Overseas Membership Information

A Guide to Studying and Working in the UK

If you have any queries please contact the Membership Team (e-mail: applications@bps.org.uk; telephone +44 (0)116 252 9911).

Graduate Membership

The Society does not accredit any overseas qualifications, so all applications from individuals with qualifications gained overseas are assessed individually to determine whether you are eligible for Graduate Membership. At the same time, the Society will assess whether you are eligible for the Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR). If you wish to seek Registration as a Chartered Psychologist in the UK you must establish the GBR.

For Graduate Membership the Society will consider the following:

1. Whether you hold a degree from a recognised university or comparable institution; and
2. Whether your degree is of equivalent standard to a British Bachelors (ordinary) degree; and
3. Whether your degree is at least fifty percent Psychology. This means that Psychology courses must comprise at least half of the studies which contributed to the award of your degree;

To also be eligible for GBR your qualification(s) must cover the core psychology areas at the equivalent level of Society's Qualifying Examination, for information this is British Bachelor Honours standard.

Application form for Graduate Membership and Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR)

GM/GBR Overseas Quals (Word)

Please note that some older undergraduate courses from the Republic of Ireland and Hong Kong were previously accredited by the Society and are considered as UK qualifications. If you think this may apply to you we suggest you check the status of your degree:

• Society-accredited courses

Registration as a Chartered Psychologist

1. You must hold, in addition to the qualification(s) required to establish Graduate Membership with the GBR, a postgraduate professional qualification in one of the applied areas of psychology that the Society recognises. This must be at least equivalent to a British postgraduate level qualification (e.g. a British Masters level degree in Counselling Psychology).
2. You must show eligibility for Full Membership of one of the Society’s Professional Divisions. For example, if you have postgraduate professional training and experience in counselling psychology gained overseas you must show that you meet the criteria for Full Membership of the Division of Counselling Psychology (DCoP).

Application Forms for Chartered Status

If you have any queries about applying for Chartered Status, please contact the Membership Team (e-mail: applications@bps.org.uk; telephone +44 (0)116 252 9911).

Clinical Psychology (Statement of Equivalence)

DCP Form DCP Guidance DCP Competencies

DCoP Form DCoP Guidance DCoP Competencies

DTRP Form DTRP Guidance DTRP Competencies