Newcastle University

Who can apply

We are unable to consider:

• Undergraduate applicants
• Applicants with overseas fees status
• Masters or PhD students who will not have completed their studies before taking up a place on the DClinPsy Programme
• Applicants who started another HEE funded psychological professions training course after 31 March 2022, until they would be two years post-qualification prior to taking a place on the DClinPsy Programme

Academic

All applicants must have:

• GBC confirmed at the time of application
• 1st class or 2:1 undergraduate degree in Psychology or 2:2 plus evidence of subsequent academic achievement (e.g. Relevant PhD or Master's degree at the level of Merit or Distinction). Or:
• Have a recognised "conversion" degree, with a 2:1 or 1st class level in the undergraduate degree or the conversion degree. Or if 2:2 in both then evidence of subsequent academic achievement (e.g. Relevant PhD or Master's degree at the level of Merit or Distinction)
• Minimum score of 3 on our academic scoring criteria on application (see our website for details)

Clinical

All Trainees accepted onto the Programme need:

• A minimum of 12 months full-time (or equivalent) relevant clinical experience.
• This relevant clinical experience should be undertaken post undergraduate degree (ensuring you have GBC Status). Experience gained during an undergraduate degree (placements or voluntary work) will not be sufficient on its own.

Examples of relevant experience include:

• A clinically relevant PhD or research post that has involved direct clinical contact with people experiencing mental health difficulties
• Experience of paid work in a clinical, community or clinical-academic setting. The role should have involved working 1:1 therapeutically with client groups that fall within the remit of clinical psychology.

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

• Carer
• Mentor
• Helpline volunteer (e.g. Samaritans)
• Befriender
• Support Worker 
• Special Education Needs Assistant
• Teacher, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Lecturer, Trainer
• Clinical experience limited to general healthcare (e.g. general practitioner, nurse)

Experience must be sufficient to indicate: 

• Knowledge of working practices within NHS/UK statutory mental health service settings
• Realistic expectations of the demands and nature of Clinical Psychology training and practice
• Some experience of applying psychological theory in a clinical setting
• A general awareness of key current professional and organisational issues

Beyond minimum requirements, we are concerned more with the quality and nature of the work experience than the quantity.

References / Statements of suitability

You need two references: one academic and one relating to relevant experience

Ensure that your referees can comment in depth on the areas required (see The Clearing House website for guidance, including sample references and factsheets for Referees)

The Academic Referee

• Needs to be able to comment on your academic performance
• Should be from an academic institution where you studied the qualifications relevant to our academic scoring criteria
• Should have direct experience of your academic ability

The Experience Referee

• Should have direct experience of, and be able to comment on, your performance in a relevant clinical context
• Should be from your current employment if possible, unless there is a good reason for this
• If not a clinical psychologist then has a role in delivering formal psychological interventions in a clinical setting and has a strong awareness of the role of clinical psychologists in the NHS

Documents required

Your application must include:

• A document confirming your GBC status
• And an academic transcript for your undergraduate psychology degree.
• And if your undergraduate degree was not in psychology, an academic transcript for your conversion course.

International applicants

We are not currently considering applications from international candidates. We do not offer self-funded places or places for international candidates.

If English is not the applicant's first language, they will need to demonstrate a good level of proficiency in both written and spoken English by undertaking an English Language qualification accepted by Newcastle University for Graduate studies. A minimum score of International English Language Testing System (IELTS) band 7 for speaking and listening, band 8 for academic reading, and band 7 for academic writing is required.

University qualifications taught in English are also acceptable as proof of English language proficiency.