How to apply

We hope you find the following information helpful and look forward to receiving your application for 2025 DClinPsy cohort.

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Please ensure you have read the frequently asked questions section of our Programme web pages and all the relevant programme information we provide before you consider contacting the Programme with any enquiry as this can often answer the query. You can also find information about the programme in the Alternative handbook.

We receive a high number of very high quality applications to the programme each year. Not all applicants who meet the minimum criteria will be successful in gaining an interview. Each year we review and consider changes to our criteria; you may find that whilst you have previously been successful in being offered an interview, this may not be the case this time.

Applying to the Sheffield programme: general notes and changes for 2025 entry

The expectations and demands placed upon Clinical Psychologists in the NHS change and develop in response to the needs of client groups, and the evolving ways in which services are funded and developed to meet those needs. The expansion and development of a broader range of services for psychological wellbeing in recent years is reflected in a change in the nature and complexity of the clinical, consultancy and leadership roles of Clinical Psychologists.

Read the latest Trainee Clinical Psychologist Job Description and Person Specification

Please be aware of the University’s criteria for admissions as all places are offered subject to these Terms and Conditions upon Acceptance of an Offer.

We also review our admissions process annually, to ensure that we continue to train Clinical Psychologists who can work effectively in a changing and increasingly challenging NHS context. This increase in complexity is reflected in the work trainees undertake on placement from the very beginning of training. We reserve the right to modify our entry requirements for 2025 to reflect this.

We cannot respond to individual requests to comment on or advise you as to the suitability of your existing or planned qualifications; courses of study; or relevant experience prior to the submission of your application.

How to apply

Applications for 2025 need to be made by mid November 2024 - dates will be available on the Clearing House website. Applications must be complete with references uploaded, so please allow time for references to be completed and submitted to yourself. 

All UK applications for this course must be made through the Clearing House for Postgraduate Courses in Clinical Psychology.

Travel and driving

  • All trainees will be expected to travel to placement.
  • A current driving licence is desirable, but not essential. For non-drivers travel on public transport will be expected, to allow you to access our wide range of placement opportunities.
  • Adjustments for disability can be made.
  • Some travel expenses for trainees will be reimbursed. We do not pay travel from home to work. Please consider the financial costs of this for yourself if you are intending to live at a distance from the programme base.

Selection procedures

Screening

All applications are anonymised in line with the policy of our employing NHS Trust Human Resources department. This removes the personal information sections (e.g. name, date of birth, address, language and disability confident information).  Additionally, details of the institutions that awarded degrees are not made available to shortlisters, in order to remove this potential source of bias.  Equal opportunities monitoring information is not available to those shortlisting; it can only be used at the invitation to interview stage as part of our Positive Action Process.

Interviewing

After successful shortlisting, candidates are invited to attend an interview.  The process for 2025 will be in-person at the University of Sheffield. The interview process has two components:

  • Group task: There will be a group task and successful applicants will be provided with information about this with their interview offer. The task is observed by members of the selection panel. We are interested in competencies relating to interpersonal communication, relationship skills, and reflective skills in this task.
  • Interview including role play: You will have an individual interview with a selection panel usually made up of programme team academic and clinical staff, a local NHS placement supervisor and an expert by experience. The focus of the interview is on knowledge of research and relevant clinical knowledge. You may be asked to engage in a short role play or clinical exercise. We are interested in your readiness for training; your understanding of the role of clinical psychology in the NHS; and your ability to think on your feet, and consider issues from a psychologically informed perspective in your responses to the questions.  The interview begins with a ‘prepared answer’.  The details of this will be sent to candidates in advance of their interview.

Adjustments for disability are offered to candidates who can provide evidence of need.

In line with clinical psychology as a reflective profession we engage in ongoing review of our procedures, and potential candidates should therefore check for updates relating to the 2025 entry process for both shortlisting and interviewing on the CAPU website before the deadline for applications.

Support

We recognise that the interview day is busy and many people feel anxious. Our current trainees provide support for the candidates during the selection weeks. These supporters are not involved in any evaluation of the candidates and are available to answer questions.

Feedback from you

We will ask you to complete feedback on the day. These are important to us and have lead to us making changes to our selection processes in the past. You can submit these anonymously and your feedback is not seen by the interviewing panels and forms no part of our assessment of you.

Feedback policy

Due to the large numbers of applicants to the Programme, the anonymisation of application forms, and the administrative load of the selection process, we are unable to offer feedback on the shortlisting process. However, if you attend for interview we provide telephone/ online feedback sessions following the completion of the interview process. These are available to candidates who have not been successful in the interviews; those on the reserve list will not receive feedback as your interview was considered successful bar restrictions in training numbers. Candidates on the reserve list who are not ultimately offered a place on the programme are also not offered feedback following the deadline for accepting places, for the same reason.

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