Applied Psychology (Healthcare) For Children and Young People MSc

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.

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

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.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which 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 73 with at least 65 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 7 in each component.

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the programme you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Trinity ISE, or Oxford ELLT test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the programme begins, regardless of your nationality. (Revised 14 January 2025 to include Oxford ELLT.)

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:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

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).

• Approved universities in 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.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

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.