PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
Clinical Paediatric Neuropsychology
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
MSc or PG Dip
(where stopping off points exist they should be
detailed here and defined later in the document)
UCAS code:
N/A
(where applicable)
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
From 2007 onwards
(e.g. from 2015 intake onwards)
Awarding institution/body:
University College London
Teaching institution:
University College London
Faculty:
Population Health Sciences
Parent Department:
Institute of Child Health
(the department responsible for the administration of
the programme)
Departmental web page address:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/neuropsych
(if applicable)
Method of study:
Full time or Part time
Full-time/Part-time/Other
Criteria for admission to the
programme:
Clinical track – Clinical or Educational Psychologist as recognised
by the Health and Care Professions Council
Length of the programme:
1 year full-time
2 years part-time
(please note any periods spent away from UCL, such
as study abroad or placements in industry)
Level on Framework for Higher
Education Qualifications (FHEQ)
(see Guidance notes)
Relevant subject benchmark statement
(SBS)
Level 7
Masters
(see Guidance notes)
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme
and
its
assessment
methods:
(see guidance notes)
Board of Examiners:
The full time programmes are taught in eight week blocks over
one year. Four modules are examined by essays and four by
unseen examinations. MSc students additionally take a ninth
module in research methodology and must submit a research
project.
Name of Board of Examiners:
Paediatric Neuropsychology
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
British Psychological Society
(accreditation visit 11th August 2010)
Date of next scheduled
accreditation visit:
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
The aims of the course are:
1. To provide participants with a scientific grounding in the principles and practice of paediatric
neuropsychology.
2. To provide participants taking the MSc qualification with training in research methods and statistics relevant
to paediatric neuropsychology through academic teaching and the supervised completion of a research
thesis.
3. To provide participants with up to two of the elements necessary to qualify as Clinical Paediatric
Neuropsychologists as recognised by the British Psychological Society
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES:
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding,
qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
A: Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding of:
1. Complex models of developmental
brain- behaviour relationships including
differential effects of at age of injury, site
of injury in relation to aetiology of lesion,
compensatory processes conducive to
reorganization of function, plasticity of
neural systems and associated cognitive
behavioural sequelae.
2. Subject specific skills, for instance
rehabilitative issues involved in specialist
settings and education systems, issues
for neuropsychologists in medico-legal
practice and differential diagnosis of
neuropsychological profiles associated
with different types of neurological and
genetic syndromes. Providing prognostic
indicators of outcome based on the
neuropsychological profiles.
3. For Masters students, knowledge of
research design and methodology,
including multivariate data analysis as
practiced within the field of clinical
neuropsychology and cognitive
neuroscience.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Acquisition of 1 and 2 through lectures, seminars, case
discussions, and external reading for the course
modules.
Acquisition of 3 through lectures on research methods
and statistics and completion of a research project under
supervision.
Assessment:
1 and 2 are assessed through unseen examinations and
course work.
3 is assessed via a written research portfolio defended
by viva.
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills:
1. Neuropsychological Formulation. The
ability to analyse, evaluate and integrate
complex sets of neuropsychological data
and provide a formulation of the
relationship between the patient’s
neurological function, behaviour and
cognitive status.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Acquisition of 1 through lectures, seminars and
interactive case discussions.
Acquisition of 2 is fostered in all modules offered by the
programme, in that all modules will introduce information
that will need to be assessed critically and will
demonstrate how conflicting theories may arise from the
same information.
2. Ability to critically evaluate scientific
reports in the field of clinical paediatric
neuropsychology.
Assessment:
1 and 2 are assessed through unseen examinations and
course work.
C: Skills and other attributes
Practical skills (able to):
1. An ability to accurately administer
neuropsychological tests and to
understand how to choose the
appropriate tests according to the
patient’s medical history and presenting
behaviour and cognitive status.
2. A high level ability to communicate at
both a written and oral level the
conclusions
derived
from
neuropsychological
assessments,
imparting complex, highly technical and
clinically sensitive information to a wide
range of lay and professional people
within and outside the NHS.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Acquisition of 1 and 2 through lectures, seminars and
workshops in which neuropsychological test
administration is discussed and the ability to produce
verbal and written reports is practiced.
Acquisition of 3 through lectures on research methods
and statistics and completion of a research project under
supervision.
3. For Masters students, the practicalities
of implementing a research design and
methodology, including data collection,
recording and management.
Assessment:
1 and 2 are assessed through unseen examinations and
course work.
3 is assessed via a written research portfolio defended
by viva.
D: Skills and other attributes
Transferable skills (able to):
The course will encourage the following
transferable skills:
1. Good written skills for essays and
dissertations
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
1. Feedback on essays and dissertations.
2. Submission of word-processed work that has required
electronic literature searches and possibly statistical
analyses.
3. Seminar and workshop presentations
4. Essays, dissertation and seminar discussion
2. Use of Computer resources and IT
3. Good oral presentations and ability to
adapt information according to the
audience.
4. Assess evidence for themselves and
suspend belief in previous interpretations.
Assessment:
Assessed through unseen examinations and course
work.
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
 the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/qualifications-frameworks.pdf);
 the relevant Subject Benchmark Statements:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements);
 the programme specifications for UCL degree programmes in relevant subjects (where applicable);
 UCL teaching and learning policies;
 staff research.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the
learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes
full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes,
content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each course unit/module can be found in the
departmental course handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this document is reviewed annually
by UCL and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Programme Organiser(s)
Dr Peter Rankin
Name(s):
Date of Production:
27-04-06
Date of Review:
November 2014
Date approved by Head of
Department:
November 2014
Date approved by Chair of
Departmental Teaching
Committee:
Date approved by Faculty
Teaching Committee
November 2014
February 2015