MSc Clinical Health Psychology

1 Years On Campus Masters Program

Queens University Belfast

Program Overview

The MSc Clinical & Health Psychology at Queen's University Belfast offers advanced study of how psychological principles apply to health, illness and therapy. It suits graduates keen to develop clinical-research skills in health psychology settings, such as health promotion, chronic illness or therapeutic practice.

Curriculum Structure:
In Year 1, students study core modules including Applied Research Methods and Data Analysis, developing the skills to design ethical applied studies and interpret quantitative and qualitative data.
Later in the programme, they take modules such as Health Behaviour Change and Psycho-oncology: Living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis, exploring theoretical models of behaviour change and interventions for people affected by serious illness.
In the final phase, the major Clinical Health Psychology Dissertation allows students to conduct an independent research project, applying all their learning to a clinically-relevant question.

Focus areas: "Health psychology, clinical intervention, behaviour change, research methods"
Learning outcomes: "Students will gain expertise in designing applied health psychology research, analysing data, and developing evidence-based interventions in clinical contexts."
Professional alignment (accreditation): Designed to prepare students for research and applied health psychology roles (note: this programme does not confer BPS GBC or full clinical psychologist status). 
Reputation (employability rankings): Queen’s University Belfast is highly regarded for psychology research and has strong graduate employment outcomes in the health-psychology sector. 

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students develop practical skills through applied research projects and specialist training in clinical health methodologies. They utilise resources from the School of Psychology and have access to health-related research facilities. The programme's experiential components include:

  • Research Project: A dissertation involving original research in clinical health psychology

  • Software: Training in SPSS for statistical analysis of health data

  • Practical Skills: Workshops in health assessment and intervention techniques

  • Research Environment: Access to the School of Psychology's research labs and equipment

  • Professional Development: Training in systematic reviewing and evidence synthesis

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the MSc Clinical Health Psychology at Queen's University Belfast develop advanced understanding and practical skills in clinical health psychology, designed to prepare them for careers in healthcare, research, and applied psychology settings. Typical job roles include Clinical Health Psychologist Trainee, Health Researcher, Mental Health Practitioner, and Public Health Officer.

  • Queen’s Careers and Employability provide personalised career coaching, access to NHS and healthcare network placements, and professional development workshops.

  • 91% of graduates are employed or in further study within 15 months; salaries are competitive for early-career roles in health and research sectors.

  • Strong collaborations exist with NHS health trusts, charitable organisations, and clinical research institutions to facilitate applied learning and placements.

  • The program builds skills with long-term value for progression into doctoral clinical psychology training or research careers.

  • Graduates have positive outcomes in clinical practice, research, public health, and applied health psychology roles.

Further Academic Progression:
Graduates commonly progress to professional doctorate programs in clinical psychology, PhD research, or specialised health psychology training.​

Program Key Stats

£27,600 (Annual cost)
Sept Intake : 30th Jul


30 %
No
Yes

Eligibility Criteria

2.8
3 or 4 Years

N/A
N/A
N/A
6.5
90
2:1

Additional Information & Requirements

Career Options

  • Medical researcher
  • epidemiologist
  • pharmaceutical researcher
  • research scientist
  • bioinformatics developer and analyst
  • bioinformatics scientist
  • bioinformation programmer and other positions in the fields including:PharmaceuticalsMedical TechnologyBiotechnologySystems and Computational BiologyGenomics
  • Proteomics and MetabolomicsComputer and Information ScienceBiologyMedical Information

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