Level 5 Diploma in Clinical Psychology & Mental Health – Two Years (240 Credits)

1. Foundations of Psychology and Mental Health: Introduces major psychological perspectives, core concepts and contemporary approaches to understanding mental health and psychological functioning.

2. Biological and Neuropsychological Foundations: Examines the relationships between the brain, nervous system, biological processes, cognition and psychological functioning.

3. Developmental and Individual Differences: Explores psychological development across the lifespan and differences in personality, cognition, behaviour and psychological functioning.

4. Psychological Wellbeing and Mental Health: Examines wellbeing, resilience, common mental-health difficulties, social determinants and factors affecting psychological health.

5. Research Methods and Psychological Statistics: Develops competence in research design, qualitative and quantitative methods, critical appraisal, data interpretation and ethical psychological research.

6. Psychological Assessment and Case Formulation: Introduces principles of psychological information gathering, assessment, formulation, outcome measurement and structured consideration of presenting difficulties.

7. Clinical Psychopathology: Examines major psychological disorders and related symptoms, explanatory models, risk factors, comorbidity and contemporary classification approaches.

8. Evidence-Based Psychological Interventions: Explores major psychological approaches used in mental-health support and critically evaluates the evidence base underlying interventions.

9. Lifespan and Community Mental Health: Examines mental health across different stages of life and considers community, family, social and public-health contexts.

10. Ethics, Safeguarding and Professional Practice: Develops understanding of confidentiality, consent, professional boundaries, safeguarding, equality, diversity and responsible practice.

11. Health Psychology and Behaviour Change: Explores psychological influences on physical health, health behaviours, adherence, prevention and behaviour-change approaches.

12. Research and Practice Project: Integrates psychological theory, research methods, critical analysis and applied mental-health knowledge through an independent academic project.

• Develops advanced understanding of psychological theory, psychopathology and mental-health conditions.

• Builds knowledge of psychological assessment, formulation, evidence-based interventions and outcome measurement.

• Strengthens research capability through research methods, statistics, critical appraisal and independent project work.

• Develops awareness of ethics, safeguarding, confidentiality, professional boundaries and responsible mental-health practice.

• Supports progression into further academic study and mental-health-related roles while providing a strong foundation for subsequent specialist psychology education.

• Learners seeking advanced study in clinical psychology, mental health and applied psychological science.

• Mental-health, care, wellbeing and support workers seeking to strengthen their academic and theoretical knowledge.

• Psychology-related learners progressing from Level 4 study toward advanced Level 5 learning.

• Professionals working in health, social care, education, community support or related services who require structured knowledge of psychological and mental-health concepts.

Assessment Format: Written examinations, analytical essays, psychological case studies, research-methods assignments, literature reviews, data-analysis exercises, mental-health case analysis, presentations, reflective and professional practice assignments, and an independent research and practice project.

Total Questions: 100 questions

Passing Score: 60%

Duration: 3 Hours

Certification: Successful learners receive the HiQual UK Level 5 Diploma in Clinical Psychology & Mental Health – Two Years (240 Credits).

To deliver this Qualification, HiQual UK Approved ATPs must demonstrate the capability to deliver, assess, and internally quality assure qualifications in line with recognised regulatory principles and the expectations of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).

Approved centres must operate effective systems to ensure the validity, reliability, fairness, consistency, and security of assessment.

1. Centre Recognition and Legal Compliance

Centres must be formally recognised by HiQual UK prior to the delivery or assessment of any qualification. To maintain recognition, centres must: Be a legally constituted organisation operating in compliance with applicable legislation and regulatory requirements. Demonstrate effective governance, management oversight, and clear lines of accountability. Comply with all HiQual UK policies, procedures, and conditions of centre recognition. Notify HiQual UK promptly of any material changes that may affect delivery, assessment, or internal quality assurance arrangements.

2. Resources, Facilities, and Learning Environment

Centres must ensure that sufficient and appropriate resources are in place to support learning and assessment. This includes: Learning environments appropriate to the mode of delivery, including classrooms and, where applicable, specialist or practical facilities. Access to learning and assessment resources that enable learners to meet qualification outcomes. Secure systems for managing learner data, assessment records, and certification claims. Arrangements that support equality of access and reasonable adjustments for learners where required.

3. Staff Competence and Occupational Expertise

Centres must ensure that all staff involved in delivery, assessment, and internal quality assurance are competent and suitably qualified. Centres must: Appoint tutors with appropriate subject knowledge, teaching competence, and relevant occupational or professional experience. Ensure assessors are trained and competent in applying HiQual UK assessment requirements and standards. Appoint a qualified Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) responsible for monitoring assessment practice and decisions. Maintain records of staff qualifications, experience, training, and continuing professional development (CPD).

4. Assessment Practice and Internal Quality Assurance (IQA)

Centres must operate robust internal quality assurance systems to ensure assessment integrity. Centres must: Ensure assessment is valid, fit for purpose, and conducted in line with HiQual UK requirements. Implement effective IQA procedures to monitor assessor performance and confirm the consistency of assessment decisions. Maintain accurate, complete, and auditable records of learner registration, assessment evidence, and outcomes. Carry out regular internal reviews and standardisation activities to support continuous improvement.

5. Integrity, Risk Management, and Malpractice

Centres must take appropriate measures to protect the integrity of assessment. Centres must: Maintain policies and procedures for the prevention, identification, and management of malpractice and maladministration. Ensure secure handling, storage, and retention of assessment materials and learner evidence. Report any suspected or confirmed malpractice to HiQual UK in accordance with published procedures.

6. Health, Safety, Safeguarding, and Learner Protection

Centres must provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment. Centres must: Comply with applicable health and safety and safeguarding legislation. Conduct risk assessments for learning activities, particularly where practical or technical work is involved. Maintain procedures to safeguard learner welfare and wellbeing.

7. Learner Information, Support, and Fair Treatment

Centres must ensure learners are informed, supported, and treated fairly. Centres must: Provide clear and accurate information on programme requirements, assessment methods, and certification. Ensure learners receive timely and constructive feedback on assessment outcomes. Operate transparent complaints and appeals procedures aligned with HiQual UK requirements. Manage learner information securely in compliance with data protection legislation.

Successful learners who achieve the HiQual UK Level 5 Diploma in Clinical Psychology & Mental Health may progress to:

• Further Level 6 study in Psychology, Applied Psychology, Mental Health, Health Sciences or related disciplines, subject to the receiving institution's entry and credit-transfer requirements.

• Relevant undergraduate degree completion or top-up routes in Psychology or related subjects, where the receiving university accepts the qualification and available credit for advanced entry.

• Further postgraduate study in Clinical Psychology and Mental Health, Mental Health Studies, Psychological Therapies, Counselling, Neuropsychology, Health Psychology or related disciplines, subject to the receiving institution's requirements.

• Mental-health, wellbeing, care, support and community-service roles where the employer's own academic, professional and occupational requirements are satisfied.

• Further specialist development in psychological wellbeing, cognitive and behavioural approaches, health psychology, mental-health promotion, safeguarding, psychosocial support and research.

Completion of this qualification does not guarantee admission to a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, does not itself provide Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership with the British Psychological Society, and does not confer HCPC registration as a clinical psychologist. In the UK, clinical psychologists follow a substantially higher professional training pathway, and the HCPC identifies a professional doctorate as the threshold qualification route for clinical psychologists