Lancaster University

Full and part time routes

The Lancaster DClinPsy Programme offers both full-time and part-time routes. This translates to 3 years full time or 4 years and 4 months at 0.7FTE pro rata.

The selection process and training content and assessment is the same for the full-time and part-time routes. Applicants can apply for only one route through the Lancaster DClinPsy Programme. You cannot apply for both a full-time and a part-time place.

We will update our website with how many places we will offer during the current admissions cycle as soon as we have the information.

How our values translate to our selection procedure

The programme strives to ensure that it upholds the values of social justice, equality and inclusivity at all times, including in our selection process. For this reason, our procedure is designed to actively encourage those from diverse backgrounds to apply and is focused on an individual's potential to become an outstanding clinical psychologist rather than existing knowledge and skills.

Our short-listing test

Lancaster invites all applicants who meet our minimum criteria to undertake a shortlisting test. This is not intended to examine competencies linked to the job role of a clinical psychologist. However, as the programme requires trainees to qualify at doctoral level the ability to achieve this academic standard needs to be assessed. Our short-listing test assesses this potential while minimising the impact of socio-economic privilege which other measures such as previous academic attainment do not.

While many applicants to our programme are fortunate enough to have had access to extensive education and employment, some individuals who have significant potential and are well suited to the programme have not and may never be able to do so. As we want everyone to be assessed on a fair basis, we use a short-listing test rather than looking at the application which emphasises experience and years in extended education. Evidence also shows that application forms are a very poor predictor of job performance. Our approach means using short-listing processes which have substantial evidence to indicate the test will predict performance on both the programme and in a complex job role once qualified.

It is only the results of this test which define who will proceed to subsequent stages of our admissions process and no other information from the application form is used.

Our focus on competencies over knowledge and skills

Our selection process following the shortlisting test looks at the competencies an individual has, not their knowledge and skills. As we have noted, for a variety of reasons not all applicants are fortunate enough to have the same access to education and employment. We focus on the potential of the applicant to develop during training and the personal qualities which will be required to manage both the programme and the job, following qualification. While some applicants are disappointed that we do not look at their qualifications and specific professional experience, to do so would undermine our commitment to social justice and potentially unfairly exclude some applicants.

More detail on our procedure for this year

We review our procedures in depth each year and so to ensure you are up-to-date with the selection process for this year, please check our website. Our site will always have the most recent changes and we update it throughout the admissions process to ensure you are well informed.

Equal Opportunities

Equal opportunities information is collected by the Clearing House and this, along with additional information which we may seek from applicants, may be used in taking positive action to ensure that the programme is able to train psychologists who meet the needs of the population we serve.

Disability

We are proactive about supporting people with disabilities. If you need support to access our selection procedure, we will work with you to mitigate these issues and ensure that you are given a fair opportunity to show your potential. Please contact us via [email protected] and we can assess your options.