IoPPN - King’s College London

Our selection processes are continuously revised and we reserve the right to make changes that may occur later than this information is published. In the past, the process has had the following steps:

1. Screen out applicants who do not meet minimum entry criteria (GBC, Home Fees Status, Right to work in UK, Incomplete Application/Missing References, English Language Requirements, minimum undergraduate degree grade of 2:1).
2. Rank all remaining candidates based on academic achievement.
3. Exclude candidates who do not have at least twelve months full time equivalent (FTE) relevant experience in a clinical or clinically relevant research capacity.
4. Exclude candidates who do not have research experience.
5. Remove from application pack the pages with name and details regarding which grades they obtained and distribute anonymised applications to clinical psychologists who score the applications using a standardised template to reduce individual biases. 
6. Each application is scored blindly by two members of the panel.  In each panel we have males, females and at least one racial/ethnic minority scorer. 
7. Candidates are ranked based on scores achieved in step 2 and step 6, with the top candidates for each panel offered an interview, with a further 10 candidates per panel placed on the reserve list for interview. We interview approximately 3 candidates for each available place.

There are no assessment tests or formal presentations. If you are shortlisted, you will be invited for one face-to-face interview between 13-15 May 2025 (home fees applicants only) lasting approximately 30-40 minutes with a panel of three members of the Programme Selection Sub-Committee. Each interview panel includes at least one Black, Asian or other minority ethnic individual and an expert by experience. Please note that all interviews will take place on a face-to-face basis and there will be no exceptions to this.

The interview will consider a candidate’s communication and leadership skills, alongside suitability for the Programme and profession.  An applicant’s academic and research experience and knowledge, clinical experience, capacity for self-reflection and knowledge of current issues affecting the NHS will also be covered. 

Please note that due to the high numbers of applicants, the Programme does not give individual feedback to applicants who are not interviewed, however more detailed written individualised feedback will be provided to all unsuccessful candidates to improve applicants’ understanding of some of the factors influencing their unsuccessful application. Feedback is offered to all candidates who are interviewed by telephone.

Checks are required e.g. Fitness to Practise, Criminal Record Checks, Health Assessments, Other Checks.

Equal opportunities

Policy Statement

At King’s we are deeply committed to embedding good equality and diversity practice into all of our activities so that the university is an inclusive, welcoming and inspiring place to work and study.

The IoPPN DClinPsy Training Programme is committed to the principle of equality of opportunity for all trainees and staff. The Programme values and positively promotes equality, inclusion and diversity. We expect all staff, including trainees as NHS employees, to be actively engaged in work around Culture, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (CED&I) and treat others with respect and dignity. At the IoPPN and local Trusts, there is much expertise relating to Culture, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (CEDI) in clinical, research, and teaching activities.

In line with the Equality Act of 2010 our aim is to promote equality of opportunity to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, gender, disability, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity, marital status, sexual orientation, or race (including ethnic or national origins, colour and nationality). We are committed to increasing the diversity of the profession and encourage applications from suitably qualified candidates from all sections of the community. 

Further information on Equality, Diversity & Inclusion at King’s and the IoPPN can be found on the following webpages: 

Diversity & inclusion | Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience | King’s College London (kcl.ac.uk)
King's College London - Equality, Diversity & Inclusion at King's (kcl.ac.uk)

Equal Opportunities Data & Positive Action

The Programme will apply positive action during the shortlisting process. If two (or more) applications achieve the same score within a shortlisting panel, equal opportunities data for the candidates will be independently accessed to ascertain whether they meet one of the following protected characteristics (all associated with under-representation in training): racial or ethnic minority background; disability; male sex at birth. Positive action will be taken for the candidates with the characteristics above. A similar process will apply if will apply if two candidates have the same score at interview.

The Programme also actively analyses equal opportunities data after completion of the selection process to identify potential barriers in the selection process for those with protected characteristics, with findings used to influence changes in the selection process where appropriate alongside revision of Programme guidance to make requirements and advice clearer.

For candidates' equal opportunities data to be used for the purposes of the above, they need to consent to provide full access to the Programme for the information they give on the equal opportunities monitoring form.

Contextual admissions

Contextual information will be taken into account as part of the shortlisting process, based upon data provided via the Clearing House Contextual Admissions survey. 

The Clearing House circulates a survey to collect Contextual Admissions data separately from the application form. Completion of this survey is optional, however we strongly encourage all applicants to do so, in order for contextual information to be taken into account when shortlisting their application.

Applicants with disabilities

Please note that King’s College London does not currently subscribe to the ‘Disability Confident Scheme’ (also known as “double-tick”), however disability has been identified as one of protected characteristics where positive action may be taken, as outlined above.

Candidates shortlisted for interview should discuss any access arrangements or request any reasonable adjustments as soon as possible. 

Information on Disability Support & Inclusion for students at King’s College London can be found here: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/disability