Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.

Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages.

The University is able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. If successful, an international applicant requiring sponsorship to work in the UK will need to satisfy the UK Home Office’s English Language requirements and apply for and secure a Skilled Worker Visa.

Please note if the role is offered on a part-time basis, it may result in sponsorship being dependent on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant or the role no longer meeting the Home Office’s criteria for sponsorship.

Key dates to note

The closing date for applications is 31st July 2026.

Unless stated otherwise, the closing time for applications is 11:59 pm (UK time). If you are applying from outside the UK, the closing time shown on our adverts will automatically adjust to your browser’s local time zone.

Interviews will likely to be held on 16th September 2026, in person - the day will be split with teaching presentations scheduled in the morning and interviews in the afternoon.

Clinical & Health Psychology

The Clinical & Health Psychology subject area runs a range of taught postgraduate degrees in applied and developmental psychology. The largest is the BPS accredited Psychology of Mental Health (Conversion). This Programme allows graduates of any discipline to study for a year and acquire Graduate Basis for Chartership with the BPS. It is unique in combining the core requirements of the GBC with a focus on understanding Mental Health and wellbeing from a psychological perspective.

Three of our taught postgraduate degrees are delivered in partnership with Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSD Scotland, formerly NES) as well as local NHS Boards: the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, the MSc Applied Psychology for Children and Young People (Healthcare) and the MSc Psychological Therapies. We also offer an MSc in Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Psychological Approaches, a distance learning programme MSc in Children & Young People's Mental Health and Psychological Approaches, and of course, PhD and MSc by Research. The subject area currently has over 40 academic staff (many also holding clinical posts in the NHS) who contribute to research and teaching activity. It also has 2.5 full-time office support staff together with support from the wider School office team. The current Head of Clinical Psychology is Dr Jessica Kelly. The Deputy Head of Clinical Psychology, and the line manager responsible for this post will be Prof Liz Gilchrist.

Clinical Psychology has an active research group in the area of applied developmental psychology and psychological therapies research. In the 2020 Research Excellence Framework (REF) Clinical Psychology, together with Psychology, Neuroscience and Psychiatry (REF Unit of Assessment 04) was ranked 2nd in the UK for overall quality of its research and 3rd in relation to its quality and breadth of research. Our vibrant research community focuses on brain, mind and mental health across the lifespan, with particular strengths in psychological treatments, cognitive neurosciences, and theoretical and applied work in contextual and social predictors and applied child development. Both research environment and research impact were rated 100% - classified as “World Leading”. 90% of the UOA’s outputs were judged to be world-leading and internationally excellent.

Overall, The University Of Edinburgh Was Ranked Number 4 In The UK For Research Power And Number 1 In Scotland. The Research Interests Of Academic Staff In Clinical Psychology Comprise The Following Programmatic Research Areas

• Developmental psychopathology of significant mental health difficulties; Autistic Spectrum and Theory of Mind; Attachment; Parenting; Eating Behaviours and Disorders; Trauma and Abuse; Medically Unexplained Symptoms; Anxiety and Stress Management; Depression; Emotion Regulation; Cognitive Behaviour Therapy; Mindfulness and Third Wave Approaches; Personality Disorders and Maladaptive Schemas; Sex Offenders; Psychosis; At Risk Mental States; Long-Term Health Conditions; psychological therapies development and evaluation; RCT methodologies.

Further details of the subject area’s research themes can be found here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/health/subject-areas/clinical-psychology/research

For more information about the School and the subject area visit here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/health

About Us

As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.

About The Team

The School of Health in Social Science is a vibrant research and professionally driven academic School within the University of Edinburgh’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. The School strives to have a transformational impact on individuals and communities through internationally excellent research, knowledge exchange, and learning and teaching. The distinctive composition of disciplines in the School leads to an emphasis on optimising physical, mental and emotional health for people; amplifying the potential of people and communities vulnerable to exclusion and working with others to achieve this. The Subject Areas are: Clinical Psychology; Nursing Studies; and Counselling & Psychotherapy and Applied Social Sciences. The School works in partnership with a wide range of global and local educational and research partners.

The School of Health in Social Science is a leading provider of postgraduate and undergraduate education in health and related fields. We offer two undergraduate programmes (one leading to professional registration in nursing); together with postgraduate degrees in Clinical Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy, Health in Social Science, and Nursing Studies and an expanding range of Continuing Professional Development and on-line distance learning opportunities.

The School of Health in Social Science is committed to equal and