Overview

Health psychology seeks to improve health and wellbeing by understanding the psychological processes that influence health, illness and healthcare.

In particular, health psychology explores how our thoughts, emotions and behaviours affect our physical health and wellbeing. Health Psychologists apply this understanding to promote healthier behaviours, prevent illness and improve outcomes for people living with health conditions. Their expertise can also help improve healthcare services and inform health policy.

Our HCPC-approved Doctorate in Health Psychology (DPsych) prepares you to become a registered Health Psychologist.

Advanced psychological theory, applied practice and research sit at the heart of the programme. You'll develop expertise in behaviour change, therapeutic practice and evidence-based interventions. You'll also explore how psychology can address challenges in areas such as public health and chronic illness management.

Building on your existing knowledge of psychology, you'll develop advanced professional skills across five key areas:

research
teaching and training
consultancy
behaviour change interventions
professional practice.

Designed for graduates with a background in psychology or a related discipline, this professionally accredited doctorate combines rigorous academic study with supervised practice. You'll complete at least three placements in settings relevant to health psychology. These may include third-sector organisations, NHS services and independent-sector settings.

GCU offers a distinctive taught doctorate that combines advanced therapeutic skills with applied behavioural science. This prepares you to design and deliver evidence-based interventions across healthcare, public health and community settings. Our approach to Health Psychology training has also been featured in a British Psychological Society publication, exploring GCU's development of the first professional Doctorate in Health Psychology in Scotland.

The programme forms part of GCU's Applied Psychology Doctoral Framework. You'll learn alongside trainees in Counselling Psychology and Sport and Exercise Psychology. This cross-disciplinary approach broadens your professional perspective and brings different areas of practitioner psychology into your learning.

Whether your ambition is to work in healthcare, public health, independent practice or research, you'll graduate ready to apply psychology to some of the challenges affecting health and wellbeing. Your expertise will prepare you to make a contribution across health services, communities and wider society.

Please note: Additional costs apply to this programme. Please check the 'Fees and funding' section below for more information.

Why study Health Psychology at GCU?

Follow a HCPC-approved route towards registration as a Health Psychologist. The programme is also accredited by the British Psychological Society as a doctoral training provider.
Develop advanced therapeutic skills alongside applied behavioural science. Learn to design and deliver evidence-based interventions across healthcare, public health and community settings.
Gain substantial professional experience through supervised practice. You'll complete at least three placements in settings relevant to health psychology, such as NHS, third sector and independent-sector settings.
Benefit from a structured taught doctorate with supervision and academic support. Develop your expertise through an integrated combination of psychological theory, applied practice and advanced research.
Prepare for versatile career options. Graduates pursue careers across NHS services, public health, academia, independent practice and the third sector.

British Psychological Society

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Health and Care Professions Council

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What you will study

We aim to display the most up-to-date information possible.

The modules listed on this page and the Programme Specification are intended to give you an idea of what you may be able to study on this course. Please note that course content, modules, teaching and assessment may change each year and after you have accepted your offer to study at GCU. This might be because we are required to do so by law, by a governmental authority, regulator or accrediting body. We may also make changes for quality assurance reasons, or to enhance the course.

Year 1

Applied Psychology Practice 1S (Skills)

Applied Psychology Practice 1T (Theory)

Analytical Methods

Advanced Research in Applied Psychology 1 (D)

Consultancy and Training in Applied Psychology 1: Health

Interventions in Applied Psychology 1

Professional Development in Applied Psychology 1

Year 2

Applied Psychology Practice 2A

Intervention in Applied Psychology 2

Critical Enquiry in Applied Psychology 2

Advanced Research in Applied Psychology 2

Professional Development in Applied Psychology 2

Year 3

Interventions in Applied Psychology 3

Critical Enquiry in Applied Psychology 3

Advanced Research in Applied Psychology 3

Professional Development in Applied Psychology 3A

Professional Development in Applied Psychology 3B

Careers

This professionally accredited doctorate is designed to prepare you for registration as a Health Psychologist.

As a graduate, you'll be prepared for influential roles across:

NHS and healthcare services
public health
independent practice
the third sector
research and academia.

Your expertise can be applied to behaviour change, chronic condition management, health promotion and service improvement. You could develop interventions that encourage healthier behaviours, support people living with long-term health conditions or apply psychological expertise to improve healthcare services.

The programme can also provide a basis for seeking practitioner registration in other countries. If you plan to practise overseas, you'll need to check the requirements for your chosen country and complete any additional requirements for practitioner status

Course information

Award	Mode of study	Duration	Start date	Location
DPsych	Full time	3 years	Sep 27	Glasgow	Enquire Apply

Please note that admission to GCU is considered on a competitive basis, and the academic entry requirements stated here may be the minimum required to be eligible for an offer.

International students can get information on entry requirements specific to their country in our International Study section.

Standard entry requirement

UK honours degree 2:1 (or equivalent) in psychology that meets British Psychological Society (BPS) standards for the Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC), plus relevant work experience.

You can find more information about eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartership on the BPS website.

Direct access to year two with an MSc in Health Psychology (BPS accredited) will be considered on a case by case basis in line with GCU's Recognition of Prior Learning policy.

Additional requirements

Applicants must also demonstrate a level of maturity and experience commensurate with the personal and professional requirements of the programme.

Acceptance onto the programme will be subject to the outcome of the DBS, PVG and/or occupational health checks.

Applicants should evidence the relevant skills and motivation required to undertake the programme. Students should provide an example of demonstrating relevant voluntary or paid work experience within a relevant field.

Please note, students are expected to source their own potential placements prior to registration on the programme.

Applications must include an up-to-date CV.

Additional information for international applicants

Entry requirements by country
Application deadlines
English language tests
Knowledge of English - Applicants from a majority English speaking country may not be required to provide further proof of your English language proficiency. Information about this requirement is available on the Student Visa section of the gov.uk website.

Additional information for all applicants

Relevant experience (Recognition of Prior Learning)

GCU's flexible entry policies exist to allow relevant work experience and prior learning to be considered towards standard entry or advanced entry into a course.

If you do not have the typical academic entry qualifications, but can demonstrate relevant work experience and/or credits from recognised professional bodies, you may be eligible to enter this course via the University's Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) scheme.

Learning and teaching methods

The DPsych combines taught modules, supervised practice and doctoral research to help you develop the knowledge, skills and professional behaviours expected of a Health Psychologist.

You'll learn through a mix of:

lectures
seminars
workshops
supervised practice
independent study.

The course is part of Glasgow Caledonian's Applied Psychology Doctoral Framework, which also comprises the taught doctorate programmes in Counselling Psychology and Sport and Exercise Psychology. This provides opportunities to learn alongside other practitioner psychology disciplines, broadening your professional perspective.

Assessment methods

Assessment methods vary across the programme and are designed to evaluate both academic knowledge and professional practice. You'll complete a range of assessments, including:

research project writeups
practice placement writeups
essays
oral presentations
reflective portfolios
critical appraisals
a doctoral research dissertation
a final viva examination.

Professional accreditation

The programme is approved as meeting the standards for education of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which is the regulator of Practitioner Psychologists in the UK. It is therefore an approved route towards obtaining registration with the HCPC as a Health Psychologist.

The programme is also accredited by the British Psychological Society as a doctoral training provider for Health Psychology.

Programme graduates are eligible to apply for registration with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologists and for Chartered Psychologist status with the BPS.

Visit the HCPC website

Visit the British Psychological Society website

Programme publication

You can explore the programme in more detail through the following British Psychological Society publication:

Health psychology training in the UK: An example from the first professional Doctorate in Health Psychology in Scotland | BPS - British Psychological Society

Placement practice

A key feature of the programme is developing your professional practice through supervised placements.

You'll complete 450 hours of supervised clinical practice within at least three placements across the three years of the programme. These take place in settings relevant to health psychology and may include NHS, third sector and independent-sector organisations. We have links with a number of external placement organisations. Students are normally expected to seek their own placement opportunities.

Student Route visa holders will normally have placement work capped at 450 client hours, unless additional hours are required to meet module requirements.

Placements typically begin a few months into your first year and continue throughout the programme. You'll usually spend around two days a week on placement.

We would expect at least 50% of your clinical practice to be completed face to face, giving you valuable experience of working directly with clients while developing your professional competence.

Please note that while the programme provides support towards finding placements, and has links with a range of placement providers, we do not allocate students to placements. It will be your own responsibility to source your placements. Placements are unpaid. You’ll be responsible for any travel and accommodation costs, which will vary depending on where your placement is based.

Terms and Conditions

Details of the University’s terms and conditions are available here.

Overview

Why study Health Psychology at GCU?

Accreditations

What you will study

Careers

Course information