University of Sheffield

In line with clinical psychology as a reflective profession, we engage in ongoing review of our procedures, and potential candidates should, before submitting their application, check for updates on our website relating to the 2025 process for both short-listing and interviewing.

Short-listing

We are updating our short-listing criteria and processes. Please see our website from 1 September 2024 for full details. Please download our short-listing criteria from our website and review them for further details.

The criteria are based on the trainee job description and person specification. We review the academic and experience Suitability Statements as part of our short-listing process; please take care to nominate those who can adequately comment on your academic and clinical readiness for training.

All applications are rated against our criteria. We normally interview 3 applicants for every place on the programme.

We will also have a reserve interview list.

Applications which are incomplete, i.e. lack the relevant Suitability Statements or degree transcripts, will not be entered into our short-listing process. It is your responsibility to provide the Clearing House with all the relevant information to support your application.

Interviewing

After successful short-listing, candidates are invited to attend the University. In 2025, interviews will be in-person at the University of Sheffield.

The interview day will include the following components:

Group Task

You will be asked to engage in a group task with other candidates. Members of the selection panel observe the task.

We are interested in competencies related to communication, relationship and reflective skills in this task.

Further information about the group task will be provided when candidates are invited to interview.

Interview

You will have an individual interview with a panel usually made up of:

• programme team academic and clinical staff
• a local placement supervisor from NHS, Third Sector, or Private Sector services
• an Expert by Experience

The focus of the interview is on knowledge of research and relevant clinical knowledge.

You will be sent a task a week in advance and you will present this "prepared answer" at the beginning of the interview.

You will also be asked to engage in a short clinically-oriented role-play.

We are interested in:

• your readiness for training
• your understanding of the role of clinical psychology in the NHS
• your ability to think on your feet, and consider issues from a psychologically informed perspective in your responses to the questions

Adjustments for disability

Normal University adjustments for disability are offered to candidates who can provide evidence of need.

We appreciate that this may include quite sensitive information. If you have any concerns about providing this you can discuss it with a member of the Admissions Team.

Any information provided as evidence is separate from the interview process and is not shared with the interviewing team.

Offers of a training place

Offers are subject to candidates:

• satisfying Enhanced Disclosure & Barring (DBS) checks
• satisfying Occupational Health screening procedures
• satisfying Human Resources requirements
• agreeing to the sharing of information between the University and the NHS as part of the training process
• Entering the profession of clinical psychology involves adhering to appropriate standards of professional behaviour. Offers are also subject to candidates signing an Entry Agreement, which clearly articulates these responsibilities.

A copy of the Entry Agreement is provided to candidates for information with any offer of interview and is also available on the Programme website.

The University of Sheffield is committed to ensuring that all candidates for professional training programmes are fully appraised of such requirements, prior to application for any course.

Feedback Policy

Short-listing

Due to the large numbers of applicants to the Programme, the anonymisation of applications, and the administrative load of the admissions process, we are unable to offer feedback on the short-listing process.

Interview

If you attend for interview we aim to provide telephone/online feedback sessions following the completion of the interview process.

These feedback appointments are available to candidates who have not been successful in the interviews and have not been offered a place or reserve place.

Equal opportunities

The programme operates an equal opportunities policy and no applicant will be discriminated against on grounds of any of the protected characteristics within the Equality Act 2010.

We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as belonging to groups that are currently underrepresented in clinical psychology.

The programme reserves the right to use Positive Action where appropriate within the provisions of the Equality Act (2010).  Such action is permitted in order to address the underrepresentation of applicants with specific protected characteristics within the profession.

Contextual admissions

Our programme continues to monitor the available data in order to establish an appropriate evidence base for contextual recruitment processes. This is based on evidence that contextualising individuals' achievements using additional information about their educational, social and economic background can lead to fairer and more inclusive selection processes. This information could help us to recognise individuals with strong potential for success at doctoral level and within the profession, who otherwise might not have been identified.

We will use the data for audit/research purposes to consider developments to selection processes in future years; and to create reports for external agencies such as NHS England; etc.

Disability Confident / Applicants with disabilities

• In line with the Equality Act 2010 and our achievement of Disability Confident status, we welcome applications from people with disabilities and encourage people to consider indicating this in their application.
• As part of us updating our short-listing processes, please check the FAQs on our website for details of how we will use the Disability Confident Scheme in short-listing.