A - IF YOU COMPLETED YOUR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IN THE UK

Acceptable evidence could be:

• A letter from the BPS or from your University - stating that your degree confers eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.

• Undergraduate transcripts which clearly state that your degree confers GBC.

• go to the BPS website using the link https://www.bps.org.uk/postgraduate-study-and-qualifications

Search for your university and your degree and print / scan the page confirming eligibility of your degree.

B - IF YOU COMPLETED YOUR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

The British Psychological Society website states:

‘Following a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Society and the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), those eligible for Graduate Membership of the PSI after having gained an academic award accredited by the PSI are also eligible for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society.’

Therefore, if you have completed your undergraduate degree in the Republic of Ireland, acceptable evidence would be at least ONE of the following:

• A letter from the PSI or from your University - stating that your degree confers eligibility for graduate membership of the Psychological Society of Ireland

• Upload undergraduate transcripts which clearly state that your degree confers GBC with respect to the PSI.

• go to the PSI website using the link

https://www.psychologicalsociety.ie/accredited-courses/PSI-Accredited-Undergraduate-Courses-4

Print / scan this page and highlight your UG degree.

C - IF YOU COMPLETED YOUR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE OUTSIDE THE UK OR REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

You must provide evidence that your degree confers GBC.  Applicants with qualifications from overseas or where GBC is uncertain should contact the BPS, St Andrew’s House, 48 Princess Road East, Leicester LE1 7DR. Tel. 0116 254 9568.

https://www.bps.org.uk/postgraduate-study-and-qualifications

The BPS will look at your UG degree and make a decision about eligibility – we will accept a letter/email from the BPS, stating that your degree confers eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society. You should scan the letter / email and upload it along with your UG transcript.

FOR DEGREES FROM UK OR ROI WHICH HAVE NOT YET BEEN COMPLETED

As requested on the portal, please upload your University Transcripts to date for degrees which have not yet been completed.  You must also provide evidence of GBC as stated below.

If you are currently registered on an UG degree which will be completed by the course start date, you must still upload evidence that your degree confers GBC, as stated in A, B and C above.

If you are currently registered on a conversion course which will be completed by the course start date, you must upload (i) your UG transcripts and (ii) evidence that your conversion degree confers GBC, as stated in A, B and C above.

We accept applications from international applicants who meet the entry criteria and have a right to work in the UK. 

In applying for this course you are agreeing that you have the right to work in the UK.  A student Visa is not sufficient. If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you cannot be considered for a funded place on the course. Unfortunately, we do not have capacity for self-funded places. For queries about your right to work in the UK you should contact your local British Consul / Embassy or further information is also available at https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.  

Applicants whose first language is not English, or whose previous education and examination qualifications have not been in the English language, will need to provide evidence of English language proficiency i.e. IELTS - Academic* with an overall score of 7.0 and not less than 6.5 in each component or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.

*Taken within the last 2 years

The aim of the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology is to train Reflective Scientist Practitioners across four main domains of competence. These include Academic, Research, Clinical and Professional/Interpersonal competencies. Applicants are expected to demonstrate knowledge and experience of these competencies in their application.

Strong applicants will provide evidence of other academic achievements other than that specified in the entry criteria, for example, completion of a higher degree and/or research or service-related outputs such as publications, conference presentations or grant applications. Throughout your application, you should aim to relate your academic and research experience to clinical practice including your understanding of psychological theory and how it relates to clinical practice as well as critical appraisal and evidenced-based practice.  Alternately, evidence of service-related projects is acceptable e.g. service evaluation, audit.

Relevant clinical experience can include:

• Working with client groups for example, as an assistant psychologist, healthcare assistant, support worker, mentor, advocate (e.g. working with adults, older adults, children, families).
• Experience in relevant community and voluntary settings e.g. mental health, services for people with disabilities.
• Personal experience e.g. being a carer or expert by experience.  
• Supervised practice by a clinical psychologist, other psychologist or healthcare professional e.g. nursing or social work.

You do not need to self-disclose the nature of your personal experience(s) and many people prefer not to, as it is enough to demonstrate how you understand its application to clinical psychology practice. 

Demonstrating your interpersonal communication skills is required as it is an advantage to evidence how you can work as part of a team as well as cultivate good working relationships with others. It is helpful to show how you can meet the demands of combining academic, research and clinical practice work.

Strong applicants will be able to provide a knowledge and understanding of the professional context of clinical psychology including professional issues and ethics. In addition, demonstrating your knowledge of the NHS and the role of clinical psychology in Northern Ireland and UK is an advantage.

Two references will be sought for all applicants as part of the application process.

• You should provide a referee who can comment on your academic ability (academic referee).
• You should provide a referee who can comment on your current/most recent employment (paid or unpaid).

You must provide one of each.  People who have known you only personally (e.g. family friends) or in the distant past (e.g. schoolteachers) are not usually suitable. 

I have recently changed jobs –can I use my previous employer as a referee? 

This is fine as long as you changed jobs within last 12 months.  

Does the referee who can comment on employment need to be a clinical psychologist? 

No, they do not have to be a clinical psychologist. 

For the employment referee, should they be clinically relevant or could I ask someone from my previous research assistant position? 

In terms of whether they should be clinically relevant or whether they are from your research assistant position, either is fine - whichever you think can comment best on your suitability for the programme. 

Does my academic referee need to be from a university? 

Your academic referee needs to be in a position to comment on your academic ability so it would best to ask a university academic.  

Can I clarify that both my work experience and academic referees will be asked about research and dissertation skills etc? 

In the university form, all referees are asked to comment on research skills IF APPLICABLE.  This is not a required field so your clinical/work referee can simply move past this section if they need to. 

How Do I update the name of my referee? 

To update your referee details you will need to contact the QUB Admissions Office as they manage the technical side of the portal and I’m afraid we don’t have access to change this. Tel: 028 9097 3004 or email postgrad.admissions@qub.ac.uk  

Following interview, unsuccessful and reserve placed applicants can avail of feedback from one of the programme directors. However, the selection panel is unable to enter into written or protracted correspondence with unsuccessful applicants.

Requests for feedback may be made in writing using the email address: dclinpsy@qub.ac.uk

All requests should be made by the end of June.  Feedback will be provided at the end of the selection process i.e. during July / August.