Salomons - CCCU

What we look for in applications

We only use applications to establish whether you meet our minimum selection criteria:

• Academic requirements
• Relevant clinical work experience
• A full driving licence valid in UK
• Eligibility for GBC
• Proficiency in English
• Suitable references/suitability statements

Please see our Entry Requirements page for further details.

Selection Tests

All those who meet our minimum entry criteria are invited to sit 2 tests as the first stage of our selection process.

Test dates and emails

• Successful applicants will be emailed by Friday 6th February 2026 with an invitation to sit the tests
• The tests are likely to take place in person on Saturday 14th February 2026 (exact date and venue to be confirmed).tests will take place online on Saturday 1 March 2025

Please note there is a very short turnaround time between invitation and test date.

All communication about the test day and some of the subsequent information about interviews is by email. Therefore, please regularly check the email address you used for your Clearing House application (including your junk folder) throughout this period, to avoid missing any important communication from Salomons.

Test practicalities

Screening tests are conducted in collaboration with the University of East London. The tests for both programmes will take place online on the same day.

Due to Salomons and UEL operating different minimum entry requirements, applicants applying to both programmes may be eligible to take the tests for one course but not another.

Both programmes work collaboratively over arrangements for completing the tests. This means that applicants may be invited to sit the tests hosted by either of the programmes. Successful applicants will be contacted directly by the programmes regarding the specific arrangements for sitting the tests.

Support for applicants with disabilities

Applicants requiring additional support owing to a disability or specific learning requirements need to provide clear details of the appropriate support being requested, as well as sufficient supporting documentation from a registered professional (e.g., GP, medical consultant or educational psychologist).

Please phone 01227 927075 to discuss with our Admissions Team or email them

What to expect from the testing

Applicants will be asked to sit two multiple choice tests:

• the Multiple Choice Question Test
• the Clinical Psychology Situational Judgement Test

Multiple Choice Question Test (MCQ)

In this test you will be asked a number of research-based multiple-choice questions.

Applicants are advised that both the content and format of the test may change from year to year, and may include a range of questions relating to, amongst other topics, statistical issues, qualitative and quantitative research methods, and ethics.

Clinical Psychology Situational Judgement Test (CP SJT)

In this test, applicants are presented with a number of scenarios, representing dilemmas often faced by trainee clinical psychologists, while at university and/or on placement. Applicants then rank order how they would respond to the situation from the options provided.

Next Steps

Following completion of the screening tests, an interview short-list is compiled by the Course team, based on the test scores. Where candidates have tied scores, Positive Action Provisions will be taken under the Equality Act on the grounds of ethnicity, disability and sex (currently under-represented groups in the profession).

Interview process

Interviews will be held in person at Salomons from Tuesday 28th April to Friday 1st May 2026.

Our interview process is multi-faceted and seeks to assess academic, clinical, professional, and personal learning and aptitude alongside demonstrating NHS values.

What happens on the day

Each applicant will be interviewed by a panel of four made up of:

• A member of the course staff
• A Clinical Psychologist from our region
• An Expert by Experience (service user and carer)
• A current third year trainee

An online presentation about the Course is also offered to all applicants to provide an opportunity to learn more about the course. In addition, during interview week, trainees from the course are available to answer questions. These trainees do not participate in selection decisions. 

Outcomes and feedback

Following the interviews, candidates are informed of the outcome by email and are invited, if they wish, to receive brief telephone feedback on their interview performance with a member of the interview panel.

The Course is unfortunately not able to offer feedback to applicants who are not short-listed for interview.

Criminal Records Bureau and Health Checks

All offers of a place on the Course are made subject to Occupational Health screening and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.  These procedures are undertaken by our employing Trust, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Health checks

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities and have a strong record of working with trainees with disabilities who have successfully completed the course.

The purpose of the occupational health assessment is to screen candidates in line with Department of Health guidance for healthcare workers, to assess current health status and to identify any additional reasonable support individual candidates may need to assist them throughout the programme.

Criminal record checks

Enhanced DBS checks are a compulsory requirement and will disclose any convictions - spent or unspent - and police cautions, reprimands, or warnings, whenever they occurred. Those candidates who are offered a place are also required to complete a University criminal records disclosure form, which asks for details of any convictions, cautions, or bind overs, “spent” or otherwise.

Disclosure of such information does not automatically act as a bar to enrolment on the course. However, should any criminal record be disclosed, this would require further discussion, prior to possible acceptance on to the Course. 

Equal opportunities

Widening access to the profession of clinical psychology is important to us. In line with the Equality Act of 2010 we currently use equal opportunities data provided by applicants (specifically ethnicity, sex and disability) to take Positive Action when applicants' scores are tied after our online testing process and again after interview.

We recognise the challenge, discomfort and broad range of emotions that can sometimes come from engaging with such processes (leading some of us to avoid sharing).We are respectful of those that trust us with their life experiences and hope that applicants can have faith that we receive these experiences purely in service of our drive to widen access to the Clinical Psychology profession.

Contextual admissions

As part of our commitment to increasing the representation of socially disadvantaged and marginalised groups within the profession of clinical psychology, and our awareness of the additional challenges that may be experienced in accessing training, we are passionate about doing all that we can to mitigate against this experience. As part of our efforts around this we incorporate the use of a Contextualised Admissions process alongside our use of Positive Action Provisions in line with the Equality Act.

Items we consider

For entry in 2026, applicants will be eligible for consideration under a Contextualised Admissions Process if they endorse ANY of the following items in their application.

Care Leaver

Individuals who were in "Foster Care", formally Adopted or spent time under the care of the local authority prior to the age of 18 years.

Refugee

Individuals who have been given "Refugee" status by the UK government or have been granted humanitarian protection by the UK government.

Free school meals together with income support

Individuals who were in receipt of free school meals AND whose parents/caregivers were in receipt of income support whilst the applicant was of compulsory school age.

Applicants would need to endorse both of these items, which are understood to be factors associated with the experience of social deprivation during childhood.

Our process

Our Contextual Admissions Process is activated at two stages of the application process (in the same way that we are currently using Positive Action Provisions in line with the Equality Act for other under-represented groups) and will be applied when applicants’ scores are tied after our testing process and again after interview.

Recognition under our Contextual Admissions Process is given the same weighting as a Protected Characteristic under the Equality Act (i.e., disability, ethnicity and sex). This means that in the case of the further ties, those who met more of the criteria would be ranked higher than applicants meeting fewer criteria.

If an offer of a place on the training course is made using a Contextual Admissions Process, applicants may be asked to provide relevant evidence (e.g., of their refugee status and/or care leaver status) as part of their pre-employment checks.

Disability Confident / Applicants with disabilities 

We are not part of the disability confident scheme. However, in line with the Disability Discrimination Act (1995), the Course makes every effort to meet the needs of trainees with a disability.

Applicants with disabilities can request reasonable adjustments at key stages of the selection process, including the online tests and at interview.

The Course has experience of supporting trainees with a wide range of disabilities to successfully complete their clinical psychology training.