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Ishita Bhatia was captivated by the ocean, the backdrop and setting of a “highly recommended” university by her career counsellor: University of Plymouth. The city it’s based in is peaceful, the people friendly and the MSc Clinical Psychology filled with opportunities.
“The University of Plymouth was offering me learning that is more practical than theoretical,” says Bhatia. “It was an opportunity to evaluate current theory and practice issues critically and creatively. Hence, I believed that it would help me learn to critically appraise current research in the field of mental health.”
Classes often come to life. Bhatia got to work in a multidisciplinary team and used therapeutic approaches like cognitive behavioural therapy. “In one of the modules of core competencies in clinical practice, we had an assessment of practicing clinical skills using the role-play method where we develop our skills by being a therapist, client, and an observer.”
The MSc Clinical Psychology provides master’s-level the skills and training to fast-track a future career in clinical practice. The approach? Hands-on practical learning across a range of key clinical skills in a multidisciplinary team. Modules are designed to equip students with the necessary skills and expertise. As Bhatia puts it, all modules are “very in-depth and have more opportunities to learn”.
Her most memorable class was data fluency, an essential new skill for modern psychology. “It was absolutely a new concept that I was learning, and it was very intriguing and challenging,” she says. “The class introduced the topic of data fluency and explained the software and its working of it. This allowed me to do a challenging task. Since the class was more practical based rather than theoretical based, I felt excited to study this module and always enjoyed doing the assignments.”
The School of Psychology provides ample practical learning opportunities for students to augment or enhance their knowledge in applied clinical psychology. Source: University of Plymouth
An unparalleled learning environment
It starts in the classroom. Future clinical psychologists learn through discussions, seminars, and class presentations by experts. Collaboration is highly encouraged through group work and group practices, which foster a collective learning culture that develops interpersonal skills like communication, empathy, and active listening skills –- values that are sought after by employees in the field.
At every step of your academic journey, support is available. Professors –- with their expertise and enthusiasm –- are generous with their knowledge, course leaders address queries without hesitation, and module leaders tackle any questions regarding assignments.
“From the very beginning, my professors had always guided me. I always had support
from my course leader and I could ask her any questions that I had without any hesitation,” Bhatia says. “Before any assignment, if I had any questions, I always had the option of contacting the module lead either through email or by setting up a meeting.”
Such support builds confidence for MSc Clinical Psychology students to take the next step. Those who aspire to specialise in clinical psychology can consider the DClinPsy Clinical Psychology programme. The university’s excellent relationship with local services in South West of England grants students the chance to be placed in rural and urban settings. Candidates from various backgrounds and experiences are welcome to apply, allowing for a wide range of discussions to happen within the classroom.
Here, young professionals learn through discussions, seminars, and class presentations by experts. Source: University of Plymouth
A welcoming and budget-friendly city
With the wild and unspoilt Dartmoor National Park located to the north and pristine coastlines to the south, both are within easy reach of the university’s city-centre campus. Pair that with the fact that Plymouth has a lower cost of living compared to major cities in the UK like London, and you’ll find students like Bhatia enjoying their time studying abroad.
“It is not a crowded and stressful life because Plymouth, being a city of the ocean, has beautiful views and is a small city. Everything is within walking distance which reduces the cost of transportation,” she says.
Scholarship in hand, she’s free to explore the city and do her best for her degree. She also tapped into the friendly Careers Service team, which guided her in applying for jobs, updating her CV and writing cover letters.
Bhatia summarises her time at the University of Plymouth best: “My education at the University of Plymouth increased my interpersonal skills that are used in psychology, made me more confident in giving interviews and taught me the practical side of working in a healthcare setting.”
Click here to learn how you can apply to pursue your MSc Clinical Psychology at the University of Plymouth today with the School of Psychology Postgraduate Platinum scholarship, automatically awarded to all international students, saving you 4000 pounds on your tuition fees.
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