Prospective Educational Psychology applicants

Introduction

The Educational Psychology professional entry training in England is a three year full time doctorate level course. The courses generally consist of a first year full time studying and the second and third years employed as trainee Educational Psychologists, with 1-2 days study per week.

Information about the application process for September 2009 entry will be available on this site in September 2008. 

The application process for September 2008 is now complete and all funded places are allocated. Please monitor this site for information about applying for September 2009.

Sections:

Process

CWDC administers the funding for the Educational Psychology entry training. Selection of candidates is made by the training providers. Applicants make one application for a funded place to CWDC. Applicants can apply to up to three training providers in this scheme.

These applications are then forwarded to the training providers, who interview applicants and make the final selection.

There is one round of applications per year. This process begins in the autumn and offers are made in late spring of the following year. There is no scope for applying for a funded place outside of this process. Where applicants are unable to accept an offer, candidates further down the shortlist are offered places.

It is not possible to apply for a deferred place. In exceptional circumstances, successful applicants may be able to defer their start date, but this is at the discretion of the individual training provider.

This course is not currently available to study part time or as distance learning.

Provisional timetable

Self-funders
Some training providers offer self-funded training places. These fall outside of CWDC's remit. CWDC is not able to offer advice about alternative course of funding.

Work experience
CWDC does not organise work experience. For job opportunities with Local Authorities, visit the jobs section on the relevant Local Authority's website. For work experience contact your local Educational Psychology service directly.

2009 Handbook
In the autumn, the 2009 Handbook will be published on this website. This provides details of the application process and summaries of the courses on offer. Please check this site regularly for more information.

2008 Handbook
Training provision in England is currently under-going a transition, which may change the application process from 2009, so please use this document for guidance only. Download the 2008 Handbook

Funding

The funding scheme includes a bursary for Year 1 and fees for all three years. Bursary levels for the September 2008 cohort are:

• £14,400 outside London
• £14,900 inside London

Please note : the bursary is tax free.

Fees are paid directly to training providers by CWDC. For the September 2008 cohort, these are £11,161 for Year 1 and £5,000 for years 2 and 3. Some training providers may charge top up fees. Information about top up fees will be communicated directly to applicants by training providers.

Application criteria

Applicants are currently required to have a 2.1 or above in a first psychology-based degree that grants them eligibility for Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR) with the British Psychological Society (BPS). For those who do not have a first degree in psychology, it is possible to take a conversion course which also grants GBR. More information is available on the BPS website.

Students with a 2.2 in their first degree may be considered, dependent on further academic qualifications and high quality experience.

Applicants also need at least one year's relevant experience of working with children and young people. This can include roles such as Assistant Educational Psychologist, Teacher, SEN Co-ordinator, Classroom / Learning Assistant or research activity with children and young people. Other relevant experience is also considered.

Work experience from abroad is valuable, however working knowledge of the UK education system is desirable.

Applicants must be ordinarily resident in the UK. Funding is given with the expectation that trainees continue to work in a Local Authority or equivalent for two years after graduating. Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK. For further information about UK residency, please go to the Home Office website.

Course information for England

Below is a list of the training providers offering Educational Psychology training courses in England beginning in September 2008.

Training provision arrangements are currently undergoing significant changes and training provision from September 2009 may differ. Please check this website for further information.

For more information about individual courses, please click on the training provider names below.

England

• Bristol University
• Exeter University
• Institute of Education, University of London
• Newcastle University
• Sheffield University
• Tavistock & Portman NHS Trust
• University College London
• University of Birmingham
• University of East London
• University of Manchester
• University of Nottingham
• University of Southampton

Training provision in the rest of the UK

Wales

• Cardiff University

Northern Ireland

• Queen's College, Belfast

Scotland

• Dundee University
• University of Strathclyde