| 1. |
Admissions |
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| 1.1 |
For admission to the programme, students:
- must satisfy the Regulations for the degrees of Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy as specified in Section V of the University Calendar;
- must satisfy the necessary programme requirements as set out in the programme specification (outlined below).
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| 1.2 |
The requirements for candidature shall be a good undergraduate degree (First or Upper Second class) which confers the British Psychological Society's (BPS) 'Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership' and a BPS accredited MSc in Health Psychology, or a pass in an equivalent B examination in health psychology. The minimum average overall mark for MSc work should be at least 65%, including 65% for dissertation and an average of 65% for research methods modules collectively. MSc modules studied must meet pre-requisite basic knowledge and understanding requirements. |
| 1.3 |
Experienced students who do not meet these requirements but seem particularly well qualified in other respects may be individually considered for admission on a discretionary basis.
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| 1.4 |
The IELTS/TOEFL/iB-TOEFL (or equivalent) entrance requirement is an overall score of 7.0 with a minimum score of 6.5 in each sub-score. |
| 1.5 |
Students may apply for exemption from units of the Thesis or Portfolio of Competence requirements of the programme on the basis of Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning. This shall be at the discretion of the Programme Co-ordinator. |
| 1.6 |
The offer of a place on the programme is conditional upon the candidate securing suitable and approved health-related work and meeting fitness to practice requirements. |
| 1.7 |
Students satisfying the requirements for candidature may be admitted provided the programme board is satisfied as to their chosen subject for research and the supervisory and health-related work arrangements. A formal supervision plan, research proposal, supervision agreement, job description and workplace agreement, will be submitted for approval at the outset of the candidature and any changes to these plans and arrangements will also be submitted in writing for approval in advance. |
| 1.8 |
All individuals are selected and treated on their relative merits and abilities in line with the University's Equal Opportunities Policy. Disabled applicants will be treated according to the same procedure as any other applicant with the added involvement of the Enabling Services Office to assess their needs. |
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| 2. |
Structure of Programme(s) |
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| 2.1 |
The Regulations for the degrees of Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy as specified in Section V of the University Calendar apply to this programme. In addition: |
| 2.2 |
The programme to be followed shall be one of supervised practice in research, consultancy, teaching and training, behaviour change interventions and generic professional competence, and shall be either part-time or full-time. The Thesis and Portfolio of Competence in each of those elements shall be presented in the form specified for examination by scrutiny and viva voce at the end of the course of study. |
| 2.3 |
The period of study for the MPhil/PhD in Health Psychology Research and Professional Practice ends when the Thesis and Portfolio of Competence are submitted. |
| 2.4 |
Periods of nominal registration shall count towards the maximum period of study. |
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| 3. |
Progression |
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| 3.1 |
Students must successfully upgrade from MPhil to PhD registration to be eligible to apply for BPS Chartered Psychologist status. Progression from MPhil to PhD registration is not required to be eligible to apply to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Health Psychologist. |
| 3.2 |
In cases where a student's behaviour, health and/or professional conduct raises concern, the procedures associated with the University's Fitness to Practice Policy will be invoked. |
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| 4. |
Assessment |
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| 4.1 |
Students are required to satisfy the examiners with regard to the Thesis, the Portfolio of Competence, and the viva voce. |
| 4.2 |
For each individual student, normally one internal and one external examiner shall be appointed to examine the thesis. The examiners will normally be HCPC registered Health Psychologists who are also BPS Chartered Psychologists. If this is not possible, then two external examiners must be appointed; a suitable examiner for the MPhil/PhD thesis (who need not be a HCPC registered Health Psychologist or BPS Chartered Psychologist), and a HCPC registered Health Psychologist who is also a BPS Chartered Psychologist, who will examine only the Portfolio of Competence. |
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| 5. |
Award of Qualification(s) |
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The programme follows the Regulations for the degrees of Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy as specified in Section V of the University Calendar.
| 5.1 |
All elements of the portfolio must be passed at the prescribed level in order for the degree to be awarded. |
| 5.2 |
A student who fails to submit a corrected or revised Thesis or other document(s) Portfolio of Competence by the date set by the examiners shall normally be regarded as having failed the examination and the recommendations of the examiners shall lapse. |
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| 6. |
Placements/Study Abroad/Exchange/Fieldwork |
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| 6.1 |
Students must undertake a minimum of two years (full time, or part time equivalent) supervised practice in health-related work. All sustained periods of health-related work will need to be approved and monitored annually to ensure the ongoing suitability of the work setting to meet HCPC Standards. |
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| 7. |
Other |
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