Foundations of Clinical Psychology and Mental Health

Entry requirements

You should normally have an upper second-class (2.1) undergraduate honours degree or above.

Your qualification should be in psychology or a closely related subject such as neuroscience. You may also be considered for the course if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.

Register for our upcoming webinar: Study a Masters in Clinical Psychology and Mental Health: Course Overview and Careers.

Join course convenors Dr Faith Matcham and Dr Kate Cavanagh for an introduction to the Foundations of Clinical Psychology and Mental Health MSc. You'll discover why Sussex is ranked 8th in the UK for Psychology and learn about what you'll study, the skills you'll develop and the career opportunities for this course.

Webinar date & time: 11th May 2026 at 12pm. Learn more >

Months of entry

September

Course content

Across the globe, mental health challenges are on the rise. Now more than ever, we need professionals who can drive meaningful impact by supporting people to flourish.

This course will prepare you to improve mental wellbeing through research or further clinical training. By studying at Sussex, you’ll:

• build in-depth knowledge of psychological practice in both clinical psychology and mental health
• explore and evaluate treatment options such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness, along with psychodynamic, systemic and family therapies
• gain insights into clinical services including assessment and treatment, children and young people, disability, and eating disorders
• develop advanced research and data analysis skills
• learn from clinical practitioners and renowned faculty specialising in psychopathology and clinical psychology.

This course is offered in collaboration with the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Throughout your studies, you’ll develop a deep knowledge of psychological therapies. You’ll work alongside leading specialists. You’ll also engage with networks that can help you learn cutting-edge skills and engage with future training.

Additionally, your dissertation provides an opportunity to work alongside a faculty member from one of our research groups:

• Biological Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Psychology.

When you graduate, you’ll be ready for a range of exciting careers. You’ll have the knowledge and skills to progress onto a Doctorate of Clinical Psychology course, other mental health professional training or a clinically relevant PhD.

You’ll gain a deep knowledge of psychological therapies, while developing advanced research and data analysis skills on this course.

Our graduates go onto a range of exciting careers and further professional training:

• assistant psychologist
• clinical psychologist
• doctoral tutor
• psychological wellbeing practitioner
• research executive.

Organisations our graduates have gone on to work for include:

• Mind Institute
• the NHS
• Samaritans
• Sussex Community Health Trust
• Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.