A European Framework for Psychologists' Training

CURRICULUM CONTENT - UNITED KINGDOM

The BPS to some extent defines the content of a psychology degree, though this is done in a slightly strange way. It is done with reference to what is called the Qualifying Examination -- an annual exam taken by just a small number of people who are graduates in a discipline other than psychology and who wish to convert their degree into one recognised by the BPS. There are in this exam nine core areas. These areas are as follows:

Core:

• Biological foundations
• Perception, learning and memory
• Thinking and language
• Personality and intelligence
• Social
• Developmental
• Conceptual research issues
• Practical research issues
• Quantitative Methods

In addition to these nine core areas, there is a general paper, an advanced option paper (where areas such as clinical, educational and occupational appear) and a practical portfolio.

In order to be recognised by the BPS, a programme must have similar depth and breadth to the Qualifying Exam syllabus. This does not mean that each of the areas has to be equally represented; indeed, a whole area could conceivably be omitted if there were sufficient in-depth coverage of other areas to compensate. The only area which absolutely has to be there is Research Design/Quantitative Methods. Nevertheless, deficiencies in the coverage of more than one of the other core areas would be expected to lead to the programme not being recognised.

The pattern which exists at the university of Plymouth presented here is fairly typical. Please note that the translation into ECTS credits is approximate.

The content of the training programme at postgraduate level varies substantially from sub-area to sub-area: as indicated earlier, there is little generic training. In some areas the content is closely prescribed by the relevant BPS sub-system. For example, health psychology lays down fairly explicitly the content to be covered (see Health psychology document). In others, general guidelines are given but the specific content is left to the trainers.

The overall pattern for clinical training at the university of Plymouth, translated very approximately into ECTS credits, is as follows:

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