Programme Specification 2012 / 13 - Queen's University Belfast

first submission of the unit of assessment course failure will be recommended at this
stage.
To progress to level 3 of the course trainees must pass the academic, placement,
research and personal and professional issues modules of level 2. A failed module may
normally be re-taken ONCE only by re-submitting the associated unit(s) of assessment
and (if appropriate) re-attending module sessions. As noted above, candidates may be
permitted to carry ONE failed placement in years 2-3 IF the failed competencies can be
successfully and reliably demonstrated in subsequent placement modules.
At the end of level 3, trainees must present TWO bound theses in the format of research
portfolios for assessment. The first volume must contain the previously assessed four
clinical reports and service-related research. This is to enable the external examiner to
review the student’s work over the three years but is not normally examined. The
second volume should contain the systematic literature review and the empirical paper
related to the Applied Research 3 module and is directly examined by the external
examiner who will be a subject specialist in the area of applied psychological research.
Candidates who do not pass Applied Research 3 with either a “pass”, “pass with minor
corrections” or “pass with minor revisions” may be graded as either “revise and
resubmit” (in which case they will have up to 12 months to resubmit), “Master’s degree
awarded” or “no degree awarded”. Further details of these possible outcomes are
outlined in the Research Handbook.
12.2. Fall Back award – Masters in Applied Psychology
Should trainees not pass sufficient modules to be awarded the Doctorate, a Masters in
Applied Psychology may be awarded depending on the number of modules passed and
CATs points accrued. At least 180 CATs points must be accrued in this instance. This
award will be at the discretion of the University and does NOT confer eligibility to
apply for HPC registration.
12.3. Intended Learning Outcomes
Many of the subject-specific learning outcomes, required of programmes by the
Committee for Training in Clinical Psychology (CTCP) accreditation criteria, are
operationalised in the appropriate module descriptions (e.g. related to research, clinical
skills etc.). However, there are overarching learning outcomes which are summarised
here. At completion of the Doctoral programme, it is intended that trainees will have
the skills, knowledge and values to:
Develop working alliances with clients (individuals, carers, families,
services etc.), in order to carry out psychological assessment, develop a
formulation based on psychological theory and knowledge, carry out
psychological interventions, evaluate their work and communicate
effectively with relevant stakeholders (orally, electronically and in writing).
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