Oxford

Essential and Desirable Criteria

All candidates must meet Essential criteria and will be assessed at short listing according to how well they meet Desirable criteria. Please see our website for details and to view our Eligibility Checklist. Essential criteria include the requirements for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society.

Applicants will be expected to have some understanding of the specific role of a clinical psychologist within the UK National Health Service and be committed to the values set out in the NHS constitution. They should be able to apply their knowledge of academic psychology and research in clinical settings. In selecting candidates, the Course is looking for people with a strong commitment to working in the National Health Service and social care. A person specification is available on our website.

English language ability

Is English your first language and are you a citizen of, and have been primarily resident in, a majority English-speaking country? If not, you will need to provide evidence of English language proficiency at the "higher" level required by the University of Oxford. Please see the University of Oxford website for acceptable tests and minimum scores required.

Certificates must be dated to within two years of the start of study. For 2025 entry the proficiency tests must be taken and dated from October 2023 or later.

Right to Work and Residence Requirements

The Oxford Course accepts only those candidates who are already eligible to live and work in the UK on a permanent basis. Applicants are required to have home fee status and should meet NHS bursary eligibility.

Academic Requirements 

Candidates are expected to have obtained a 2:1 or 1st class honours degree, and to have obtained significant clinically relevant work experience which could be in the context of a degree placement or research post. Note that candidates applying in the final year of their undergraduate degree will be considered although the offer of a place will be conditional on achieving at least a 2:1 class degree.

Candidates who obtained their first degree in a subject other than psychology and go on to successfully complete a relevant Master’s level conversion course are welcome to apply. In this case, grades on conversion courses will be considered in place of those in a first degree, i.e., Merit as 2:1 and Distinction as 1st class honours. Additional relevant academic and research achievements are also taken into consideration including higher degrees and qualifications giving access to higher education.

Applicants should note that if appointed, they should not simultaneously be registered for any other degree course (e.g., a PhD). Candidates currently undertaking a PhD are expected to have successfully completed this with only minor corrections outstanding by the September start date of the training course.

Clinical

Candidates are expected to have obtained significant clinically relevant work experience which could be in the context of a degree placement or research post. Examples of relevant experience can include working as an assistant psychologist, Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) worker, research assistant, and some healthcare assistant/support worker posts. Relevant voluntary work is also taken into account.

References / Statements of suitability

All candidates require two suitability statements (references); one academic, and one relevant experience. Further detail regarding this can be found here.

Documents required

All applicants are required to provide copies of their academic qualifications (including A-Level or equivalent, undergraduate, and postgraduate) at the point of their application to Clearing House.

For candidates with international qualifications undertaken in a language other than English, an official English translation is required.

Is English your first language and are you a citizen of, and have been primarily resident in, a majority English-speaking country? If not, you will need to provide evidence of English language proficiency at the "higher" level required by the University of Oxford. Please see the University of Oxford website for acceptable tests and minimum scores required. Certificates must be dated to within two years of the start of study. For 2025 entry the proficiency tests must be taken and dated from October 2023 or later.

Candidates who subsequently attend interview may be required to bring the original certificates / transcripts to their interview.

Candidates will be required to have a full UK valid driving licence at point of interview (April 2025). Candidates will be required to submit evidence of their UK valid Driving Licence with their application, or other evidence if still learning at point of application. Those who subsequently attend interview may be required to bring the original document / licence to their interview. Candidates unable to drive due to disability will be required to provide evidence accordingly.

Advice for your application

Please ensure that you:

1. Submit all necessary documentation with your Clearing House Application. This includes A-Levels (or equivalent), undergraduate, and any postgraduate qualification documents. 
2. Provide an official English Language Translation if the qualifications were taken in a language other than English. 
3. Check that any assessment of English Language proficiency is within the permitted time frame (two years prior to starting the course). 
4. Applicants with EU settled, or pre-settled status must send evidence of this status to Oxford at [email protected] by early December.
5. Check you have all necessary documentation when submitting your application to Clearing House. Applicants who are missing documentation (e.g. A-Level certificates) are advised to contact their educational provider / examining board in good time to ensure that replacements may be sourced. Applications will not be accepted without the necessary documentation.
6. Have a UK valid driving licence by point of interview (April 2025), and submit evidence of this.

International applicants

All places on the programme are funded by Health Education England; we do not accept self-funding candidates.

Right to Work and Residence Requirements

The Oxford Course accepts only those candidates who are already eligible to live and work in the UK on a permanent basis. Applicants are required to have home fee status and should meet NHS bursary eligibility.

Applicants with EU settled, or pre-settled status must send evidence of this status to Oxford at [email protected] by early December.