Trent - Lincoln & Nottingham

Written screening exercise

All applicants are long-listed against our essential criteria: GBC, Suitability Statements, degree class, right to work (see our Entry Requirements page for more details).

All who meet these criteria are invited to the written task. 

The written task is usually held in February and assesses candidates’ general academic competence and critical thinking skills.

All applicants who pass the written task are invited to interview where the written task will be retaken.  Any candidate with a significant discrepancy between the initial test in February and the re-test at interview will be excluded from the rest of the selection process.

Interviews

Interviews usually take place in May and will be held in person.

Interviews involve a panel interview to assess clinical, academic, and personal suitability. Selection will take place across a full-day.

All interviews are supported by our NHS and Service User colleagues. 

Outcomes from the interviews are shared by direct email and through Clearing House.

Applicants who are not successful are offered the opportunity to meet with one panel member to discuss feedback on their interview and points for development.

Successful applicants will be offered a place at either University of Lincoln or University of Nottingham and an employment contract with one of our three partner NHS Trusts.

We ask applicants for their NHS Trust employment preferences before interview and allocate these based on rankings after interview.

Our partner NHS Trusts require a range of clearance checks for employment, including occupational health and criminal records check (DBS).

Equal opportunities

The selection procedure operates within the equal opportunities policies of the two universities and the NHS partners, and no applicant will be discriminated against on grounds of race, religion, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation. Groups currently under-represented in clinical psychology are encouraged to apply, including individuals from ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.

We are in discussion with our NHS partners, who employ our trainees, about the best ways to support access to the profession through the use of strategies like Positive Action. As soon as we are able to, we will update the programme webpages at both Universities of Lincoln and Nottingham.

Contextual admissions

For 2024 entry, contextual admissions data will be used in the process of long-listing of candidates with a 2:2 undergraduate degree who do not have a higher degree. We strongly encourage applicants to complete the questions so that their application can be considered in light of contextual factors.

Disability Confident / Applicants with disabilities

We use a Disability Confident approach in selection.

Reasonable adjustments can be requested for the written test and for interview.