MSc Clinical Neuropsychology
- MSc
Overview
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.
If you wish to discuss your research competencies before application, please contact postgrad-psychology@bristol.ac.uk. Checking research competency status is an issue for any UK programme supporting entry to the SRCN.
Programme structure
The programme consists of taught content (knowledge component) delivered within five units and a clinical practice component. Collectively, these two BPS accredited components meet the 'knowledge' and 'practice' requirements for entrance to the SRCN.
Taught content includes the following units. There is a distinct adult versus paediatric pathway for each unit.
- Applied Clinical Neuropsychology and Principles of Neuropsychological Assessment covers a range of common disorders and the principles of patient assessment and interpretation of neuropsychological tests.
- Issues in Clinical Neuropsychology covers a range of issues commonly encountered in clinical neuropsychology.
- Theoretical Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Methods covers theories of brain function and delivers a thorough grounding in neuroanatomy and neuroscience methods.
- Neurorehabilitation and Multidisciplinary Approaches within Clinical Psychology considers a range of rehabilitation techniques. It also considers the interface between clinical neuropsychology and allied healthcare disciplines.
- Evidence Based Neuropsychology (EBN) and Case Study. The EBN component involves critical reviews of peer reviewed papers, and the Case Study component requires each student to review a clinical case in detail.
The clinical practice component culminates in a portfolio demonstrating BPS neuropsychological competencies. It requires submission of six clinical cases, satisfactory viva performance, and evidence of both clinical practice and supervision.
Visit our programme catalogue for full details of the structure and unit content.
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.
See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.
Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.
If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level C.
Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.
Fees and funding
- Home: full-time
- £15,400 per year
- Home: part-time
- £5,133 per year
- Home: part-time
- £7,700 per year
- Overseas: full-time
- £27,600 per year
Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.
More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.
Alumni discount
University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.
Funding and scholarships
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.
Career prospects
This programme is designed for anyone who wants to gain and demonstrate the UK's highest level of competence in professional clinical neuropsychology. The MSc is accredited by the British Psychological Society and successful completion provides both the knowledge and practice competencies required for entry on to the Specialist Register of Clinical Neuropsychologists (SRCN).
Contact us
- Contact
- Enquiries Team
- Phone
- +44 (0) 117 394 1649
- choosebristol-pg@bristol.ac.uk