Programme Director's Welcome

Welcome, to the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (ClinPsyD) based in the Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Therapies, Norwich Medical School at UEA. The Department hosts the ClinPsyD and a growing number of the Psychological Professions training programmes including Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, High Intensity CBT Training, Education Mental Health Practitioner, and Clinical Associate Psychologist. 

Whether you are thinking about training in Clinical Psychology at UEA, are already studying on the programme, or you work to support its delivery, we hope you find this information useful.

The ClinPsyD at UEA is the oldest and largest Clinical Psychology training programme in the region, accepting its first cohort of trainee clinical psychologists in 1995. The programme has undergone significant expansion and re-design since that time blending  academic, research and clinical practice components across the three years of training. Successful completion of all elements of the Programme confers eligibility to apply for registration as a Clinical Psychologist with the HCPC and membership as a Chartered Psychologist with the BPS.   We have a growing and highly talented programme staff team, many of whom trained at UEA themselves, that take great pride in delivering a highly innovative and stimulating learning environment, with research-informed teaching, novel curriculum design and a growing international dimension.  Within the university we are very well supported by the experienced Professional Doctorates Team, who provide the specialist knowledge and guidance to staff and trainees on university processes. All of this ensures an excellent student experience.

We also enjoy close links with our NHS clinical colleagues and can offer trainees a wide range of exciting core competency and specialist placements across Norfolk,  Cambridgeshire,  Peterborough and Suffolk alongside innovative international opportunities where part of the clinical practice element can be completed overseas,  during the final year of training.  Today’s research is tomorrow’s clinical practice and UEA we place great value on applied clinical research and strengthening the evidence base to inform clinical practice pathways.  A research active department, we have expertise in undertaking a wealth of clinical research across a wide range of clinical groups, giving our trainees the opportunity to choose from many varied research topics for their thesis research. Our key research themes are: 

  • Clinical Psychology of Childhood, Adolescence and Youth (including a specialism in PTSD in Children and Youth led by Prof Richard Meiser-Stedman)

  • Psychological Distress and Disorders in Adult Populations (including a specialism in Psychological approaches to Understanding and Treating Psychosis led by Dr Jo Hodgekins)

  • Clinical Health Psychology across the Lifespan 

  • Neuropsychology of Acquired Brain Injury and Stroke

  • Sleep and Disorders of Sleep (including a specialism in Behavioural Sleep Medicine led by Prof Niall Broomfield) 

  • Social and Professional Issues in Clinical Psychology  

At UEA, our mission is to produce high calibre clinicians who, through the application of theory, knowledge and research, can dedicate their clinical careers to making a positive difference to the lives of people in distress.  Joining a profession that works with people at vulnerable times to empower them to realise change is a huge privilege.  We hope if you are contemplating study at UEA that you will join us, and that like many of our trainee graduates,  stay in this beautiful part of the United Kingdom, making a significant contribution to local services. 

Very best wishes
Sian Coker DPhil, CPsychol, SFHEA
Professor of Clinical Psychology
Programme Director, ClinPsyD at University of East Anglia