Welcome to your Health Psychology course

We wish you a very warm welcome to the Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology at Staffordshire University.

We are very proud of our Professional Doctorate programme which was the first to be accredited in the UK in 2002 by the British Psychological Society as providing Stage 2 training. Since 2002 we have maintained our excellent reputation for training health psychologists, which was reflected in 2018, when our health psychology postgraduate provision at Staffordshire University received an unprecedented 9 commendations from the BPS. Specifically, the BPS commended the Professional Doctorate programme for:

  • The positive and strong ethos of developing reflective practice of trainees and students.
  • The exemplary support we provide which helps foster positive and professional relationships with trainees and students.
  • Our widening access agenda which includes institutional support through the provision of training bursaries for trainees and finding placements.
  • The constructive engagement with placement providers which helps the programme offer a wide range of opportunities for trainees to develop skills and positively influence service development and throughout the UK
  • Our well-developed and positive relationship with service users who are involved in the development of the programme and trainees' skills.

We believe that our programme offers a unique opportunity to experience and develop your professional skills in Health Psychology under the guidance of highly qualified and committed staff. The Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology is taught within our Psychology Department, which has a thriving research culture, and an excellent national and international reputation.

Your staff team

We want to make sure you know some of our team before you arrive. Hopefully this will help you recognise us and ensure you know who you can contact if you need any additional help and guidance.

Dr Rachel Povey

Associate Professor

I'm the course leader for the Health Psychology Professional Doctorate. My areas of expertise are healthy eating, dietary change and psychological aspects of diabetes.

Rachel's profile

Dr Amy Burton

Associate Professor

Dr Amy Burton is a Health Psychologist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and a chartered psychologist with the British Psychological Society.

Amy's profile

Dr Sarah Dean

Senior Lecturer

I am a Chartered Health Psychologist with an interest in Participatory Action Research methods. I have carried out research using both quantitative and qualitative methods on a range of topics relevant to health psychology.

Sarah's profile

Dr Gemma Hurst

Course Director

I am the Course Director for Postgraduate Psychology and I contribute to our Health Psychology programmes (MSc and Professional Doctorate). I am a Chartered Psychologist (BPS) and a HCPC registered Health Psychologist.

Gemma's profile

Dr Jennifer Taylor

Senior Lecturer

Jennifer is a senior lecturer in qualitative psychological research methods. Jennifer is a qualitative researcher with research interests in several areas but mainly body image, maternal health, breastfeeding, and mindfulness.

Jennifer's profile

Dr Emily Buckley

Senior Lecturer

Emily is the Admissions Tutor for Health Psychology, alongside being a registered Health Psychologist with a background in health promotion.

Emily's profile

First activity

Firstly, you will have a two-day induction programme where you will be introduced to all the modules, and meet your supervisor, as well as your 2nd year “buddy” from the programme. The induction programme gives you a chance to meet the other trainees in your cohort, to discover the different competences in more depth, and to start thinking about and exploring your own opportunities within your placement setting. It also gives you a chance to explore the Stoke Campus, your home for the next few years!!

Then, up until the end of December, you will be taught on the research, professional skills and systematic reviewing modules. We always begin with the Research: From Design to Dissemination module, to give you a chance to start planning your empirical study and get your ethics application in early. We also teach the Professional Skills competence early on as this introduces you to reflective practice and is the one competence that you will be undertaking throughout your time on the professional doctorate, from when you start, right through until you finish.

During Semester 1 you will also be guided through placement learning and will usually be visited by your supervisor in your placement setting (we call this the Initial Placement Visit).

Health Psychology Provision at Staffordshire University

We are proud of our health psychology awards in Staffordshire University, and were the first BPS accredited MSc and Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology programmes in the UK. In 2018, our health psychology awards were re-accredited by the BPS and given 9 commendations including:

  • The positive & strong ethos of developing reflective practice of trainees;
  • The exemplary support we provide;
  • Our widening access agenda which includes institutional support through the provision of training bursaries for trainees;
  • The constructive engagement with placement providers which helps the programme offer a wide range of opportunities for trainees to develop skills and positively influence service development and throughout the UK;
  • Our well-developed and positive relationship with service users.

Staffordshire University Annual Health Psychology Conference

At the end of every academic year, we hold our very own Staffordshire University Health Psychology Conference, which is run by our brilliant second-year trainees. All trainees present their work at this conference, and it is a great day where you get to meet trainees across all the years, hear about what they have been up to, and also get to discuss your own work with your peers.

Mid-Year we provide an Inter-Professional Education day, where we spend the day with a group of different healthcare professionals, and learn about a different profession, as well as sharing information about our own. During the day, we explore opportunities for collaboration, and work on solving problems together through our different perspectives.

Free Downloadable Software

There is a variety of software which can be downloaded from the University’s website and can also be accessed via the button below. This software is free for all of our students, as we understand to reach your full potential and succeed in your degree you need the tools to help you. The software available is;

  • Microsoft Office 365
  • Microsoft Teams
  • SPSS and AMOS
  • Maple
  • NVivo
  • Sophos Antivirus
  • Asure Dev Tools for Teaching
  • VMWare
  • Free Training

Free Software

Other useful links

Join a Society

Getting involved in a student group can enhance your time at University. It’s a great way to make new friends and connections, learn from other students and develop new skills whist having some fun at the same time. Whether you want to join a group as a member, get involved in running a group as part of a committee or help run an event or organise your own – your Students’ Union is here to help make it happen! Please check out our website for more information on all of our groups, volunteering and other opportunities, or get in touch with our Engagement Team if you have more questions.

All Student Groups: https://www.staffsunion.com/getinvolved/clubsandsocieties/ (filter to see all academic groups).

Current Academic Societies:

Accounting & Finance: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/25507/

Biology: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/biosoc/

Education: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/staffsedsoc/

Engineering: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/theies/

FACS: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/facs/

Fashion: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/fashionsociety/

Humanities: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/humanities/

Law: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/lawsociety/

Bonus Group - Debating: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/21294/

How to set up a new group: https://staffordshire.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0CG5LLyaUvS8eVv

Group Committee Resource & Support Area: https://www.staffsunion.com/managementhub/

Developing You (personal development resources): https://www.staffsunion.com/developingyou/

Course delivery

You will be taught in small groups using a variety of methods, chosen to allow you the opportunity to attain the learning outcomes for each module. These include interactive seminar sessions, student presentations on real world experiences, discussion activities, individual reflection tasks, guided reflection, online activities, role plays and contributions from our service user and carer group as well as guest speakers who are registered Health Psychologists.    

Seminars are scheduled fortnightly on Wednesdays in the first year, and monthly on Thursdays in the second year. Sessions run from 10am -12 noon in the morning, and 2-4pm in the afternoon. In addition, in the second year, you are required to attend the invited speaker seminar series which is scheduled from 4-5pm on Thursdays.

The extended lunch break between 12 noon and 2pm in the middle of the day is to enable students to meet with supervisors and module leaders for supervision

Academic skills

Whether you're joining us from school or college, or you're returning to education after some time away, everyone can benefit from the Academic Study Skills resources provided by the University library.

The Academic Skills team is here to support you throughout your academic journey and to help you gain the skills you need to reach your full potential. They can assist with academic reading and writing skills, give advice on how best to plan assignments, and help improve your time management.

The library's Academic Skills Guides offer the key information to make studying easier and give a comprehensive guide to the learning resources and services we offer.

Staffs CampusConnect

Staffs CampusConnect is our student-led community app for new students. Connect with other people from your course, hometown or country, and even those with similar interests.

To register, please ensure you use your Applicant ID (Student Number) that you received in your offer letter, and the email address you used in your application to us.

Register for CampusConnect

Welcome website

Our welcome website will provide you the link to your new student life. It's all about how you find your place at university, including everything from how to meet friends, feel confident in doing your academic work, being a member of your Student Union and getting involved in Union Societies, Academic Societies, Sports, Volunteering or representing your peers in your School.

Part of this Welcome Week - we have an exciting program of University and course level activities planned for you for your first week in September. We are also building an extended program for you to join a series of events throughout the first half of the autumn term. Further details will be shared with you via the Welcome website and Students' Union pages over the coming weeks.

Welcome website

Campus map

Use our campus map to familiarise yourself with our campus before you arrive.

Campus map (PDF)

Check your email

Please make sure you check your personal email account regularly over the next few weeks. We will be sending you lots of information about Welcome Week.

We look forward to welcoming you in September. 

If you have any questions, please send them to Dr Rachel Povey, (r.povey@staffs.ac.uk).

Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology Course Team  

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021