PG Diploma (Postgraduate Diploma) Clinical Neuropsychology
- PG Diploma (Postgraduate Diploma)
Overview
This British Psychological Society (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. Our clinical programmes aim to engage and inspire clinicians to enhance their skills in Clinical Neuropsychology and support entry on to the Specialist Register of Clinical Neuropsychologists (SRCN). This diploma delivers either the adult or paediatric knowledge component of the competency requirements for advanced training in clinical neuropsychology. The paediatric pathways is only available for January 2026 intake and thereafter and must be studied part time.
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 travel to Bristol. Lectures are recorded and can be watched live or whenever is convenient, and exams/timed assessments will be held online.
If you are interested in this course because you want to enter the SRCN, then you will also need to complete the practice component (our Certificate in Clinical Neuropsychology Practice).
This programme delivers one of three requirements for entrance to the SRCN – the knowledge component. Entrance to SRCN also requires demonstration of practice and research competencies. It may help some readers to know that our MSc in Clinical Neuropsychology delivers both knowledge and practice competencies.
If you wish to discuss study options in clinical neuropsychology, please contact the team at: postgrad-psychology@bristol.ac.uk.
Programme structure
The programme consists of five taught units.
- 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.
Please visit our programme catalogue for full details of the structure and unit content for the Postgraduate Diploma 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
- £11,600 per year
- Home: part-time
- £5,800 per year
- Overseas: full-time
- £22,600 per year
- Overseas: part-time
- £11,300 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 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 NHS England funding and it can be used for either September 2026 or January 2027 entry to this programme.
For further information on other potential sources of funding, please check our 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 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