Surrey Clinical Psychology Doctorate Applicant FAQs

Thank you for your interest in ClinPsychD training at the University of Surrey. 

At Surrey we aim to provide a rigorous and supportive training experience organised around the core elements of reflective practice, critical thinking, collaboration and applied research. We are aware that the application process is an uncertain one and so we thought it would be useful to share answers to the questions we are commonly asked by applicants. We hope the information below will help you, as you navigate the application process.

Admissions Criteria

What are your admissions criteria? 

Our admissions criteria are published on our programme page and on the Clearing House page. We are not able to provide further information other than what is published on our websites.

How are candidates assessed against NHS Values? Is this by stating in the application some lines about being committed to working in the NHS? Or for example an NHS value is respect and dignity, candidates being assessed for how much they align with these values without explicitly stating it?

Assessment against NHS values occurs across all stages of the application cycle (including communication with the university). We would strongly discourage making generic statements, instead we recommend that you consider how your experience embodies them.

Is there any advice as to what Surrey appreciates on an application? i.e. what separates those who get interviews vs not?

Applications are scored according to multiple dimensions and there is no single attribute that separates those that receive interviews. We appreciate authentic accounts of learning from experience (not buzzwords!) and what you think makes you a suitable candidate for our program.

How does Surrey apply positive action?

Positive action is applied at two stages of the admissions process: when candidates application forms are ranked to identify who is invited to interview, and when candidate interview scores are ranked to identify who to offer a place to. Essentially this means that where candidates achieve an equal score, we are able to prioritise candidates with protected characteristics that are currently under-represented in the training population and wider profession.

For those fortunate amongst us who successfully secure an invite to interview for you how would you recommend we prepare to be able to share our skills and experience in the best possible way on the day?

You can prepare by reflecting on experiences you see as relevant to building your skills and being clear on how you developed these. You may want to consider your strengths and weaknesses in areas relevant to training, as well as hopes for entering the profession. In talking about your skills and experiences, it helps to provide tangible and specific examples. We are also looking to you to be authentic.

Eligibility 

I might not be eligible for UK home fees. Am I eligible for this programme? 

As mentioned on the Clearing House website, in order to apply for the programme at Surrey, you must be eligible for Home fees status. This is because the NHS pays trainees’ fees. Your fees status is based on your nationality and your residency, and you can find out more about how your fees status would be classified on the UKCISA website. Please also check the UK Government website for information on EU Settlement Scheme

I am unsure about my fee status. Please could you help me? 

We cannot provide you with specific guidance regarding your fee status, other than signposting you to webpages where you can find more information. Due to the large number of applications, we receive each year, the academic team are not able to provide personalised application advice for all applicants, as this would give an unfair advantage. Your fees status is based on your nationality and your residency, and you can find out more about how your fees status would be classified on the UKCISA website. Please also check the UK Government website for information on EU Settlement Scheme.

I just graduated from an NHS-funded course two years ago. Am I eligible for this intake?

Regarding the two-year funding rule, the official Health Education England guidance from 2023 states the following: “The 2-year timeframe is taken from the date of the qualifying exam board (or the date individual award is formally recommended by chair’s action post-exam board) of one course to the start date for teaching of the next course to be undertaken.” So, your eligibility will depend on whether your qualification is conferred or certified before the programme start date, which is usually the last week of September.

Experiences 

I am unsure if my work experience counts. Please could you review my experience and let me know?

I am afraid that we cannot provide you with specific guidance regarding your work experience other than the admissions criteria which are published on our programme page (section: ‘Clinically relevant experience’) and on the Clearing House page. Due to the large number of applications we receive each year, the academic team are not able to provide personalised application advice for all applicants, as this would give an unfair advantage.

Do you count volunteer experience or have any requirements about the type of organisation that I obtained my experience from? 

As mentioned on the website, the experience may be attained in either a paid or voluntary capacity. There is no mention of any requirement on the type(s) of organisation that applicants should attain their experience from. Please refer to our programme page for more information on requirements on work experience. 

In terms of entry requirements, is there much point applying to Surrey if my clinical experience is within the last 5 years (not 3 years)? I.e. will I just get screened out before my application gets reviewed? 

We are looking for applicants to have one year’s full-time worth of relevant experience. This experience must have been gained within the last three years prior to application.

You mentioned that you welcome students who have taken an alternative career path on your website. What kinds of experiences do you feel would really assist us in our training that we may not have thought of to talk about on our application? 

We value a breadth of relevant experiences, including alternative career paths. We are interested in how applicants demonstrate their learning from prior roles and highlight its relevance for the clinical training. If you can make a case for how a specific experience will enhance your suitability for training, it will be taken into account.

References

Will it disadvantage an applicant if their suitability statement is not from their current employer (due to working in the role for only a few months)? 

No. However, we do ask candidates to indicate why the statement is not from your current employer. As long as you have provided an explanation for this in your application you will not be disadvantaged.

The person I think is best positioned to be my clinical referee has just left the organisation. Can I still nominate them? What kind of contact details should I provide?

 It is up to applicants to decide who is best placed to provide the clinical reference, but they must give a rationale if it is not their current employer. As for referees’ contact details, please provide whatever up to date contact details they can. If we do need to contact the referee and are unable to, we will problem solve at that point.

I am unsure who I should put as an academic referee. What if they do not have a doctoral degree in Psychology? Please could you advise?

 Your academic referee should be someone who is best placed to comment on your ability to study at this level. They do not need to have a doctoral degree in Psychology to do this. We would be happy to take a reference from any health service professional, or other person with a professional qualification relevant to the role.

Driving Licence 

When do I need to present my driving licence? Is it alright if I obtain it before the programme starts in September? 

As mentioned on our programme page, having a full valid driving licence and unrestricted use of a car or motorcycle for work is indeed a requirement for the programme. This is a contractual requirement of our employing NHS trust. If shortlisted, applicants are expected to present evidence of having obtained a full valid UK driving licence on the day of the interview. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.

I have an EU driving licence that can be used as a fully valid UK licence. Does it count? 

As mentioned on our programme page, “Applicants are required to hold a current, valid UK driving licence and have access to transport for work purposes.” We are able to accept your driving licence if it is considered valid and the same as a UK licence by the UK authorities.

I have an international driving licence. Does it count?

An international driving licence is a temporary licence that is only valid for a limited time. We are, therefore, not able to accept this in place of a valid full UK driving licence.

I am medically unable to drive. When should I inform you about this? 

We make reasonable adjustments in respect of any disability. You can inform us about needing reasonable adjustments if you are invited for an interview. We might ask for more info at that point.

I have just passed my driving test and am still waiting for the licence. Is that ok? 

We are able to accept a driving certificate that indicate you have passed your driving test at the point of interview; however, you will need to submit a copy of the full driving licence as soon as you have received it for our records thereafter.

Placements and Schedule 

Can trainees opt to join teaching remotely? 

No. Trainees need to be able to attend teaching in person on campus, Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:00. There may be some lectures that are delivered remotely, but this is at the programme’s and not the Trainees’ discretion. Applicants are also assigned the placement locations. If you accept a place on our training program, the contractual agreement will be that you are able to travel to placements in any of our placement Trusts. We will be unable to offer placements outside of our patch. We encourage our Trainees to think carefully about where to base themselves during training.

What is the teaching and placement schedule like? 

Throughout most of training, trainees undertake three days a week on placement. This is with the exception of final year when trainees increase to 4 days a week on placement in the summer months. Trainees can use half a day a week for placement-related study. Approximate time allocations are stated below. These can vary depending on the positioning of bank holidays and the specific timetabling requirements for any given cohort. Teaching is typically on a Monday and Tuesday, with occasional study days spread across the academic year. Teaching is usually not held during August, but trainees will be expected to be on placement or studying during this time as they hold full-time contracts.

Where can I find information about the placement locations? 

Placements are spread across a wide geographical area, and you must be prepared to travel to any of these locations whilst on training. These are based across Surrey, West Sussex and South West London. You can find information about the placement locations here.

If we live outside of the placement area of the programme can we access placements closer to home? 

If you accept a place on our training program, the contractual agreement will be that you are able to travel to placements in any of our placement Trusts. We will be unable to offer placements outside of our patch. We encourage our Trainees to think carefully about where to base themselves during training.

Do most trainees move to Guildford for the programme or do they commute? 

Whilst some Trainees relocate to Guildford, or elsewhere in Surrey, others choose to commute from their existing locations. Although teaching takes place at the University (in Guildford), placements are located throughout the county as well as across West Sussex and South West London. Trainees tend to decide where to live based on a variety of factors, including personal circumstances.

Are your trainees able to give a preference for services they would like to do their placement in? 

Core placement allocation is typically based on learning needs and availability. Where appropriate, reasonable adjustments are accommodated, however nomination of services is not possible. In the 3rd year there is an opportunity to nominate preferences for a specialist placement. 

Is there opportunities for psychodynamically focussed placements? 

We do not routinely offer psychodynamic placements, because our programme does not offer comprehensive teaching to support this. However, you might be able to organise a specialist psychodynamic placement in your final year.

Teaching

How is digital technology harnessed in the doctorate programme for student learning opportunities? For example, are any seminars virtual or are there digital learning solutions for us to utilise for learning? 

The majority of teaching is delivered face to face on campus, as our experience from the pandemic showed us how the connection with each other enhances our learning experiences. However, there is some teaching that occurs remotely, and there are online tools to scaffold the learning experience. Examples include recorded sessions on aspects of research methodology that trainees can access for their research projects, and a multiple choice learning task that supports trainees to become familiar with neuropsychological testing.

Does Surrey offer psychodynamic teaching? If so, roughly how much? 

The Surrey programme specialises in equipping Trainees with competence to practice using CBT and Systemic models. As such, we do not have a specialist psychodynamic unit though there is some teaching on this model.

Does Surrey offer the foundation accreditation in family therapy? 

Yes. All of our trainees complete systemic teaching and assignments to confer foundation level accreditation from the Association of Family Therapy (AFT). 

Where can I find information about research themes? 

The current research themes for the programme are available on our programme page.

Miscellaneous 

Will we get any London weighting for this programme? 

Trainees for this programme have “fringe” London weighting rather than inner or outer London weighting because Guildford is classed as their base for work (and not a London borough and outside of the M25). They do receive expenses for travel to placement in an attempt to mitigate for this (they receive mileage / transport costs for any part of a journey that exceeds their home-university journey).

What kind of support do Neurodiverse students receive? 

We are committed to supporting applications from neurodiverse individuals and those with disabilities, including through reasonable adjustments to the interview process where possible. Successful candidates can access a range of specialist support via the University’s Disability and Neurodiversity Team including a tailored support agreement. As a training department, we work closely with trainees to support them during placements, in their learning and in their research activities to ensure they are able to fulfil their potential. Trainees can liaise with the employing Trust for an Access to Work assessment