Diploma in Psychology

(Dip. Psych.)  

New 2011 version now available
A distance learning course

   College accreditation: International Association for Distance Learning.
   Course accredited by Institute for Meridian Psychotherapy
    for professional development purposes
                   Graduates of this course may take a special bridging course to upgrade to Advanced Diploma.

A course specially provided for the complementary therapist and also available for personal interest.

Note: before June 2011 we only offered a longer course in Psychology which has now become our Advanced Diploma. Following the upgrading of our former Diploma, we are introducing a shorter and more affordable Diploma in Psychology here which consists of just the core syllabus of the original course, and uses just one major university-level textbook.  If you have already earned our original (longer) Dip. in Psychology, ask us how to gain the Advanced Diploma certification for it.

Total recommended period of study: approx. 3 to 6 months or less. Continuous enrolment. No time limit.

Cost: £195.00  (195 Pounds Sterling - for currency conversion see www.xe.com )

A FREE textbook will be included for students from the UK.   Students outside the UK will need to pay extra for the textbook and postage (book available from Internet bookstores).

Method of study 

Textbook study.  Written assignments based on textbooks and exercises. Assignment questions are issued by email and students return their written work by email. Grades and feedback are issued by email.

Continuous assessment - there is no final exam.  Students will be asked to write brief essays after reading certain chapters.  The questions set will be broadly-based, allowing the student to demonstrate general understanding of the issues covered in the textbook and to include any necessary facts that support the answer given.  All assessment work may be done at home and e-mailed or posted to the college.

Course overview

A general psychology diploma course covering material up to undergraduate standard with coverage of many topical issues throughout the set textbook.  The textbook makes psychology accessible by including discussions, clear explanations, diagrams, glossaries, illustrations and links to websites. Ideal for general interest, counsellors, hypnotherapists, psychotherapists, life and personal coaches and complementary medicine practitioners, helping professionals and those considering entry to a psychology degree or therapy training. Open entry.

This course may be studied entirely by correspondence, but a large variety of relevant Internet material is available on-line. Students may also research topics of interest using the many psychology sites on the Internet.

Syllabus (this syllabus is subject to change):

• History, Scope and Methods of Psychology;

• Biological Psychology;

• Developmental Psychology;

• Perception and Consciousness;

• Memory, Learning and Thinking;

• Language; Motivation and Emotion;

• Personality Theories and Individual Differences;

• Stress;

• Abnormal Psychology (covering anxiety disorders, mood disorders, dissociative identity disorder, schizophrenia, mind-body interactions and insanity in the courts);

• Therapies (history, therapy techniques, effectiveness, social issues);

• Social Behaviour, Influence, Conformity.

• Introductory information about Statistics is given but that section is optional and not examined.

A university-level textbook is required as the main book for the course: details will be given on enrolment. Additional audiovisual materials on CD-ROM, linking to the main text, may be purchased if  desired (see our links to PSYK TREK on the left of this page).                                           

Entry criteria and suitability 

No particular qualifications are required for entry.  However, this course is aimed at the counsellor, psychotherapist or complementary practitioner in private practice or for personal interest. It does not lead to membership of the British Psychological Society or to Chartered Psychologist status. It is not accredited by a government-recognised body and does not lead to any professional licence in any country. However it provides an affordable, privately-accredited alternative for someone with a strong interest in psychology who does not require a government-recognised qualification. This course may help someone prepare to apply as a mature student for a degree in psychology, because you will demonstrate interest, knowledge and ability to study, but it does not guarantee acceptance by any accredited university for a degree place.

Qualification

Successful graduates will receive the Diploma in Psychology awarded by UK College of Holistic Training which is a private UK qualification. The college is accredited by the International Association for Distance Learning. Course graduates may use the postnominal initials Dip. Psych.

The course is accredited by The Institute for Meridian Psychotherapy (which is linked to UKCHT) for professional development purposes (see societies page for explanation).

This diploma is accepted by Calamus International University (a non-UK, private distance university with private accreditation) for credit towards a degree.

Further information

Please see our FAQs page for general information.

We reserve the right to change the syllabus and other details of any course at any time.

To apply for this course now, go to our Application page