i'm wondering if anyone knows about the clinical psychology phd programs in the uk? i am aware that i can't become a licensed clinical psychologist as an american there (that would be the DClinPsych degree, not a phd) but i love the programs there and would rather go to a phd program in the uk and be unlicensed than get a psyd here and be licensed because of my career goals which focus on research. do you think i'd be looked down upon if entered a program over there if i were to be rejected from all of the phd programs here that i'm applying to?
What do you think of the UK's Clinical Psych PhD's?
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In the UK, the Ph.D. is not a clinical degree. The doctorate in clinical psychology in the UK is the D.Clin.Psy so you will not be able to find a Ph.D. in clinical psychology there. I imagine the Brits smile at the Psy.D. versus Ph.D. debates we engage in since they have institutionalized this distinction into their system. However, you can do a Ph.D. in any other area of psychology if research is your thing. Understand however that the educational system in Britain is structured in a very different manner than in the USA. Consequently the Ph.D. process is very different in Britain and most commonwealth countries from what is done here.
The British and Commonwealth Ph.D. is a "dissertation only" research degree meaning there is typically a minimal "taught element" i.e classwork. Instead, your graduate work would consist in mainly doing your dissertation research under faculty guidance. Typically, one needs to have a British-style BA honors degree or a master's degree in psychology to be accepted into a British Ph.D. program. The honors degree is something unique to the British educational system. Their BA degrees are 3 years long and a BA Hons is 4 years long. The MSc degree is typically an extra year beyond the BA. When you apply, you need to find a faculty member whose research interest match your own and who might be willing to supervise your research. As part of the admission process, you write up a research proposal outlining your dissertation topic! So you enter their doctoral programs already having knowing what your dissertation is going to be about and have a general outline of the methodology prepared ahead of time. In some ways the "goodness of fit" between your interests and the faculty member's interests is more important in that system than in ours on this side of the pond.
You are then admitted to the graduate program often as an M.Phil student and after sufficient progress you are "upgraded" to the Ph.D. During this time you are expected to begin publishing, attending conferences etc.. and begin networking. That being said, a doctoral degree from a UK university is very legitimate and likely to be viewed favourably in the US especially if it from one of the well-known schools such as Cambridge, Oxford, or one of the colleges comprising the University of London etc .... It is also important to understand that the Ph.D. can frequently be pursued "externally" without having to be resident at the university itself for 4 years. I have an acquaintance who is getting his Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Kent in Canterbury while living and doing his research here in the US. This is because the degree is awarded on the basis of the dissertation not classroom work. The dissertations produced in the UK are typically far longer and more involved than one typically sees in the USA. If you are looking for academic employment in the USA, you probably would want to stick with fairly well known British schools.
The British and Commonwealth Ph.D. is a "dissertation only" research degree meaning there is typically a minimal "taught element" i.e classwork. Instead, your graduate work would consist in mainly doing your dissertation research under faculty guidance. Typically, one needs to have a British-style BA honors degree or a master's degree in psychology to be accepted into a British Ph.D. program. The honors degree is something unique to the British educational system. Their BA degrees are 3 years long and a BA Hons is 4 years long. The MSc degree is typically an extra year beyond the BA. When you apply, you need to find a faculty member whose research interest match your own and who might be willing to supervise your research. As part of the admission process, you write up a research proposal outlining your dissertation topic! So you enter their doctoral programs already having knowing what your dissertation is going to be about and have a general outline of the methodology prepared ahead of time. In some ways the "goodness of fit" between your interests and the faculty member's interests is more important in that system than in ours on this side of the pond.
You are then admitted to the graduate program often as an M.Phil student and after sufficient progress you are "upgraded" to the Ph.D. During this time you are expected to begin publishing, attending conferences etc.. and begin networking. That being said, a doctoral degree from a UK university is very legitimate and likely to be viewed favourably in the US especially if it from one of the well-known schools such as Cambridge, Oxford, or one of the colleges comprising the University of London etc .... It is also important to understand that the Ph.D. can frequently be pursued "externally" without having to be resident at the university itself for 4 years. I have an acquaintance who is getting his Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Kent in Canterbury while living and doing his research here in the US. This is because the degree is awarded on the basis of the dissertation not classroom work. The dissertations produced in the UK are typically far longer and more involved than one typically sees in the USA. If you are looking for academic employment in the USA, you probably would want to stick with fairly well known British schools.
thank you for your response! i should have been more specific- there are numerous clinical phd programs (as well as general "psychology" phd's) that do not lead to licensure in addition to the d.clinpsych programs. i've done A LOT of research on these programs and absolutely love the structure of the programs as well as the varying interests of the faculty in the uk. i was just curious about how a foreign phd would be accepted in the united states. i'm surprised to hear that you can do research here but be enrolled at a school over there- how does that work? and do you know anything about the chances of being funded as an american?
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the acceptance of foreign degrees varies significantly by employer.
you would be well advised to look at the applicant requirements of jobs that are similar to those that you wish to obtain. a look at the APA jobs might be a place to start.
you would be well advised to look at the applicant requirements of jobs that are similar to those that you wish to obtain. a look at the APA jobs might be a place to start.
