Clinical psychology (&degree)

To become a clinical psychologist you require a PhD in clinical psychology. So you would need to complete your undergraduate followed by the PhD.

The PhD programme is a professional doctorate and extremely competitive. Most people don’t make it in first time round and most tend to have a couple of years experience as a psychologist’s assistant or some other form of work experience with another large portion having a masters degree.

What's the difference between a PhD and masters?

A PhD is a postgraduate course. You can try to get in straight after your undergraduate but it is very difficult as I’ve stated. In most cases it’s experience that is being looked for so they can see you have a good clear idea of what will be required of you during your training and career.

To be clear, I can neither persuade nor dissuade you from such a career as I have no experience of it. My girlfriend is currently in final year of her psychology undergraduate and she wishes to go into clinical so I get all my information from her as regards this topic.

What I would recommend however, is a book called “Skeleton Cupboard” by Tanya Byron. It’s a book I bought my girlfriend written by a clinical psychologist about her experiences in training and qualifying. Quite a few things learnt from that book, she really enjoyed it so perhaps it could help you out.

A PhD is the highest qualification an individual can hold. The order of heirarchy goes BSc, MSc, PhD. Or whichever designations are assigned for your studies. After a PhD you obtain the title “Doctor” since the PhD stands for “Doctor of Philosophy”.

Thank you!
Is your girlfriend in her final years of her PhD?
So one year away from her doctorate?
What did she get in her psychology A level?
How is clinical psychology to her?

Sorry! Just curious

Thank you!