University of Liverpool

Please note, the shortlisting and interview procedures in 2026 are currently under review and may change. Below is detailed the current procedures that have been used in 2025.

Short-listing procedure

An initial screening of anonymised applications is completed to exclude candidates who do not meet the minimum eligibility requirements (e.g. candidate does not have Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), or minimum work experience, or does not meet UK work/residency requirements).

Shortlisting involves programme staff, local NHS clinical psychologists and experts by experience applying pre-determined criteria, to produce a list of applicants for interview and a reserve list. Candidates who are unsuccessful at this stage are informed of the outcome.

Please note that due to the high volume of applications, it is not possible to offer individual feedback to applicants who are not selected for interview.

Fitness to practise is a requirement of all professions registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (please see the HCPC website if you need more information about fitness to practise). During training, monitoring of fitness to practise is the responsibility of course centres. Concerns about fitness to practise could also be raised during the selection process, including the manner and tone of written and verbal communications with the course centre at any stage of the selection process, inappropriate use of social media, as well as behaviour both during and between interviews for those candidates called for interview.

Interviews

Interviews take place face-face and options for remote interviews will not be available, as face-to-face interaction skills are a core skill that we select for.. Candidates selected for interview will be informed well in advance as to the interview format.

In 2025 selected applicants were invited to attend an interview, with questions relating to clinical , research and academic knowledge as well as their interpersonal and communication skills. In addition, candidates were also asked questions relating toa short video of a clinical scenario shown on the day.

All interview panels include University programme staff, NHS clinical psychologists and experts by experience. All procedures are conducted within the framework provided by the University's and NHS Equal Opportunities policies. The selection procedure is carefully reviewed on an annual basis.

Offers

All offers of a place on a course are dependent on satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service and occupational health checks. Criminal record checks are usually made through the Disclosure & Barring Service (for England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or Disclosure Scotland. The checks will disclose information such as: unspent and spent convictions; police information such as cautions, reprimands or warnings; etc.

Widening Participation, Equality and Diversity

The University of Liverpool’s Access and Participation Plan 2020-2021 to 2024-2025: Providing Opportunities and Nurturing Talent details the ambition to “identify what the barriers to access and participation really are and what works in tackling them; adapting and changing those policies and practices that are found to impede success; and by creating a culture that enables students to fully engage within our community of learning, whatever their background.”

We are committed to widening access and participation, eliminating discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity for applicants to the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. We are actively exploring the use of contextual data and positive action (section 159, Equality Act 2010) in relation to our selection procedures, to maximise opportunities for applicants from under-represented groups.

We encourage applicants to include, any contextual factors related to widening participation and increasing equality of opportunity, on their application. We encourage applicants to include, any contextual factors related to widening participation and increasing equality of opportunity, on their application. We greatly value reflection on experience of the interaction between context and power, especially where this comes from personal as well as professional experience.

We have a scheme in place to support aspiring psychologists from a global majority, black, Asian, ethnically minoritised background. The scheme brings together course staff, clinicians, and local community leaders, so support potential applicants through clinical psychology at Liverpool. Contact [email protected] for more information.

Disability Confident / Applicants with disabilities

Anyone with a declared disability who is placed on the reserve list for interview following short-listing, will automatically be offered an interview.