South Wales

Who can apply

We are unable to consider:

• Undergraduate students
• Applicants who are enrolled on another programme (e.g. completing a PhD or MSc) at the time the course would start. 
• Applicants with overseas fees status
• If you want to apply to either Welsh clinical psychology programmes, and are receiving or have completed a training programme funded by NHS training bodies in any of the devolved nations, at least a two year gap between finishing your NHS-funded training and starting NHS-funded clinical psychology training will be required. If you have commenced such training programme before 16 October 2023, you are still eligible to apply for the 2024 intake. Please note: If you have commenced your CAAPs training in South Wales, you will require a 2-year gap between finishing your Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) funded training and starting clinical psychology training as set out in your contracts.

Academic

All applicants must have:

• GBC confirmed at the time of application
• 2:1 or 1st class level undergraduate degree
• 2:1 or 1st class undergraduate degree in psychology recognised by the BPS for GBC OR a recognised conversion degree conveying eligibility for GBC, with a 2:1 (merit) or 1st class (distinction) level. 

Clinical

All trainees accepted onto the programme need:

• A minimum of 9 months full-time (or equivalent) experience in a healthcare and/or research setting relevant to clinical psychology. At least some of this experience must be direct work with a relevant client-population.

Types of experience include (but are not limited to):

• Work as an assistant psychologist
• Work as a psychological practitioner or therapist
• Research experience that involves client contact
• Roles where direct support is given e.g. healthcare assistant, care worker, youth worker

A broad range of experience will be considered and candidates who have gained experience from non-traditional routes are welcome to apply.

Our shortlisting criteria credits range and depth of experience, placing emphasis on how candidates can talk about what they have learnt from their experiences and their relevance to clinical psychology. 

References / Statements of suitability

All applications must be accompanied by two satisfactory Suitability Statements (references).

The experience statement must be written by a current/recent line manager who must be able to comment on your ability to work with a relevant client population. We also require an academic suitability statement.

Please note that applications will not be considered at shortlisting unless both references have been received.

If successful at interview, recent employment references will be required by the employing Health Board.

Documents required

Your application must include:

• A document confirming your GBC status.
• All academic transcripts for completed academic qualifications – including undergraduate degree. MSc, conversion course.
• A letter from your course giving your grade if the transcript for your undergraduate degree or GBC conversion course does not give a final overall grade.

Application forms with missing documentation will not go through to the shortlisting stage. 

Advice for your application

Within the shortlisting process, application forms are scored on the basis of:

• Ability to demonstrate a good understanding of the role of the clinical psychologist.
• Ability to demonstrate what candidates have learnt from their experience and how this applies to the broader role of the clinical psychologist.
• Aptitude to carry out research and evidence of authorship of peer reviewed-publications.
• Evidence of personal qualities, values and interpersonal skills that are in keeping with working as a clinical psychologist within the NHS.
• Reflections on all aspects of diversity and lived experience that demonstrate a capacity to work as a compassionate and reflective clinical psychologist are valued.
• Ability to speak Welsh (however, ability to speak Welsh is not a requirement for the programme). 

International applicants

All applicants must have Home Fee Status and eligibility for employment by the NHS at the start of the programme.

Your application must include evidence of your eligibility to work in the United Kingdom (where relevant).

Applicants must demonstrate a sufficient command of the English language.

Applicants for whom English is not their first language will be required to demonstrate English language ability to the standard of Level 7 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), taken no more than two years before the proposed date of entry (or an alternative English language test accepted by Cardiff University).