Postgraduate study
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Applied Psychology (Healthcare) For Children and Young People MSc

Awards: MSc

Study modes: Full-time

Funding opportunities

This programme, developed in partnership with the NHS, combines academic teaching with clinical practice training in applied psychology for children and young people.

It allows you to develop knowledge and competence in the delivery of evidence-based psychological interventions for this group, and skills and competencies for the delivery of Tier two psychological assessments and interventions in services for children, young people and their families.

You will be employed in a one-year clinical placement in the Scottish NHS Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service, gaining valuable experience applying psychological theory to practice, under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist.

Alongside essential elements for applied psychologists in health (e.g. assessment and formulation, and evaluation) and child and adolescent mental health professionals (e.g. safeguarding children, child and adolescent development and health promotion), there is a particular focus on psychological interventions, early years and early intervention. There is also a strong emphasis on parenting and supporting parents through evidence-based models of parent-focused intervention.

The clinical experience gained on placement facilitates linking theory to practice and fosters the development of professional skills necessary for post-qualification practice.

The programme is a one year, full-time course with teaching delivered at both the University of Edinburgh and NHS partnership sites in Glasgow.

Clinical placements will be with one of the NHS Health Boards within Scotland.

Courses include:

  • Assessment and Formulation
  • Child and Adolescent Development
  • Early Years and Early Intervention
  • Evaluation and Research
  • Professional Context and Clinical Management
  • Promotion of Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing
  • Psychological Intervention and Structured Treatment Approaches

This programme will qualify you to apply for Clinical Associate in Applied Psychology (Children and Young People) posts, or equivalent, in a number of settings, both within the NHS and in other organisations, such as the voluntary sector.

You will also gain highly transferable skills, such as communication and project management.

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent. You must be eligible for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society (you may be eligible for GBC either through your undergraduate degree or through a GBC masters conversion course).

You will be required to attend an interview as part of our selection process.

You must meet the visa requirements to be employed in the UK.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 62 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Read our general information on tuition fees and studying costs:

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

  • your programme
  • the duration of your studies
  • your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • School of Health in Social Science
  • Medical School
  • Teviot Place
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 9AG

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

Further information

  • School of Health in Social Science
  • Medical School
  • Teviot Place
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 9AG