1Course record · East Midlands
Trent
Does Trent test before interview? Yes, for 2027 entry: a written task, Saturday 20 February 2027, at the University of Lincoln.
Universities of Lincoln and Nottingham
The record
Before you apply
What you must meet to apply, in the course’s own words.
Getting to placements:
A current driving licence or other means of being independently mobile is essential.
Source: Trent course page at lincoln.ac.uk, checked .
Right to work and fee status
We are unable to consider:
Applicants with overseas fees status
Home fee status is required.
We do not accept international applicants.
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
GBC when you apply:
We are unable to consider:
Undergraduate students
GBC confirmed at the point of application.
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
DegreeOur summary: A lower second (2:2): With a higher degree, or if you meet its contextual admissions criteria.
Either 1st or 2:1 (or international equivalent) degree in Psychology or a 2:1 in a subject other than psychology and a recognised conversion degree giving GBC, with a minimum 2:1 in the conversion degree.
Candidates with a 2:2 degree will be considered if they either have a higher degree as evidence of ability to complete a demanding postgraduate level programme or meet specific contextual admissions criteria.
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
Experience:
Applicants need to have a minimum of 12 months full-time (or equivalent) experience in a clinically relevant role(s).
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
English language
A British Council IELTS overall minimum score of 7.5 with no element below 7.0, achieved no more than 2 years prior to admission.
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
Earlier NHS-funded training:
We are unable to consider:
Individuals who have completed another NHS funded programme less than two years ago
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
Suitability statements
Candidates should note that with the Clearing House application the Relevant Experience Suitability Statement MUST be from your current employer.
Source: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; checked .
Not mentioned on these pages: driving licence, research, other study and other conditions.
Pages read: Clearing House entry requirements, updated ; Clearing House selection procedure, updated ; Trent course page at lincoln.ac.uk; all checked . Could not be read: Trent course page at nottingham.ac.uk (not found), tried .
Before interview
Written task
WhenSaturday 20 February 2027, at the University of Lincoln
A written screening exercise, scheduled for Saturday 20th February 2027 at the University of Lincoln.
More about the test
Everyone meeting the criteria is invited, and the course states the task “assesses candidates’ general academic competence and critical thinking skills”. All applicants who pass it are invited to interview.
Source: Clearing House, checked .
At interview
A panel interview.
When“Interviews usually take place in May and will be held in person.”
Source: Clearing House, updated ; checked .
When“Monday 26 to Friday 30 April”
Source: Clearing House list of 2027 interview dates for NHS places, updated ; checked .
The two sources differ, and we do not know which is right. Ask the course.
Panel interviews across a half-day, assessing clinical, academic and personal suitability.
Source: Clearing House, checked .
What your form is rated on
All applicants are long-listed against our essential criteria: GBC, Suitability Statements, degree class, clinical experience and Right to Work (see our Entry Requirements page for more details).
All who meet these criteria are invited to the written task.
Source: Clearing House, checked .
Dates for 2027 entry
- Applications close
- 18 November 2026, 1:00 pm
- Written task
- Saturday 20 February 2027, at the University of Lincoln
- Interviews
- “Interviews usually take place in May and will be held in person.”
- “Monday 26 to Friday 30 April”
- The two sources differ, and we do not know which is right. Ask the course.
Sources: Clearing House, checked ; Clearing House, checked ; Clearing House and 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 “clinical, academic and personal suitability”.
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 2015 to 2025: 9 reports about earlier years, where accounts differ or from single accounts
Several, older: 16 accounts
Mixed interview experience: of about 16 responding first-years, 44% agreed it was positive; most found it well structured and the staff friendly.
Source: BPS Alternative Handbook, Sept 2025, checked .
Several, older: 2 accounts
One interview with a large panel that included representatives of the partner NHS trusts and experts by experience; two panels ran in parallel.
Source: BPS Alternative Handbook, Sept 2025, checked .
Several, older: 2 accounts
The written screening test is timed and hard to finish; at least two applicants said they ran out of time or rushed the last part.
Source: ClinPsy forum, 5 Mar 2020, checked .
Accounts differ
Some trainees found interviewers gave little away, with neutral faces and few or no prompts, and found this intimidating; others found the panel encouraging.
Source: BPS Alternative Handbook, Sept 2025, checked .
One account
The interview itself is short; candidates are asked to arrive early in the morning, are given time slots, and some wait for hours.
Source: BPS Alternative Handbook, Sept 2025, checked .
One account
The interview had a strong research focus, and the panel warned that some questions would be hard to answer.
Source: BPS Alternative Handbook, Sept 2025, checked .
One account
In the 2021 cycle the screening test was taken online and sent to candidates as a Word document.
Source: ClinPsy forum, 10 Feb 2021, checked .
One account
One applicant found that revising research methods helped them prepare for the screening test.
Source: ClinPsy forum, 20 Feb 2020, checked .
One account
Historical (2015): a computer-based exam at Lincoln. A research critique carried most of the marks, followed by statistics multiple-choice and a short research-methods answer.
Source: an applicant’s blog, 3 Mar 2015, checked .
If you have applied here
What Trent says about feedback
Applicants who are not successful are offered the opportunity to meet with one panel member to discuss feedback on their interview and points for development.
Source: Clearing House, selection procedure, updated ; checked .
Applying again: feedback from each course
About the practice here
- The short-listing task is timed, assessed writing, which the practice here does not cover.
This site is not affiliated with Trent.
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.