University of Liverpool

All applicants must be eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society.

University registration for another degree

Trainees on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Programme cannot be registered for study on another postgraduate degree at the same time. Applicants accepted onto the programme who are registered for a higher degree such as an MSc, MPhil or PhD (or equivalent) will be expected to have submitted their thesis by the end of August 2023, although any viva voce examinations can take place after this date. We would expect these to take place within three months of starting on the DClinPsychol. programme.

Short-listing Criteria

The Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Liverpool has offered 30 places for the 2021 intake and 40 places for the 2022 and 2023 intake. We received approximately 20 applications for every place for 2023 entry.

In considering applications, short-listers and selection panels attach significance to the following:

• lass of undergraduate degree obtained and other academic/research experience such as a PhD or paid research experience with peer-reviewed publications. A critical understanding of psychological theory and an enthusiasm for applying it to practical problems must be evident.
• Evidence of what has been gained from relevant paid work experience. The emphasis is on the depth, breadth and quality of experience, what the applicant has learned from it about psychological concepts and approaches, about themselves as (developing) practitioner, and their reflections on working with service users and carers. In addition to the minimum requirement stated above, periods of employment in relevant health or care settings will be regarded more highly than vacation or voluntary work.
• Evidence of well-developed interpersonal functioning and communication skills; sensitivity to, and respect for, the needs and rights of service users and carers, colleagues and research participants; and a value base consistent with principles of equality, diversity and other values highlighted in the NHS Constitution. Referees' comments will be especially critical to judgments in this area.

Academic qualifications

In order to be eligible to apply, candidates must have an honours degree in psychology or an equivalent combined honours degree, where psychology accounts for more than 50% of the programme content and examinations, and Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the BPS.

In practice, the majority of successful applicants have a 2:1 or 1st class honours degree and (although not essential for minimum requirements) further postgraduate qualifications, such as a relevant Masters in an area of applied psychology (e.g. clinical, counselling, health, forensic), MRes, or PhD.

Candidates with a 2:2 honours degree in psychology or a conversion degree pass and GBC are also eligible to apply. However, this needs to be accompanied by clear and substantial evidence that the degree outcome is not an accurate reflection of the applicant's true academic ability. Further, corroborating information on the application form and references needs to evidence the reason(s) for the applicant not having fulfilled their true academic potential so far, and provide confirmation of their potential to study and train at doctorate level. This may include for example, evidence of additional research experience (e.g. paid employment as a researcher, first author peer-reviewed publications) or a PhD.

For applicants with a completed PhD, the class of undergraduate degree becomes irrelevant.

Relevant work experience

The programme places emphasis on relevant practical experience which applicants are able to relate to psychological approaches and theory. This may be gained in a range of settings where psychological principles are applicable, including supervised work as an assistant psychologist (or equivalent) in a psychological therapies service, a psychological wellbeing practitioner or a psychological therapist, CBT therapist, or working in a supervised post within a related (mental or physical health) service context. Supervision and a reference from a qualified clinical psychologist substantially enhance the value of such experience and strengthen an application. Similarly, experience as a postgraduate research student or work as a paid research assistant on a clinically-relevant research project enhances applicants’ research experience, particularly if it is clinically relevant research which has entailed a reasonable amount of direct contact with service users.

References / Suitability Statements

References are used for short-listing.

• The academic reference should be from a University academic advisor / head of year / head of programme or research supervisor, who can comment on the applicant's ability, achievements to date, and potential to undertake academic study and research at doctoral level. A clinical supervisor should not be utilised as the academic referee unless the applicant has demonstrated substantial academic and research activities and competencies in their clinical role (over and above activities such as service evaluation projects, audits etc). 
• The experience referee should ideally come from the applicant's current line manager who is able to comment on their clinical experience, current clinical work and professional competencies. Experience referees should have an understanding of clinical psychology training and the role of a clinical psychology trainee. If the applicant has only been in their current post for a short time at the time of application, then the previous supervisor / line manager might be preferable as a referee; this can be explained on the application.

Further references will be sought by the host trust, Mersey Care, for successful applicants. These will include the applicant’s current line manager.

Documents required

Please provide a document confirming your GBC status, plus:

• Undergraduate degree TRANSCRIPT
• Conversion course TRANSCRIPT (if completed)
• Any other Postgraduate degree CERTIFICATE or Transcript (if completed)

Driving licence requirement

Trainees spend 50% of the programme gaining supervised clinical experience on placements across the North West of England. Several local NHS Trusts support the programme by providing these placements, many of which are in Merseyside, but also include Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria. Trainees must have access to their own means of travel as the programme cannot ensure placements without travel requirements, and placements may be in hard to reach areas.

Trainees need to be aware that in applying for the Liverpool programme, they have agreed that they will have to travel required distances from their home to the locations specified above. The programme is Liverpool-based and the majority of core placements will be in the Cheshire and Merseyside area; travel within placements will also be expected. 

English language ability requirements

If English is not an applicant's first language and none of their university qualifications were taught and examined in English, they will need to provide evidence that they have an adequate level of English language ability. This should be a TOEFL or IELTS test if possible, and a copy should be submitted with their application. The minimum scores needed are: 100 for internet-based TOEFL, 600 for paper-based TOEFL or 7.0 for IELTS with no element below 6.5.

Residence/Right to work requirements

Applicants must have the unrestricted right to reside, study, train and work in the UK. They must be eligible to study as a full-time postgraduate student on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and train/work in the National Health Service (NHS) as a trainee clinical psychologist in a full-time capacity, including current regulations of the employing NHS Trust.

Please note that we are not qualified to advise you on whether or not you have the right to work in the UK. Advice on this should be sought from the appropriate section of the government website www.gov.uk  The programme does not accept applications from self-funding applicants.