1Course record · South East
University of Southampton
Does Southampton test before interview? Not as far as we know: it has not named one.
The record
Before you apply
What you must meet to apply, in the course’s own words.
Driving licence
The Southampton Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Programme covers a wide and rural geographical area. Hence, all applicants to Southampton should possess a full valid Driving Licence at application (subject to reasonable adjustments for disability).
Source: Clearing House selection procedure, updated ; checked .
Right to work and fee status:
You must have home fees status.
You must have the right to work and study in the UK.
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
GBC when you apply
You must have already been awarded the qualification which grants you Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society.
Please note, applications will not be short-listed if they do not evidence that they have completed and been awarded their Undergraduate, or Conversion Course studies (with evidence of GBC).
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
Degree:
You must have attained, and been awarded, a 1st, 2:1 or 2:2 Undergraduate Psychology degree (with evidence of GBC).
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
ExperienceOur summary: 12 months minimum. Must be paid.
At least one year's (full-time equivalent), paid experience of work in clinical, community, or clinical/academic settings in the UK relevant to Clinical Psychology at the time of application.
While we value the skills and experience of voluntary work, we do not include this when counting up your 12 months FTE.
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
English language
If English is not your first language, you must be able to evidence a good standard of written and spoken English (100 for internet-based TOEFL, 250 for computer-based TOEFL, 600 for paper-based TOEFL or 7.0 for IELTS with no element below 6.5).
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
Earlier NHS-funded training
You must not be currently studying on another programme funded by NHS England*.
You must not have been studying on a programme funded by NHS England in the last 2 years*.
*This applies to programmes that started after 31 March 2022.
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
Not mentioned on these pages: getting to placements, research, other study, suitability statements and other conditions.
Pages read: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; Clearing House selection procedure, updated ; all checked . Could not be read: Southampton course page (it now leads to a general page), tried .
Before interview
None named
Not named on the Clearing House list of courses using short-listing tests. Short-listed applicants are invited straight to interview; the course aims to interview between 120 and 150 applicants.
Sources: Clearing House, checked ; Clearing House test list, checked .
At interview
A panel interview.
When“Monday 24 to Friday 28 May”
Source: Clearing House list of 2027 interview dates for NHS places, updated ; checked .
Interviews have been held remotely on an online platform since COVID, and the course intends this to continue, though it says this may change. In 2027 the course aims to have one main interview panel focusing on personal, clinical, research and academic competencies, made up of a programme member, a local NHS clinical psychologist and an Expert by Experience. Interviews run over a full week. All applicants who attend receive written feedback.
Source: Clearing House, checked .
What your form is rated on
Applications are then rated using a competency-based rating procedure. The competencies cover the following key areas:
- academic/research competence
- clinical competence
- reflective practice
- personal resilience
Source: Clearing House, checked .
Dates for 2027 entry
- Applications close
- 18 November 2026, 1:00 pm
- Interviews
- “Monday 24 to Friday 28 May”
Sources: Clearing House, checked ; Clearing House 2027 list, NHS places, checked .
Prepare for this course
- Practise interview questionsUses a panel interview. On clinical knowledge and reasoning, its record mentions “personal, clinical, research and academic competencies”.
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 2014: 2 reports from single accounts
One account
Older account: separate clinical and research interview parts, with no written test.
Source: ClinPsy forum, 14 Nov 2014, checked .
One account
Older account: themes included a past research project and clinical work that went well or badly.
Source: ClinPsy forum, 14 Nov 2014, checked .
If you have applied here
What Southampton says about feedback
We regret that we are unable to provide any feedback to candidates who are not short-listed for interview.
All applicants who attend an interview are sent written feedback outlining key strengths and areas for development.
Source: Clearing House, selection procedure, updated ; checked .
Applying again: feedback from each course
This site is not affiliated with University of Southampton.
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.