Clinical Neuropsychology

Entry requirements

You will typically need to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a practitioner with a specialism as 'Clinical' or 'Counselling'. If you have a 'Forensic' or 'Health' specialism then these will be considered on a case-by-case basis due to upcoming changes that may broaden access to training. You must also demonstrate how you meet the Research Competencies requirement for the programme. In addition, applicants with a 'Counselling' specialism must demonstrate Generic Competencies in Clinical Neuropsychology.

You must submit all required documents as detailed in the programme's Admissions Statement to be considered for review.

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

Our professional programmes in Clinical Neuropsychology are delivered in partnership with North Bristol NHS Trust, which includes a large regional neurosciences and major trauma centre.

Our Clinical courses aim to inspire clinicians to enhance their skills and support entry onto the British Psychological Society’s (BPS) Specialist Register of Clinical Neuropsychologists (SRCN). This BPS-accredited MSc delivers the adult or paediatric knowledge and practice components required for advanced training in clinical neuropsychology. The paediatric pathway is available from January 2026 (part-time only). Applicants choose either the adult or paediatric pathway at registration.

Around 80% of taught content is delivered by practising clinicians. We promote a biopsychosocial scientist-practitioner approach and advocate for research that informs patient care, with clinical practice grounded in active scientific engagement.

To accrue relevant clinical experience for the practice component, you must secure paid employment and supervision within a neuropsychology service during your enrolment. We offer support to help you build a case portfolio and ensure your clinical experience meets SRCN competency standards. This support is provided by clinicians on the SRCN and offers opportunities for feedback on case reports, including a practice viva experience, a mid-study review of progress and regular formulation workshops to facilitate peer discussion of cases and conceptual issues relevant to neuropsychological practice.

The programme is largely online and can be taken from home or work. Exams will be held online.

While entrance to SRCN requires knowledge and practice competency (both of which this course delivers), it also requires evidence of a minimal level of research competency (usually doctoral level). Evidence for this is demonstrated by completion of a doctorate in clinical psychology, educational psychology or counselling psychology within 8 years of starting this degree. Applicants with non-doctoral backgrounds might include forensic psychologists, health psychologists, some counselling psychologists or some practitioner psychologist members of HCPC with international training backgrounds. If you do not meet the doctoral requirement or do not have a doctoral background, you can indicate the training you have undertaken and its research component on the Research Competencies Form submitted with your application.

Information for international students

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

Fees and funding

Please note that NHS England now provide significant amounts of funding to support costs of training in clinical neuropsychology. This funding can support both knowledge component and practice component requirements for entry to the Specialist Register of Clinical Neuropsychologists (SRCN).

The process of allocating and distributing funding to Trusts will be led primarily by NHS England regional colleagues and supported by Psychological Professions Networks. You are strongly encouraged to explore potential sources of funding which can be used at Bristol either for September 2026 or January 2027 entry on this programme.

For further information on other potential sources of funding please check our online funding search tool.

Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.