North Wales Clinical Psychology - Doctoral Programme

Frequently Asked Questions

Over the years we have been asked many questions about the programme, the selection process and other issues. We have collated them and have tried to give you the answers in these FAQs.

1. How hard is it to get a place at Bangor?
It is fair to say that there is competition similar to other posts. We usually have fourteen training places. We aim to interview three times the number of candidates for the number of places we have.

2. My A level grades were not good. Do I have a realistic chance of getting on to the Clinical training programme at Bangor?
We do not consider your A levels. We are interested in your performance at undergraduate degree level and possibly beyond. We would expect applicants to have achieved at least a 2:1 at degree level. Unfortunately, we ado not considering applications with a 2.2. or lower, even if you have obtained a further master's degree. Only a PhD could compensate for a low undergraduate degree.

3. I am currently in the middle of my undergraduate studies and I am unsure as to whether it is essential for my degree to be a 2:1. Although I have reached a 2:1 standard for most assessments, a 2:2 has been the outcome in some areas. If ultimately this brings my degree down to a 2:2, are my chances limited?
Undertaking a doctorate in Clinical Psychology is academically demanding and we require you to have demonstrated that you can cope with these demands. Evidence of success at undergraduate studies is seen as favourable. I would urge you to focus on getting a 2:1 degree if this is at all possible. Please see also the answer to question 2.
If your undergraduate degree is not of a 2.1 standard, I suggest you have a look on the Clearing House website for other programmes’ selection criteria. There are programmes that do consider a 2.2 with a Masters. On other programmes you can sit an entry exam, regardless of your undergraduate degree classification.

4. I am a final year undergraduate and am keen to get into clinical psychology. What is the best way to go about getting a place?
You need to concentrate on obtaining the highest academic grade possible. This is your priority if you want to maximise your chances. Ensure that an academic tutor, who will be able to provide a very supportive academic reference, notices your work.
We also expect candidates to have paid experience of working with a clinical population like the people a clinical psychologist would see. Usually this means getting experience before and/or after completing a degree in psychology. Consider posts such as care assistant, mental health advocate, classroom assistant, mental health worker. We are aware that posts in the health service can be difficult to obtain. To obtain these sorts of posts, you are likely to need to have relevant other experience. Sometimes working in a voluntary capacity can be a stepping-stone in to paid employment.
We require a minimum of one year of paid work, and most candidates will have significantly more than this. We award points for up to two years of paid clinical work.
There are different paths to getting onto a clinical training programme. Some candidates have mainly a clinical background, while others have conducted research with a clinical population.

5. I am a final year psychology student and I am interested in pursuing a career in clinical psychology. I have been advised to do a clinically relevant PhD before applying, as the competition is so strong. I was wondering whether you agree that this is a good route to follow, rather than getting experience as an assistant psychologist.
A clinically related PhD is an acceptable route to getting useful experience, which will then support your application for clinical training. We are looking for a blend of academic competence, research competence, clinical experience, and personal qualities. A successful PhD would mean that you could demonstrate the first two but not necessarily the latter one.
Please note that a PhD is not a requirement for clinical training.

6. I have just completed a degree, which may not be recognised by the BPS. Can I still pursue an interest in Clinical Psychology?
One of the minimum entry requirements is having a degree which is recognised by the BPS as fulfilling the Graduate Basis for Membership (ww.bps.org.uk/membership/). If you are in any doubt about the status of your degree programme, you should consult a member of staff in your undergraduate department or consult the BPS website for details: www.bps.org.uk/careers.

7. I have a non-psychology degree. I am interested in clinical research and wonder what opportunities there might be to get involved in this?
The DClinPsy programme is a professional training programme to train clinical psychologists. If your interest is purely in research, you could consult Bangor Psychology for details of research opportunities within the psychology department. It may also be worth investigating the possibility of undertaking a conversion programme in psychology, which might fulfil the Graduate Basis for Membership with the British Psychological Society (see question 6). Once you have completed a conversion programme, you would then have the option to apply for clinical training.

8. What kind of experience does a typical applicant have?
Successful applicants usually have more than 12 months paid employment in an area that gives them the opportunity to work with a clinical population similar to that of a clinical psychologist. See also questions 5.

9. I have got a couple of years' experience working full time in mental health but not directly with clinical psychologists. Will my application be taken seriously?
The experience you describe sounds relevant. The strength of your previous experience does not necessarily depend upon working directly with a clinical psychologist. However, we would like you to have worked within a psychological framework and one way of achieving this is by working under the supervision of a clinical psychologist. We suggest that you keep thinking about the psychological aspects in any work you do, even if its focus is not psychological work.

10. Some universities require work experience in the mental health field or to have experience in clinical research. Which one is regarded more favourably? I am finding it extremely tough to get relevant work experience. What kind of work experience is needed to stand a good chance of getting onto the programme?
We expect candidates to demonstrate some understanding of the role of psychology in the work they are undertaking. Usually this means getting experience after completing a degree in psychology. We require a minimum of one year of paid work – but most candidates will have much more than this. In addition to purely clinical experience, research or experience of clinical service evaluation are also valuable.

11. I am a voluntary worker, which involves helping those with mental illness, but I have just been offered a job as an assistant psychologist. I was wondering which position you would look most favourably on when looking at applicants?
Your voluntary work is relevant and will be an asset in your application for further paid posts. We expect candidates to have experience of paid employment in a helping profession, and there will be advantages in a post where supervision of a clinical psychologist is available. NHS work is particularly valuable because it would enable you to gain an understanding of the context in which you will be employed during training.

12. What do you look for in applicants with regards to postgraduate experience? Would it be preferable for me to do an MSc combined with voluntary work or would it be better to spend some time working as a psychology assistant or research assistant?
In general, neither clinical experience nor clinical research is given more weight. Alongside a strong academic background, you will need to have clinical experience. Getting a good first degree, 1st class or a 2.1 is an important first step. Having some further academic or research experience in a clinically related area after your degree is certainly relevant. Non-clinical research would probably be less suitable given that you will have already demonstrated your academic abilities in your undergraduate degree. Direct experience of working with a clinical population could also be obtained via research. If you find it difficult to get an assistant psychology post in a clinical setting, then you might want to consider getting experience of working with people in another clinical context with relevance to clinical psychology (see question 4).

13. By the time the interviews are held I will have acquired 6 months' work experience but currently have only a few weeks of experience in a caring role. Do you see any merit in me applying now? Would you instantly dismiss my application?
We consider your experience up to the time of short listing (which tends to be in the middle of February), unless your contract ends before then. We do look for a minimum of a year experience of being in a paid role working with a clinical population, but other experiences, such as working in a research role also contributes – for example, did you get involved in data gathering with either individuals or groups of people?

14. I do not have any paid employment as an assistant psychologist but, having cared for someone in the family with depression, I feel I have gained a wealth of experience – does this count?
The programme looks positively on applicants who have personal experiences. While such experiences are not necessarily equivalent to professional employment, they make a good contribution and can be reflected in the personal statement of the application form. However, you will need the additional relevant paid experience as discussed in previous questions to support your application.

15. It is really difficult to get assistant psychology jobs. How else can I obtain the experience you require?
We are aware that assistant posts are difficult to secure. However, assistant psychologist posts are not the only way you can obtain experience. We are looking for paid experience of working with a clinical population, similar to that of a clinical psychologist. This can be achieved for example by working as a care assistant in a care home for older people, working with people with an intellectual or physical disability, a mental health advocate or a classroom assistant. IAPT post can be useful, as well as other mental health posts. The challenge in a post where the supervision is not from a clinical psychologist, is to maintain a focus on the psychological aspects of your work.

16. I have previously worked in business in an area that seems relevant to clinical psychology. Will this be considered as relevant?
We can consider business and community-based work or experience in a caring profession as being relevant if this involves working with people who also could come under the remit of the work of a clinical psychologist. You will need to explain the nature of your work clearly in your application.

17. I am a trained Clinical Psychologist in Italy – do I have to do the DClinPsy programme before I can work in the UK?
For people who have trained in clinical psychology elsewhere (particularly in other EU Countries) – provision is made by Health and Care Professions Council, so I suggest you contact them.

18. I am not an EU citizen. Can I apply to the programme?
If someone is offered a place on the North Wales Clinical Psychology Programme, the Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) funds all tuition fees and pays the salary of the trainee who has employment status within the UK. HEIW will not meet the cost of fees for applicants who qualify for overseas fee status. There are other programmes in the UK that do consider applicants who have other ways of funding their training, I suggest you have a look on the Clearing House website.

19. I am an EU citizen. Can I apply to the programme?
Due to funding regulations and restrictions of Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), we cannot accept applications that do not qualify for home-fee status. Candidates from the EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals, who have pre- settled or settled status in the UK will be considered as home fee status. When asked, please provide all the necessary information so your status can be confirmed.

20. I am concerned about whether there is an upper age limit for training. Will my age be a problem in getting a place on the programme and securing employment afterwards?
Under the Equality Act, we are not permitted to use age as part of our selection process. We have a diverse age profile amongst our successful applicants. At the shortlisting stage, we are blinded to applicants’ personal information, including their age.

21. What is the experience of Black/Asian/ethnic minority candidates in applying for a place on the programme?
We are very positive about having people from diverse cultures and backgrounds train as clinical psychologists because that reflects the multi-cultural mix within the UK population. We are aware of the underrepresentation of Black, Asian and ethnic minorities in the profession. Trainees from these backgrounds have successfully completed their training with us. To support candidates from Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority groups in the application process, we are working together with the South Wales Clinical Psychology Programme in offering candidates six to eight mentoring sessions with either a trainee or qualified clinical psychologist. These aim to offer the person the option to find out about the work of a clinical psychologist, discuss their values and ideas about (clinical) psychology, and explore routes into training. Where desired, the candidates can also explore their position and experiences as a candidate from a Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority background. The programme has an anti-racism, anti-discrimination, and promotion of cultural humility committee, which is reviewing all aspects of training.

22. I have a disability that might make it difficult for me to participate in the interviews. Could you give me some advice?
We encourage applicants with disabilities to contact us at the earliest opportunity once they have been offered an interview. In consultation with you, we will endeavor to make any reasonable adjustments for you during the interview process. Please contact Carolien Lamers (Recruitment and Selection Director) c.lamers@bangor.ac.uk

23. I have a chronic health condition. Would this prevent me from applying?
We expect all successful applicants to undergo a BCUHB Occupational Health screen. If you are judged fit to work as a trainee clinical psychologist, you would not be prevented from continuing with the programme. We will endeavor to make reasonable adjustment to facilitate your training. This could mean that the start of your training might be delayed, to allow us to put the required adjustments in place.

24. My main concern is about how accessible the programme is for a disabled person? I would appreciate any thoughts or comments you have on this matter.
We aim to actively support trainees who have a disability. However, given that each person is likely to have individual needs, this is one situation when we would suggest that you contact Carolien Lamers (Recruitment and Selection Director) c.lamers@bangor.ac.uk

25. Is the programme accessible to wheelchair users?
Our university site is wheelchair accessible, as are all the teaching rooms and resource room, as well as the programme staffs’ offices. We are regularly conducting surveys of placements to assess which placements can provide access for trainees who are wheelchair users. If you contact us directly Carolien Lamers (Recruitment and Selection Director) c.lamers@bangor.ac.uk we should be able to give you information regarding this.

26. How can I improve my application form and make it stand out?
We assess your application form on a range of aspects, including spelling and grammatical errors. Correctly completed forms, where the questions are answered as requested will give a good impression. There is not much space on the application form to express yourself. Draw out the relevance of your experience to clinical psychology. Do not cram in additional information by using small fonts etc. Always check with your referees that they are happy to write a supportive statement of suitability.

27. I have not been offered an interview this year, can I have feedback on my application form?
We offer telephone feedback to candidates who were not successful in getting an interview. We will offer you a date to contact Carolien Lamers (Recruitment and Selection Director) c.lamers@bangor.ac.uk
Please also check the list of minimum entry criteria and ensure that you can meet all these requirements. Also look at the areas where we offer additional points, but that are not part of our minimum criteria, e.g., volunteering. Do talk to the people you have asked to give you a reference, to ensure that their statement of suitability is fully supportive.
Your application might well meet all our minimum criteria, but there might be other applicants who have been ranked higher than you. Please don’t give up, and try again, many of our trainees have applied several times.

28. What are you looking for during the interviews?
We are looking for the qualities that make a competent clinical psychologist such as communication skills, psychological and analytical thinking. At the interviews, we want to get a sense of what you are like as a person and whether you have the academic skills to cope with the programme. Our service user and carer representatives are keen to see if they can work with you.

29. Would it be possible to call in to have a chat with someone regarding my suitability at some point?
You should find that most of the answers to your questions are addressed in this and other programme documentation such as the Clearing House entry and the Alternative Handbook. If you have a specific question that we have not addressed, then you can email Carolien Lamers (Recruitment and Selection Director) c.lamers@bangor.ac.uk

30. What is the Alternative Handbook?
The DCP Affiliates Committee compile and publish the handbook each year, by sending questionnaires to trainees on all programmes. You can read the perspective and experiences of our current trainees. Please check out www.bps.org.uk.

31. Who employs me?
All trainees are employed on a three-year fixed term contract by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB). BCUHB provides acute, community, mental health and learning disabilities health services to North Wales, delivered through a network of hospitals, health centres and clinics.

32. Can I do the programme part-time?
We do not offer a part-time programme. However, please contact Carolien Lamers (Recruitment and Selection Director) c.lamers@bangor.ac.uk as we can assist you if you have particular requirements for accessing the programme.

33. Do I have to work in North Wales after I finish the programme?
The aim of the programme is to provide clinical psychologists for NHS Wales. There is a strong expectation that those who train in North Wales will take up local available NHS posts once qualified. On occasion, circumstances preclude this. However, we hope all trainees will work within the NHS as qualified Clinical Psychologists.

34. How much do trainees get paid?
Trainees are paid according to the current NHS Agenda for Change. Trainees are located in Band 6.

35. How much annual leave will I get?
You will get 27 days leave a year, 29 after 5 years NHS service and 33 days after 10 years' service (plus bank holidays).

36. Are there any exams?
No, we use a variety of programme work to assess your competence.

37. Will I be disadvantaged if I cannot speak Welsh?
As a substantial proportion of the clients are Welsh speakers, we strongly encourage Welsh-speaking applicants to apply. On average we have one or two Welsh-speaking trainees per cohort per year, which means that most successful candidates are non-Welsh speaking. We offer support for you to learn Welsh and attend summer school. The total number of Welsh-speaking applicants across all programmes remains low at about 1% of all applicants UK-wide.

38. What is the start and finishing time of the working day so I can sort out childcare arrangements before I get started?
The teaching normally starts at 9.30 and finishes at 5.00 pm. The teaching takes place in the Psychology Department at Bangor University. Individual working arrangements are made with trainees when they start their placements in collaboration with their clinical supervisor. As you are a BCUHB employee, you are required to work 37.5 hours per week.

39. Will I be given the opportunity to develop in a flexible way i.e., are there opportunities for me to develop my knowledge of areas which interest me in teaching and placements?
We endeavour to train you in a wide range of theories, approaches, interventions, research, and professional issues. In terms of therapeutic approaches, we focus on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and Third Wave therapies: Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Compassion Focused and Schema Therapy. Within the placements, some consideration will be given to your specific developmental needs and wishes. This can particularly occur in the third year when you can choose your elective placement. It is expected that you will complete all of your clinical placements within the North Wales area. Within most of the academic assignments the tasks allow you to focus on a clinical area or topic that is relevant at your time of training and interest.

40. Would I need to be able to drive?
Although the teaching takes place in Bangor, clinical placements can be in a wide range of places across North Wales. Public transport is not always practical when having to do home visits etc. Therefore, we require our trainees to hold a full driving licence and own a car or take advantage of the NHS Lease Car Scheme. Reasonable adjustments are made for candidates who are unable to drive because of a disability.

41. Will I get a PhD at the end of the training?
The training to become a clinical psychologist will give you a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. This is different from a PhD, which is a research degree that is obtained by completing a piece of defined research, usually over a 3-year period. The clinical training will contain several pieces of academic work, including three research projects. The first piece of work involves carrying out analysis on a large data set. One project is working together with a BCUHB service to answer an audit question that is related to (and often generated by) the service. The largest project is clinically relevant research designed and carried out by you. You spend some 24 months completing this work on which you are examined vice voce.

42. I will not be completing my PhD until after the interviews and have my Viva after the Programme will have started in October. Will you consider my application?
We will consider your application using our selection criteria, but we will not be able to award you points for the PhD as this is not completed when we undertake our shortlisting.

43. When does the programme start?
The programme will start on the Monday that is closest to the 1st October.

44. You require a reference from my current employer. I have only worked with them for a few months and feel that my previous employer would be able to give a better reference, as they know me better. What would you like me to do?
We would like you to provide a statement of suitability from your current employer. Always ask if your employer feels that they can give you a supportive statement of suitability. Most employers have plenty of experience and are well-placed to provide a statement of suitability. Only under exceptional circumstances, ask a previous employer and please do not forget to explain why your current employer could not provide the statement of suitability on your application form.

45. How does the Programme contact me about whether I have been successful in obtaining an interview?
We use the e-mail address that you have provided on your Clearing House application form. Please check that our e-mails have not ended up in your spam folder. Also, please keep us informed about any changes in your contact details.