University of East London

Selection Procedures

The programme's selection procedures are constantly being refined and developed, and applicants may be required to participate in additional procedures currently under development/audit in order to be eligible to apply to the programme. Applicants will be advised of any additional procedures at the time of applying.

Each application is reviewed by programme staff and/or local NHS clinical psychologists for the essential and desirable entry criteria including:

• satisfactory completion and preparation of the application;
• residence and right to work in the UK;
• capacity to undertake full time work and study over the course duration;
• academic qualifications and ambitions;
• research appraisal skills and development experience;
• relevant clinical or research employment experience, settings, and range;
• motivation to work in the UK NHS and realism regarding the challenges of training;
• quality of academic and clinical references; and
• respectful communication with the programme and admissions team.

Applicants will be invited to sit pre-selection tests (online, remotely) on our Assessment Day on Saturday 1 March 2025.

Applicants must achieve scores on these procedures that place them in approximately the upper 50th percentile of the cohort of applicants.

Application ratings are combined with scores on the pre-interview assessment procedures such that approximately 120 candidates are short-listed to attend our Competence Panels day. Current trainees are actively involved in supporting applicants on selection days.

During the Competence Panels day, applicants will attend a Competence Interview and the People's Panel.

• Competence interviews are conducted by a panel comprising representatives of the programme staff (one of whom is the panel Chair), and clinical psychologists from the region who offer placements.
• The Peoples’ Panel involves a short task facilitated by members of our People’s Committee of experts by experience, service-users, carers, and their representatives.

Applicant performance in the Competence Interview and People's Panel are scored on domains capturing the essential and desirable selection criteria. On the basis of the Assessment Day and Competence Panels day scores, and ratings, offer and reserve list places are decided.

For all interviewees, brief feedback on their performance is provided in the outcome letter. However, due to the large number of applications received each year, we are not able to provide individual feedback for applicants who were not invited to interview.

Applicants must be acceptable to the NHS as a trainee clinical psychologist in a full-time capacity, including working to the current regulations of the relevant employing trust (CIFT). All offers of a place are therefore dependent on satisfactory checks as follows:

• Disclosure & Barring Service enhanced checks;
• HR fitness to practise review;
• OH assessment.

The university and relevant NHS trust will verify applicant identity, eligibility for UK employment, and all qualifications claimed in the application, using formal procedures requiring original documents.

Training as a clinical psychologist involves working with children and vulnerable adults: throughout the selection process and the training programme we will take stringent measures to ensure that the clients that trainees work with are kept safe.

Equal opportunities

Widening access to the profession of clinical psychology is important to the programme. We are committed to ensuring the profession is more inclusive, valuing people bringing experience from a range of backgrounds.

We work with other local programmes, as well as collaborating on a national level within the Group of Trainers in Clinical Psychology (GTiCP) and BPS Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP) to widen access and improve equality, diversity, and inclusivity for people from under-represented groups; that includes people from Black, Asian, and other minority ethnic backgrounds.

We keep our selection processes under constant review and aim to ensure they do not discriminate against people with "protected characteristics" under the Equality Act (2010). 

The University and the relevant NHS Trust work to equal opportunities policies and no applicant is discriminated against on grounds of ethnicity, belief, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability, or age.

Contextual admissions

We use contextual admissions data to identify and support applicants from socially disadvantaged backgrounds to achieve their potential.

Applicants with disabilities

Applicants with disabilities will be offered reasonable adjustments and support at key stages of the selection procedure, including online tests and attendance for the competence interview, upon request.