M.S.Sc. in Clinical Psychology

The M.S.Sc. in Clinical Psychology is a jointly offered program by the Department of Psychology and the Department of Psychiatry. It is based on the scientist-practitioner model of training and provides both academic and clinical training, enabling graduates to practice as clinical psychologists in Hong Kong.

Admission Requirements

• General qualifications required by the Graduate School
• Fulfill the "English Language Proficiency Requirement" as stipulated by the Graduate School
• Possess a bachelor's degree majoring in Psychology or qualifications equivalent to a bachelor's degree majoring in Psychology
• Have eligibility for graduate membership of the Hong Kong Psychological Society
• Knowledge of spoken Cantonese and written Chinese is required (Courses are taught in Cantonese and English)
• It is preferable that applicants have undergraduate studies in abnormal psychology, neuropsychology, and counseling/psychotherapy

Additional Application Information

In addition to the general application materials, all applicants should submit:

1. A full
2. An of Bachelor's or Master's thesis
3. A in English (750 words) including:

• My own personality sketch
• What aspects of me will facilitate or impede my development in this profession?
• Describe a personal significant life event. In retrospect, how do you see yourself being influenced by the event? Or, what have you learned from it?

4. A on the following information:

• a) Please notify whether you have ever applied to our MSSc in Clinical Psychology Programme in the past or not? (Yes or No)
• b) If yes, please list the years you have applied and describe in English (400 words) how you have changed since the last application. If no, please skip this question (b)

Programme of Study

Course List

Course Code	Course Title	Units
PSYC5010	Seminar in Research Methods I	3
PSYC6020	Special Topics in Clinical Practices	3
PSYC6100	Ethics and Professional Issues	1
PSYC6210	Research Issues in Clinical Psychology	2
PSYC6220	Independent Study	1
PSYC6230	Thesis I	1
PSYC6231	Thesis II	1
PSYC6240	Neuropsychology Assessment	3
PSYC6610	Psychopathology	3
PSYC6620	Health and Community Psychology	3
PSYC6710	Intelligence Assessment	3
PSYC6720	Assessment of Psychopathology and Personality	3
PSYC6730	Intervention Seminar I: Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies	3
PSYC6740	Intervention Seminar II: Working with Children and Adolescents	3
PSYC6750	Intervention Seminar III: Special Topics	3
PSYC6810	Clinical Placement I	2
PSYC6820	Clinical Placement II	2
PSYC6830	Clinical Placement III	2
PSYC6840	Clinical Placement IV	2
PSYC6850	Clinical Placement V	2
PSYC6911	Clinical Seminar I	3
PSYC6921	Clinical Seminar II	3
PSYC6931	Clinical Seminar III	3
PSYC6941	Clinical Seminar IV	3

All M.S.Sc. courses are taught in Cantonese, supplemented with English

Coursework Requirements

Students are required to complete a minimum of 58 units of courses for graduation, normally within 2 years.

1. Required Courses:

• PSYC5010, 6020, 6100, 6210, 6220, 6230, 6231, 6240, 6610, 6620, 6710, 6720, 6730, 6740, 6750, 6810, 6820, 6830, 6840, 6850, 6911, 6921, 6931, 6941
• Total: 58 units

2. Clinical Placement:

• Students are required to complete at least 220 days of supervised practicum over two years, covering 5 blocks of placement.
• The 5 blocks should include 3 core ones and 2 electives.
• The Core Placements will include the following service areas:
  1. Adult Psychiatry/Psychology
  2. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology
  3. Service for people with chronic mental illnesses or impairments such as intellectual disability
• The Elective Placements may involve further training in one of the three core placements mentioned above, or chosen from among the fields of Forensic Psychology, Health/Community Psychology, Elderly Psychology, Social/Family Services, and Neuropsychology, etc.

Placement Arrangements

• First Year:
  • 1st Placement: December - March, 2-4 days/week
  • 2nd Placement: April - July, 2-4 days/week
• Second Year:
  • 3rd Placement: August - November, 2-4 days/week
  • 4th Placement: December - March, 2-4 days/week
  • 5th Placement: April - July, 2-4 days/week

Other Requirements

1. Students must fulfill the Term Assessment Requirement of the Graduate School.
2. Students must also fulfill the additional Term Assessment Requirements of the Programme.

• To complete the Programme, students are required to achieve a minimum grade of C- for each required course taken during the study in order to fulfill the graduation units and requirements.
• A student who has received a grade of D for any one of the courses taken, he/she will have to retake the same course in another term and pass the course with a C- or above grade.
• A student who has received two grades of D or a grade of F will be required to discontinue studies, unless special approval is granted by the Faculty Board.

3. A student must achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in order to graduate, unless special approval is granted by the Graduate Council.

Career Prospects

Graduate students of this programme have been employed as clinical psychologists in:

• Department of Health
• Hospital Authority
• Correctional Services Department
• Hong Kong Police
• Social Welfare Department
• Other non-government organizations.