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 anyone starts a clinical psychology course, they have already studied psychology in enough breadth and depth to give a strong basis for their 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 institution 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 to provide a document that confirms your GBC status with your application.

• Please see the Documents section for further details

Your application must be submitted by the closing date of 1.00pm (UK time) on 22 November 2023.

If you have your GBC document in good time you can upload it to your application before you submit. 

However, do not delay submitting your application.  You can submit without the GBC document and then forward it to us when you receive 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 the Conversion Programme option for the Course Type

International qualifications

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

• please see the International Applicants section for further information about GBC

Degree grades

Clinical psychology courses are doctoral level degrees so you need to show that you have 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 details of 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 more information

Higher degrees

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

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 details of the requirements of individual course centres