Program Overview

MSc Psychological Wellbeing in Clinical Practice

The MSc Psychological Wellbeing in Clinical Practice at Manchester Metropolitan University is designed to support the development of core clinical competencies, focusing on person-centred care in mental health settings and shaping professional practice values. This master's course is for those with an interest in working in mental health settings or those hoping to pursue a professional doctorate in clinical psychology or counselling psychology, or PhD study.

Course Overview

The course develops clinical skills, including assessment, formulation, intervention design, and evaluation, and knowledge of theories related to promoting psychological wellbeing. Students evaluate therapeutic methods and enhance their reflective practice, completing a service-based dissertation project focused on developing and advancing care and practice in a particular area.

Features and Benefits

• Work-based Learning: A 40-hour work-based learning opportunity in a relevant organisation or live project, applying knowledge and skills to solve real-world problems.
• Expand your knowledge: Develop therapeutic and clinical skills, theoretical knowledge, applied research skills, and strategies to maintain wellbeing as a practitioner.
• Research project with an impact: Complete a service-based dissertation project, informing practice through research.
• Contemporary teaching: Taught by practicing researchers and clinical, counselling, and health psychologists with experience across the NHS and private practices.
• Enhanced student support: Each student has a Personal Tutor, and Programme Support Tutors work closely with students throughout the course.
• Research active department: The department is home to the Stress, Health and Performance Research Group, with staff engaging in a wide range of research areas.
• Outstanding facilities: Access to specialist facilities for psychology demonstration and practice, including an fNIR imaging research device, 12 experimental testing laboratories, and 6 psychology laboratories.

Year 1

The central ethos of this master's course is person-centred care in mental health settings, shaping professional practice values. To graduate with the MSc qualification, students must gain 180 credits over seven core units.

Core Modules

• Brief Intervention: Introduced to evidence-based brief interventions and their applications in various contexts.
• Core Therapeutic Principles: Emphasis on the person-centred approach, therapeutic alliance, and theoretical models of different therapeutic approaches.
• Professional Practice Values: Covers policies, guidelines, and ethical conduct, personal accountability, and professional practice issues, including work-based learning.
• Clinical Skills: Teaching and practicing core and advanced clinical and therapeutic skills, attending to building therapeutic alliances, assessment, formulation, intervention planning, evaluation, reflection, and supervision.
• Psychological Wellbeing in Practice: Develops students' skills further through reflecting on practice and experiential learning of therapeutic models and supervision.
• Research Principles and Methods: Develops an understanding of research principles, both quantitative and qualitative, enabling students to critically appraise and undertake their research project.
• Research for Innovation Dissertation: Develops and applies independent relevant research skills, identifying a discipline-relevant research question and completing a research proposal and gaining ethical approval.

Study and Assessment

• Full-time: 20% lectures, seminars, or similar; 11% placement; 69% independent study.
• Part-time: 20% lectures, seminars, or similar; 11% placement; 69% independent study.
• Assessment: 83% coursework; 17% practical; 0% examination.

Placements

This course has an integrated placement of 40 hours. Students should ensure they are available throughout the week during term two to accommodate the schedule offered by the placement provider.

Entry Requirements

• A 2:1 or above in an undergraduate degree course or overseas equivalent related to the allied health/social care professions.
• Successful completion of one unit within this course requires a full Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
• Overseas applicants require IELTS with an overall score of 6.5 with no less than 5.5 in any category, or an equivalent accepted English qualification.

Fees and Funding

• UK and Channel Island students: Full-time fee £10,250 per year, part-time fee £1709 per 30 credits.
• EU and non-EU international students: Full-time fee £20,000 per year, part-time fee £3334 per 30 credits.
• Additional costs: Estimated £400 for optional items such as a laptop and up to £100 each year for books and printing.

Careers Support and Prospects

• Employed or in further study: 93.7% of UK-domiciled, full-time, postgraduate taught graduates are employed or in further study 15 months after graduation.
• The course provides a comprehensive theoretical and research foundation, opening doors to a wide variety of careers in mental health settings working with different client groups.
• Graduates are well-placed to progress to further training in psychological therapies and psychological wellbeing, and the course enhances competencies, potentially allowing application for Doctoral training in clinical or counselling psychology.