The application process for the part-time route

Applicants to the programme are able to apply to either the full-time or part-time route but are not be able to apply to both. The route must be selected when submitting an application to the Clearing House for Postgraduate Courses in Clinical Psychology (CHPCCP). The programme offers up to 25% of our commissions as part-time places at 0.7 FTE (equating to 3.5 days per week).

The programme's selection process for full-time and part-time trainees does not differ, with the same academic and clinical requirements sought. Applications are screened and potential trainees are interviewed using the same methodology and at the same time. Commencement of the programme is also simultaneous. As such, all information on these pages regarding our approach to selections and related deadline dates apply regardless of the chosen training route. The process for offering part-time places following our selection process is noted below.

Flexibility within the part-time approach

Some trainees operationalise their 3.5 days a week over a fortnight by working three days one week and four the next while some do 3 full days and one half day each week. Trainees are not able to do their hours over five days as the teaching day is set as 9am – 5pm. However, there is some flexibility (teaching days aside). For example there can be the option to structure hours to allow for school runs where an agreement with placement supervisors can be put in place.

Practice-base learning/placements on the part-time route

Trainees on both routes are required to complete the same number of days undertaking practice-based learning over the course of the programme with the same coverage of the lifespan and competency framework. Trainees on both routes have the opportunity to include short innovative placements (providing input into services beyond normal NHS clinical psychology provision) as part of their placement experience.

Teaching on the part-time route

The curriculum for full-time and part-time trainees is equivalent. Part-time trainees attend the same teaching sessions as full-time trainees although they do so with two different full-time cohorts of trainees as their teaching is spread out over a greater time period. Teaching which aligns with the current practice-based learning placement is provided for both routes to ensure that trainees are appropriately supported to meet their learning outcomes and their placement supervisor's expectations of performance are appropriate and consistent.

Assessment on the part-time route

Both full-time and part-time trainees are required to complete the same assessments during their time on the programme. Trainees are provided with the same amount of study time to complete assessments regardless of route. Assessments are placed at appropriate points of training to ensure that trainee learning and development are comparable across full-time and part-time routes when each assessment is undertaken.

More information is available in our online handbook about the structure of teaching and placements on the part time route.

The selection process is identical for both routes. At no point are arbitrary value judgements made about who is ‘deserving’ of a PT place – selection continues to be based solely on an individual’s potential for clinical psychology training. We do not look at what route people have applied for until after we have chosen candidates to fill our commissioned places at interview. At this point there are a few potential outcomes.

Exactly 13 people in the top 52 (based on 2023 commissions) scorers at interview applied for a PT place:

• All people in the top 52 get a place on their chosen route

Fewer than 13 people in the top 52 scorers at interview applied for a PT place: -

• All people in the top 52 get a place on their chosen route
• The programme runs with a smaller PT cohort

More than 13 people in the top 52 scorers at interview applied for a PT place: -

• We would offer the top 13 scoring PT applicants at interview a PT place
• Those PT applicants in the top 52 but not in the top 13 PT applicants would have the option to take up a full-time (FT) place or defer entry until the following year with a guaranteed PT place (although we would not be able to guarantee that funding arrangements would be the same at that point)
• If more than 26 of the top 52 have applied for a PT place (meaning we would be unable to provide deferred places for all those who did not get a place immediately), those with the lowest scores would not be given the option to defer but would still be able to take up a FT place
• PT applicants who accept a FT place will be expected to complete the programme on the FT route unless there is a significant change in their circumstances

Someone in the top 52 scorers declines an offer or defers entry

• If this opens up a PT place, we would first offer this to any applicants in the top 52 scorers who had originally applied for a PT place but had chosen FT or deferral (in order of interview score)
• We will then offer to the next person on the reserve list following any changes to the PT cohort list
• If the applicant being offered to from the reserve list is a PT applicant and no PT places exist, the process outlined above would be followed