forensic clinical and research psych help

[burnzeh]

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hello, what i want to know are the answers to a few questions i have before making any major decisions.

I am interested in clinical and forensic psychologies as well as the research aspects and practice aspects.

In order to do both clinical and forensic type practices and research what post graduate degree would you recommend.

if it isn't possible to do both clinical and forensic instead i would stick with just clinical psych research AND practice. in this case should i take the psyD or Ph.D.

bare in mind that the only university in the immediate area offering high quality programs is the university of Birmingham.
The university offers
A PsyD in clinical psychology : comprised of 5 clinical placements , research in years 2 and 3 leading to 2 papers for publication. As well as some taught classes.
It is one of the major universities for ClinPsychD and the fees and salaraies are 100% funded by the NHS ( national health service )

The university also offers a Ph.D in psychology
the research interests of the staff are

• Behavioural Neuroscience
• Development, Social and Applied Psychology
• Language, Cognition and Perceptual Systems

and there many sub-fields ( i don't want to stretch the post with the entirety of the details)
That is not NHS funded however

There is a Ph.D in clinical psychology a long long way away which i could take if its an absolute must. but it will result in alot more debt .

i understand that many of you are in the USA and i am in the UK however if it is easier , simply address the question as though i were in the usa and i will take what i can from the advice .

so what program would you advice me to take?

thankyou to any one whom takes the time to reply.

 

[thewesternsky]

You probably don't want advice "as if you were in the US", actually. The systems are quite different. I'm Canadian, so take this with a grain of salt, but by my understanding the ClinPsyD (such as at Birmingham) is pretty much THE degree to practice clinical psychology at the doctoral level in Britain, and PhDs are not generally qualified to practice (i.e., there's no such thing as a PhD in Clinical Psychology in Britain). ((Strike that, there is, but they're (a) rare, and (b) as far as I can tell, do not qualify you to practice.))

The Birmingham program looks like a good fit for you, from what you've said-- If you want to practice, you'll need a degree like that. If you'd like more research training afterward, I'm sure there will be avenues whereby you can get it. Good luck!

 

[thewesternsky]

Just thought of some additional advice-- Find someone who is doing exactly what you'd like to do in the future (a mix of research and practice, with clinical and forensic specialties). Where does that person work? What are their academic credentials? If you can answer those, you'll have a better idea of which degree(s) would be a good fit.

If that person doesn't exist, your goals are likely unrealistic unless you're prepared to move overseas.