1Course record · South East
Oxford
Does Oxford test before interview? Not as far as we know: it has not named one.
Oxford Institute of Clinical Psychology Training and Research
The record
Before you apply
What you must meet to apply, in the course’s own words.
Driving licence
With the exception of those candidates in need of reasonable adjustments to enable attendance as a result of disability, candidates must have a full UK valid driving licence, and submit evidence of this driving licence to the Oxford DClinPsy admissions email address by 31st December 2026.
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
Right to work and fee status
The Oxford Course accepts only those candidates who are already eligible to live and work in the UK on a permanent basis. Applicants are required to have home fee status and should meet NHS bursary eligibility.
Applicants with EU settled, or pre-settled status must send evidence of this status to the Oxford DClinPsy admissions email address by 31st December 2026
All places on the programme are funded by NHS England; we do not accept self-funding candidates.
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
DegreeOur summary: A lower second (2:2): Expects a 2:1 or first. Says nothing further about a 2:2.
Candidates are expected to have obtained a 2:1 or 1st class honours degree, and to have obtained significant clinically relevant work experience which could be in the context of a degree placement or research post. Note that candidates applying in the final year of their undergraduate degree will be considered although the offer of a place will be conditional on achieving at least a 2:1 class degree.
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
ExperienceOur summary: No amount stated.
Candidates are expected to have obtained significant clinically relevant work experience which could be in the context of a degree placement or research post. Examples of relevant experience can include working as an assistant psychologist, NHS Talking Therapies practitioner or therapist, research assistant, and some healthcare assistant/support worker posts. Relevant voluntary work is also considered.
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
English language
Is English your first language and are you a citizen of, and have been primarily resident in, a majority English-speaking country? If not, have you undertaken a degree level course where teaching and assessment throughout the course is entirely in English? If you do not have these you will need to provide evidence of English Language proficiency through an English Language test, at the "higher" level required by the University of Oxford, by 31st December 2026.
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
Other study
Candidates should note that if appointed, they should not simultaneously be registered for any other degree course (e.g., a PhD). Candidates currently undertaking a PhD are expected to have successfully completed this with only minor corrections outstanding by the September start date of the training course.
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
Other
All applicants are required to provide copies of their academic qualifications (including A-Level or equivalent, undergraduate, and postgraduate) at the point of their application to Clearing House.
Applications will not be accepted without the necessary documentation.
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
Not mentioned on these pages: getting to placements, GBC when you apply, research, earlier NHS-funded training and suitability statements.
Pages read: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; Clearing House selection procedure, updated ; Oxford course page; all checked .
Before interview
None named
Not named on the Clearing House list of courses using short-listing tests. Short-listing is from the application form and referees' reports, with academic qualifications scored. Roughly 150 candidates are invited to interview.
Sources: Clearing House, checked ; Clearing House test list, checked .
At interview
A filmed scenario, a written task and a panel interview.
When“Thursday 22 to Friday 23 April and Monday 26 to Friday 30 April”
Source: Clearing House list of 2027 interview dates for NHS places, updated ; checked .
A Clinical Task developed with Experts by Experience, requiring timed written answers to a filmed clinical scenario, completed online in advance of the interview day. Then an in-person interview covering “clinical, research, academic and situational aspects”, with pre-specified lead questions and clear rating criteria. The interview is in person.
Source: Clearing House, checked .
What your form is rated on
Desirable criteria scored at short-listing include clinical and research experience, evidence of publications and dissemination, additional qualifications, skills and abilities not previously scored, and evidence of suitability to train as a clinical psychologist and health professional within the NHS.
Source: Clearing House, checked .
Using AI
On the application form: “Generative AI should not be used by applicants in their application form.” On the Clinical Task: “Please note, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools within the task is not permitted. Responses will be scrutinised; attempts to use AI tools will result in immediate withdrawal from the selection process.”
Source: Clearing House, updated ; checked .
A note on this record
Oxford's Clinical Task is the closest published analogue in UK DClinPsy selection to a situational judgement test, but it sits at interview stage, not short-listing, and it asks for written answers rather than rankings.
Dates for 2027 entry
- Applications close
- 18 November 2026, 1:00 pm
- Interviews
- “Thursday 22 to Friday 23 April and Monday 26 to Friday 30 April”
Sources: Clearing House, checked ; Clearing House 2027 list, NHS places, checked .
Prepare for this course
- Practise interview questionsUses a filmed scenario, a written task and a panel interview. On clinical knowledge and reasoning, its record mentions “clinical, research, academic and situational aspects”.
Our own questions, on the themes courses name.
- Practise situational judgementUses a filmed scenario at interview.
The scenarios here were written for this site.
Checked Report an errorCorrections
If you have applied here
What Oxford says about feedback
Due to the large number of applicants, unfortunately we are unable to offer individualised feedback to individual candidates who are not offered interviews. Candidates who are offered interviews are provided with the opportunity for individual telephone feedback following the interview.
Source: Clearing House, selection procedure, updated ; checked .
Applying again: feedback from each course
The practice here fits this course.
This site is not affiliated with Oxford.
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.