Professional Doctorate Health Psychology

at University of Stirling

The course focuses on developing high quality practice and research and your capacity to work as an independent scientist-practitioner. It emphasises person-centred and collaborative ways of working, which are characteristic of Health Psychology approaches.
 

This course will aim to prepare you for working in multidisciplinary contexts, in the context of the Scottish Government’s targets for improvement of the nation’s health. This acknowledges the interplay of biological, psychological, socio-economic and cultural factors.
 

Psychology at the University of Stirling has a long history of collaboration with local and national health care providers, and community groups. Course team members have been involved in many collaborative research projects, teaching and professional consultancy. Existing links to the local, national and international health and healthcare community will be fostered and developed in the Professional Doctorate. Stirling is also committed to increasing patient and public involvement (PPI) from the local community and a Stirling Health and Behaviour PPI group has recently been established. We have PPI representatives on our Course Steering Group and will involve patient and carer groups as far as possible in different aspects of the course.
 

Modules

The module information below provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the current academic year (September 2021). Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.

Academic requirements
 

Applicants must:

• hold a good (2:1 or above) honours degree in psychology
• be a graduate member of the BPS or hold the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC)
• have successfully completed a BPS Accredited (Stage 1) MSc in Health Psychology within the past 5 years to a minimum of merit grade or equivalent
• have Level 7 IELTS (minimum of 6.5 in each band) or equivalent for students where English is not their first language.
   

The University of Stirling has been operating a very successful MSc in Health Psychology since 2003. You can apply for a place on this MSc if you do not currently meet this entry requirement.
 

English language requirements
 

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

• IELTS Academic or UKVI 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each sub-skill
• Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) 185 overall with a minimum of 176 in each sub-skill
• Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) 185 overall with a minimum of 180 in each sub-skill
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) 67 overall with a minimum of 62 in each sub-skill
• IBT TOEFL 94 overall with 19 in reading, 24 in writing, 20 in listening and 22 in speaking
• IBT TOEFL Special Home Edition Test 94 overall with 19 in reading, 24 in writing, 20 in listening and 22 in speaking
• Trinity ISE III Pass overall and in all sub-skills, ISE IV Pass overall and in all sub-skills
• Aptis (4 skills) CEFR C1 overall and B2 in all sub-skills
• Duolingo 115 overall with minimum of 105 in each sub-skill
• LanguageCert International ESOL C1 Expert - Pass with minimum 33 in each sub-skill
   

Undergraduate
 

Direct Entry to 1st Year:
 

Year 12 Grade – cumulative score of 65% and above from the following state boards:

• CBSE
• ISC/ICSE
• Metro state boards (Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal)
   

Students from other state boards will require Year 12 Grade – cumulative score of 75%.
 

Advanced Entry to 2nd Year:
 

Year 12 Grade – cumulative score of 75% and above from the following state boards:

• CBSE
• ISC/ICSE
• Metro state boards (Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal)
   

Advanced entry is possible on a range of courses. Student applications will be considered on a case by case basis.
 

Please note that advanced entry options for students who have scored 35 in the International Baccalaureate or GCE A-Levels ABB in one sitting will also be considered on a case by case basis.
 

Postgraduate

Students who score 70% in English in Year 12 from the following exam boards won't be required to submit IELTS, if studied within 5 years of our course start date:

• CBSE
• ISC/ICSE
• Metro state boards (Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal)
   

Students from other state boards will either need 80% in English if studied within 5 years of the course start date, or a UKVI SELT, IELTS Academic or PTE Academic, depending on the state board, taken within 2 years of our course start date.
 

Students who meet the above criteria, but Year 12 scores are between 6 and 10 years old, will also be required to submit an official letter from their university or college, stating that the medium of instruction (MOI) was in English, and confirming graduation is within 5 years of our course start date.

Overseas (non-EU) students

2023/24 - £12,200
 

Course fees

Fees shown are for a full-time, one-year Masters course.

• If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
• If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
   

Cost of living
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
 

European Union and overseas students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.

Careers in Health Psychology

Health Psychology is a flexible and broad field of study and this is reflected in the wide variety of work that health psychologists can do.  For example, within policy bodies, public health or clinical health services such as the UK NHS, and also in health and social care, in communities, workplaces and in the third sector (charitable organisations).
 

Examples of possible roles for qualified Health Psychologists are:

• delivering health assessments and management strategies for chronically ill patients, for example, those with cancer or chronic pain
• providing rehabilitation or prehabilitation courses, e.g. for patients with coronary heart disease
• working to support patients and carers in patient support organisations
• behaviour change consultancy with primary health care teams in the community
• health education and health promotion in educational or industrial settings
• conducting evaluative research in order to provide a research evidence base for health policy decisions
• influencing health behaviours, for example in smoking cessation courses, weight reduction groups, or with sexual health care providers
• carrying out teaching and research for health care students in academic settings
• teaching and training NHS health and social care professionals – such as pharmacists, dentists, social workers