Training to be a psychologist
Our BSc (Hons) Psychology with Clinical Psychology degree course will help you understand people: their behaviour, emotions and thoughts.
It will also broaden your understanding of illness and healthcare, as you consider the links between psychological disorders and people’s overall health and wellbeing. We’ll look at how you can assess the whole person through observation, interviews, tests and research. We’ll also learn about treatments in areas such as clinical psychology and cognitive neuropsychology.
You’ll learn from expert tutors who are actively engaged in psychological research. And you can take advantage of our specialist facilities too, including laboratories for measuring electrical activity in the brain, eye movement, psychoneuroimmunology, emotions and communication, psychometrics, and much more.
Outside of the lab, there’s the chance to join weekly seminars from guest speakers and take an optional placement year where you’ll gain valuable experience in the field of psychology.
After graduation, you’ll be ready to continue your professional training and prepare for a career in clinical psychology.
Psychology degrees at ARU
This is just one of the undergraduate psychology degrees that we offer in Cambridge. You can also choose to study BSc (Hons) Psychology, or BSc (Hons) Psychology and Criminology, both of which are also BPS accredited.
What qualifications do you need to be a psychologist?
Once you have graduated from our BPS accredited Psychology and Clinical Psychology degree course, you can register with the BPS and call yourself a psychologist.
You may wish to complete additional training in order to specialise in an area of psychology or type of therapy that particularly interests you, and boost your credentials, experience, and employability in the field of psychology.
How long does it take to train to be a psychologist?
You can register with the BPS as a psychologist after graduating from our BSc (Hons) Psychology and Clinical Psychology. This degree course takes three years, though you also can study it for four years by taking a foundation or placement year.
What is the study of clinical psychology?
While psychology students learn about the science behind human behaviour, thoughts and emotions, clinical psychology students learn how psychological methods and principles are used to directly diagnose and treat individuals who are experiencing psychological difficulties.
Our Psychology and Clinical Psychology degree course is designed to equip you with a thorough understanding of the principles of psychology, and prepare you to train as a clinical psychologist should you wish to do so.
What qualifications do you need to be a clinical psychologist?
To become a clinical psychologist, you must complete a BPS accredited undergraduate degree such as our BSc (Hons) Psychology with Clinical Psychology course, and a three-year doctoral training course.
Most clinical psychologists work in a clinical environment for 2-3 years between completing their undergraduate degree and starting their doctoral training, in order to gain valuable knowledge, skills, and experience and make sure they definitely want to work in clinical psychology.
There is high competition for places on doctoral training programmes, so any additional experience will help your application stand out.
How many years does a clinical psychologist train for?
A clinical psychologist trains for a total of at least six years on their undergraduate and doctoral courses, but they will continue to update and upgrade their knowledge and skills throughout their career.
Get an international experience
Going to university can offer you a series of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. As part of your course, you could study abroad with one of our short-term Global Experience programmes. Opportunities include summer schools and placements, lasting from one to four weeks and funded by ARU’s UK Turing Scheme grants.
