Information for Applicants

UEA Educational Psychology Doctorate Virtual Open Evening 2025 for September 2026 entry.

Our Virtual Open Evening took place on Monday 22nd September (via MS Teams).

Please find the slides here.

Please contact the team on edpsyd@uea.ac.uk for queries related to applying for the Doctorate in Educational Psychology at UEA.

Information for funded applicants

The Educational Psychology Funded Training (EPFT) scheme provides government funding in partnership with employers for 204 trainee educational psychologists. It is a six-year commitment made up of a three-year doctorate degree course, followed, by a period of employment immediately after graduation as an educational psychologist within a local authority (or alternative setting which supports the statutory work within a local authority) within England for at least three years. If you do not complete the training course or if you fail to spend the three years immediately after graduation employed as an educational psychologist within a local authority, or in a capacity which supports the statutory work of a local authority service, in England you may have to repay some or all of the funding associated with your training place.

The Department for Education (DfE) works with the participating universities to manage the funded element of the EPFT scheme.

We conduct our interviews with small panels that consist of an academic member of the course team and a senior member of one of the Eastern Region Educational Psychology Services.

The written task, the interview and the short task during the interview are weighted differently to inform a candidate’s overall final score. These weightings and scores are as follows:

• Written task – 40%

• Short task during interview – 10%

• Interview – 50%

For information on how to apply please see the Association of Educational Psychologists websiteopens in a new window.

Desirable Criteria

Shortlisting of applications is based on how well the candidate meets the following desirable criteria:

1. Demonstrates a clear understanding of the role of an Educational Psychologist (EP) and realistic expectations of the day-to-day work within a local authority setting.

2. Possesses strong interpersonal and communication skills.

3. Demonstrates knowledge of the education system in England and awareness of wider children’s services.

4. Able to apply psychological theory and research to contexts relevant to children and young people.

5. Demonstrates the ability to be critically reflective, both personally and professionally.

6. Committed to upholding and demonstrating our core values (reflection, inclusion, integrity, relational practice and professional curiosity).

7. Demonstrates awareness of key legislation and policy relating to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their relevance to educational psychology practice.

8. Shows commitment to pursuing a long-term career in Educational Psychology.

9. Demonstrates awareness of safeguarding principles and practices.

10. Demonstrates commitment and willingness to undertake placements across the Eastern Region of England, with reasonable adjustments considered where appropriate.

11. Able and willing to travel independently across the Eastern Region of England to undertake placements. A full driving licence and access to a car is required for the majority of placements, although reasonable adjustments will be considered where appropriate.

12. Able to obtain satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance, in line with statutory safeguarding requirements.

13. Able to obtain satisfactory occupational health clearance to confirm fitness to carry out the duties of the trainee Educational Psychologist role (with reasonable adjustments where required).

14. Demonstrates the personal resilience, self-management, and professional conduct required to successfully undertake an intensive, full-time doctoral-level training programme.