Psychiatry (MSc/Diploma) – (M.Sc.)

The Department of Psychological Medicine is one of the largest university departments of psychiatry in the UK, providing leadership in clinical practice, teaching and high quality, cutting-edge research across many areas of psychiatric practice. The Department offers courses in psychiatry leading to an MSc for qualified doctors wishing to train in psychiatry.

We hope to provide the structure for psychiatric trainees in the UK to achieve an understanding of current psychiatric thinking and to carry out research, whilst also studying for the Membership examinations of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Full-time students who are not junior psychiatrists in the UK are offered experience of clinical practice in a range of psychiatric settings within the NHS.

The course is also suitable for other medical graduates and from non-medical graduates in health sciences, biological sciences and psychology and also those working in professions allied to medicine in the field of psychiatry, who wish to gain specialist knowledge in the field of psychiatry.

The MSc in Psychiatry is currently offered as a 1 year full-time programme or a 3 year part-time programme. Students obtaining 120 credits can exit with a Postgraduate Diploma, and students obtaining 60 credits can exit with a Postgraduate Certificate.

During the three terms, part-time students attend one day of timetabled academic study each week for approximately 27 weeks. For full-time students, each study week is divided into three days for clinical taster experiences or self-directed study, including the use of our extensive eLearning resources, and two days for timetabled academic study. Full-time MSc students also dedicate time to their research during the second half of the year. Part-time students will take three modules in Year 1 and three modules in Year 2. Full-time students will take six modules in a single year.

The MSc in Psychiatry course is modular. Full time students will take 6 modules in a single year. Each module will have its own exams and all modules must be passed by all students. Five modules are compulsory: Psychological aspects of Psychiatry; Psychopharmacology, neuropsychiatry & addiction; Clinical Topics 1; Clinical topics 2; and Evidence Based Medicine & Scientific Methodology. One further module must also be taken from a choice of four: Psychotherapy, Forensic Psychiatry, Old Age Psychiatry and Liaison Psychiatry. Each module will have its own examination based upon examinations set by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.