Clinical Psychology (Taught)

Psychology explores many aspects of the human condition including our thoughts, feelings, decisions and behaviours. Study Clinical Psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London and you’ll develop a deep understanding of the treatment and assessment of mental illness and behavioural problems.

This comprehensive programme will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to pursue a career in a mental health setting or mental health research, with topics including clinical assessment, the principles of evidence-based treatments and wellbeing. You’ll learn from our enthusiastic expert academics, with a mix of seminar, lecture and research-based teaching providing exciting academic variety.

You’ll graduate with a range of transferable skills to take into further PhD study or your future career, including advanced research training and communication skills for working with clients, patients, and families. We provide excellent employability skills for graduates. Our notable alumni include leading bioscience innovator Professor Jackie Hunter CBE, Terrence Higgins Trust founder Dr Rupert Whitaker, and Dr Christian Jarrett – author of The Rough Guide to Psychology.

Core Modules
Adjustment and Well-Being
Advanced and Applied Research Techniques
Clinical Assessment and Treatment Approaches
Professional Clinical Practice and Skills
Statistics for Research
Clinical Dissertation
Optional Modules
There are a number of optional course modules available during your degree studies. The following is a selection of optional course modules that are likely to be available. Please note that although the College will keep changes to a minimum, new modules may be offered or existing modules may be withdrawn, for example, in response to a change in staff. Applicants will be informed if any significant changes need to be made.

Psychology in Applied Settings
Topics in Psychological Science
Cognitive, Social and Neuroscience Approaches to Forensic Investigations
Clinical Placement

Teaching and learning is delivered primarily through sessions lasting between one-and-a-half and five hours. These typically combine seminar discussions with practical exploration or workshops. Where possible, these will be student-led, with participants encouraged to devise exercises engaging with the relevant issues and to direct fellow-students in these experiments.

We place emphasis on group discussion and the development of independent thought and analysis appropriate to carry out an independent piece of research of high quality, in an area of interest to you. In some contributing modules, you will give oral presentations which form part of the formative assessment. Summative assessment is usually by extended essay, although there are written exams for modules focussing on methodology and statistics.