further details. 
• As per the UCL graduate admissions policy, command of the English language is considered essential. Both home fee and international fee candidates whose first language is not English, must demonstrate a level of proficiency in both written and spoken English – for our programme at UCL, applicants are required to achieve a minimum of Level 4 of English proficiency as specified by UCL and must provide evidence of this in their application. For more details of qualifications accepted and criteria for Level 4 of English proficiency, please see UCL’s policies on English proficiency
• If undertaken, please provide any certificates from an acceptable English language qualification or test result no more than three years prior to the proposed date of enrolment.

Last updated:

14th August 2024

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Clinical Psychology

Mission statement.

Our mission is to advance knowledge that promotes psychological well-being and reduces the burden of mental illness and problems in living and to develop leading clinical scientists whose skills and knowledge will have a substantial impact on the field of psychology and the lives of those in need. Our faculty and graduate students promote critical thinking, innovation, and discovery, and strive to be leaders in their field, engaging in and influencing research, practice, policy, and education. Our pursuit of these goals is guided by the values of collaboration, mutual respect, and fairness, our commitment to diversity, and the highest ethical standards.

Information about the Clinical Psychology Graduate Major

UCLA’s Clinical Psychology program is one of the largest, most selective, and most highly regarded in the country and aims to produce future faculty, researchers, and leaders in clinical science, who influence research, policy development, and practice. Clinical science is a field of psychology that strives to generate and disseminate the best possible knowledge, whether basic or applied, to reduce suffering and to advance public health and wellness. Rather than viewing research and intervention as separable, clinical science construes these activities as part of a single, broad domain of expertise and action. Students in the program are immersed in an empirical, research-based approach to clinical training. This, in turn, informs their research endeavors with a strong understanding of associated psychological phenomena. The UCLA Clinical Science Training Programs employs rigorous methods and theories from multiple perspectives, in the context of human diversity. Our goal is to develop the next generation of clinical scientists who will advance and share knowledge related to the origins, development, assessment, treatment, and prevention of mental health problems.

Admissions decisions are based on applicants’ research interests and experiences, formal coursework in psychology and associated fields, academic performance, letters of recommendation, dedication to and suitability for a career as a clinical scientist, program fit, and contributions to an intellectually rich, diverse class. Once admitted, students engage with faculty in research activities addressing critical issues that impact psychological well-being and the burden of mental illness, using a wide range of approaches and at varying levels of analysis. Their integrated training is facilitated by on-campus resources including the departmental Psychology Clinic, the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, and the David Geffen School of Medicine.

Our program philosophy is embodied in, and our goals are achieved through, a series of training activities that prepare students for increasingly complex, demanding, and independent roles as clinical scientists. These training activities expose students to the reciprocal relationship between scientific research and provision of clinical services, and to various systems and methods of intervention, assessment, and other clinical services with demographically and clinically diverse populations. The curriculum is designed to produce scientifically-minded scholars who are well-trained in research and practice, who use data to develop and refine the knowledge base in their field, and who bring a reasoned empirical perspective to positions of leadership in research and service delivery.

The program’s individualized supervision of each student in integrated research and practice roles provides considerable flexibility. Within the parameters set by faculty interests and practicum resources, there are specializations in child psychopathology and treatment, cognitive-behavior therapy, clinical assessment, adult psychopathology and treatment, family processes, assessment and intervention with distressed couples, community psychology, stress and coping, cognitive and affective neuroscience, minority mental health, and health psychology and behavioral medicine. The faculty and other research resources of the Department make possible an intensive concentration in particular areas of clinical psychology, while at the same time ensuring breadth of training.

Clinical psychology at UCLA is a six-year program including a full-time one-year internship, at least four years of which must be completed in residence at UCLA. The curriculum in clinical psychology is based on a twelve-month academic year. The program includes a mixture of coursework, clinical practicum training, teaching, and continuous involvement in research. Many of the twenty clinical area faculty, along with numerous clinical psychologists from other campus departments, community clinics, and hospitals settings, contribute to clinical supervision.  Clinical training experiences typically include four and a half years of part-time practicum placements in the Psychology Clinic and local agencies. The required one-year full-time internship is undertaken after the student has passed the clinical qualifying examinations and the dissertation preliminary orals. The student receives the Ph.D. degree when both the dissertation and an approved internship are completed.

Accreditation

PCSAS – Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System

The Graduate Program in Clinical Psychology at UCLA was accredited in 2012 by the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS). PCSAS was created to promote science-centered education and training in clinical psychology, to increase the quality and quantity of clinical scientists contributing to the advancement of public health, and to enhance the scientific knowledge base for mental and behavioral health care. The UCLA program is deeply committed to these goals and proud to be a member of the PCSAS Founder’s Circle and one of the group of programs accredited by PCSAS.  (Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System, 1800 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 402, Washington, DC 20036-1218. Telephone: 301-455-8046). Website:  https://www.pcsas.org

APA CoA – American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation

The Graduate Program in Clinical Psychology at UCLA has been accredited by the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation since 1949. (Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, American Psychological Association, 750 First Street NE. Washington, DC 20002-4242. Telephone:  202-336-5979 .) Website:  http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/

Future Accreditation Plans:  

Against the backdrop of distressing evidence that mental health problems are increasingly prevalent and burdensome, the field of psychological clinical science must think innovatively to address the unmet mental health needs of vulnerable populations. UCLA’s clinical psychology program remains committed to training clinical psychological scientists who will become leaders in research, dissemination, and implementation of knowledge, policy development, and evidence-based clinical practice. This commitment is firmly rooted in our overall mission of promoting equity and inclusion, adhering to ethical standards, and developing collaborations in all aspects of clinical psychology.

Increasingly, we believe that significant aspects of the academic and clinical-service requirements of accreditation by the American Psychological Association (APA) obstruct our training mission. Too often, APA requirements limit our ability to flexibly adapt our program to evolving scientific evidence, student needs, and global trends in mental health. Like many other top clinical science doctoral programs, we see our longstanding accreditation by the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS) as better aligned with our core values, including advancement of scientifically-based training.

Accordingly, we are unlikely to seek renewal of our program’s accreditation by APA, which is set to expire in 2028. The ultimate decision about re-accreditation will be made with the best interests and well-being of current and future students in our program in mind. To that end, we will continue to monitor important criteria that will determine the career prospects of students completing a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from programs accredited only by PCSAS. For example, we are working to understand the potential implications for securing excellent predoctoral internships and eligibility for professional licensure across jurisdictions in North America. Although the UCLA clinical psychology program has no direct influence over these external organizations, we are excited to continue to work to shape this evolving training landscape with the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science (APCS) and leaders from other clinical science programs.

Our ongoing monitoring of trends in clinical psychology training is encouraging for PCSAS-accredited programs. However, evolving circumstances could result in our program changing its opinion with respect to seeking APA re-accreditation in the future. In the spirit of transparency and empowering potential applicants to make informed choices for their own professional development, we are pleased to share our thinking on these important issues.

Notice to Students re: Professional Licensure and Certification

University of California programs for professions that require licensure or certification are intended to prepare the student for California licensure and certification requirements. Admission into programs for professions that require licensure and certification does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or certificate. Licensure and certification requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the University of California and licensure and certification requirements can change at any time.

The University of California has not determined whether its programs meet other states’ educational or professional requirements for licensure and certification. Students planning to pursue licensure or certification in other states are responsible for determining whether, if they complete a University of California program, they will meet their state’s requirements for licensure or certification. This disclosure is made pursuant to 34 CFR §668.43(a)(5)(v)(C).

NOTE:  Although the UCLA Clinical Psychology Program is not designed to ensure license eligibility, the majority of our graduates do go on to become professionally licensed.  For more information, please see  https://www.ucop.edu/institutional-research-academic-planning/content-analysis/academic-planning/licensure-and-certification-disclosures.html .

Clinical Program Policy on Diversity-Related Training 

In light of our guiding values of collaboration, respect, and fairness, this statement is to inform prospective and current trainees, faculty, and supervisors, as well as the public, that our trainees are required to (a) attain an understanding of cultural and individual diversity as related to both the science and practice of psychology and (b) provide competent and ethical services to diverse individuals.  Our primary consideration is always the welfare of the client.  Should such a conflict arise in which the trainee’s beliefs, values, worldview, or culture limits their ability to meet this requirement, as determined by either the student or the supervisor, it should be reported to the Clinic and Placements Committee, either directly or through a supervisor or clinical area faculty member.  The Committee will take a developmental view, such that if the competency to deliver services cannot be sufficiently developed in time to protect and serve a potentially impacted client, the committee will (a) consider a reassignment of the client so as to protect the client’s immediate interests, and (b) request from the student a plan to reach the above-stated competencies, to be developed and implemented in consultation with both the trainee’s supervisor and the Clinic Director.  There should be no reasonable expectation of a trainee being exempted from having clients with any particular background or characteristics assigned to them for the duration of their training.

Clinical Program Grievance Policies & Procedures

Unfortunately, conflicts between students and faculty or with other students will occur, and the following policies and procedures are provided in an effort to achieve the best solution. The first step in addressing these conflicts is for the student to consult with their academic advisor. If this option is not feasible (e.g. the conflict is with the advisor) or the conflict is not resolved to their satisfaction, then the issue should be brought to the attention of the Director of Clinical Training. If in the unlikely event that an effective solution is not achieved at this level, then the student has the option of consulting with the Department’s Vice Chair for Graduate Studies. Students also have the option of seeking assistance from the campus Office of Ombuds Services and the Office of the Dean of Students. It is expected that all such conflicts are to be addressed first within the program, then within the Department, before seeking a resolution outside of the department.

More Clinical Psychology Information

• For a list of Required Courses please see the  Psychology Handbook
• Psychology Clinic
• Student Admissions Outcomes and Other Data

Meet the Law & Psychiatry Clinical Team

The Law & Psychiatry Program is an interdisciplinary collaboration of UMass Chan Medical School faculty and staff devoted to forensic clinical services, research, data-driven policy, training, and implementation support, at the interfaces of the behavioral sciences, psychiatry, psychology, and the law. 

The Law & Psychiatry Program is currently co-directed by Natalie Anumba, PhD, ABPP, for the clinical side, and Gina Vincent, PhD, for the  research and implementation support side .

Natalie Anumba, PhD, DFP, ABPP,  Co-Director of Law & Psychiatry Program

Clinical and Training Expertise: Criminal forensic mental health assessment, forensic psychology education, and supervision, criminal responsibility, violence risk assessment, integration of identity context into forensic mental health assessment, forensic telehealth  

Margarita Abi Zeid Daou, MD , Associate Director, Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship

Andrea dinsmore, psyd , dfp, abpp, director mobile forensic evaluation service.

Clinical Expertise: Board Certified Forensic Psychologist specializing in both civil and criminal forensic evaluation, including competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility, risk assessment, need for psychiatric hospitalization, psychodiagnostic formulation, competency to waive Miranda, juvenile forensic evaluation, and consultation.

Ashley Murray, PhD , DFP, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Director, Forensic Psychology Fellowship

Clinical Expertise: Conducting court evaluations for criminal defendants, for violence risk assessment (including specialized violence risk assessments), competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility (insanity defense), and aid-in-sentencing, among others. Provides trainings and workshops on these topics.

Research Interests: Violence risk assessment, psychopathic and borderline personality disorder, evidence-based treatment, stalking, interpersonal violence.

Paul Noroian, MD , DFAPA, Director, Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship

Clinical Expertise: Treatment of chronic and persistent mental illness; Management of aggression; Psychiatric treatment of individuals involved in the legal system

Research Interests: Impact of landmark legal decisions on the practice of psychiatry; civil commitment; guardianship and substituted judgment; the history of forensic psychiatry

Danielle Rynczak, JD, PsyD, ABPP , Director, Legal Education & Training

Clinical Experience: Board Certified Forensic Psychologist conducting adult and juvenile civil, criminal, and immigration evaluations, including criminal responsibility, diminished capacity, mitigation and aid-in-sentencing, competency to stand trial, Miranda waiver, violence risk assessments, civil commitment, asylum evaluations, parenting evaluations, termination of parental rights evaluations, special education and disability assessments; and consultation. 

Christine Rainvile, Administrative Assistant

Christine supports the Law & Psychiatry Department particularly with the Mobile Forensic Psychology Department and Residency Program as well as the Comprehensive Psychology Training Program at UMass Chan Medical School and Worcester Recovery Center Hospital. She enjoys supporting and assisting the postdocs, interns and practicum students as they develop their educational and career pathways. 

Shannon Brown, PsyD

Clinical Expertise: Treatment of adults with serious and persistent mental illness; psychological and forensic assessment of adults; forensic mental health evaluations in Massachusetts’ public sector; providing expert testimony for competence to stand trial, criminal responsibility, and civil commitment cases.

Research Interests: Utilization of language interpreters in adult forensic mental health assessment; identification of barriers and factors that promote the use of language interpreters in forensic psychology.

Jeffrey Burl PhD

Clinical Expertise: Practice interests center around forensic mental health assessment, and he is the primary supervisor on the Forensic Evaluation rotation for the UMass Chan Psychology Internship. He is the former Director of the UMass Chan Internship, and he continues to be involved in various training settings in the School. Additionally, he maintains a practice where he conducts therapy, assessment, and consultation.

Research Interests: Teaching and training methods in psychology training programs, standards of education in forensic psychology, and mental health assessment.

Maxwell Christensen, PhD

Clinical Expertise: I have specialized training in forensic psychology and conduct forensic mental health evaluations for adults, including competence to stand trial, criminal responsibility, and assessment of violence risk; I also have clinical interests in the assessment and treatment of substance use disorders and serious mental illness.

Research Interests: Risk assessment, Substance use disorders, Measurement-based care, and treatment outcome monitoring, Teaching and training of students in psychology.

Brian Daly, MD

Clinical Expertise: Acute mental illness, substance use disorders, psychosis, restoration to competency, de-prescribing, supervision of mid-level providers, delirium, and decisional capacity (especially relating to consent to treatment).

Research Interests: Behavioral Health systems of care, mental health courts, public sector psychiatry, public health, addiction psychiatry, neuromodulation, paraphilias, education of mid-level providers, malingering, stalking, violence in treatment settings.

Vera Klinoff, PhD

Ashley maclean, md, emily padilla, psyd.

Clinical Expertise: Forensic mental health evaluations, risk assessment, psychological assessment, treatment and evaluation of adults with serious mental illness, working with psychology training programs.

Research Interests: Social justice advocacy within psychology and psychology training programs, cultural humility in professional practice, autism within the criminal justice system.

Heidi Putney, PhD

Clinical Expertise: CBT-trained clinical psychologist with an emphasis on anger management and treating problematic sexual behaviors. I specialize in forensic evaluation (competency to stand trial and criminal responsibility) for individuals with serious mental illness. 

Research Interests: Public policy reform, program development and evaluation, professional development in psychologists, training in social justice advocacy, and issues related to forensic psychology.

Amam Saleh, MD

Clinical expertise: Treatment of persons with severe mental illness, legal history, and other complex issues; Violence Prevention and Aggression Management; Consulting on complex cases involving significant risk issues; systems-level risk management; and Training and development of training programs impacting clinical issues.

 Research Interests: Interaction between law enforcement and persons with severe mental illness, and Violence Prevention and Management.

Affiliated Professionals for Training

Andrew Bourke, PhD, Western MA Court Clinics, MA Department of Mental Health

Terrie Burda, PsyD, Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital, MA Department of Mental Health

Dan Comiskey, MD, Bridgewater State Hospital

Maryann Davis, PhD ,   iSPARC at UMass Chan Medical School

Dara Drawbridge, PhD , iSPARC at UMass Chan Medical School

James Feldman, MD , Massachusetts Mental Health Center

Nathan Frommer, JD , LLM, Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital, MA Department of Mental Health

Laura Grant, PsyD, US Department of Veterans Affairs

Darina Griffin, JD, Board of Registration in Medicine

Jessica Griffin, PsyD , Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Lifeline for Kids

Bryan Hughes, PsyD, Boston Juvenile Court Clinic, MA Department of Mental Health

Heather Jackson, PsyD, Boston Municipal Court, Department of Mental Health

Bruce Loding, PhD, MIPSB, MA Department of Mental Health

Carla Lourenco, PsyD, Southeast Court Clinics, MA Department of Mental Health

Lauren Lussier, PsyD, Bridgewater State Hospital

Jennifer McAllister, PsyD, ABPP, Plymouth Court Clinic

Adeliza Olivero, MD, Boston Municipal Court, Roxbury Division, Court Clinic MA Department of Mental Health

Arthur Pearson, PhD, Taunton District Court, MA Department of Mental Health

Eden Prendergast, JD, Executive Office of the Trial Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Juliana Reiss, PsyD, Western MA Court Clinics, MA Department of Mental Health

Sean Ryan, PhD, Director of Forensic Services, Bridgewater State Hospital

Renee Sorrentino, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital

Karin Towers, JD, PhD, ABPP, Southeast Court Clinics, MA Department of Mental Health

Kyle Walker, MD, Bridgewater State Hospital

John Young, PsyD, Bridgewater State Hospital

UCL Psychology and Language Sciences

PhD students undertake a piece of supervised research either independently or as part of a team, often as a major step towards an academic career. Assessment is by means of a thesis. A PhD is normally designed to extend over three years full-time or five years part-time. A detailed view of all the areas of study in the Division can be found by consulting the list of academic staff associated with the major groupings of activity outlined below.

Research Themes

• Clinical, Educational, and Health Psychology
• Experimental Psychology
• Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience
• Language & Cognition
• Linguistics
• Speech, Hearing & Phonetic Sciences
• UCL Interaction Centre

UCL ranked 2nd worldwide for Psychology in the latest THE rankings

Sign up to the Divisional Subject Pool

Read about sustainability in the Division

The Division has been awarded an Athena SWAN silver award recognising our commitment to gender equality.

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Course type

Qualification, university name, phd degree psychology courses at ucl (university college london).

7 courses available

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Select the start date, qualification, and how you want to study

About Postgraduate Psychology

Psychology is the study of the human mind, and the types of behaviours shown by individuals and groups of people. It encompasses many factors, including biological influences, social pressures, and environmental factors, and considers both the conscious and unconscious mind. A PhD program in psychology is among the highest formal qualifications which you can study, and involves intensive and extended research projects, designed for individuals who aspire to become leading authorities in the field of human behaviour and cognition.

To qualify for admission to one of the 27 psychology PhD programmes in London, applicants need a strong academic background, including a bachelor's and master's degree in psychology or a closely related field. There are 14 universities which offer PhD courses, and you’ll need to demonstrate prior research experience and a clear project proposal as part of the application process. London is a great place to study a PhD offering students access to top facilities, a large scientific community, and diverse research opportunities.

What to expect

Psychology PhD programmes in London generally range from three to six years in duration, depending on whether you study on a full-time or part-time basis. The course requires long periods of self-driven study, dedication and intellectual rigour. You’ll engage in advanced coursework and statistical analysis, working closely with faculty mentors to develop a specialism in an area of psychology such as specialisation in areas such as clinical psychology, cognitive psychology or social psychology.

Upon completion, you’ll be well placed for careers in academia, research, clinical practice or business organisations, where expertise in human behaviour is vital. PhD programmes meet the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) education and training standards and carry full accreditation from the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Related subjects:

• PhD Psychology
• PhD Behavioural Psychology
• PhD Clinical Psychology
• PhD Cognitive Psychology
• PhD General Psychology
• PhD Human Sexuality
• PhD Psychology Specialisations

• Course title (A-Z)
• Course title (Z-A)
• Price: high - low
• Price: low - high

Psychology and Human Development MPhil/PhD

Ucl (university college london).

Our profile as a department focuses principally on psychology (particularly in relation to education) and special educational needs (SEN). Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £7,580 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £3,790 per year (UK)

Gender and Sexuality Studies MPhil/PhD

Gender and Sexuality Studies is an inter-faculty programme drawing on the unique breadth of disciplines for which UCL is renowned. The Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £6,035 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £3,015 per year (UK)

Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology MPhil/PhD

We are the world's leading integrated department of applied psychology, focusing on the implementation of groundbreaking research to Read more...

Behavioural Science and Health MPhil/PhD

UCL's Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health carry out cutting-edge research and provide high quality teaching into the Read more...

Language and Cognition MPhil/PhD

We are at the forefront of research in human speech, language and communication investigating core issues in the development of spoken Read more...

Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience MPhil/PhD

The Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience (ICN) PhD students are based in a truly interdisciplinary institute. The ICN is situated within Read more...

Experimental Psychology MPhil/PhD

We offer an outstanding research and teaching environment providing opportunities for graduate students to work with world-renowned Read more...

Course type:

• Full time PhD
• Part time PhD

Qualification:

Related subjects:.

Best universities in the UK for medicine degrees 2024

Find the best universities in the uk for medicine using  times higher education ’s world university rankings 2024 data.

Top 10 universities for medicine in UK 2024

Scroll down for the full list of best universities for medicine in the UK

The UK is known for its National Health Service (NHS ), one of the world’s largest publicly funded healthcare systems. Many of the country’s public hospitals have close ties with medical schools.

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In the UK, medicine degrees are available at an undergraduate level, usually through a five- or six-year programme. These programmes allow students to gain a broad knowledge of medicine and include work placements and practical sessions. Students can then specialise through further study. 

Medical students in the UK are expected to have high grades in chemistry and biology, but requirements vary between universities. UK Consortium universities offering medicine degrees require students to take the  University Clinical Aptitude Test  (UCAT); and other top universities require students to take the  BioMedical Admissions Test  (BMAT). International students are also required to take one of these tests when applying to a UK university. 

These are the best universities in the UK for medical degrees, according to the  Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 .

Best universities for medical degrees in the world Best universities for medicine degrees in Canada Best universities in Australia for medicine degrees Best universities in the United States for medicine degrees 

5.  King’s College London

King’s College offers a five-year medicine MBBS, a graduate programme and a sport and exercise medical sciences BSc. All the courses focus on practical learning. 

The medical course is divided into three stages. 

King’s College London  has partnerships with some of London’s largest hospitals: Guy’s, King’s College and St Thomas’ hospitals. There are two main campuses – Guy’s and Denmark Hill – which house the faculty of life sciences and medicine; the Dental Institute and Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences; and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience.

If an optional intercalated degree is chosen, students can extend their five-year course to a six-year course.

The course is divided into three stages. Stage one offers foundation skills in biomedical and population sciences, as well as the skills for clinical practice. Stage two studies the human life cycle and pathological processes, focusing on patient care in clinical settings. Stage three is geared towards specialising and developing skills for the workplace. During this stage, students can choose to study abroad, extending their global knowledge of medicine.

UCL , like many other universities across the UK, offers a six-year undergraduate medicine course. 

Students undertake tutorials and clinical experience at the Royal Free and Whittington Hospitals in London. 

The first two years of the BSc medicine course include learning the fundamentals of clinical science. In the third and fourth years, students begin to learn clinical skills. The final two years are spent preparing for practice and specialising.

The university began offering medical courses in 1834, and since then, six alumni have been awarded the Nobel Prize for work in auto-immune disease, adrenaline and the immune system.

What can you do with a medical degree? What can you do with a dentistry degree? What can you do with a nursing degree?

3.  Imperial College London

Imperial College London  offers two undergraduate courses: BSc medicine and BSc medical biosciences.

Imperial’s Faculty of Medicine is one of the largest in Europe, with campuses across London, as well as numerous partnerships with hospitals and clinics around the UK.

The six-year BSc medicine course combines case-based learning and exposure to patient care as well as lectures and tutorials. The course helps students to develop skills in research techniques, which is helpful for those wishing to go into clinical academic medicine.

The school takes a three-phase approach. Phase one focuses on the foundations of health, disease and clinical practice, and includes the opportunity to undertake clinical research projects. Phase two offers module content learning on top of a research project. The final phase is where students use all the skills they have learned in real-life settings.

Imperial College also offers master’s programmes and scholarships for those who have completed their undergraduate medicine studies and wish to further their skills in the field.

Imperial has contributed significantly to the advances of medicine through research projects on bowel cancer, pandemic solutions and hay fever.

2.  University of Cambridge

The  University of Cambridge  offers two medicine courses: standard and graduate. 

Cambridge requires students to take the BMAT before their application will be accepted.

The  University of Cambridge ’s medical school students can access medicine and medicine-related courses in the school of clinical medicine, the faculty of biology, and the department of physiology, development and neuroscience.

The undergraduate course combines theoretical and practical work in outpatient clinics, GP surgeries and hospitals. 

Graduate and PhD programmes are designed for students looking to pursue a career in academic medicine.

Medicine courses at the  University of Cambridge  date back to 1540.

1.  University of Oxford

The  University of Oxford  has been  Times Higher Education ’s top-ranked university for medicine for the past 12 years. 

Students looking to study medicine at Oxford must take the BMAT in order to be accepted.

The  University of Oxford  offers a standard medicine course, which gives students a comprehensive knowledge of medical science as well as the skills to adapt this knowledge in a clinical environment.

The first three years are the pre-clinical stage, studying towards a BA honours in medical sciences. The final three years make up the clinical stage, where students work alongside doctors to put their skills into practice. All students on this course also undertake a research project, which encourages them to delve into the scientific research of medicine and develop laboratory skills.

A four-year graduate course for medical studies is also offered.

Notable alumni from the medical school include neurologist and Olympian Sir Roger Bannister, who is known for his research into responses of the nervous system.

Students at the  University of Oxford  have access to more than 400 clubs and societies.

Top UK universities for medicine 2024

Click each institution to view its full  World University Rankings 2024  results

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