1Course record · Wales
Cardiff University
Does Cardiff test before interview? Not as far as we know: it has not named one.
South Wales Doctoral Programme
The record
Before you apply
What you must meet to apply, in the course’s own words.
Right to work and fee status
We are unable to consider:
Applicants with overseas fees status
All applicants must have Home Fees Status and eligibility for employment by the NHS at the start of the programme.
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
GBC when you apply
We are unable to consider:
Undergraduate students or students completing a conversion course at the time of application.
GBC confirmed at the time of application
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
DegreeOur summary: A lower second (2:2): Only with a completed academic PhD.
2:1 or 1st class undergraduate degree in psychology recognised by the BPS for GBC
We do not accept candidates with a 2:2 at undergraduate level unless they have subsequently completed an academic PhD.
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
ExperienceOur summary: 9 months minimum.
A minimum of 9 months full-time (or equivalent) experience in a healthcare and/or research setting relevant to clinical psychology attained within the last 5 years. 9 months experience must have been achieved at the stage of applying to the programme.
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
English language
Applicants for whom English is not their first language will be required to have IELTS with an overall score of 7 with 6.5 in all subskills, taken no more than two years before the proposed date of entry (or an alternative English language test accepted by Cardiff University).
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
Earlier NHS-funded training
If candidates are completing or have completed a training programme funded by NHS training bodies in England, they must have at least a two-year gap between finishing NHS-funded training (final exam board) and applying to us for clinical psychology training.
Please note: Candidates who have been NHS funded to complete a training programme within Wales are able to apply for the 2027 intake.
Candidates who have commenced CAAPs training in South Wales, will require a two-year gap between finishing Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) funded training and starting clinical psychology training as set out in their employment contracts.
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
Other study
We are unable to consider:
Applicants enrolled on another programme (e.g. completing a PhD or MSc) at the time the course would start.
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
Suitability statements
The experience statement must be written by a current/recent line manager who must be able to comment on your ability to work with a relevant client population. The referee must have known you for a minimum of 3 months at the time of writing the reference.
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
Not mentioned on these pages: driving licence, getting to placements, research and other conditions.
Pages read: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; Clearing House selection procedure, updated ; all checked . Could not be read: Cardiff course page (the site refused the request), tried .
Before interview
None named
Not named on the Clearing House list of courses using short-listing tests. The course's own page describes scoring of applications, with top-scoring applicants offered an interview. No pre-interview test is described.
Sources: Clearing House, checked ; Clearing House test list, checked .
At interview
A written task, a role-play with an actor or panel member and a panel interview.
When“Monday 12 April and Monday 19 to Friday 23 April”
Source: Clearing House list of 2027 interview dates for NHS places, updated ; checked .
All candidates invited to interview sit a written task. The interview itself includes a role-play scenario followed by interview questions, and does not typically exceed one hour in total. Candidates are scored on the written task, the role-play and the interview.
Source: Clearing House, checked .
What your form is rated on
Within the short-listing process, we will look at:
- Ability to demonstrate a good understanding of the role of the clinical psychologist.
- Ability to demonstrate what candidates have learnt from their experience and how this applies to the role of the clinical psychologist.
- Aptitude to carry out research including knowledge of the research process, statistics, and other methods.
The rest of the passage
- Practical demonstration of scientist-practitioner skills e.g. through formal research, service evaluation or audit.
- Evidence of authorship of peer reviewed-journal-publications. This does not include acknowledgements in peer reviewed articles or authorship of non-peer reviewed material.
- Evidence of personal qualities, values and interpersonal skills that are in keeping with working as a clinical psychologist within the NHS.
- Understanding of and demonstration of co-production with service users and/or carers.
- Ability to speak Welsh (however, ability to speak Welsh is not a requirement for the programme).
Source: Clearing House, checked .
Dates for 2027 entry
- Applications close
- 18 November 2026, 1:00 pm
- Interviews
- “Monday 12 April and Monday 19 to Friday 23 April”
Sources: Clearing House, checked ; Clearing House 2027 list, NHS places, checked .
Prepare for this course
- Practise interview questionsUses a written task, a role-play with an actor or panel member and a panel interview. On role-play, group tasks and communication, its record mentions “a role-play scenario”.
Our own questions, on the themes courses name.
- Practise situational judgementThis course has not named filmed scenarios or values-based questions at interview, which the SJT practice rehearses.
Checked Report an errorCorrections
Reported online by applicants, not confirmed by the course
What trainees and applicants have said in public about selection here, paraphrased. The process may have changed since.
Posted in 2016: 2 reports about earlier years
Several, older: 5 accounts
In 2016, applicants reported interviews spread across Tuesday to Thursday slots, and several heard outcomes quickly, by the Friday of that week.
Source: ClinPsy forum, 17 May 2016, checked .
Several, older: 2 accounts
Two 2016 applicants felt the selection process was fair; one described the questions as open-ended.
Source: ClinPsy forum, 17 May 2016, checked .
If you have applied here
What Cardiff says about feedback
All candidates invited for interview will receive written feedback.
Source: Clearing House, selection procedure, updated ; checked .
Applying again: feedback from each course
This site is not affiliated with Cardiff University.
Sources
- clearing-house.org.uk: selection procedureUpdated 21 September 2026; checked 24 September 2026.
- clearing-house.org.uk: which courses use a short-listing testUpdated 7 September 2026; checked 16 October 2026.
- clearing-house.org.uk: interview dates for 2027 by course, for NHS placesUpdated 5 October 2026; checked 22 October 2026.