Dr. Sophie Gosling is the admission tutor for Royal Holloway Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She came to talk to the group about the course and answer any questions about applications for Royal Holloway University .
- Dr Gosling explained that the course is quite CBT focused, following the NICE guidelines.
- Feedback from this years graduates showed that the course was very research focused, the course is structured so that trainees are taught at a high standard and quantitative research is more prominent in the course. Some trainees liked the research focus, some less so. Don't let the research focus put you off though!
- QAA showed that the research teaching was exceptional at Royal Holloway.
- The course this year consists of 22 trainees, with a small cohesive supportive staff team.
- This years graduates felt that they were prepared for placements, were well taught on the WAIS and WISC.
- The course is responsive to requests to placements in the third year, trying to fulfil trainee's requests.
- Placements are in London .
- Negative feedback was the location of the course, however, it was noted that it is only 30minutes away from Wandsworth ( South London , by the river).
- Is it a myth there are a lot of paper tests? � Dr Gosling stated that there are 2 paper exams at the end of the first year, a literature review (which is the preparation for your dissertation anyway) and clinical reports throughout the course, so compared to other course-not really.
- There is a buddy system, whereby first years get paired up with second years for support.
- Speakers are working within the NHS, so the sessions are reflective of what is going on at the present time.
- The question was asked for what the admission tutors are looking for in applicants-
- A-Levels are looked at, academic transcripts are requested and looked at from your undergraduate course at university.
- Relevant work experience, one years paid relevant work experience is required before you start the course
- The tutors are aware of the bias towards assistant psychologists and recognise other roles
- Need to be able know what a clinical psychologist does, be aware of formulations-an idea of what the work is about-to have contact with a Clinical Psychologist
- It is not so much about the wide range of experience-but what you have learnt from it.
- Being yourself and being original-they know when you have hashed up your form from others!!
- Dr. Gosling stated that it is a myth of how hard clinical psychology is to get in, 1 in 3 or 4 people do gain a place so keep on trying!
- People on the course consist of an average academic mixture-
- 2 or 3 people with a PhD,
- few people with Masters and
- some with 1sts.
- And individuals with 2.i.
- People on the course have also had a range of jobs including:
- Research Posts
- Working with Learning Disabilities, children with autism,
- Support Workers
- Nursing Assistants
- Assistant Psychologists
- If you do work in the private sector-you need to be aware of how the NHS works, the differences, clients and issues that surround the NHS.
- Dr. Gosling advises the group to join the Division of Clinical Psychology and to read more about the area of clinical psychology.
- Recommended book- What is Clinical Psychology? � Hall, J. & Llewelyn, (2006)
- The course structure consists in term time of 2 days a week at college and 3 days on placement, there are a few study days and in the second year there is research time given.
The Interview
- There are 2 interview panels - academic and research
• and how you think about psychological problems.
- Vignettes are used, and there are 2 people in each panel.
- This year there were not so many jobs for graduates compared to usual, half the graduates got a job, the other half are travelling or looking for posts.
- This year about 90 people were interviewed and there were about 22 places, the year before-there was 26. It was noted that many people do apply for up to 4 course so competition may not be as scarily stiff as you think!
The group thanked Dr. Gosling for an informative and interesting insight into the Royal Holloway Doctorate in Clinical Psychology course.
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