IoPPN - King’s College London

Who can apply

We are unable to consider:

• Applicants still completing their undergraduate or conversion degrees
• Applicants without GBC status 
• Applicants with a 2.2 or lower grade at undergraduate level 
• Applicants who have started training on an NHS-funded training programme after the 1 April 2022 until 2 years after the award for the training is recommended by a qualifying examination board. Please note that the rule applies to any individual who starts and subsequently completes, withdraws or fails to complete the qualifying requirements of a training programme.
• Applicants who do not meet the King’s College London Postgraduate English language requirements at Band B. 
• Applicants without the equivalent of at least twelve months’ full time equivalent (FTE) relevant experience in a clinical or clinically relevant research capacity at the time of their application

Please also see the section on clinical and research experience for further information on this aspect of the shortlisting process. Due to the amount of competition for places on offer, it is highly unlikely that candidates applying the same year they have completed their undergraduate degree will be successful in gaining a place on the Programme.

For applicants with home fees status, the Programme only accepts applications via Clearing House for NHS-funded places.

International applicants must apply via https://apply.kcl.ac.uk/ for self-funded places.

All applicants applying for NHS-funded places on this Programme must also have: 

• Home Fees Status. Please note that in order to qualify for ‘home fees’ status, applicants usually must have been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands for the full three year period before the first day of the first academic year of the course (1 October 2025). Please see UKCISA guidance for further information
• The right to work without restriction for the duration of the three-year training programme (until 30 September 2028) – applicants with visa restrictions (e.g. student visas) will not normally be eligible.

No exceptions will be made to the above – if you do not meet our basic entry criteria, please do not apply.

Academic

All applicants must have:

• GBC confirmed at the time of application.
• 2:1 or 1st class level degree in Psychology, recognised by the BPS for GBC.
• or have a recognised "conversion" degree, with a 2:1 or 1st class level in both your undergraduate degree and your conversion degree.

Applicants should include full grade or pass mark details for all school leaving and beyond qualifications (e.g. A level, other equivalent qualifications – including vocational). Grades relating to any non-UK qualifications must be in a format that will allow conversion to a UK equivalent. Candidates unsure of their equivalency should still list all qualifications and original grades in their application for assessment. Failure to list all qualifications and final grades will reduce your chances of a successful application.

Due to the high number of applications we receive each year, competition for places is fierce. Applications can be enhanced by evidence of a postgraduate qualification relevant to clinical psychology, however this is not a prerequisite for a successful application.

A full transcript should be submitted as evidence of a BPS accredited qualification, and further postgraduate qualifications, along with proof of GBC status. If submitting a transcript in another language, the candidate must also provide an English translated copy.

Clinical

Clinical and Research Experience 

Minimum requirement of twelve months full time equivalent (FTE) relevant experience in a clinical or clinically relevant research capacity at the time of application. The length of experience can be gained in a number of roles but should equate to twelve months in total when adding up the FTE months of relevant experience within your application.

Due to the high number of applications, please note the following: 

• Experience gained during an undergraduate placement or voluntary work undertaken before degree completion will not be regarded as sufficient on its own.
• It is recommended that candidates have spent a minimum of 6 months in one of their roles.
• Whilst there is not a formal FTE requirement on the amount of research experience, it is highly unlikely that candidates without experience beyond that gained at undergraduate level will be successful in their application.

It is important that any such experience acquired is described in detail in the application. Experience can be gained in any type of environment, whether within the NHS, another healthcare body or in private practice and be either paid or voluntary, as long as it is relevant to the field of clinical psychology.

Please see the information below regarding roles and responsibilities that are considered relevant experience.

Positions for relevant experience include Assistant or Research Psychologists. Other roles are also considered as long as they meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Supervision by a clinical psychologist (or equivalent mental health practitioner)
• Face-to-face contact with service users and delivery of structured psychological interventions/mental health support/structured clinical or neuropsychological assessments
• Familiarity with clinical populations and settings in the NHS or in health/social care settings (such as those commissioned by Clinical Commissioning Groups)
• Substantive (voluntary) position (preferably within a statutory setting, e.g. Local Authority Mental Health volunteer)
• Conducting and disseminating research that has involved service-user facing interactions

Due to changes in service delivery since the coronavirus pandemic, remote work that meets one or more of the criteria above will also be considered.

Please note that the following types of roles, whilst valued for development, would not count towards the criteria of twelve months FTE of relevant clinical experience or employment.

• Carer
• Mentor
• Helpline volunteer (e.g. Samaritans)
• Befriender
• Special Education Needs Assistant
• Teacher, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Lecturer, Trainer
• Clinical experience limited to general healthcare (e.g. general practitioner, nurse)
• Mental health support worker/health care assistant in a mental health setting where the role is focused on physical health care or daily activity support work

The Doctorate in Clinical Psychology is a research degree programme and incorporates a substantial research component, which results in the submission of a thesis for examination at doctoral degree level. Applicants must have experience of conducting and disseminating research following their undergraduate degree, alongside a sound understanding of basic research methods.

Whilst there is not a formal FTE requirement on the amount of research experience, due to the high application ratio for places on the Programme,  research experience gained during an undergraduate degree will not be regarded as sufficient on its own.

Research experience can be gained in an academic environment , in a research role, or in a clinical setting, such as a service review/audit.

Other examples of work that would be considered relevant research experience are as follows:

• Project development
• Data collection
• Data analysis
• Writing up and/or presenting results
• Publications
• Post-Graduate level research
• Doctoral Level Research

Academic publications are valued, but not essential, and should be described in the application. Academic publications must have been accepted for publication by peer-reviewed journals to be considered during the selection process. Please note that publications listed may be verified during the short-listing process.

References / Statements of suitability

• All applicants must have one academic referee and one clinical experience referee. Applicants without two completed references will not be considered.
• The Programme encourages applicants to carefully consider their referees as to their suitability to provide the information requested in the Clearing House Suitability Statements. 
• Academic referees should be able to comment on an applicant's academic ability and preferably have direct experience of their academic work or research experience (references are accepted from supervisors related to post qualification employment).
• The clinical experience referee should be able to comment on an applicant's suitability for training as a clinical psychologist. Ideally this reference would be from a clinical psychologist (or equivalent mental health practitioner) and recent. If this is not possible, the rationale for the selection of that particular referee should be detailed in the application. At the very least, the clinical experience referee must be a mental health professional who has supervised a candidate's work in a clinical or research environment.
• Please note that a referee who has had little contact with you is unlikely to be able to write a reference of sufficient quality and depth. A referee who supervised you years ago may not be able to comment on your development and standard of your work at the time of the application. Similarly, a referee who has supervised you in your most recent employment for 3 months or less may not be able to comment as well as others who have worked with you for longer periods of time.
• Applicants should request for their references to be anonymised (e.g. "they").
• We strongly recommend asking your chosen referee if they are happy to provide a reference for you prior to adding their details.

The following references will not be considered as appropriate and will lead to an unsuccessful application if provided: 

• References written by family members  
• References by people who have not supervised you in a clinical or academic environment
• References not provided in the Clearing House format (please note that a number of healthcare organisations have a policy of providing standardised references for all employees and will not provide personal references; please check this before you apply).
• As part of the pre-contract process, all Candidates who are offered and accept a place will be required to provide reference details for the past 3 years of employment. This is separate from the Clearing House application process

Documents required

Your application must include:

• A document confirming your GBC status.
• An academic transcript for your undergraduate psychology degree.
• Or if your undergraduate degree was not in psychology, an academic transcript for your conversion course.
• And a copy of all postgraduate transcripts.
• Proof of English language proficiency, if your first language is not English: please see Band B of the King’s College London Postgraduate English language requirements.
   

Advice for your application

It is important for applicants to demonstrate clinical competence, reflective practice and a realistic understanding of the profession – including its diverse role within the NHS. Candidates are also encouraged to demonstrate awareness of culture, equality, diversity & inclusion. 

We consider our research focus as a strength of the Programme and therefore it is strongly recommended candidates demonstrate evidence of research experience at the application stage.

International applicants

The Programme accepts applications from international fees status applicants via the King’s College London application portal.

Applications made via Clearing House for NHS-funded places by those with international fees status will not be accepted.