International applicants

Below is additional guidance for international applicants about the academic qualifications required.

• Please also see the main Entry Requirements section for information about the academic, experience and residence requirements
• Please see the Documents section for information about English language ability requirements

Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC)

What is GBC?

Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) is a standard set by the British Psychological Society (BPS).

It ensures that before you start a clinical psychology course, you have already studied psychology in enough breadth and depth to give a strong basis for your postgraduate training.

If your qualifications are from a UK or Irish university:

• Please see the main Entry Requirements section for information about GBC

I have international qualifications - how do I get GBC?

If your qualifications are not from a UK or Irish university you must have them assessed by the BPS to see if they give you GBC. You do this by applying for Graduate Membership with the BPS. They will automatically assess your qualifications for GBC as part of your Graduate Membership application.

Just belonging to the BPS is not enough: you must also have GBC. Just belonging to the BPS does not require the breadth and depth of psychological knowledge that you need as a basis for your clinical training.

BPS Graduate Membership/GBC applications can take 8 weeks or more to process so you should apply as soon as possible, preferably before submitting your Clearing House Application.

• Please contact the BPS for information on how to apply for Graduate Membership and GBC

How do I prove I have GBC?

If your qualifications meet the requirements, the BPS will email you telling you that you have GBC. You need to provide a copy of this email to the Clearing House.

• Please see the Documents section for details of how to provide the email

Your must submit your Clearing House Application by 1.00pm (UK time) on 20 November 2024.

You can submit your Clearing House Application without the BPS GBC email if necessary, then forward the email to us as soon as you have it.

What if my qualifications don't give me GBC?

If your qualifications do not meet the requirements for GBC you need to take a conversion course.

• The BPS has a list of conversion courses - please select Conversion Programmes for the Programmes option

Qualifications and grades comparison

If you are unsure which qualifications and grades from your country are at a similar level to UK qualifications you can check with either of the following for advice:

• UK ENIC is the designated UK national agency for the recognition and comparison of international qualifications. Managed on behalf of the UK Government they provide the only official UK source of information on international education systems and qualifications attained from outside the UK.
• Study UK is the British Council's website providing practical information and insight on UK education for international students.