Our Professional Doctorate has been delivered since 2002 and was the first Stage 2 health psychology training programme to be accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). It remains one of the few accredited programmes in the UK, currently attracting students who are working in different placements throughout the UK.
This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society. When you’re awarded the degree you’ll gain Stage 2 accreditation towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist and be eligible to apply to register as a Health Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). The programme offers learning and teaching opportunities in health psychology to allow students to demonstrate Level 8 (Doctoral Level) competences in research, psychological interventions, consultancy, aspects of professional practice, and teaching.
The focus of the Doctorate is on the acquisition of professional skills through placement learning, with an emphasis on reflection, professional competence, and accountability in professional practice. The programme is a research degree, and therefore also places an emphasis on research. Students will be taught in both quantitative and qualitative methods, and will be guided in supervision sessions to conduct a systematic review and empirical study. Both will be of publishable standard and will be written up as journal articles.
Staffordshire University has a thriving Health Psychology research culture, focused in the Staffordshire Centre for Psychological Research, with an excellent national and international reputation.
The Health Psychology Programmes at Staffordshire University have nine commendations from the BPS (2018). The Programme staff team are committed to principles of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) promoting diversity in Health Psychology. This is demonstrated across various aspects of the Programme, including selection and recruitment, and while students are training on the course.
Please note that this course requires full time students to be on placement for a minimum of two years and to pay the fees detailed per year of study. Students need to allow for an additional period of time for writing up during which there is a writing up fee to be paid each year until completion.
The British Psychological Society requires that trainees undertake the majority of their training in the UK. Up to one third of the total credits of an accredited UK programme may be undertaken outside of the UK.
On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: Professional Doctorate Health Psychology.
Important information regarding applications:
Closing date for 2025-26 applications: Monday 7 April 2025
Interview dates: Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 May 2025
Health psychology is the study of psychological processes and their application to health, illness and healthcare. Through this course, you’ll develop competence in professional skills, as well as research, psychological interventions, teaching, and consultancy.
The qualification will provide a guarantee for employers that you’re competent in core aspects of health psychology and professional practice.
This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society. When you’re awarded the degree you’ll gain Stage 2 accreditation towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist and be eligible to apply to register as a Health Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Staffordshire University has a thriving Health Psychology research culture, focused in the Staffordshire Centre for Psychological Research, with an excellent national and international reputation.
We anticipate a blended earning model in 2021-22 with some sessions on campus, and others online.
The Health Psychology Programmes at Staffordshire University have nine commendations from the BPS (2018).
Please note the closing date for the Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology is 30th June 2021
Please note that this course requires part time students to be on placement for a minimum of four years and to pay the fees detailed per year of study. Students need to allow for an additional period of time for writing up during which there is a writing up fee to be paid each year until completion.
On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: Professional Doctorate Health Psychology
On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: Professional Doctorate Health Psychology
Work placements
You’re expected to have a relevant health-related placement (paid or unpaid) before applying to the course. The placement will need to be formally approved prior to you joining us, and you’ll need to identify a workplace contact (who will be a suitably qualified healthcare professional, but does not need to be a psychologist) who will be willing to provide us with quarterly reports, and will be available to support you. Placements differ across trainees, if you’re concerned whether your placement is suitable, then please contact the course leaders directly.
Broadly, a placement (in effect the trainee’s place of work) can be any setting where health psychology is practised (e.g. hospitals, primary healthcare, public health and academic settings) and where you would be able to get the opportunity to complete most of the competences (i.e. teaching, research, psychological interventions and professional competence). Trainees’ placements on our Professional Doctorate are wide and varied and have included public health, research teams in universities, hospitals and health psychology business units, primary and secondary care settings, prisons, hospices and pupil referral units.
You’ll be assigned a University supervisor who will visit you and your contact at the beginning, middle and (usually) end of the placement (this visit may be online).
Sometimes you may also need to spend time in other settings to attain all the experience and skills you need to complete the course.