Psychology (Post-Chartered) DPsych
Overview
At City University London we understand the job market. The professional doctorate in psychology (DPsych) allows applied psychologists (including counselling, health, clinical and forensic psychologists) to conduct doctoral-level research in an applied area of psychology and contribute to the advancement of knowledge to practice.
The professional or practitioner doctorate in psychology has its origins in the USA where, over two decades ago, professional-vocational training schemes in clinical psychology were first recognised by the American Psychological Association. All APA accredited training programmes in the USA now lead to the award of either a PhD (known as the Boulder model) or a PsyD (known as the Vail model).
Professional doctorates in the UK have been offered by several universities over the past few years and provide an alternative training route for a doctoral qualification. It is especially oriented towards those already chartered, or in the process of becoming chartered, who wish to conduct applied research, further develop their teaching / supervisory / consultancy skills and extend their understanding of psychological theories. Scholarship at this level recognises a person's proficiency at conducting meaningful, ethical and conceptually sound research to a publishable standard. The standard expected of candidates is the same as for a PhD; the difference is in the emphasis on practice, and the structure and scope of the final thesis.
This programme is open to chartered psychologists who are seeking to conduct research and practice in an area of applied psychology. This programme may be taken on a full-time or part-time basis.
There are no lectures for this programme, you will need to meet with your supervisor on a regular basis to update them on your progress.
The course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and The Health & Care Professionals Council (HCPC).
Start Date:
The University offers two registration points for research degree students, in September and February each year.
Entry Requirements
Applicants for the Post Chartered (Top-up) DPsych should have chartered status as a Psychologist (typically Counselling or Clinical Psychology).
This programme is open to chartered psychologists who are seeking to conduct research and practice in an area of applied psychology. This programme may be taken on a full-time or part-time basis.As well as an academically sound research proposal and a successful interview, entry is contingent on the availability of a research supervisor of compatible interests and expertise.
English Language Requirements
For students whose first language is not English, the following qualifications will meet the English language requirement for entry to a postgraduate course of study:
- A first degree from a UK university or from the CNAA.
- A first degree from an overseas institution recognised by the University as providing adequate evidence of proficiency in the English language, for example, from institutions in Australia, Canada or the USA.
- GCE O-level/GCSE English language or English literature, grade C minimum.
- Cambridge ESOL CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English) at grade C or above.
- An overall score of 6.5 in the English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum of 6.0 for each subtest.
- A score of 600 minimum (computer score 250, internet-based score 100) in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
- Satisfactory standard in the verbal section of the Princeton Test (GMAT).
- US SAT with 500 in verbal performance.
- Warwick English Language Test (WELT) with pass grades of BBC minimum.
- Other evidence of proficiency in the English language which satisfies the Board of Studies concerned.
Visa Requirements
City University London retains Highly Trusted Status from UKBA, enabling us to sponsor international students to study in the UK.
The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course at City, there are different rules for:
- Students on courses of more than 6 months
- Students on courses of less than 6 months
- Students on a pre-sessional English Language course
For more information see our main Visa page.
Start Dates / Duration of Studies
Start Date
The University offers two registration points for research degree students, in September and February each year.
Duration of Studies
The minimum period of registration is eighteen months for full-time students and thirty months for part-time students. The maximum period of registration is four years for full-time and part-time students.
Students are obliged to deliver a presentation of their progress at the Annual Presentation Day each May.
At the end of your programme, you will submit a portfolio consisting of four sections: preface (2,000 words), research thesis (40,000 words), case study of professional practice (6,000 words) and critical literature review (6,000 words), and undergo a viva voce examination in front of at least two examiners, at least one of whom will be external to the University.
DPsych students are expected to write at least two papers for publication in collaboration with their supervisor(s).
Fees
- Full-time EU: £4,500 per year (2013 entry)
- Part-time EU: £2,100 per year (2013 entry)
- Full-time Non EU: £14,000 per year (2013 entry)
- Part-time Non EU: £5,300 per year (2013 entry)
Fees for doctoral candidates are charged annually and cover registration, supervision and examination. Fees are subject to review each year and may vary during your period of registration.
Funding
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer any scholarships or bursaries for students on the DPsych Programme. Students looking for sources of funding are advised to see our student funds pages to see what methods of support may be available.
Preliminary Enquiries
For further information, please contact the Programme Administrator, Mary Wright.
Phone: +44 (0)207 040 4841
Email: Mary.Wright.3@city.ac.uk
How to Apply
We accept applications on an ongoing basis for entry in September. To apply, you should submit the following documents:
- one copy of the Research Degree Application Form;
- your research proposal;
- testimonials from at least two academic referees sent by email from an official work (not private) email account;
- copies of your degree transcripts and certificates (originals or certified copies). If your application is successful we will need to verify the original hard copies before a final offer is made;
- proof of your English language proficiency (if English is not your first language).
Please note that we will not consider incomplete applications.
Writing Your Research Proposal
Your research proposal should be around four sides of A4. It should specify (a) your research question, (b) an indication of the research literature you have consulted, (c) the research methods you intend to use, (d) an outline work plan and (e) any research ethics implications.
Supervision
Entry is contingent on the availability of a research supervisor of compatible interests and expertise. Applicants can nominate external supervisors who have expertise in the chosen research field. External Supervisors are drawn from such educational institutions and/or from professional organizations as befit the content of the research in order to provide appropriate scrutiny.
The following criteria are considered in the approval process for the appointment of external supervisors:
The External Supervisor should normally:
- Be an expert in the field of study.
- Be a professor or reader at an institution of Higher Education or have appropriate professional experience in providing supervision to Doctoral level.
- Be a Chartered Psychologist.
- Hold a doctorate or, in the case of an MPhil thesis examination, at least a master's degree by research.
Individuals whose own research work forms an important part of the candidate's thesis should not normally be appointed as an External Supervisor.
The appointment will then be approved by the School Board of Studies.
Training Provision
The Psychology Department provides regular workshops tailored to support the specific needs of chartered professionals.
Additonally, students have access to the University's researcher training and development infrastructure. Please see www.city.ac.uk/research/research-degrees/development for further information.
Research Environment
Students have dedicated space on the 1st floor of the Social Sciences Building. The room is equipped with networked computers and a printer.
With the permission of relevant staff members and under their guidance, students can make use of the dedicated laboratory facilities offered by the department. These include the Behavioural Neuroendocrinology Laboratory, the Social Psychology Laboratory, Memory and Cognitive testing rooms, an Electrophysiology lab, a Psychometrics library, a PC lab, an Eye-Movement Lab, and the BabyLab. The department also has a suite of general-purpose testing rooms, which are equipped with computer hardware supporting a range of experimental software. The move of the Department into new purpose-built accommodation provides state-of-the-art equipment for experimental and observational studies of babies, children and adults. The Department employs 3 technical staff, who are available to offer advice to research students regarding the construction of apparatus for research, programming of experiments and for hardware and software support.