Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility for our membership grades is primarily based on Society-accredited academic qualifications and experience, or their non-UK equivalent.

Each membership grade has differing eligibility requirements; for further info please consult the relevant pages for each membership grade.

Please be aware that the information on each membership grade page provides a general guide to eligibility, it is not exhaustive.

We can only provide confirmation that you have the GBC if you’re a current Graduate member of the society.

If you’re not a member, to obtain confirmation of GBC from the society you’ll need to apply for Graduate membership so we can assess your qualification(s) and determine eligibility.

We don’t automatically accredit international qualifications; each one is assessed on an individual basis.

You will need to apply for Graduate membership and attach a copy of your official academic transcript (translated into English where appropriate) and the relevant payment.

To be eligible for Graduate Membership and the GBC we will assess that your qualification(s) meet all of the following:

1. From a recognised university institution

   The society uses the World Higher Education Database (WHED) as a reference for identifying a recognised university institution

2. At least 50% psychology

   Psychology modules/subjects must comprise at least half of those required for the qualification to be awarded.

3. Equivalent to at least a British Bachelors Second Class Honours Degree

   The society follows guidance from UK NARIC when assessing the standard of qualifications. UK NARIC provides comparability information for international qualifications with those in the UK.

4. Cover, with the required breadth and depth, the following eight core areas;

   - psychobiology
   - cognitive psychology
   - social psychology
   - developmental psychology
   - individual differences
   - conceptual and historical issues in psychology
   - research
   - coverage of a specialist/applied area

The GBC is a society standard in psychology. It demonstrates attainment of knowledge of core psychology subjects at a standard not less than a UK Bachelor Honours Lower Second Class Honours level.

The GBC provides a basis for progression to society-accredited postgraduate professional training in psychology for training to become a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol)

The society has a special case route whereby we can assess the eligibility for Graduate membership of those with qualifications not accredited by the BPS.

These are most likely to be UK qualifications but may also be a combination of non-UK and UK qualifications.

You will need to have a Bachelors level qualification plus a postgraduate qualification to at least a Masters level – both with significant psychology content.

As a general guide we will look to see that the qualifications you hold cover, at a standard not less than lower second class honours level, the core areas of psychology in sufficient breadth and depth as would be expected of a society-accredited undergraduate degree in psychology.

For information the core areas we look to be covered are:

• cognitive psychology
• psychobiology
• developmental psychology
• social psychology
• individual differences
• conceptual and historical issues
• research

If you would like us to assess your eligibility you can apply for Graduate membership where you’ll need to upload copies of transcripts for the qualifications you hold containing psychological study.

If you’re looking to register as a psychologist in the UK, the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) are the body responsible for statutory regulation.

Therefore you would need to apply to join their register if you wish to practice using one of their specialist titles, e.g. Clinical Psychologist, Counselling Psychologist.

The society doesn’t set employment criteria, this would be down to the individual employer and the requirements of the role advertised.

You may also find that society membership provides a useful platform to familiarise yourself with the practice of psychology in the UK as we offer a number of benefits and services within each of our membership grades.

Current Student members can complete the Graduate membership application process online.

You will not be charged the £21 application fee.

Graduate members looking to upgrade should complete the relevant Chartered membership application form.

Members can find information, and download an application form from our Member Networks page.

If you’re applying for Graduate membership and would like to join one, or more, of the Member Networks you can add these as part of the application process, each network carries an additional fee.

If you’re applying for Chartered membership the application form enables you to join Member Networks at the relevant grade.

If you started your degree from 2006 onwards and have obtained a third Class, unfortunately you would not be eligible for the GBC and would need to undertake a conversion course.

Student membership is only available to those studying a society-accredited undergraduate degree or conversion course.

Instead you can apply to join at one of our Subscriber grades.

Our current rates of subscription and membership fees are as follows:

Core Subscription Fees

Non-Refundable Application Processing Fees (Payable On First Application)

Please note: all non-refundable application fee payments are subject to a 6 month time limit, in which all requirements for your application should be submitted. If you have not provided all of the requirements for your application, or have not continued with your application after such time, you will be required to pay the non-refundable application fee again

Yes, subscription reductions are available.

Postgraduate Members

If you are studying on a postgraduate course or are enrolled on a society qualification we can reduce your main membership to 26% (£36).

Please contact us providing your membership number, full course details (including the year you expect to complete) so that we apply the reduction for the duration of your course.

Tel; +44 (0)1952214066

Email; [email protected]

Retired Members

If you are retired and have been a society member for less than 30 years, you will receive a 50% (£67) reduction on your main fees.

If you are retired and have been a member for more than 30 years, you will be exempt from all subscription fees.

Please advise us, quoting your membership number, as below

Tel; +44 (0)1952214066

Email; [email protected]

Special Circumstances

If you are unable to pay the full fee due to special circumstances i.e. you are on maternity leave/carers leave, we can offer a 50% (£67) reduction on your main subscription.

If you are unemployed we can reduce your main subscriptions fees to 26% (£36).

Please inform us of your current circumstances, quoting your membership number, as below.

Tel +44 (0)116 252 9911

Email; [email protected]

Online:

You can pay via our secure online payment facility by signing in to the society website and selecting ‘Subscription Payments’.

Phone:

You can pay quickly and easily, by credit or debit card, via our automated payment line +44 (0)1302 897 012.

Please follow the instructions carefully, you’ll need your six-digit membership number.

Direct Debit (UK bank accounts only):

Direct debit is the easiest way to pay, and we’ll give you five per cent off this year’s main subscription fee when you switch.

To set up a direct debit please complete and sign the  Direct Debit Mandate, indicating whether you would prefer to pay annually or quarterly.

Members who pay by annual direct debit will have their main subscriptions taken at the end of January.

Payments for those paying by quarterly instalments will be taken at the end of January, April, July and October.

Notices of impending direct debits are sent out a minimum of two weeks before the payment is taken.

Alternatively we can set up direct debit payments over the phone, please call +44 (0)1952 214 066.

Bank transfer:

If you wish to make payments by direct money transfer our bank account details are:

Royal Bank of Scotland

Account Number: 11226510

Sort Code: 16-23-21

Branch: Leicester Market Street

Swift Code: RBOS GB 2L

IBAN Number: GB09 RBOS 16232111226510

Please inform our Subscriptions Department, with the date, amount and reference of the transaction to help us identify the payment.

The society’s subscription year runs from January to December and future subscription payments are due in January regardless of when you first joined.

A full year’s subscription is always required upon admission to membership.

If you joined between January and June you will be charged the yearly rate which will all be allocated to this year’s subscription.

If you joined between July and September you will be charged the yearly rate but half the payment will be carried forward reducing the amount due from you for the following year.

The Inland Revenue has agreed to allow tax relief on all membership subscription fees, including division, section, special group and journal payments.

Below is an extract from the Inland Revenue to the Marketing and Promotions Officer dated 4 March 2004:

'Approval under Section 18 Finance Act 1958 (now Section 344 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003) was granted to the Society in 1959. This means that members may claim tax relief for their annual membership subscriptions (core subscription). It has been decided that this approval should be extended to include any additional annual subscription for membership of a division, section or special group. The extension also includes any additional subscription paid by members for any of the Society's publications.'

To claim, you should either list these payments in your annual tax return or write to your tax office with details of the total amounts paid, what they were and your membership number.

Your tax code will be adjusted accordingly.

For more information on how to claim, contact our Subscriptions Department:

Tel: +44(0)195 221 4066

Email: [email protected]

Membership will renew automatically at the end of each calendar year unless you cancel in writing.

You can do so by emailing [email protected] or by writing to us at the BPS office.

Please use the template below selecting the reason you wish to cancel.

Dear Membership

[Insert membership number and/or date of birth]

Please acknowledge this as my formal cancellation to the Society, with immediate effect/at the end of my paid period. (delete as appropriate)

The reason I wish to cancel is: (please select one only from a given list)

• I am on maternity leave
• I am moving abroad
• I am changing career
• Retiring
• Too expensive
• Active in other organisations i.e. HCPC
• Dissatisfied with service
• Ill health
• Use of benefits didn’t justify the cost
• I am a postgraduate student/trainee
• I am unemployed
• Other – please specify

Regards,

[Members full name]

Where subscriptions remain unpaid after 1 March, we remove individuals from membership until payment is received.

If you haven't paid, or have cancelled, your subscription your membership will lapse on 01 March.

We operate a no refund policy.

From 01 April there will be no refunds to direct debit payers, members will instead be advised to maintain their subscription for the remainder of the year and to cancel at the end of December.

All application processing fees are non-refundable.

New members will receive their membership card within 4-6 weeks from the point at which they have officially become a member.

Current members will receive their membership card within 4-6 weeks on receipt of their current year’s subscription fee.

Please note: the membership cards that we issue are biodegradable cards made from a plastic that’s 57% sea salt, making it far less dependent on oil than any other plastics.

The PVC in the card is produced with an additive that makes it degrade in organic compost.

The additive accelerates the degradation of treated plastics in microbe rich environments, such as a biologically active landfill.

It attracts microbes to the product allowing them to colonise on the surface of the plastic.

Once the microbes have colonised on the plastic, they secrete acids that break down the polymer chain.