DCounsPsych Counselling Psychology / Application and selection

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Application deadlines

Application deadline 1 - 20/01/2025

• Interview round 1 (Week commencing 24/02/2025) (Exact dates will be confirmed with candidates who are invited to interview)

Application deadline 2 - 24/03/2025

• Interview round 2 (Week commencing 21/04/2025) (Exact dates will be confirmed with candidates who are invited to interview)

Your completed application should include:

• two references, one of which should be familiar with your academic work, on headed paper from the institution, signed, dated and stamped; 
• a degree certificate and transcript for your bachelor's and master's degrees; 
• evidence of your English language proficiency; 
• a personal statement outlining your reasons for wishing to study on the programme, and the experience and skills you will bring (maximum 3,000 words). Candidates are required to follow the guidance (in the 'how to apply' document, below) on this personal statement;
• A brief (1500 words) research proposal for your proposed thesis in counselling psychology. This should outline your proposed title, an overview of the proposed research and how it fits with the counselling psychology team at Manchester (See the 'how to apply' document, below).
• evidence of your basic counselling skills training or professional experience of using such skills (such as training certificates); 
• evidence of Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society; 
• a copy of the data pages of your passport; 
• a detailed CV.

You will also need to pass a Criminal Convictions Check, which is undertaken and paid for by the University.

Admission to studying for a PhD or a Professional Doctorate is highly competitive, so please allow as much time as possible to prepare your application, browse our research pages and academics' profiles, and familiarise yourself with the application process and any important deadlines.

For further guidance on your personal statement, please download our  DCounsPsych information document  and the How to apply document.

Please note - the DCounsPsych candidates are not required to approach a particular research supervisor ahead of applying, as supervisors are allocated during the first year of training.