Psychiatry (International Training Fellowship) MSc
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Course Summary
International Training Fellowships (Clinical) in the following sub-specialties: Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Neurodevelopmental Disorder and Neuropsychiatry.
The MSc International Training Fellowship (ITF) clinical scheme has been designed by senior clinicians at Cheshire and Wirral Partnership Trust and the University of Chester. The scheme offers an opportunity for experienced international psychiatrists, who have already achieved higher postgraduate qualifications, to come to the UK and study for an MSc in Psychiatry whilst furthering their clinical training for a period of two years. All NHS scheme partners have agreed time for you to attend University every Wednesday to assist in managing the work/study balance.
You will work as an International Training Fellow in clinical psychiatry, full time in the NHS. Appointment to the NHS post will be contingent on undertaking the MSc.
The ITF post requires you to work full time in the NHS, undertake on call duties, and complete the MSc Psychiatry at the University of Chester part time.
Download further information about our MSc Psychiatry (International Training Fellowship) to find out more about what you will learn, the support you will receive as a student on this course, and more.
For informal enquiries or to be considered for admission, please email a copy of your CV to psychiatry@chester.ac.uk.
What you’llStudy
The two clinical research components (60 credits) are Critical Appraisal and the Research Proposal, which are based on the principles of ‘Good Clinical Practice’. The three clinical modules (60 credits) focus on mental health law and ethics, subspecialty module, and therapeutic interventions that underpins the delivery of care and treatment.
All students complete a 12,000-word thesis (60 credits). This is a significant piece of investigative enquiry from conceptualisation through to completion. Within this final module, ‘research’ includes empirical research involving qualitative and/or quantitative methods, service evaluation, clinical audit, systematic review or a negotiated investigative enquiry unique to your specialism.
Professor Steven Jones
Professor; Programme Leader for Neurodevelopmental Conditions PGCert
Professor Sujeet Jaydeokar
Professor of Psychiatry; Neuro-developmental Conditions Clinical Programme Leader
Professor Taj Nathan
Visiting Professor
Dr Mahesh Odiyoor
Visiting Professor
This course is a unique blend of academic learning and subspecialty clinical training.
You will focus on the critical appraisal of research evidence to enable evidence interrogation and clinical application. In addition, you will be introduced to the principles of critical appraisal in order that knowledge, regarding research design, can be applied to develop advanced evidence-based practice skills. The second module will guide you through the crucial stages of developing a research proposal to enable a rigorous plan of enquiry.
You will be supervised by a clinician and an academic to complete the dissertation. Clinical and academic taught module content will be delivered over one afternoon per week. As an adult learner and registered mental health professional, you will need to undertake private study. All students will have an identified academic and clinical supervisor on this MSc.
Beyond the Classroom
The clinical training placements are organised by the NHS Trust collaborative partner employer. We work in partnership with several hospital Trusts, enabling us to offer a wide range of placement opportunities based on your individual clinical training needs.
You will be paid a full-time salary (with any additional overtime supplements) during your placements. The basic pay scale offered is £44,000 – £54,000 dependant on experience through your NHS employer in Year 1. You can apply for promotions after six months in your allocated Trust only. If your job has on call duties, this will typically be in addition to your basic pay.
You will be entitled to the same privileges provided to other doctors in your grade working in the UK.
All placements will start at International Training Fellow year one (which is at a junior level), in order to understand the NHS standards and acquire the necessary skills to supervise other junior doctors, and progress onto (subject to satisfactory performance) International Training fellow year 2. The duration spent at a junior level in your specialty will vary. Post progression will depend on the individual and the experience obtained prior to commencement in the UK. The levels of clinical training and responsibilities increase each year. International Training Fellows will typically start at Core Trainee 3 (CT3) or Speciality doctor grades. Fellows can apply in their second year (after Section 12 approval) for promotion to second tier on call duties. You may want to compete Royal College membership examination in your time.
Entry Requirements
This course is exclusively available to International/EU students.
International sponsorship route to join the course and be eligible for GMC registration:
- Must have a primary medical degree recognised by the General Medical Council of the UK, i.e. MB BS
- Have obtained a postgraduate qualification in your chosen speciality equivalent to the level of Membership of Royal College of Psychiatrists (UK), e.g. MD, or Diplomate of National Board of India (DNB) Medicine.
- Demonstrate that you have been engaged in clinical practice/training for at least three out of the last five years (Please note the ’12-month rule’. ITFs applying for full GMC registration via the sponsorship route, must remain in clinical practice for the 12 months immediately preceding the date the application for GMC registration is made. A period of absence of up to five weeks is allowed for the purpose of annual leave. Please ensure that you do not come out of clinical practice during this 12-month period. GMC registration will not be awarded if you do not meet these criteria. Clinical Observer ships are not considered to be medical practice.
- Have achieved a minimum score of 7.0 in all four categories of the Academic UKVI International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with an overall score of 7.5. You must take this test at one of the approved SELT Consortium test centres. Visit www.ielts.org for more information. We also accept OET medicine B grade or above in all areas for GMC and fellowship admission purposes.
- Be eligible for a Tier 2 (Health and Care) visa and meet employment, pre-employment clearances as required by law to work in UK.
- If offered a placement we will sponsor the candidate to obtain GMC registration and facilitate the application for an appropriate visa to work in the United Kingdom.
- Following successful interview and prior to formal NHS job offer, we will require a non-refundable deposit of £6,000 before we commence GMC sponsorship arrangements (typically four weeks post interview). This amount will be deducted from your total scheme tuition fees. Please see the Fees and funding tab for more details.
English Language Requirements
For more information on our English Language requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.
City centre location
Health and Social Care simulation suite
On-site library
Social spaces
Fees and Funding
This course is exclusively available to International/EU students.
£20,000 full course fee (2024/25)
The University of Chester offers generous international and merit-based scholarships for postgraduate study, providing a significant reduction to the published headline tuition fee. You will automatically be considered for these scholarships when your application is reviewed, and any award given will be stated on your offer letter.
For more information on tuition fees for international students studying Postgraduate programmes , go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.
Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes.
Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees.
If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.
You will be paid a full-time salary (with any additional overtime supplements) during your placements. If your job has on-call duties, this will typically be in addition to your basic pay. You will be entitled to the same privileges provided to other doctors in your grade working in the UK.
All placements will start at International Training Fellow year one (which is at a junior level), in order to understand the NHS standards and acquire the necessary skills to supervise other junior doctors, and progress onto (subject to satisfactory performance) International Training fellow year two, and possibly a third year. The duration spent at a junior level in your specialty will vary. Post progression will depend on the individual and the experience obtained prior to commencement in the UK. The levels of clinical training and responsibilities increase each year. International Training Fellows will typically start at Core Trainee 3 (CT3) and apply in their second year (after Section 12 approval) to become an approved clinician for promotion to second tier on call duties. Career progression is very individual and depends on you and NHS employers.
You will have additional costs with relocating and starting employment in the UK, and the following is provided as a guide against your NHS salary. We work in partnership with several hospital Trusts, enabling us to offer a wide range of placement opportunities based on your individual clinical training needs.
Some additional costs:
- IELTS (academic) test
- Checking of MBBS (GMC requirement)
- GMC registration
- Disclosure and barring service checks for NHS post
- Accommodation, living costs, travel
- Some may sit their Royal Collage Exams (an individual’s choice and not required for the course)
The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships.
Full details, as well as terms and conditions for all bursaries and scholarships can be found on the Fees & Finance section of our website.
Your future Career
Job prospects
Medical professionals need to continually seek ways to improve their career prospects in an increasingly competitive job market where a postgraduate qualification is often now deemed essential. The MSc in Psychiatry provides a highly relevant qualification for doctors working in a specialist mental health setting, adding to your portfolio of qualifications and providing you with opportunities for professional development supported by expert clinicians and academics.
Careers service
The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.
Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.
We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs .