Entry requirements

Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC)

What is GBC?

Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) is a standard set by the British Psychological Society (BPS).

It ensures that before you start a clinical psychology course, you have already studied psychology in enough breadth and depth to give a strong basis for your postgraduate training.

UK qualifications

The BPS uses a process called accreditation to assess whether degrees offered by UK universities cover enough psychology for GBC.

If your qualifications are from a UK university and you are unsure whether they are accredited at GBC level, you should:

• check with the university where you studied   OR
• check the list of accredited qualifications on the BPS website

If, after checking, you are still unsure please contact the BPS for advice.

Irish qualifications

The Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) and the British Psychological Society (BPS) recognise each other's undergraduate accreditation procedures so if your qualification makes you eligible for graduate membership of the PSI it will also have covered enough psychology for GBC.

• Please see the PSI list of accredited courses for more details

How do I prove I have GBC from UK/Irish qualifications?

You need a document that confirms your GBC status.

• Please see the Documents section for details of which document you can provide

You must submit your Application by 1.00pm (UK time) on 20 November 2024.

You can submit your Application without the GBC document if necessary, then email the document to us as soon as you have it.

What if my qualifications don't give me GBC?

If you have not studied enough psychology you will need to take a conversion course.

• The BPS has a list of conversion courses - please select Conversion Programmes for the Programmes option

International qualifications

If your qualifications are not from a UK or Irish university:

• please see the International Applicants section for information about GBC

Degree grades

Clinical psychology courses are doctoral level degrees so you need a sound academic foundation for doctoral level work. Courses are therefore primarily looking for applicants with a 1st class or 2:1.

Some courses consider applicants with a 2:2 but they often ask for further evidence of academic ability e.g. an academically demanding masters degree.

• Please see the Courses section for the requirements of individual course centres

Current study on other courses

Undergraduates and people currently studying a conversion course

• Please see the Should I Apply This Year page for guidance

Higher degrees

Universities will not usually let you enrol on a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology if you are already enrolled on another degree, e.g. a PhD or Masters programme.

If you have any outstanding requirements from another programme when the clinical course starts, you may have to withdraw from that programme to be able to start or continue your Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.

• Please see the Courses section for the requirements of individual course centres