Postgraduate taught 

Clinical Psychology DClinPsy

Man in despair

This Doctorate in Clinical Psychology is collaboratively funded through NHS Education for Scotland and the University of Glasgow. You will be employed by a local NHS (Scotland) Health Board for the duration of the programme.

Why this programme

  • In common with most clinical psychology programmes, the cognitive behavioural approach to psychotherapy is dominant but there is also a substantial teaching input based upon other psychotherapeutic approaches.
  • The programme covers a wide geographical area, including Ayrshire and Arran, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Highland and Lanarkshire, and is varied in terms of rural, urban and inner city populations.
  • Psychologists in departments throughout this area are closely involved in the programme, including placement provision, teaching, research supervision and coordination of teaching modules.

    • Main Campus Location

    The main location of this programme is at the School of Health & Wellbeing, on the Gilmorehill Campus in the heart of Glasgow's West End. 

Programme structure

The programme follows a modularised structure, which integrates academic teaching, clinical practice education and research training. This process underpins the commitment of the programme team to maximising the synergy between the clinical, academic and research components of training and reflects explicitly our commitment to an integrative educational process.

The programme consists of 16 compulsory courses.

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Accreditation of Prior Learning

From 2017, trainees who have already completed the NES-funded MSc in Applied Psychology for Children and Young People at Edinburgh University or the MSc in Psychological Therapy in Primary Care at the Universities of Dundee and Stirling will be eligible to complete their doctorate in a shortened timeframe in accordance with the University of Glasgow Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) regulations and procedures. This will result in completion of training five months early in recognition of the skills and knowledge already acquired and demonstrated via completion of the eligible MSc courses. 

Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract.

Career prospects

Clinical psychologists have a demanding role working with a wide range of clients, in a variety of health and social care settings, to reduce psychological distress and to enhance and promote psychological wellbeing.

This programme produces fit-for-purpose NHS practitioners.

Fees & funding

Tuition fees for 2025-26

DClinPsy

Trainees are funded through NHS Education for Scotland (NES), which pays University fees, trainee salaries, and travel expenses related to teaching. Salaries will commence at the first point of Agenda for Change Band 6, regardless of previous experience. Self-funded trainees will not be considered.

Entry requirements

We welcome applications from candidates who have achieved a 2:1 or above in Psychology and have British Psychological Society Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC).

If the applicant's first degree is not from a BPS accredited psychology degree programme then the applicant must have been subsequently awarded a qualification that confers the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society. That qualification must have been awarded a 2:1 degree or equivalent (an average of 60% or higher):

  • on a Masters level conversion
  • or a higher diploma conversion in psychology, at 2.1 equivalent level or above, with 240 credit equivalent (120 ECTS), where the overall number of research credits is at least 80 (40 ECTS)

All applicants must have the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society (BPS) or demonstrate clearly that they will receive this prior to commencing training, on completion of a particular qualification, therefore we do not accept applications from final year undergraduates.

NHS Education Scotland (NES) funds the following psychological training:

  • Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (University of Edinburgh/NHS Scotland and University of Glasgow/NHS Scotland) 
  • MSc Psychological Therapies in Primary Care (Universities of Dundee & Stirling/NHS Scotland) 
  • MSc Applied Psychology for Children and Young People (University of Edinburgh/NHS Scotland)  
  • Stage 2 Health Psychology Training (NHS Scotland) 
  • Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Training (Human Development Scotland/NHS Scotland) 
  • NES funded certificates and diplomas in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Family Based Treatment (FBT), and Family Therapy (FT)

Where a candidate has previously received, or is currently in receipt of funding for any of the above programmes, that candidate will normally not be eligible to receive funding for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology until a minimum of 18 months after the award for the previous training is recommended by a qualifying examination board or by chair’s action after the qualifying exam board (or achieved by other recognised route).  Where a candidate has enrolled in, but not completed one of the identified programmes, funding would not be available for a period of 24 months after the exit date from the programme.

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)

  • 7.0 overall with no subtest less than 6.5
  • IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Common equivalent English language qualifications accepted for entry to this programme

TOEFL (ibt, my best or athome)

  • 96 overall with Reading 23; Listening 23; Speaking 23; Writing 24
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements, this includes TOEFL mybest.

Pearsons PTE Academic

  • 66 overall with no subtest less than Reading 60; Listening 59; Speaking 59; Writing 74
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)

  • 185 overall, no subtest less than 176
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Oxford English Test

  • 8 overall with Reading and Listening no less than 7 and Writing and Speaking no less than 8
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

LanguageCert Academic SELT

  • 75 overall with two subtests at 75 and no subtest less than 70
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Password Skills Plus

  • 7.0 overall with no subtest less than 6.5
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Trinity College Tests

  • Integrated Skills in English II & III & IV: ISEIII Pass with Pass in all sub-tests
  • Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses

Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.

Alternatives to English Language qualification

  • Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
    • students must have studied for a minimum of 2 years at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.
  • Undergraduate 2+2 degrees from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
    • students must have completed their final two years study in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.

For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.

Pre-sessional courses

The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study. Our courses give you:

  • direct entry to your University programme for successful students (no need to take IELTS)
  • essential academic skills to help you study effectively at University
  • flexible entry dates so you can join the right course for your level.

For more detail on our pre-sessional courses please see:

We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:

  • Heriot Watt
  • Kingston Upon Thames
  • Middlesex University
  • Manchester University
  • Reading University
  • Edinburgh University
  • ST Andrews University
  • UCL
  • Durham

 

For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office using our enquiry form

International students

We are proud of our diverse University community which attracts students and staff from over 140 different countries.

How to apply

All applications are processed by the Clearing House for Postgraduate Courses in Clinical Psychology.

All information on how to apply and the selection procedure can be found on the Clearing House website.

 

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