MSc Applied Neuropsychology
- MSc
Overview
This course is delivered in partnership with North Bristol Trust, a regional department of the UK National Health Service (NHS). You will therefore learn about the theory and practice of clinical neuropsychology from experienced clinicians working in this area and gain an authentic understanding of clinical practice in the UK. Around 80% of our taught content is delivered by practising clinicians.
We are passionate about neuropsychology and its application to society to improve the symptoms, well-being and quality of life of those affected by damage, disease or dysfunction of the brain. This course is therefore designed to train and inspire the next generation of clinicians, researchers and allied professionals interested in working in neuropsychology.
On this course you will:
- Learn about a range of neuropsychological disorders and pathologies, as well as focusing on principles of assessment, formulation and rehabilitation.
- Have the choice of adult or paediatric neuropsychology specialism at the beginning of the course.
- Gain a bio-psycho-social perspective through our teaching, recognising the contribution of biological, psychological and social factors in understanding the causes and consequences of brain injury and disease.
- Learn about neuroanatomy, neuroimaging techniques, and the latest theories of brain function.
- Gain the skills to evaluate research at the forefront of the field and understand the translation of theory and research to clinical practice.
- Engage in weekly structured tutorials with clinical psychologists that allow you to explore different aspects of clinical practice and gain insight into patient pathways and evidence-based formulation (during term time).
- Undertake research through your dissertation, there are opportunities to conduct your research project with clinicians working in the NHS.
- Take taught units which are identical to those we provide to train qualified psychologists to specialise in clinical neuropsychology. While this programme is not formally accredited by the BPS, the core content is dictated by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
If you later become a qualified clinical, counselling or educational psychologist in the UK, your MSc can be retrospectively recognised as meeting one of the key professional requirements for entry to the BPS Specialist Register of Clinical Neuropsychologists (the highest possible qualification in clinical neuropsychology). Should you wish to become a qualified clinical neuropsychologist, this could save around two years future study time and the cost of paying for a BPS-accredited Diploma in Clinical Neuropsychology.
Programme structure
The programme consists of five taught units and an empirical dissertation.
- Applied Clinical Neuropsychology and Principles of Neuropsychological Assessment covers a range of common neuropsychological disorders and the principles of patient assessment and interpretation of neuropsychological tests (including change scores).
- Issues in Clinical Neuropsychology covers a range of issues frequently encountered in clinical neuropsychology. For example, pain and cognition, PTSD, performance validity testing and functional neurological disorders.
- Theoretical Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Methods covers theories of brain function (for example, emotion and cognition, language, and ageing). This unit also delivers a thorough grounding in neuroanatomy and neuroscience methods.
- Neurorehabilitation and Multidisciplinary Approaches within Clinical Psychology considers a range of rehabilitation techniques and places these in the context of the recovery journey. This unit also considers the interface between clinical neuropsychology and allied disciplines (such as neurosurgery, clinical imaging).
- Evidence Based Neuropsychology (EBN) and Case Study. The EBN component involves critical reviews of peer reviewed papers, and the Case Study component requires each student to review a clinical case in detail.
Subject to availability, the dissertation includes options for clinical research within NHS and allied healthcare settings.
Please visit our programme catalogue for more information about the MSc Applied Neuropsychology.
Entry requirements
You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent in Psychology, or a closely related discipline such as Neuroscience, or Clinical Psychology.
OR
If you have studied a joint degree, you will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent, with at least half of your degree content in psychology/relevant modules taken in all years of the degree. Example of relevant modules might include Brain and Behaviour, Psychobiology, Neuropsychology, or Neuroscience of Behaviour. You also need to have scored 60% or higher overall (or international equivalent) in your psychology content.
We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree.
If your achieved grade is lower than our entry requirements, your application may be more likely to receive an offer if you have: a relevant postgraduate qualification.
See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.
Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.
If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level C.
Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.
Fees and funding
- Home: full-time
- £14,900 per year
- Home: part-time
- £7,450 per year
- Overseas: full-time
- £29,800 per year
Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.
More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.
Alumni discount
University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.
Funding and scholarships
For further information on potential sources of funding, please check our online funding search tool. For UK students undertaking postgraduate programmes, there is a scholarship award available from the Grundy Educational Trust. See also The Bristol Master's Scholarship.
Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.
Career prospects
This degree delivers core skills and knowledge related to the theory and practice of clinical neuropsychology. It will support those who aspire to further clinical training, such as clinical, educational or counselling psychology, or a career in clinical research. It will also provide continuing professional development for those already working in a clinical setting who are seeking improved understanding of neuropsychological conditions and how psychology can be used to improve outcomes, well-being and quality of life for those affected by dysfunction of the brain.
Graduates of this course who later become clinical, educational or counselling psychologists and are registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) can enrol on our supplementary Certificate in Clinical Neuropsychology Practice and have their prior MSc course with us count towards recognition as a professional neuropsychologist. Where the gap between completion of this MSc and a subsequent doctorate is greater than 8 years, there will be a requirement to evidence additional learning and continuing professional development in clinical neuropsychology. We are always delighted to see our graduates using this pathway and pursing the highest specialism in UK neuropsychology practice.
Contact us
- Contact
- Enquiries Team
- Phone
- +44 (0) 117 394 1649
- choosebristol-pg@bristol.ac.uk