MSc Applied Clinical Health Psychology
Student Programme
Handbook 2011/2012
School of Health and Social Sciences
Programme Leader: Nicky Payne
Student Name:
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CONTENTS
University and Programme Academic Calendar......
WELCOME TO THE SCHOOL
Welcome from the Dean......
WELCOME TO YOUR PROGRAMME
Programme Leader’s Welcome......
Purpose and status of your student handbook......
Programme staff list and contact details......
Module information...... 7
Programme Structure Diagram......
Timetable...... 9
Attendance requirements......
Assessment schedule......
Assessment Officer support......
Placements...... 11
Careers Service...... 12
LEARNING, TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT...... 13
Preparing and submitting psychology coursework ...... 15
Learner Development Unit...... 18
Learning Resources...... 19
Assessment Feedback...... 21
Personal Development Planning...... 22
Progressing on your programme...... 22
COMMUNICATION...... 26
Accessing your own records including your timetable and letter requests...... 26
24-7...... 27
Middlesex e-mail – your account for life...... 27
What is OASISplus?...... 28
OASISplus (how it is used in relation to the programme)...... 28
SUPPORT...... 29
Academic Support...... 29
Counselling...... 30
International Student Support...... 31
Disability Support Service...... 31
Health, Safety and Welfare...... 31
Middlesex University Students’ Union – The Student Voice of Middlesex...... 32
Financial Issues...... 33
QUALITY OF YOUR PROGRAMME AND EXPERIENCE...... 35
Quality assurance and enhancement of your programme...... 35
Feedback from you...... 35
Campus Forums...... 36
Student representatives...... 36
School Board of Study...... 37
Programme evaluation forms...... 37
Suggestions and Complaints...... 38
APPENDICES...... 39
A. Accessing University IT systems...... 39
B. Programme Specification and Curriculum Map for MSc Applied Health Psychology...... 42
C. Module Narratives...... 51
University and Programme Academic Calendar
October
7Postgraduate student induction
11Teaching starts for autumn term
November
TBCProgramme Board of Studies
December
15Last day of teaching in the autumn term
December/January
19-6Christmas vacation
17-2University closed for Christmas vacation
January
3University re-opens after Christmas
10Teaching starts for winter term
February
TBCProgramme Board of Studies
April
2-15Easter vacation
6-10University closed for Easter vacation
26Last day of teaching
May
7Bank holiday – University closed
28Bank holiday – University closed
July
5 (5pm)Publication of progression decisions
August
27Bank holiday – University closed
October
12Dissertation submission deadline (2012 for p-t students)
December
11 (5pm)Final qualification results published
Student attendance dates
3 October – 16 December (New students)
9 January 2011 – 30 March 2012
16 April 2011 – 12 October 2012
Learning Framework Term dates
3 October – 16 December 2011Autumn term – new students(11 weeks)
9 January – 30 March 2012Winter term(12 weeks)
16 April – 20 July 2012Spring term(14 weeks)
23 July – 5 October 2012Summer term(11 weeks)
WELCOME TO THE SCHOOL
Welcome from the Dean
Welcome to the University and to the School of Health and Social Sciences. This programme handbook should be treated as though it is our contract with you – keep it safely so that you may refer to it throughout your time here at Middlesex. It contains an overview of the framework of your programme and the content of its modules and signposts key contacts and information you need to progress your studies and to get the most out of student life.
From our side we will deliver the best student experience we can so that you can build on your skills and knowledge and fulfil your full potential. In return we expect you to engage actively in the learning process, to be fully committed to your studies and determined to succeed.
In your early weeks, this includes reading through this handbook and consulting the other information sources flagged here. You are not expected to absorb everything in detail, but to be aware of the main resource documents and their contents. In particular as an enrolled Middlesex student, you have certain rights but also specific responsibilities. See the full University Regulations in particular ‘University Membership’, and if you have not already done so, explore the student portal which contains detailed advice and support to assist you further.
We know it takes time to settle in to University life. If you still have questions to ask, your first port of call should be your Student Office. Staff there will be pleased to help and direct you. We wish you well in your future studies. Here at Middlesex we are very proud of our academic programmes and students and we look forward to meeting you.
WELCOME TO YOUR PROGRAMME
Programme Leader’s Welcome
Welcome to MSc Applied Clinical Health Psychology at Middlesex University.
Clinical health psychology is a branch of health psychology that focuses on the relationship between psychological variables and biomedical conditions. It deals with physical illness and patients in the health care system, with an emphasis on treatment.
Before the development of the field of health psychology, those in the field of clinical psychology had begun to move solely from working in psychiatric settings to providing services within a wider range of settings, including to patients with physical conditions in, for example, pain clinics, and cardiac rehabilitation programmes. Although some of the professional skills required to help patients manage physical conditions and change behaviour are part of the skills base of many different practitioners, such as Clinical Psychologists, there are obviously different theories and principles that guide working with patients with physical rather than mental health problems. It is these theories and principles that are embedded within the field of health psychology. Thus clinical health psychology involves both clinical skills and a knowledge and skills base in health psychology.
This MSc does not qualify you to practice as a Health Psychologist, Clinical Psychologist,or a counsellor or therapist.However, it will provide you with knowledge and skills relevant to understanding how psychology is applied to the care of the physically ill and how it is applied to maximise the effectiveness of health care delivery. These knowledge and skills may be relevant to, for example, jobs in smoking cessation, obesity management, stroke or cardiac rehabilitation, pain management, cancer care, teaching or research.
The MSc is guided by the goal of training students to become scientist-practitioners who engage in evidence-based, ethical and reflective practice and use clinical health psychology theory and research to underpin their work. Therefore, the programme aims to help students understand theories, findings and research methods and apply them to practice, and to develop a range of professional, research and transferable skills. As such the emphasis is on training students in real world applications of clinical health psychology. Areas of expertise of the core teaching staff includecounselling and psychotherapy, the biological basis of health and illness, stress, addiction and health behaviour change.
I wish you every success in your studies, and a rewarding and enjoyable time at Middlesex. I, and the rest of the programme team are here to support you throughout your studies, so please do not hesitate to contact us.
Purpose and status of your student handbook
The purpose of this handbook is to provide you with information about your Programme of study and to direct you to other general information about studying at Middlesex University.
This handbook must be read in conjunction with the University Regulations at The material in this handbook is as accurate as possible at the date of production.
Your comments on any improvements to this handbook are welcome - please put them in writing (with name of handbook) to Dr Nicky Payne.
Dr Nicky PayneEmail:
Room TG81Telephone: 020 8411 5467
The Town HallFax: 020 8411 4259
The Burroughs
Hendon
NW4 4BT
Programme staff list and contact details
Programme Executive
Dr Nicky PayneProgramme Leader
Room TG81
Telephone: 020 8411 5467
Email:
Dr Camille Alexis-GarseeRoom TG81
Telephone: 020 8411 5605
Email:
Prof Olga van den AkkerHead of Department
Room TG80
Telephone: 020 8411 6953
Email:
Dr Linda DuffyDirector of Programmes
Room TG56
Telephone: 020 8411 5406
Email:
Other Programme Staff
Dr Bahman BaluchRoom TG54
Telephone: 020 84115375
Email:
Dr Nicky BrunswickRoom TG49
Telephone: 020 8411 2619
Email:
Dr Karen CiclitiraRoom TG82
Telephone: 020 84112645
Email:
Dr Paul de Mornay-DaviesRoom TG57
Telephone: 020 8411 2621
Email:
Dr Nollaig FrostRoom TG48
Telephone: 020 84115310
Email:
Dr Neil MartinRoom TG48
Telephone: 020 8411 6292
Email:
Dr Sevasti-Melissa NolasRoom T100
Telephone: 020 8411 6081
Email:
Dr Ilhan RamanRoom T100
Telephone: 020 8411 5152
Email:
Dr George SandamasRoom TG58
Telephone: 020 8411 6654
Email:
Dr Pnina ShinebourneRoom TG58
Telephone: 020 8411 5417
Email:
Dr Fiona StarrRoom TG**
Telephone: 020 8411****
Email:
Administrator
Jo NicolaouRoom TG85
Telephone: 020 8411 5343
Email:
Technician
David NewsonRoom HG10
Telephone: 020 8411 5405
Email:
Module Information
Compulsory
Psy4012 Research methods in applied psychology (30 credits)
Psy4106 Psychosocial foundations of health and illness (15 credits)
Psy4114 Applications of health psychology (15 credits)
Psy4110 Psychological processes of illness and health care delivery (30 credits)
Psy4115 Counselling and psychotherapy (30 credits)
Psy4222 Advanced Dissertation in psychology (60 credits)
Programme Structure Diagram
MSc Applied Clinical Health Psychology Full-time mode (1 year)
September-January / January-April / April-Sept.Psy4012 Research methods in applied psychology
Psy4106 Psychosocial foundations of health and illness / Psy4114 Applications of health psychology
Psy4115 Counselling and psychotherapy
Psy4110 Processes of illness and health care delivery
Psy4222 Advanced Dissertation in psychology
MSc Applied Clinical Health Psychology Part-time mode (2 years)
September-January / January-April / April-Sept.YEAR 1
Psy4012 Research methods in applied psychology
Psy4106 Psychosocial foundations of health and illness / Psy4114 Applications of health psychology
Psy4222 Advanced Dissertation in psychology
YEAR 2
Psy4115 Counselling and psychotherapy
Psy4110 Processes of illness and health care delivery
Psy4222 Advanced Dissertation in psychology
Change to levels of modules and programmes
Middlesex University will change the way it describes the levels of its modules and programmes. The university will adopt the widely used Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) levels, as defined in the table below. The new level structure will be fully adopted across the university by September 2011. Until then you may experience some inconsistency in the description of module levels.
Description / New Middlesex University / FHEQ levels(from Sep 2011) / Current Middlesex University levels
Foundation level / 3 / 0
Certificate level / 4 / 1
Intermediate level / 5 / 2
Honours level / 6 / 3
Masters level / 7 / 4
Doctoral level / 8 / 5
Timetable
Module
/Students
/Dates
/Day
/Time
/Room
1
/PSY4012
/p-t & f-t
/Oct-April
/Tues
2
/PSY4106
/p-t & f-t
/Oct-Jan
/Tues
3
/PSY4114
/p-t & f-t
/Jan-April
/Tues
4
/PSY4115
/f-t
/Oct-April
/Thurs
5
/PSY4110
/f-t
/Oct-April weeks 6,7,9,10 &13 onwards
/Thurs
Weeks 2, 3 & 4 only
/Thurs
/HG24
Weeks 5, 8 & 11 only
/Thurs
/HG13
Attendance requirements
You should attend all scheduled classes and prescribed activities to be eligible for formal assessment. If you are unable to attend, you should inform the programme leader or module leader by telephone or e-mail.
In order to pass a module, you must attend at least 80% of all taught sessions. This is to ensure that you are fully able to meet the learning outcomes of each module. Where your attendance fails to meet the minimum required to meet the learning outcomes of a module (i.e. 80%), you may be excluded from the assessment and be graded X in the module. The definition of the X grade is “Fail – incomplete without good reason: may not be reassessed”. It is your responsibility to ensure that your attendance fulfils the published attendance requirements.
The X grade is applied if you fail to participate in the learning processes of a module for which you are registered. It is not a “punishment” for poor attendance but a recognition that you have not been able to prepare yourself for assessment in the content of the module. It is also given when you drop a module without formally removing it from your registered programme of study.
If you receive an X grade you may have the opportunity of taking the whole module again with permission from the Programme Leader, without grade penalty, though you will have to pay the module registration fee. You may only do this at Summer School (if available) or at the end of your programme.
For further guidance on attendance requirements, refer to the section entitled “Attendance & Withdrawal” which is also available at The formal regulations about attendance can be found in Section C2 of the University Regulations and at .
Policy on late arrival
If you arrive more than ten minutes late for a class you will be denied entry. This policy was introduced at the request of staff and students who have complained that late arrivals disrupt the learning experience of other students.
Assessment schedule
This map refers to coursework deadlines for full-time students and part-time students (PSY4106, PSY4114 and PSY4012 only) in their first year.
If deadlines here differ from those in module handbooks, the module handbooks are correct (F = formative assessment; bold = summative assessment; RW = Reading week)
Week / Date / PSY4012 / PSY4106 / PSY4114 / PSY4110 / PSY4115 / PSY42221
2
3 / Supervisor allocation
4
5
6 / Field trip reflect. (F)
7 / Essay (F)
8
9
10 / In-class test (F) / Essay / Worksheet (F)
Vac
Vac
Vac
11
12 / Present (F)
13 / Diary
14 / Log book (F)
15 / In-class test / Essay
16 / Interviews (F) / Proposal (F) for full-time
17
18 / Critical review & ethics (F)
19 / Evaluat. (F)
20
21 / Case 1
22 / Proposal (F) for part-time
Vac
Vac
23 / Essay & Log book
24 / Leaflet
Critical review & Report / Case 2
Dissertation
Assessment Officer support
Assessment is an important aspect to your programme but you may find that at times personal circumstances can impact on your studies. Should you have circumstances which mean you need to defer your assessment you will find valuable guidance on 24-7, but you can also contact the Assessment Team, Email: , who will guide you through the process. The full Deferral Policy is available at
In addition, your Module Leaders will be more than happy to assist you with any queries you may have about assessment of a particular module.
Placements
Work placements are NOT part of this programme but if you wish to do one outside of your programme, placements are supported across the University by a network of School placement offices who work closely with your academic staff. Together with the Careers Service, they will offer workshops and one-to-one advice on writing CVs, cover letters and application forms; offer password protected access to the placement website; help arrange interviews and where possible create links with employers. Please note, however, that placements cannot be guaranteed and your energy in researching and applying for a placement is key.
Your Placement Office can be contacted as follows:Hendon Campus, Elaine Elson, email:
You are encouraged to gain work placement experience if you can. Work experience is one of the most valuable assets you can have in planning a successful career. Employers want graduates who have developed the ability to be flexible and adaptable, work in teams, communicate with fellow employees and customers, take initiatives and responsibility and, when necessary, take the lead. Many of these qualities can be learned and developed through placements.
Equally important is the fact that these experiences help you develop your own ideas about the career you want, what will suit you best, and perhaps the kind of work or employers you wish to focus on. It is much easier to identify the positive and negative aspects of a particular career if you have experienced it first hand.
The University has responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to ensure that risks to health and safety are controlled and you are properly insured while on placement. It is therefore essential that no student commences a placement without first having it approved by the School Placement staff and as such, ensuring that all administrative, health and safety and insurance procedures are carried out prior to the start date. Failure to adhere to this may invalidate your placement.
Further information and guidance notes for students are available on .
Careers Service
The Careers Service provides impartial and confidential guidance and information to Middlesex University students and alumni (for up to two years after graduation) to help them in their career planning and job seeking.
The careers advisers can assist you with planning your academic programme and personal development in relation to your career goals from your first year to final year. This includes exploring career and study options, self awareness and decision making. The advisers can also help you to: find full and part-time employment, write CVs, covering letters and application forms, prepare for interviews, psychometric tests and assessment centres, identify voluntary and work experience opportunities and research postgraduate/further study and funding.
You have access to careers information, individual guidance appointments,
drop-in advice sessions, careers seminars and workshops, employer presentations, Careers Fairs, other campus based careers events and alumni links to support students with their career development. The careers advisers also work with tutors to deliver and support careers related activities on course programmes, such as career opportunities for graduates, job study research, the graduate employment market, developing employability skills, sector specific information, pre-placement preparation, job search skills and strategies and post graduate study options.
The main careers library is based at Hendon and careers advisers are available on most campuses offering a flexible service to support the needs and any specific requirements of all students. To check opening times and availability of careers advisers on your campus or to book an appointment please see the website telephone 020 8411 5523.
The Careers Service’s website as above (or accessible through the 24-7 website) offers a wide range of information and links to other graduate careers websites. The website contains an on-line job vacancy service, JobsPlus, where opportunities notified by employers for full time, part time, voluntary work or work experience are posted. If you are unable to visit on campus there is also a link to ‘MeG’, an e-guidance service, through which you can email your queries to a careers adviser.