Clinical Psychology

Clinical psychology as an undergraduate subject explores the scientific foundations of the discipline that applies psychological knowledge and research to the assessment and treatment of mental health difficulties and psychological distress. Undergraduate clinical psychology programmes are distinct from the postgraduate professional training that leads to qualification as a chartered clinical psychologist, but they provide the academic grounding in psychological science, research methods, and applied knowledge that is the essential foundation for that journey.

At the University of Sunderland, this three-year full-time programme is BPS-accredited, and upon graduation you will gain Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, which is the first step on the pathway to becoming a chartered psychologist. You will explore the brain and human behaviour in a friendly, inclusive environment, building transferable skills and completing a final project shaped by your interests, as the course describes. A sandwich placement year with work placement opportunities gives you professional experience in a psychology or healthcare related setting, which is particularly valuable for students aiming at clinical careers where evidenced practical experience matters at every application stage.

Graduates from this programme most commonly go on to work in mental health and social care settings in assistant psychologist or psychology technician roles, gaining the clinical experience needed to apply for the highly competitive Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Others pursue postgraduate study in counselling psychology, health psychology, or forensic psychology, or move into research, academia, and the many roles in education, public health, and the voluntary sector where psychological understanding is valued. The BPS accreditation makes the route towards chartered status more straightforward.