Skip to main navigationSkip to main content
The University of Southampton
Psychology

What relevant work experience would I need?

Lab work
Research

It is often very competitive to obtain a place on a postgraduate course in Clinical Psychology; fewer than 5 per cent of applicants are successful each year. At Southampton, the average number of applicants per place is 24.

Work experience may be just as important to a postgraduate selector as your degree. It proves that you are committed to the particular area and makes you stand out from the crowd.

It is often difficult to find work alongside a qualified Clinical Psychologist until you have graduated. You should think about the type of environment that Clinical Psychologists work in, and the type of people they work with, in order to complete relevant work experience. Undergraduates will often need to complete voluntary work before they can obtain paid work.

Sometimes it’s challenging to find work experience in a social or health care setting. If this is the case, shadowing someone to find out more about their job would be useful or even arranging a meeting with them to discuss what their career entails. The BPS allows you to search for psychologists in your area.

The following points include examples of relevant work experience; some include jobs in the local area.

CRB Check

A Criminal Records Bureau Check will be needed if you are working with children or sensitive information.

Privacy Settings