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Entry requirements for 2024

Applicants must meet the minimum entry requirements to be considered for the programme.

Applications to the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology are not accepted from candidates who do not have the right to work in the UK without restriction.

Applicants must meet the essential minimum criteria to be considered for the programme. There are essential minimum criteria at all stages of our process.

 

Please note that we do not accept applications from:

  • Applicants currently enrolled on either the MSc in Psychological Therapy in Primary Care (Universities of Stirling and Dundee) or the MSc in Applied Psychology for Children and Young People (University of Edinburgh)
  • Applicants in receipt of NES funding for the Enhanced Psychological Practice (EPP) programme (i.e. for at least 18 months from date of enrolment on EPP programme). This means, if you enrolled on the EPP programme in April 2022, or before, then you are eligible to apply to the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in the current (September – November 2023) application window. If you enrolled on the EPP programme in the November 2022 or April 2023 intakes or you have accepted a place to start the EPP programme in November 2023 then you are not eligible to apply for a Doctoral training place in the current (September – November 2023) application window.
  • We do not accept applications for self-funded places.
  • Applicants need to have the right to work without restrictions in the UK.
  • Intending applicants should be aware that the University of Edinburgh does not permit concurrent registration for any other degree while an individual is registered with the University of Edinburgh

Academic

All applicants must have:

  • GBC confirmed at the time of application
  • We will therefore not consider candidates still pursuing their undergraduate degree at the time of applying. Some general considerations regarding when to apply are provided on the Clearing House Website

All applicants must also have either:

  • a GBC-accrediting honours degree at 2.1 or above with a mean percentage mark of at least 61% in the final two academic years fte

or

  • a GBC-accrediting MSc conversion degree in psychology at 2.1 equivalent or above with a mean percentage mark of at least 61.

or

  • a GBC-accrediting higher diploma conversion in psychology, at 2.1 equivalent level or above, with 240 credit equivalent (120 ECTS), where the overall number of research credits is at least 80 (40 ECTS)

Please note that we check the equivalence of international degrees against the Guidelines for International Postgraduate Admissions published annually by Edinburgh Global here at the University of Edinburgh. Where GBC is based upon degrees accredited for GBC by the BPS, transcripts for each of those degrees need to be submitted.

Entry qualifications by country

Strong candidates will have evidence of other academic achievements, for example, research experience, publications or conference presentations. Candidates should be able to relate their experience of research to practice. We are looking for candidates who understand and can critically appraise theory and practice from a first principles basis as we aim to develop trainees to think about theoretical positions in depth and understand and reflect upon the nature of scientific assumptions and the meaning of "evidence".

Relevant Experience

Relevant experience which allows the applicant to apply psychological principles in practice is essential. An understanding of how to do psychological research is essential. Previous working contact with, and supervision by, a practitioner psychologist such as a clinical psychologist is an advantage, but other relevant work (e.g. nursing, support work, experience in relevant voluntary organisations) will be considered. Experience working on clinically focused research project(s), for example as part of a research degree such as a PhD or through employment on such projects, would also be seen as relevant, particularly if it involved direct client contact. A good range and amount of relevant experience is an advantage, however, it is more important to demonstrate an ability to reflect on how this relates to clinical training and to the role of the clinical psychologist. It will be essential that applicants can demonstrate an in-depth understanding of, and application of, the academic psychological models and principles that underlie the work they have undertaken. Applicants must also demonstrate a commitment to develop competence as reflective scientist-practitioners, and an understanding of their role as consumers and producers of research

English Language Requirements

Nationals of a majority English speaking country (which includes UK, Ireland, USA, Australia, Jamaica and New Zealand) need to provide evidence of either (a) or (c):

a)  A degree from a university in a majority English speaking country (including UK, Ireland, USA, Australia, Jamaica and New Zealand) or a degree taught and assessed in English at a university which has been approved through the University of Edinburgh’s due diligence process (see https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/international/english/postgraduate).

Nationals of other countries need to provide evidence of either (b) or (c):

b)  A degree from a university in a majority English speaking country (including UK, Ireland, USA, Australia, Jamaica and New Zealand) or a degree taught and assessed in English at a university which has been approved through the University of Edinburgh’s due diligence process (see https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/international/english/postgraduate). The award date of the degree should be no more than 3.5 years old at the start of the clinical psychology programme, but can be up to 7 years if you have worked or studied continually in a majority English speaking country since the degree was awarded.

c) One of the following qualifications, which should be no more than two years old by the start date of the programme:

Find out more about the university’s postgraduate language requirements:

English language requirements

Interpersonal and Other Skills

All candidates must have a fluent command of the English language and demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills. It is essential to be able to foster good working relationships with colleagues and clients and to work as part of a team. Candidates should show evidence of reflecting on the ethical and value base of clinical psychology. Given the demands of clinical training, the candidate should be adaptable and flexible, and have the capacity to prioritise and balance academic and work demands. Due to the geographical spread of some health boards, extensive travel will be required for most placements.

Professional Issues

Strong candidates will be motivated to take on the full range of roles of the clinical psychologist. They will provide a clear rationale for, and demonstrate insight into, the professional context, roles and responsibilities of the clinical psychologist in the NHS and a clear understanding of professional issues as they relate to clinical psychology. A commitment to, and knowledge of NHS Scotland (e.g. current priorities), and the role of clinical psychology within it is beneficial. Candidates must demonstrate commitment to professional development as a reflective scientist-practitioner and an understanding of the contextual factors which can influence physical and mental health.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) will be applied for candidates who have completed the MSc in Applied Psychology for Children and Young People at the University of Edinburgh or the MSc in Psychological Therapy in Primary Care provided jointly by the Universities of Stirling and Dundee, which have significant clinical practice (placement) components. Any consideration of RPL will not have any impact on the selection of trainees.

Please note that the MSc in Psychological Therapy in Primary Care and the MSc in Applied Psychology for Children and Young People have been designed as an innovation in the training structure for Applied Psychologists and provide MSc graduates to NHS workforce roles.  NES funds these training roles in addition to the Doctoral training places.  NES will not fund places on the University of Edinburgh/NHS (Scotland) clinical psychology training programme for candidates who apply to the clearing house while in receipt of NES funding for the MSc in Psychological Therapy in Primary Care or MSc in Applied Psychology for Children and Young People

This means, if you are currently enrolled on either the MSc in Psychological Therapy in Primary Care or the MSc in Applied Psychology for Children and Young People, you would not be eligible to apply to the University of Edinburgh/NHS (Scotland) clinical psychology training programme in the current intake (i.e. September to November/December 2023 application window for 2024 intake).

Recognition of Prior Learning does not apply for those who have completed the NES-funded Enhanced Psychological Practitioner (EPP) programme. If you are currently in receipt of NES funding for the Enhanced Psychological Practice (EPP) programme (i.e. for at least 18 months from date of enrolment on EPP programme), then you would not be eligible to apply. This means, if you enrolled on the EPP programme in April 2022, or before, then you are eligible to apply to the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in the current (Sept – Nov 2023) application window. If you enrolled on the EPP programme in the November 2022 or April 2023 intakes or you have accepted a place to start the EPP programme in November 2023 then you are not eligible to apply for a Doctoral training place in the current (September – November 2023) application window.

Promoting Diversity/Equal Opportunities

The University of Edinburgh and NHS Scotland employers are committed to promoting diversity and welcome applications from under-represented groups. The Programme participates in the "Disability Confident Scheme". The selection process will be carried out in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 and as such will clearly not discriminate against any applicant on the grounds of the 9 protected characteristics covered by the Act. Consistent with the Act, we apply positive action in relation to Race at the shortlisting and interview stages of selection, as highlighted in our Anti-Racism, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan. 

No Concurrent Degree Registration

Intending applicants should be aware that the University of Edinburgh does not permit concurrent registration for any other degree while an individual is registered with the University of Edinburgh.

Visa Requirements

Successful applicants to the programme are currently employed by the NHS as trainee clinical psychologists while they study. By applying for this programme you would be applying for a job with the NHS and therefore need to have the right to work in the UK without restriction. A student visa is therefore not applicable for this programme as, if you were accepted, you would be classed as an employee, not a student.

We are not qualified to tell you whether you have the right to work in the UK or not. If you are unsure of your status, please:

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