Salomons - CCCU

Who can apply

In order to be eligible to apply to start the course in October 2026 you must meet the following criteria:

• You must not still be formally registered for (or re-sitting examinations) for another programme of study at any other Higher Education Institution at the start of our course (last week of September/first week of October each year).
• If you have received NHS funding for a psychological professions training course that started since March 2022 and are not at least 2 years post qualification, you may not be eligible to apply. Please ensure you check their website for guidance on eligibility to apply to the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology training programmes in England.

We welcome applications from international applicants who are eligible. International applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be eligible for home fee status.
• Have the right to work in the UK without restriction.
• Applicants must be proficient in English language. For applicants for whom English is not their first language and their university qualifications were not taught or examined in English, Salomons require an overall IELTS score of at least 7.5 with no element below 7.5. The test must have been taken within the last two years.
• Transcripts regarding degree qualifications awarded internationally must be translated into English. Both versions should be supplied when applying.

There are currently no self-funded places on the course (i.e. all of our places are NHS-funded).
 

Academic

All applicants are required to provide the transcript of any relevant degree qualifications (e.g their undergraduate degree, conversion course, Masters degree, etc) as part of their application.

The absence of transcripts will unfortunately result in an applicant not being considered as there will be no means to verify the minimum requirements stipulated.

GBC

Applicants must be eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) from the British Psychological Society (BPS) and be able to demonstrate this at the time of application.

Psychology undergraduate degree

A 1st or 2:1 psychology degree is essential if you have an undergraduate degree only.

If you have a 2:2 psychology undergraduate degree you will be considered if you hold a completed relevant PhD or a completed relevant Masters Degree and meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Obtained an overall score 65% or above as demonstrated on your transcript
• Awarded an overall classification of Merit
• Awarded an overall classification of Distinction

For example, if you obtained 62% in your Masters degree but were awarded a Merit, you would meet the above criteria.

In this case, you must provide a transcript of your Masters degree results with your application.

Non-Psychology undergraduate degree

If you have an undergraduate degree that isn’t in Psychology, with a degree classification of 2:1 or 1st, you must have also completed an accredited Masters Level conversion qualification in psychology. The conversion course must achieve an average of 60% or above. 

If you were awarded a 2:2 for your undergraduate degree in a non-psychology subject, you must complete an accredited Postgraduate Conversion course in psychology and meet at least one one of the following:

• Obtained an overall score 65% or above as demonstrated on your transcript
• Awarded an overall classification of Merit
• Awarded an overall classification of Distinction

For example, if you obtained 62% in your Masters Level Conversion Course degree but were awarded a Merit, you would meet the above criteria.

Clinical

One full year (or its equivalent on a part-time basis) of relevant work experience must have been completed by the time of application.

Although many applicants gain relevant clinical experience through Assistant or Research Psychologist posts, many other pathways are relevant to gaining such experience and are valued equally highly by the Course. These may include, for example, work experience gained within social services, IAPT services, healthcare assistant/support worker roles in the NHS, private or voluntary sector services, and in service user and carer organisations.

All such employment needs to be directly related to the practical application of psychological principles, acquired in either a paid or unpaid capacity.  

It is not necessary for applicants to have gained extensive clinical experience in many different settings or with a wide range of clients prior to applying. Rather we are looking for individuals who can make the most out of what they have experienced by:

• gaining a realistic sense of the profession, its current context within the NHS.
• developing an awareness of the settings and client groups encountered by clinical psychologists.   
• demonstrating an understanding of how psychological theory can be applied within a clinical setting.
• considering the impact of social, political, and cultural inequalities in the provision of mental health services. 

At least part of the clinical experience must have been gained within the previous 2 years before applying.

Research experience

Research experience is also highly regarded, especially within a clinical, medical, or social care setting.

However, applicants whose experience is restricted solely to academic research must ensure that they have also gained relevant exposure to supervised clinical practice within an applied setting before applying.

Please clearly draw out on your application the clinical experience gained whilst undertaking academic research, in the section which itemises relevant occupational and research experience.

References / Suitability Statements

• All applicants must have one academic suitability statement and one clinical suitability statement. Applicants without two completed suitability statements will not be considered.
• Information provided in suitability statements is used to inform all stages of the selection process, including the initial screening and interview process. Therefore, suitability statements must be from a person who knows the applicant well and can provide genuine information on the skills, qualifications, experiences, qualities and values relevant to the application.
• Particularly poor suitability statements will be shared with interview panels after the interview has been completed and may affect your final rating.
• For further information about Suitability Statements, for example about who can write the statement, and the questions they will be asked see here

Documents required

All applicants are required to submit the following documents as part of their application. Failure to provide the following will unfortunately result in your application not being considered:

• A document confirming your eligibility GBC status.
• An academic transcript for your undergraduate degree.
• A conversion course transcript (if applicable).
• A MSc transcript (if applicable).
• IELTS certificate (if English is not your first language and none of your university degrees were taught or examined in the English language).
• A photograph of a full driving licence which allows you to drive with no restrictions within the UK.

Driving Licence

Due to the large regional area covered by our placement trusts (parts of which are quite rural and inaccessible by public transport) and the requirement of many of placement providers that trainees have access to a car, in order to visit service users and local services; applicants must hold a valid driving licence which permits the holder to drive in the UK.

You must provide a photograph of a full driving licence which allows you to drive with no restrictions within the UK at the time of submitting your application. You must upload this to your application before the application deadline.

Driving licence and disabilities

We very much welcome applications from those with a disability.

Applicants who have a disability that means they cannot drive must email the course before submitting their application and provide supporting documentation from a registered medical practitioner stating that their disability prevents them from driving.

Alternatively, applicants can submit evidence that they have been in receipt of Access to Work funding for a disability that would prevent them from driving, within the last two years. A decision will then be taken over whether the driving licence requirement can be waived.

Advice for your application

• We do not consider that an application form is the most inclusive way to select the best candidates for clinical psychology training. Therefore, we only use the application to screen for our minimum entry requirements and to check suitability statements.
• We welcome trainees who reflect the wide range of diversity represented by service users and their families. We especially want to encourage trainees with disabilities, those from backgrounds that are economically disadvantaged, from culturally diverse groups, those with caring/parental responsibilities and from all social classes.  We believe that the course, the profession, and services are strengthened by ensuring cultural, social and other kinds of diversity within the workforce.

International applicants

There are currently no self-funded places on the course (i.e. all of our places are NHS-funded).

We welcome applications from international applicants who are eligible. International applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be eligible for Home Fee status.
• Have the right to work in the UK without restriction
• Transcripts regarding degree qualifications awarded internationally must be translated into English. Both versions should be supplied when applying.

English language ability

Applicants must be proficient in the use of English. For applicants for whom English is not their first language and their university qualifications were not taught or examined in English, Salomons require an overall IELTS score of at least 7.5 with no element below 7.5. The test must have been taken within the last two years.