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
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The following points include examples of relevant work experience; some include jobs in the local area.
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The University of Southampton runs a programme for a Voluntary Research Assistant (VRA). This is unpaid and usually runs over the summer or a few hours a week during term time. It is a great opportunity to increase your chances of achieving a place on a postgraduate course. In addition, the researchers could write a letter of reference for you.
- Voluntary work as a Youth Support Worker .
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Voluntary work with people with disabilities / learning difficulties. The best way to find this work experience is by contacting schools in the local area.
- Working on mental health wards
- Working with the NHS
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Southern Health welcomes volunteers or individuals wanting to obtain short-term work experience.
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Local volunteering at hospitals in Southampton
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The Royal South Hants Hospital offers voluntary work for the League of Friends, volunteers run a small coffee shop and go out onto the wards to sell items.
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Solent Mind work all around the Southampton area, supporting people in their local communities or in hospital settings. They work with a range of different people with mental health issues, making a difference to their lives. They greatly appreciate the work of their volunteers.
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Residential Volunteer at Beaulieu, New Forest – transport is provided from Southampton.
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Voluntary work for UK charities for people with brain injuries at Headway Southampton . There are currently two opportunities available: one is supporting the individuals with activities and the other is working as a volunteer mentor.
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The Life Foundation UK offers volunteering in countries such as Bulgaria and Romania working with abandoned children, children with learning disabilities or children with Autism.
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Mencap offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities working with people with disabilities. The particular areas that would be of most relevance would be a befriender or support worker role. They also offer work with young people which may be useful.
- KIDS offers voluntary work with disabled children, young people and their families.
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Brain Injury Support offer paid support worker roles. They employ mostly postgraduates but do have some undergraduates working for them.
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Assistant Psychologist role – easier to obtain after graduation and relevant voluntary work experience has been undertaken. These roles can be found in the Psychologist Appointments which is part of The Psychologist (the BPS monthly magazine), in newspapers or in specialist publications.
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Go to the Leeds Clearing House for Clinical Psychology to find out what sort of experience you will need for postgraduate study.
CRB Check
A Criminal Records Bureau Check will be needed if you are working with children or sensitive information.