Clinical Psychology MSc
About This Programme
The MSc Clinical Psychology at the University of Birmingham Dubai is a two-year, full-time master's for aspiring psychology professionals who want to work in mental health. Drawing on the University's expertise in mental health practice and clinical research, it builds an understanding of mental health and mental illness at individual and societal levels, and the research and applied skills behind evidence-based treatment. The first year combines taught modules, delivered in a flipped-classroom model with evening teaching, with a 60-credit dissertation in mental health. The second year is a full-time clinical placement programme, with rotations across a variety of settings and patient groups, designed to meet Dubai's standards for the professional licensing of clinical psychologists. The University states that the programme meets the UAE's requirements for a qualifying two-year master's in psychology, with supervised practice and exams still required for licensure.
Course Highlights
- A second-year clinical placement programme with rotations across settings and patient groups, designed to meet Dubai's standards for licensing clinical psychologists.
- Meets the UAE Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements for a qualifying master's of at least two years in psychology, as the course page states (further supervised practice and exams are needed for licensure).
- Guidance from experts in mental health practice and clinical research.
- An award-winning, state-of-the-art campus.
- Birmingham is in the world's top 100 for Psychology (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026) and 68th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, as stated on the course page.
What You'll Study
Teaching uses a blended, flipped-classroom model: students work through weekly training and exercises at their own pace on the online learning platform, alongside individual study and reading, then debate and think critically with experts in on-campus seminars and workshops, with some online on-demand classes. First-year teaching runs on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 18:00 to 20:00 (the day varies by module); in the second year, clinical rotation placements run full-time during daytime hours. Assessment varies by module and includes essays, portfolios and journals, and oral and poster presentations. Teaching staff listed on the course page include Dr Afsana Faheem (Programme Director for the MSc Clinical Psychology and MSc Mental Wellbeing, researching inequalities in mental healthcare and treatment), Dr Christian Perrin (forensic psychology; a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society), Dr Shereen Sharaan (inclusion-focused research on autistic individuals) and Professor Rasha Bayoumi (Head of Research, Dubai).
Year 1, Term 1: September to January
Eleven weeks. Principles of mental disorders and the main theories behind their treatment, youth mental health (onset, prevention and school-based mental health), and research methods in mental health, including epidemiology, statistics, clinical trials, evidence synthesis, ethnography and thematic analysis.
- LM Introduction to Clinical Diagnoses and Assessment20 credits
- LM Research Methods in Mental Health20 credits
Year 1, Term 2: January to May
Eleven weeks. The clinical knowledge and skills needed for the placement and for healthcare work, including identifying, assessing and managing suicidal presentations, and the changing concepts of mental health and wellbeing, the social impact of mental illness, medicine as a social institution, and how healthcare is organised and delivered in formal and informal settings.
- LM Psychologica Intervention 120 credits
- LM Psychological Intervention II: Core Cognitive Behavioural Therapy skills20 credits
- LM Sociology of Mental Health and Illness20 credits
- LM Suicide and Self-Harm20 credits
Year 1, Term 3: May to August
Eleven weeks, completing the 60-credit dissertation in mental health, which runs across the year.
- LM Dissertation60 credits
Year 2: clinical placement
A full-time, daytime clinical placement programme applying the first year's learning, with rotation placements that give exposure to a variety of settings and patient groups, designed to meet Dubai's standards for the professional licensing of clinical psychologists.
Entry Requirements
Applicants who meet the minimum academic criteria are short-listed from the application form and invited to an interview, which may include a written exercise assessing research competence. After the final interview date, offers go to the most suitable candidates, subject to satisfactory references, and the formal offer is made by the University of Birmingham Admissions Team.
Careers
The MSc builds clinical practice and research skills, and presentation and report-writing skills, for mental health-related clinical or academic work in the private and public sectors, and prepares students for a PhD or other advanced study. Typical careers include clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, medical practitioner with a mental health specialism, researcher, academic, and policy writer or evaluator. The Careers Network Dubai offers information, advice and guidance.
Accreditation & Professional Recognition
Accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and listed as Active on the Commission for Academic Accreditation register as the Master of Science in Clinical Psychology. The course page states that it meets the requirements for a qualifying master's degree of at least two years in psychology under the UAE Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements; supervised practice and exams are still required for licensure, and the University takes no responsibility for graduates' licensing outcomes.
Programme Details
Award
Master of Science (MSc)
Start Date
September 2026 (applications closed; September 2027 details to follow)
Typical Offer
2:1 Honours degree in Psychology, plus interview
Duration
2 years full-time (a taught year, then a clinical placement year)
Qualification
Masters
Subject Area
Psychology
Campus
Dubai
Study Pattern
Full time
Delivery Format
In person
Tuition Fee
AED 155,483/yr
AED 155,483 for Year 1 (September 2026) and AED 77,742 for Year 2 (September 2027), full-time. The fee covers tuition, examinations and graduation, can be paid in full or in three instalments a year, and does not include visa or living costs. Applications for September 2026 entry to this programme are closed, and details for September 2027 entry will be published later. Applications are made online through the University of Birmingham Dubai Admissions portal, with no application fee; postgraduate applicants upload transcripts for study completed so far, their degree certificate if available, and a CV, and short-listed applicants are interviewed. A non-returnable AED 5,000 deposit, deducted from tuition, is paid on accepting an offer. Scholarships of up to 30% are assessed from the application itself, with no separate form, and full-time students can apply for a student visa sponsored by the University.