MSc — 2027 entry Clinical Psychology and Mental Health

This module introduces students to the core principles and practices of qualitative research and provides the skills needed to design, conduct, and critically evaluate a small-scale qualitative project. Students will learn a range of qualitative data collection methods and analytic approaches, and will develop an understanding of how these methods are applied within psychological research.The module is suitable for those with little or no prior experience, while also offering opportunities for more experienced students to deepen their knowledge. Advanced captured content on SurreyLearn enables students to explore additional analytic methods, and those with prior experience are encouraged to extend their practical skills by applying a new analytic procedure in their project.Students will also develop reflective skills to consider how their cultural background, social identity, gender, experiences, and prior knowledge influence data collection, analysis, and interpretation. The module prepares students to undertake a qualitative dissertation project, should they choose to do so.

This module equips students with the skills to design and undertake academic research in psychology, in preparation for developing their own dissertations. The module will cover key aspects of research design, including literature review, forming hypotheses, ethical conduct, and study design and methods, both quantitative and qualitative. Students will propose a study design; implement the study via small-scale data collection and analysis; and present and discuss the findings in an individual research report. 

This module will provide students with knowledge, skills, and practical experience of advanced research methods and design. It emphasises a critical and creative approach to evaluating research methods and design and applying them to scientific questions. It will support the development of novel, theoretically significant, rigorous, and impactful research proposals.

This module aims to equip students with an understanding of what we mean by mental health and wellbeing, and knowledge of theories which support the development of a therapeutic relationship, assessment and formulation in the context of working with individuals presenting with mental health problems. The module will provide students with an opportunity to gain an understanding of the role and function of reflective practice and to engage in self-practice. A key aspect will be listening to others, eliciting information, and making sense of the material in the context of the lifespan, and relevant social, political, and cultural issues. The content in this module will be grounded in core ethical and professional practice considerations important for those who are considering a future career in clinical psychology or other mental health professions.

Mental ill health is experienced by people across the world. There are similarities and differences in the factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of mental ill health in people, and therefore in the ways in which mental health professions including clinical psychology need to approach the treatment of these challenges. Starting with the diversity and life stages within the individual and moving to the diversity between groups and contexts, students in this module will explore these unique characteristics and their intersections using a range of frameworks, and the implications these have for the approaches taken to supporting mental wellbeing. Students will critique theories of development in the context of multi-cultural societies and will analyse their own values and assumptions about what is normative and what this means when working with difference. Students will be supported to critically evaluate individual and group difference and the implications this has for using a range of treatment approaches that encompass holistic health contexts to best meet the needs of those that need support. This module focusses more on individual differences that build a foundation for the exploration of global differences in mental health in a subsequent module.

This module will provide students with knowledge and theory of the evidence based Psychological Interventions applied in mental health settings in the United Kingdom. The module will focus on Cognitive Behavioral and Systemic approaches; with 3rd wave therapies such as Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment therapy and Compassion Focused Therapy also explored. Students will develop skill in critical appraisal of these models when applied to the treatment of mental health conditions, considering their parallels and key differences. Finally, students will be provided with the opportunity to develop basic skills in these approaches through self-practice and self-reflection.

Students will learn about specific neurodevelopmental and long-term health conditions and how they co-occur and impact on an individual¿s mental health and wellbeing. The concepts of neurodiversity and neurodivergence will be introduced and discussed with particular focus on Autism and ADHD and the module will explore the concepts of neurodevelopmental differences in the context of deficit and strengths-based models. Long term health conditions such as diabetes, chronic heart disease and IBS will be taught and understood in the context of the biopsychosocial model. Students will consider adaptations and adjustments which can be made when working with Neurodiversity and long-term health conditions in the context of a psychological mental health setting. This module connects with the core skills module in semester 1 with reference to the biopsychosocial model of psychological distress and the relevance of models of engagement as well as drawing on the Semester 2 module on evidence-based models for an understanding of how these conditions are understood and treated in a therapeutic mental health setting.

This course is a lab-based, practical introduction designed for students with little or no prior experience in statistics. It focuses on developing foundational skills in data analysis using the freely available jamovi software, alongside an understanding of the underlying concepts. Students with more advanced statistical knowledge should consider PSYM187 - Advanced Quantitative Data Analysis instead.

This module is offered to students on specialised MSc programmes in the School of Psychology, who are required to take either this advanced module or PSYM188 Fundamentals of Quantitative Data Analysis depending on the extent of their prior statistics training. This module is designed to extend students' skills by equipping them with a range of advanced quantitative methods and associated statistical techniques that are used in research in psychology and closely related social science disciplines. This will help students to develop a broader and more advanced analytical skillset which enables a greater flexibility in how they can approach research datasets. These skills will be very good preparation for using quantitative techniques in doctoral research, professional psychology training, and/or careers that use data analysis (e.g., research, social statistics), enhancing students' employability in these sectors. This module is a suitable option for students who already have a good grounding in statistics from their undergraduate/prior studies, as this module assumes familiarity with basic statistical concepts and mainstream tests such as ANOVA and regression. Students who do NOT have a strong grounding in statistics from their prior studies should instead choose PSYM188 Fundamentals of Quantitative Data Analysis.

This module equips students with the skills to design and undertake academic research in psychology, in preparation for developing their own dissertations. The module will cover key aspects of research design, including literature review, forming hypotheses, ethical conduct, and study design and methods, both quantitative and qualitative. Students will propose a study design; implement the study via small-scale data collection and analysis; and present and discuss the findings in an individual research report. 

This module will provide students with knowledge, skills, and practical experience of advanced research methods and design. It emphasises a critical and creative approach to evaluating research methods and design and applying them to scientific questions. It will support the development of novel, theoretically significant, rigorous, and impactful research proposals.

This module aims to equip students with an understanding of what we mean by mental health and wellbeing, and knowledge of theories which support the development of a therapeutic relationship, assessment and formulation in the context of working with individuals presenting with mental health problems. The module will provide students with an opportunity to gain an understanding of the role and function of reflective practice and to engage in self-practice. A key aspect will be listening to others, eliciting information, and making sense of the material in the context of the lifespan, and relevant social, political, and cultural issues. The content in this module will be grounded in core ethical and professional practice considerations important for those who are considering a future career in clinical psychology or other mental health professions.

This module will provide students with knowledge and theory of the evidence based Psychological Interventions applied in mental health settings in the United Kingdom. The module will focus on Cognitive Behavioral and Systemic approaches; with 3rd wave therapies such as Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment therapy and Compassion Focused Therapy also explored. Students will develop skill in critical appraisal of these models when applied to the treatment of mental health conditions, considering their parallels and key differences. Finally, students will be provided with the opportunity to develop basic skills in these approaches through self-practice and self-reflection.

This course is a lab-based, practical introduction designed for students with little or no prior experience in statistics. It focuses on developing foundational skills in data analysis using the freely available jamovi software, alongside an understanding of the underlying concepts. Students with more advanced statistical knowledge should consider PSYM187 - Advanced Quantitative Data Analysis instead.

This module is offered to students on specialised MSc programmes in the School of Psychology, who are required to take either this advanced module or PSYM188 Fundamentals of Quantitative Data Analysis depending on the extent of their prior statistics training. This module is designed to extend students' skills by equipping them with a range of advanced quantitative methods and associated statistical techniques that are used in research in psychology and closely related social science disciplines. This will help students to develop a broader and more advanced analytical skillset which enables a greater flexibility in how they can approach research datasets. These skills will be very good preparation for using quantitative techniques in doctoral research, professional psychology training, and/or careers that use data analysis (e.g., research, social statistics), enhancing students' employability in these sectors. This module is a suitable option for students who already have a good grounding in statistics from their undergraduate/prior studies, as this module assumes familiarity with basic statistical concepts and mainstream tests such as ANOVA and regression. Students who do NOT have a strong grounding in statistics from their prior studies should instead choose PSYM188 Fundamentals of Quantitative Data Analysis.

This module introduces students to the core principles and practices of qualitative research and provides the skills needed to design, conduct, and critically evaluate a small-scale qualitative project. Students will learn a range of qualitative data collection methods and analytic approaches, and will develop an understanding of how these methods are applied within psychological research.The module is suitable for those with little or no prior experience, while also offering opportunities for more experienced students to deepen their knowledge. Advanced captured content on SurreyLearn enables students to explore additional analytic methods, and those with prior experience are encouraged to extend their practical skills by applying a new analytic procedure in their project.Students will also develop reflective skills to consider how their cultural background, social identity, gender, experiences, and prior knowledge influence data collection, analysis, and interpretation. The module prepares students to undertake a qualitative dissertation project, should they choose to do so.

Mental ill health is experienced by people across the world. There are similarities and differences in the factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of mental ill health in people, and therefore in the ways in which mental health professions including clinical psychology need to approach the treatment of these challenges. Starting with the diversity and life stages within the individual and moving to the diversity between groups and contexts, students in this module will explore these unique characteristics and their intersections using a range of frameworks, and the implications these have for the approaches taken to supporting mental wellbeing. Students will critique theories of development in the context of multi-cultural societies and will analyse their own values and assumptions about what is normative and what this means when working with difference. Students will be supported to critically evaluate individual and group difference and the implications this has for using a range of treatment approaches that encompass holistic health contexts to best meet the needs of those that need support. This module focusses more on individual differences that build a foundation for the exploration of global differences in mental health in a subsequent module.

Students will learn about specific neurodevelopmental and long-term health conditions and how they co-occur and impact on an individual¿s mental health and wellbeing. The concepts of neurodiversity and neurodivergence will be introduced and discussed with particular focus on Autism and ADHD and the module will explore the concepts of neurodevelopmental differences in the context of deficit and strengths-based models. Long term health conditions such as diabetes, chronic heart disease and IBS will be taught and understood in the context of the biopsychosocial model. Students will consider adaptations and adjustments which can be made when working with Neurodiversity and long-term health conditions in the context of a psychological mental health setting. This module connects with the core skills module in semester 1 with reference to the biopsychosocial model of psychological distress and the relevance of models of engagement as well as drawing on the Semester 2 module on evidence-based models for an understanding of how these conditions are understood and treated in a therapeutic mental health setting.