Doctorate in Child, Community and Educational Psychology (M4)

This course is uniquely positioned in an NHS Mental Health Trust to deliver three year doctoral training in educational psychology with a clinical/therapeutic emphasis. We provide a comprehensive programme towards work as an educational psychologist in a rigorous and reflective capacity.

Who is this course for?
Course outline
Academic award
Why study with us?
Assessment
Attendance
Duration
Entry requirements
Fee
Start date
Closing date for applications
What students say about the course
Course tutor biography
How to apply

Who is this course for?

This course is for psychology graduates with a minimum of two years of paid employment working with children.

Course outline

The course consists of the following elements:

Experiential learning
Seminars and lectures
Practical placement experience in CAHMS teams and Educational Psychology Services
Drawing largely on psychodynamic and systemic psychological frameworks
Group learning
Individual and group supervision

Year one

All trainees follow the British Psychological Society (BPS) core curriculum which is in addition supplemented by two distinctive “clinical” modules (*). The course modules are as follows:

Assessment and intervention/child development (CHAI)
Professional in context *
Research
Psychological frameworks *

Year one focuses on the individual child/family with a one day a week placement in a CAHMS team working alongside experienced multidisciplinary practitioners, and a placement in an educational psychology service supervised by Tavistock Fieldwork Tutors.

Years two and three

In years two and three trainees are required to secure professional placements in educational psychology services where they will spend 130 days per year. There is also two days a week spent at the Tavistock where the course modules continue.

The focus of year two is on groups, and trainees are required to facilitate either an adult or a children’s group as part of their learning under supervision.

In year three the practice placement continues and trainees spend one day a week at the Tavistock.

The focus of year three is on organisations and trainees are required to do a piece of organisational development work in their placement supervised by Tavistock staff.

Over this two year period, trainees are required to complete a piece of action research of relevance to educational psychology practice in their placement. This is supervised by Tavistock staff and will be submitted as a 40,000 word thesis in May of the third year.

Academic award

Upon successful competition of this course you will receive a Doctorate, accredited by the University of Essex.

Why study with us?

The clinical and therapeutic emphasis of the programme enables graduates to make a successful transition to the role of applied psychologist working in schools, local communities and multi-agency contexts.

Assessment

Written assignments, clinical assessments and a doctoral dissertation.

Attendance

Attendance is required five full days a week. You are also required to undertake some additional work outside these hours such as your observations and to make time for private student completely assignments. You will also attend an intensive 3-5 day Group Relations Event as part of the programme.

Duration

Three years, full-time.

Entry requirements

Applicants are required to hold Graduate Basis for Certification (GBC)
A first or upper second class degree, or equivalent
At least two years’ paid experience of working with children (e.g. teaching, learning mentor, teaching assistant, social worker, speech and language therapy)

Applications are encouraged from those with a strong CPD record in the field.

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