MSci Applied Psychology (Clinical)

4 Years On Campus Accelerated-masters Program

University of Exeter

Program Overview

The MSci Applied Psychology (Clinical) at the University of Exeter is an integrated four-year degree that combines the scientific study of psychology with professional clinical training, preparing you for a career in mental health. Ideal for students who want to make a real difference in people's lives, the programme develops your knowledge of psychological science while giving you the practical skills and clinical experience needed to become a qualified Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP).

Curriculum Structure

Year 1:
Your first year introduces the core principles of psychology and builds a strong scientific foundation for the rest of the programme. Through modules such as Introduction to Biological Psychology, Introduction to Clinical Psychology and Introduction to Research Methods, you'll develop an understanding of human behaviour while gaining essential research and data analysis skills.

Year 2:
In the second year, you'll explore how psychological theories are applied to mental health and everyday behaviour. Modules including Development Psychology and Psychopathology, Personality and Individual Differences and Biological Basis of Behaviour are supported by practical options such as Qualitative Methods and Interview Skills, Social Practical or Cognition Practical, helping you strengthen your research and professional skills.

Year 3:
Your third year focuses on advanced psychological research while allowing you to specialise in areas that match your interests. Alongside completing a substantial Psychology Research Project, you'll study Methods and Statistics in Psychology III and Contemporary Issues in Psychology, with the opportunity to choose seminar modules such as Clinical Neuroscience: Brains, Drugs and Psychiatry, Psychology and Law or The Psychology of Gender.

Year 4:
The final year is dedicated to professional clinical training and preparing you for practice within mental health services. You'll study modules including Evidence-Based Low Intensity Treatments for Common Mental Health Problems, Engagement and Assessment of Patients with Common Mental Health Problems and NHS Talking Therapies Applied Clinical Practice, while completing supervised clinical placements that develop the competencies required to become a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner.

Focus Areas: Clinical Psychology, Mental Health, Psychological Wellbeing, Psychological Assessment, Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Psychopathology, Biological Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Social Psychology, Research Methods, Clinical Research, Evidence-Based Practice.

Learning Outcomes: Develop a strong understanding of psychological science, apply evidence-based approaches to common mental health conditions, conduct and evaluate psychological research, assess and support patients in clinical settings, communicate effectively with service users and healthcare professionals, analyse psychological data, and graduate with the practical skills and professional competencies required for Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner training.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and designed to meet the training requirements for registration as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP).

Reputation (Employability Rankings): Psychology at the University of Exeter is ranked 82nd globally in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2026, 87th globally in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2026, 6th in the Guardian University Guide 2026, 7th in the Complete University Guide 2027, and 10th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students on the MSci Applied Psychology (Clinical) at the University of Exeter gain valuable practical experience by combining psychological theory with clinical training, research projects and supervised patient-focused learning. The programme is designed to help students apply psychological knowledge in real-world settings through clinical skills practice, research activities and professional development. Throughout the course, students work with specialist facilities, research centres and clinical environments that support the development of evidence-based psychological practice:

Complete a supervised clinical placement within NHS or other IAPT service settings, gaining practical experience in supporting patients and delivering low-intensity psychological interventions for anxiety and depression.
Take part in problem-based learning activities, working in groups to apply psychological concepts to realistic clinical scenarios and develop professional decision-making skills.
Practise clinical communication, assessment methods and therapeutic techniques through role-play sessions and skills modelling activities before working directly with patients.
Carry out a clinical research project linked to the Mood Disorders Centre, working alongside researchers exploring new approaches to understanding and treating mental health conditions.
Gain access to specialist psychology facilities, including clinical psychology spaces, cognitive psychology laboratories, social psychology laboratories and research environments focused on behaviour, cognition and mental health.
Use the Sir Henry Wellcome Building for Mood Disorders Research, which provides dedicated clinical research rooms, treatment spaces, audiovisual recording facilities and specialist areas for applied psychological research.
Develop practical research skills using specialist equipment such as EEG systems, eye-tracking technology, physiological measurement tools and virtual reality technology available through psychology research facilities.
Work with digital research tools and experimental software used in psychological research, including platforms for designing experiments, collecting behavioural data and analysing research findings.
Build professional confidence through clinical supervision sessions, reflective practice activities and a Personal and Professional Development portfolio that tracks your progress throughout the programme.
Benefit from the expertise of CEDAR (Clinical Education Development and Research), which supports applied psychological training and evidence-based clinical practice.
Learn from a department closely connected with NHS services and healthcare partners, gaining insight into how psychological research is transformed into effective treatments and interventions.

Progression & Future Opportunities

A MSci Applied Psychology (Clinical) degree from the University of Exeter prepares graduates for careers in mental health, clinical services, research and other psychology-related fields by combining academic learning with practical clinical training. The programme provides the professional foundation needed to become a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) while also developing transferable skills for roles such as Therapy Professional, Research Assistant, Data Analyst and Mental Health Support Professional. With clinical placement experience, research opportunities and dedicated career support, students graduate ready to take their next step into employment or further specialist study.

The programme supports your career development through professional training, strong healthcare connections and dedicated employability services:

Benefit from the University of Exeter’s Careers Service, which provides one-to-one careers guidance, mentoring, employability workshops, networking opportunities, volunteering support and advice on finding graduate roles.
Develop additional employability skills through the Exeter Award and Exeter Leaders Award, which recognise achievements gained through workshops, leadership activities, volunteering and work experience.
Take part in psychology-focused career events, including employer talks, alumni sessions, the Your Future in Psychology event and Careers in Healthcare activities, helping you explore different career pathways.
Gain valuable workplace experience through the compulsory clinical placement, where you work in an NHS or other IAPT service setting and develop practical skills in delivering psychological interventions.
Graduate from a programme aligned with professional standards through accreditation from the British Psychological Society (BPS) and recognition from the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP), supporting long-term progression within psychology careers.
Benefit from Exeter’s strong links with healthcare providers, including NHS partnerships and connections through the Mood Disorders Centre and Clinical Education Development and Research (CEDAR), giving you insight into evidence-based psychological practice.
Develop skills that are highly valued by employers, including research methods, psychological assessment, data analysis, communication, teamwork, problem-solving and independent research.
Graduates from Psychology at Exeter have progressed into roles such as Therapy Professional, Project Support Officer, Teaching Professional, Data Analyst, Marketing Associate, Business Research Professional, Police Officer and Software Development Professional.
Previous graduates have gained experience and employment with organisations including the NHS, BBC, KPMG, Ipsos MORI, YouGov, Avon and Somerset Police, The Francis Crick Institute and VitaMinds, showing the broad range of opportunities available after graduation.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing the MSci Applied Psychology (Clinical), graduates can continue their studies through specialist postgraduate programmes or professional training routes. Students may progress to areas such as Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental Psychology, Forensic Mental Health, Global Mental Health, Psychological Research Methods, Applied Data Science and Statistics, or doctoral-level research through a PhD. Those interested in becoming specialist psychologists can continue with further professional qualifications, including advanced clinical psychology training pathways.