PG Diploma (Postgraduate Diploma) Clinical Neuropsychology
- PG Diploma (Postgraduate Diploma)
Overview
This BPS accredited programme offered by the University of Bristol has run since 2010 and is delivered in partnership with North Bristol NHS Trust, which includes a large regional neurosciences and major trauma centre. Almost all clinicians opt to take this programme part time although full time study is available. Our clinical programmes aim to engage and inspire clinicians to enhance their skills in Clinical Neuropsychology and support entry on to the British Psychological Society's (BPS) Specialist Register of Clinical Neuropsychologists (SRCN). This diploma is accredited by BPS Division of Neuropsychology and delivers the adult knowledge component of the competency requirements for advanced training in clinical neuropsychology.
Around 80% of the taught content is delivered by practising clinicians. We promote a biopsychosocial scientist-practitioner approach and strongly advocate for neuropsychological research to be relevant and applicable to patient care, and for clinical practice to be underpinned by a thorough and ongoing engagement with scientific research/evidence.
The programme is largely online and can be taken from home or work. In-person attendance at teaching weeks (two per year for part-time study) is encouraged but is not mandatory and this flexibility suits those with busy professional lives, family responsibilities, disability and other factors impacting on travel to Bristol. Lectures are recorded and can be watched live or whenever is convenient, and exams/timed assessment will be held online. Please see the Neuropsychology programme web page for more information.
If you are interested in this course because you want to enter the SRCN, then you will also need to complete the practice component (e.g. our Certificate in Clinical Neuropsychology Practice).
Acceptance on that certificate requires evidence of research competencies meeting standards and requirements for entry to the SRCN. Completion of a BPS accredited doctorate in clinical psychology or counselling psychology within 8 years of starting the practice component meets research competency requirements. Applicants with non-doctoral backgrounds might include forensic psychologists, health psychologists, some counselling psychologists or some practitioner psychologist members of HCPC with international training backgrounds.
If you wish to determine whether your existing research competencies are sufficient for SRCN please contact the team at: postgrad-psychology@bristol.ac.uk.
Programme structure
The programme consists of five taught units and a clinical 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, 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.
Please visit our programme catalogue for full details of the structure and unit content for the online MSc in Applied Neuropsychology.
Entry requirements
You will typically need to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a practitioner with a specialism as 'Clinical' or 'Counselling'. If you have a 'Forensic' or 'Health' specialism then these will be considered on a case-by-case basis due to upcoming changes that may broaden access to training. In addition, applicants with a 'Counselling' specialism must demonstrate Generic Competencies in Clinical Neuropsychology.
You must submit all required documents as detailed in the programme�s Admissions Statement to be considered for review.
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
- £11,300 per year
- Home: part-time (two years)
- £5,650 per year
- Overseas: full-time
- £22,000 per year
- Overseas: part-time
- £11,000 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.
Funding and scholarships
Please note that NHS England now provide significant amounts of funding to support costs of training in clinical neuropsychology. This funding can support both knowledge component and practice component requirements for entry to the Specialist Register of Clinical Neuropsychologists (SRCN).
The process of allocating and distributing funding to Trusts will be led primarily by NHS England regional colleagues and supported by Psychological Professions Networks.
You are strongly encouraged to explore potential sources of funding as NHS England is doubling the number of funded places in 2024-25 versus the previous year.
For further information on other potential sources of funding please check the University of Bristol website which includes an online funding search tool.
Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.
Career prospects
All our programmes enhance clinical confidence and competency. This programme supports the "knowledge component" required for entry to the BPS Specialist Register of Clinical
Neuropsychologists (SRCN). Those interested in this programme may also be interested in our MSc in Clinical Neuropsychology which delivers both the knowledge component and "practice component" required for entry to SRCN within a single degree.
Alternatively, after completing this diploma, you might be interested in our Certificate in Clinical Neuropsychology Practice which delivers the practice component within a single degree.
Contact us
- Contact
- Enquiries Team
- Phone
- +44 (0) 117 394 1649
- choosebristol-pg@bristol.ac.uk