MSc Clinical & Developmental Neuropsychology

at Bournemouth University

Core units
 

• Ageing & Neurodegenerative Disorders: Cognitive abilities rise steeply from infancy to young adulthood and then are either maintained or decline in old age, depending on ability. This unit will focus on the mechanisms that underpin these changes, and will explore illnesses that usually develop in later life (e.g. dementia, Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease).

• Advanced Research Methods: The unit covers a range of research methods and a tool used for conducting advanced level research, and describes the intricacies of experimental design in such contexts. The unit aims to prepare students for undertaking independent research using advanced research techniques. 

• Clinical & Cognitive Neuropsychology: This unit explores the diagnostic assessment and treatment of patients with brain injury or neurocognitive deficits. You will gain an in-depth understanding of neurological injury, the use of neuropsychological tests to accurately assess cognitive deficits and the management, treatment and rehabilitation of brain injured and cognitively impaired patients. At the end of the unit, you'll have an advanced knowledge of how our understanding of cognition can be informed by patient studies.

• Neurodevelopmental Diversity: This unit explores typical neural and cognitive development in childhood, and takes an in-depth look at several cases of atypical development (e.g. dyslexia, ADHD and autism). You will learn more about how to adapt environments for people with developmental conditions, and will learn about related careers from professionals working in this field.

• Advanced Statistics: You will learn and apply a range of statistical techniques intended for analysing data from psychological research. These are advanced techniques which are not covered at undergraduate level, but they build on statistical knowledge that you should have acquired in your undergraduate course. 

• Key Transferable Skills – Presentation & Scientific Writing: In this unit, you'll gain key skills for interpreting, presenting and writing research. Topics will include writing research and grant proposals, presentation skills and the development of advanced writing skills.

• Research Project: You'll get to choose from a set of research projects provided by our teaching staff. You will then be responsible for providing an in-depth literature review and designing an experiment to address the research question. You will be expected to collect and analyse data and will be asked to provide a submission-ready write up of the project. Supervision for the research project will be provided in weekly meetings.

Taught units are currently timetabled for Wednesdays and Thursdays to enable effective, practical learning. Please take this into account when you pre-plan and schedule other activities (eg varsity sports) and commitments such as work placements. 

The normal requirements for embarking upon this degree are:
 

• A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:1, or equivalent in a required subject.
• Required subjects include: Psychology, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/Statistics.
• Applicants with a 2.2 will be considered if they have achieved a 2.1 in their dissertation.

​If you lack the formal academic qualifications needed to enter a postgraduate or post-experience degree, there are several alternative routes to follow - some based on experience. 

​Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:
 

• Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty.
• Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of textbooks and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shops stock a wide range of stationery supplies on both campuses.
• Accommodation and living costs. 
• Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass can be purchased alongside your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchased separately.
• Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas) if this is part of your course of study. 
• Travel costs for optional field trips, outdoor wear and footwear for mandatory and optional field trips (if applicable).
• Clothing or equipment costs required for your placement if this is part of your course of study.
• SportBU membership.

While all aspects of the programme, including required field trips, are included in the fee, additional, optional or extra curricula activities may be available for which a student contribution is required.

As an MSc Clinical & Developmental Neuropsychology graduate, you will be prepared to undertake further training for a variety of roles, working in contexts such as the NHS (hospital and community), the private/independent health care sector (nursing homes and private hospitals), education, and academic research.

Potential careers include:
 

• Mental Health Assessor
• Clinical Psychologist
• Therapist providing psychological therapies (IAPT)
• Educational Psychologist
• Lecturer
• Academic Researcher