Explore the courses
Choose your courses carefully
What is the course and when does it start?
The qualification is a doctoral level degree that combines academic and practical training, and includes both clinical placements and research.
- All the courses are approved by the Health & Care Professions Council and make you eligible to apply for registration with them as a clinical psychologist
- All the courses are accredited by the British Psychological Society
All courses start between early September and early October and have only one intake each year.
Full-time and Part-time Courses
These courses are very demanding so should not usually be combined with any other job or academic course.
There are no distance learning courses: all the courses require you to attend in person on a regular basis.
Most courses are full-time for 3 years.
Part-time courses
Lancaster University offers a part-time course alongside their full-time course. The part-time course will take longer to complete than the full-time course:
- Please see the Lancaster University pages for details
Other degrees
Universities will not usually let you enrol on a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology if you are already enrolled on another qualification e.g. a PhD or masters.
If you have any outstanding requirements from another qualification when the clinical course starts, you may have to withdraw from that qualification to be able to start or continue your Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.
- Please see the Courses A-Z for the requirements of individual courses
Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning
Most courses do not accredit prior learning or experience: you must complete the full programme of training to qualify.
You must attend throughout the course, including the induction period.
Courses that use APEL
The following courses consider specific qualifications for some recognition of prior learning:
Useful links
- Psych-Appli-Can
Information that can aid you on your application journey, no matter what stage you’re at or which universities you’re interested in.
Produced by a group of Trainee Clinical Psychologists from Lancaster University. - Pre-Qualification Group plus PQG on X Twitter and PQG on Facebook
The PQG represents those who are on the journey to becoming clinical psychologists.
Part of the Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP) of the British Psychological Society (BPS). - Alternative Handbook
A flavour of what it is really like to be a trainee at the courses that interest you.
Produced by the BPS and PQG. - Minorities in Clinical Psychology Group - Minorities Group on X Twitter and Minorities Group on Facebook
Gives individuals from minoritised or marginalised backgrounds in the UK clinical psychology profession a chance to connect to others who may share similar experiences.
Part of the Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP) of the British Psychological Society (BPS).
Courses that are not part of the Clearing House scheme
The following UK courses have their own application process and are not part of the Clearing House scheme:
For courses in the Clearing House scheme please see the Courses A-Z.