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Course overview
Embark on your journey to enhance the well-being of others. Make a positive contribution to the global community and secure a promising future for both yourself and those you will impact in the mental health sector.
MSc Clinical Psychology is the perfect degree for aspiring psychology professionals. Through drawing upon our leading expertise in mental health practice and clinical research, you’ll develop an understanding of mental health and mental illness, at an individual and societal level.
MSc Clinical Psychology is a prestigious degree offering students a unique opportunity in Dubai. Our curriculum is designed with a blend of taught modules, a comprehensive research dissertation, and extensive hands-on clinical practice throughout the second year of the programme.
This programme is accredited by the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
Course structure
This course will run over 24 months in a full-time-mode. Teaching will take place on evenings and weekends. While the exact content may change, here’s what you can expect to study.
Term 1
Term 1
September – January (11 weeks)
In term 1, you’ll learn about the principles of mental disorders and the main theories behind their treatment. You’ll also study youth mental health, including the onset of disorders, prevention strategies, and school-based mental health. You'll dive into research methods in mental health, covering topics like epidemiology, statistics, clinical trials, evidence synthesis, ethnography, and thematic analysis.
Term 2
Term 2
January – May (11 weeks)
In term 2, you’ll gain the clinical knowledge and skills needed for your second-year placement and future employment in healthcare. You’ll learn to identify, assess, and manage suicidal presentations in clinical settings. Additionally, you’ll explore the evolving concepts of mental health and wellbeing, the social impact of mental illness, the growth of medicine as a key social institution, and how healthcare is organized and delivered in both formal and informal settings.
Term 3
Term 3
May- August (11 weeks)
In your third term, you will work on completing your dissertation in mental health worth 60-credits.
Year 2
Year 2
During your second year, you will apply what you’ve learnt in your first year to gain hands-on exposure to a suite of practical skills as part of your clinical placement programme. This includes clinical rotation placements gaining exposure to a variety of settings and patient groups. Placements will be conducted on a full-time basis during daytime hours. This practical training is designed to meet the Dubai’s standards for the professional licensing of clinical psychologists.
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Discover first-hand experiences from current students and recent graduates. Learn about studying at Birmingham, life on campus, and living in Dubai.
Course highlights
Research is a cornerstone of understanding mental health difficulties. Establishing a strong foundation for evidence-based treatments will help alleviate these difficulties. Through working alongside experts in mental health practice and clinical research, you will build your research and applied psychology skills. Apply what you’ve learnt in your first year to gain hands-on exposure to a suite of practical skills as part of your second-year clinical placement.
- Second year clinical placement programme
- Guidance from experts in the field
- Award-winning state-of-the-art campus
- 68th
in the QS World University Rankings 2027
- Top 100
for Psychology in the world
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026
Springboard your career
Your invaluable experiences gained throughout this course, aligns to the professionally recognised qualifications in mental health and clinical psychology including, the professional qualification’s standards for licensing clinical psychologists in the UAE.
As illustrated, this Master's programme meets the requirements for a qualifying MSc degree (includes MSc, MA, M.Phil) of a minimum two years in Psychology or with a focus on Psychology as per the Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements of the UAE. (Note: Subsequent supervised practice and exams are required for licensure. As such the university bears no responsibility for the successful licensure of graduating candidates). However, we anticipate that the placement programme in year two will provide you with an appropriate springboard for this process.
Course delivery
Taught using a blended learning ‘flipped classroom’ model, you will be able to study at your own pace. You will work through training and exercises each week and undertake individual study and reading.
Seminar
Workshop
Online On Demand classes
- Flipped classroom learning model – study at your own pace with our online e-learning platform complimenting your on-campus study
- Taught modules - debate and think critically with experts in the field during seminar and workshop groups
- Clinical Placement - gain real-world, hands-on experiences during your second-year placement
Assessment and methods
Given the richness and interdisciplinary nature of MSc Clinical Psychology, this degree has varied assessment methods. Each assessment is tailored to each module. The way that the different assessments have been designed is to ensure that your studies help you to develop essential skills that are transferrable to future employment. Assessment methods include essays, portfolios and journals, oral and poster presentations.
Your first-year timetable is designed to deliver teaching on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 18.00-20.00 (day varies per module). In second year, your practical experiences which includes clinical rotation placements, will be conducted on a full-time basis during daytime hours.
Module information
The modules listed for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
The optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available, we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.
2026/27 Session
The following must be taken:
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| LM Sociology of Mental Health and Illness | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LM Introduction to Clinical Diagnoses and Assessment | 20 | Semester 1 |
| LM Psychologica Intervention 1 | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LM Dissertation | 60 | Full Term |
| LM Psychological Intervention II: Core Cognitive Behavioural Therapy skills | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LM Research Methods in Mental Health | 20 | Semester 1 |
| LM Suicide and Self-Harm | 20 | Semester 2 |
Teaching staff
Dr Christian Perrin
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Dr Christian Perrin is an Assistant Professor of Forensic Psychology, a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS), and a Psychological Researcher exploring desistance from offending behaviour.
Professor Rasha Bayoumi
Head of Research, Dubai
The Academic profile of Rasha R. Bayoumi, University of Birmingham Dubai
Dr Shereen Sharaan
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Dr. Shereen Sharaan leads an inclusion-focused interdisciplinary research agenda focused on autistic individuals – encompassing aspects of culture, race, ethnicity and social class - to better understand human diversity.
Dr Afsana Faheem
Programme Director for MSc Clinical Psychology & MSc Mental Wellbeing Programmes
Dr Afsana Faheem joined the Department of Psychology at the University of Birmingham (Dubai campus) in 2023. Afsana's research background predominately focuses on inequalities in mental healthcare and treatment.
Entry requirements
To gain a place at the University of Birmingham Dubai, you will need to meet our general entry requirements, as well as those specific to your course. Your application will be reviewed by the course’s Admissions Tutor, who will decide whether your application should receive an offer.
- 2:1 Honours degree
from an academic institution in Psychology.
You must have at least a 2:1 degree or recognised equivalent at undergraduate level, and you will need to provide a certificate or transcript showing your degree level. We welcome applicants with higher degrees, which should be in a psychology or clinically relevant area.
We also require evidence of competence in research methods as evidenced by a score/rating of at least 60% (2.1 or equivalent) on the undergraduate research dissertation – noted on the undergraduate transcript or a higher degree in research (e.g. MSc, MRes).
Clinical experience
You must also demonstrate that you have been engaged in work experience that allows you to understand the profession of clinical psychology and to demonstrate skills that can be enhanced through training.
We require all applicants to have completed at least one rotation of clinically relevant experience (which can include placement experience from a clinically relevant Master's degree) at the time of applying. This experience could come from a variety of roles, including Assistant Psychologist and internships, and graduate roles within IAPT services.
You will need to demonstrate that you have been applying psychological principles in a clinical setting, preferably under the supervision of a psychologist, or have been engaged in research that is relevant to a clinical population (e.g. as a research assistant or as part of a 3-year PhD). The experience could be spread across more than one year.
Please ensure when detailing clinical experience gained that you are clear on the duration. It is helpful to detail the tasks/role carried out and the profession of the person supervising or overseeing that work. This information can be included in your supporting information and uploaded CV.
Please note that placements or internships in educational settings are not considered clinical and therefore do not contribute toward the application outcome.
English language requirements
To study at the University, you must be able to demonstrate a good level of written and spoken English. Many applicants do this by submitting a recent IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE result, or by completing a Presessional English course.
The level of English language proficiency required varies depending on your level of study and subject area.
You can view the full English language requirements, including accepted tests and required scores, on our entry requirements page for the Dubai campus.
Interviews
Applicants who meet our minimum academic criteria are short-listed according to information presented on the application form. Short-listed candidates are invited to attend the University of Birmingham for an interview and potentially a written exercise designed to assess competence in research.
After the final interview date, offers are made to the most suitable candidates subject to satisfactory references. Please note: the offer process at the University of Birmingham has several steps, and the final formal offer will be made by the University of Birmingham Admissions Team.
International entry requirements
Fees and scholarships
The University tuition fee covers the cost of your tuition, examination, and graduation.
- AED 172,178
September 2027 (full-time) first year, fee reduced to AED 86,089 during clinical placement in second year
Paying your tuition fees
Tuition fees are payable for each year of your programme. To help you manage the cost of study, you can pay fees in full or in three instalments per academic year.
To secure your place, you must pay a non-refundable tuition fee deposit by the deadline stated in your Conditional Offer. The deposit is AED 5,000 for January 2027 entry and AED 7,500 for September 2027 entry. This deposit will be deducted from your tuition fees.
Scholarships
Birmingham attracts the best and brightest students from across the globe. Eligible applicants are automatically considered for a range of scholarships following a Conditional Offer from the University of Birmingham Dubai.
- Up to 30%
Tuition fee scholarships available for eligible students.
Application process
Applying to the University of Birmingham Dubai is straightforward. Applications are made directly through our online Admissions portal, with no application fee.
To avoid delays, please ensure all required documents are included with your application.
Find guidance on how to apply, key steps in the process and answers to frequently asked questions.
Career opportunities
MSc Clinical Psychology develops key skills that are highly attractive to employers, namely clinical practice and key research skills, as well as presentation and report writing skills. Our students are excellent candidates for mental health-related clinical or academic employment in private and public sector organisations.
This MSc is also excellent preparation for PhD or other advanced degree positions.
Typical careers include:
- Clinical Psychologist
- Psychotherapist
- Medical practitioner with mental health specialism
- Researcher
- Academic
- Policy writer/evaluator
Careers Network
In a competitive global market, you need to be ready for work before you graduate. At the University of Birmingham Dubai, our careers services will help you plan and achieve your ambitions. Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network Dubai information, advice, and guidance service offers support to help you identify your options, develop your skills and gain access to opportunities that propel you towards your career goal.
Student experience
At Birmingham, your university experience isn’t just about studying. You will have the opportunity to discover new experiences, develop different skills and make friends for life at our Dubai campus.
Our state-of-the-art Dubai campus, with its iconic buildings overlooking stunning parkland and friendly community, will quickly make you feel at home in the UAE's second city. Expect plenty of exciting activities to get involved in outside of your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.
Accommodation
Coming to the University of Birmingham Dubai to study might be your first time living away from home. Our student accommodation partners allow you to enjoy your independence in safe, welcoming, and sociable surroundings.
Living in Dubai
Enrich your life with endless attractions, entertainment and lifestyle opportunities. In just over 50 years, Dubai has transformed itself from a tiny settlement to a glistening city and world-class destination. It’s no wonder our students fall in love with the city.
Campus life
Our state-of-the-art Dubai campus is where our diverse community comes together, providing a home for up to 3,000 students to learn, relax, and socialise.
Student support
Whoever you are and wherever you come from, we are committed to providing the best possible support to all of our students, both before you start and throughout your time on campus, so that you can get the most out of your university experience.
Take a virtual tour
Explore our Dubai campus from wherever you are. Get a feel for the wide range of modern spaces and state-of-the-art facilities.