Thank you :) I'm happy to work on some additional corrections in order to obtain my PhD qualification in the summer. I only hope their not deciding on a more sinister outcome (MPhil or outright fail), although helpfully reassured from this thread this is perhaps unlikely. We shall see.

I sent my compliant to various people very early this morning. A few hours after my compliant, I received a detailed update from the postgraduate office. From the email, the postgraduate office received regular updates and apologies from examiners prior to Christmas but the postgrad office (and my supervisors) failed to keep me in the loop- well, excluding the apology from my supervisor on the final day of last term.

Hopefully 'very soon' means today or in the next few days....

Ok, update. They've marked my thesis and will let me know of their decision 'very soon'. The internal and external are in the processes of phone conversations following from completing their reports and they will let me know of their decision shortly. (I don't know what that means?!?)

This delay is due to external examiners huge workload and the external examiner sent the university several apologies.

To fail at this point will be utterly devastating! I'm sitting here quietly crying at my desk. :'(

Thanks kronkodile! Very useful.

I've had enough. Submitted formal complaints to various people and if they don't respond to my requests, I'm seeking legal advice and submitting a compliant to the OIA.

I've had four researcher interviews (research assistant and post doc positions) over the last 2 months, all of the interviewers asked about this resubmission and no doubt influenced the application unsuccessful outcome.

Will keep you all posted.

Thanks for the support

Bit of a pattern going on here! Nearly two weeks into January. No news and no further updates from university (despite my demands for updates). I'm finding it rather funny at the moment! Probably nervous laughter ;)

The wait continues.

Obtained some new placements for my practitioner training, still applying for graduate jobs and trying to bring myself to complete training for a minimum wage job. All in all, trying to keep busy.

Head of department sent round an email today wanting to portray the department as a friendly professional department in the departmental conference next week. Made me laugh!

Ok, for the clinical doctorate (DClinPsy), with admissions, for most unis, I don't think they look at your MSc transcripts unless applicants have a 2.2 or a low 2.1.

Some career pathways (health psychology) insist on a Merit in an MSc in Health Psychology to proceed onto stage 2 professional doctorate in health psychology.

Obtaining postgraduate qualifications is by no means essential for DClinPsy admission.

Admission criteria for the DClinPsy differ between unis.

- With undergraduate degrees, some universities clearly outline a high 2.1 (over 65% I think at undergrad) or with a low 2.1 or 2.2, strong performance at MSc level (over 65% at MSc level- unis check MSc transcripts here).
- Some unis specify at least a 2.1 without any mention of postgrad qualifications. Remember you've got a 2.1, so you've met the minimum criteria for most unis.

Admission tutors look at a range of factors- academic (BPS accredited undergrad, 2.1 or 2.2 with postgrad qualifications), relevant experience (ie assistant psychologist, research assistant, support worker, care assistant, mental health recovery worker), strong references, good reflective form and strong interview performance if shortlisted.

Some universities require strong academic backgrounds, whereas other universities are more reflective and require strong clinical experience.

Also, some DClinPsy courses have pre interview selection tests (usually a research methods type exam). Applicants who've met the minimum criteria (Ie 2.1, relevant experience) receive invites for a pre interview selection test. Generally, the top % applicants in the pre interview selection test receive invites for interviews. In the case of tied scores, admission tutors then look at application forms again and select the stronger applicant.

All in all, a varied process. Also depends on the level of competition out there as well, which varies every year.

If you carefully select universities for DClinPsy admissions, this should improve your prospects of getting onto the DClinPsy.

Also, a friend of mine obtained a Pass at MSc level (she failed to obtain a Merit in her MSc) and she got onto the DClinPsy and is now a clinical psychologist.

No news, but I just wanted to thank everyone for their continued support. Holidays were rather bittersweet, but allowed me sometime to reflect on this whole process and think about other things.

Let's hope this week will be my results week, even if it's bad news.

PS- Aside from interests within particular psychological disciplines, I think there is a tendency for psychology graduates to go for clinical psychology, as the clinical psychology doctorate or training places are fully funded by the NHS (Trainees receive an income from the NHS/university for 3 years). Clinical Psychology is also more established and well known in comparison with other psychology career paths which is reflective of number of jobs advertising for clinical psychologists in comparison with other psychologist jobs (although some job advertise for clinical/health/counselling psychologists). There's also confusion between psychiatry and psychology within the general population (and sometimes amongst academics!) which is highlighted in this thread.

I think the above factors partly explain why getting onto clinical psychology training is super competitive, but possible with required academic credentials, relevant experience, excellent interview performance, a reflective admission form, strong references from relevant professionals (ie clinical psychologists) and a bit of luck!

Other chartered psychologist routes via professional doctorates (ie health, forensic, counselling etc) are almost always self funded by trainees themselves (ie expensive!), and are therefore arguably less competitive than admissions onto the clinical psychology doctorate.

Hey :)

If it helps, I'm a 31 year old female psychology graduate interested in clinical health psychology and currently retraining to be a chartered health psychologist.

After my BSc psychology degree I completed postgraduate courses in health psychology, research methods and clinical psychology (MSc, MSc, PGCert), followed by a clinical psychology relevant PhD ( waiting for examiners verdict) and last year I started a professional doctorate in health psychology (although this is on hold at the moment due to funding problems and overwhelming stress following from waiting for verdict from PhD examiners). I've also worked in various research assistant roles, assistant psychologist positions, a research associate in health psychology job (loved that job!) and several social care positions.

I've had an enjoyable, yet, long and stressful journey, but I'm interested in Psychology, keen to broaden my skills and committed to continuous professional development. I realize my experience is probably a complete outlier, but if you're interested in a career as a psychologist, then by no means would you have to go through what I've gone through!

Look at the British Psychological Society (BPS) website which provides an informative overview of psychology career paths. If considering a psychologist career in the UK, graduates with non psychology undergraduate degrees must complete a BPS accredited conversion degree and graduate with a good classification (ie at least a 2.1). Following undergraduate psychology degree/conversion, some professional career paths (ie health, forensic) require completion of relevant MScs, followed by a professional doctorate which then leads to chartered psychologist status. Applicants also need relevant experience for entry onto postgraduate courses.

Only a minority of psychology graduates practice psychology professionally (as a chartered psychologist). Most of my uni friends are qualified clinical psychologists, working in academia post PhD and some combine psychology practice with academia/research.

I've taken a detour from original clinical psychology career path, but I'm enjoying health psychology! I don't think I could stomach a third doctorate (clinical psychology doctorate), but I would love a split post which allows psychology practice and incorporates research! x

Depends on your career intentions. Some careers/jobs require applicants with professional doctorates, other positions require completed PhDs.

I'm in the very final stages of a PhD in a psychology related field , but last year I started a professional doctorate in health psychology. I'm retraining to become a chartered health psychologist for various reasons, but mostly to broaden my career options.

Completing my professional doctorate in psychology, will enable me to register as a Chartered Psychologist with various organizations and allow me to apply for various jobs advertising for qualified health psychologists. My professional doctorate is very different from my PhD and generally involves writing various case studies and reports from relevant work experience placements to illuminate independent competency in certain areas outlined by the British Psychological Society (BPS). My professional doctorate also includes completion of a doctoral research thesis, but the research thesis is considerably smaller in word count and scope in comparison with my PhD thesis.

Applicants with completed PhDs are eligible to apply for some positions- ie Postdoctoral research workers, senior research assistant, research associates, lecturers etc etc.

However, applicants with PhDs in Psychology will not be eligible to apply for qualified psychologist positions.

Both courses (PhD, Professional Doctorate) are doctoral level courses and involve similar assessments (ie research thesis, viva, etc), but both courses are also very different and tap into different skill sets.

Hope this helps and makes sense!

It's official, news from supervisor, will have to wait for after Christmas for results. :'( Would like to think they would inform me of results in January, but not going to get my hopes up. Well, at least I can close my emails now and try and focus on other things.

Went to the interview yesterday, but probably unsuccessful as they said they would only contact the successful applicant. So, four unsuccessful researcher interviews in just under 2 months. They only interviewed 4 people out of 200+ applicants, so whilst I'm happy to be shortlisted, still disappointing nevertheless.

I'm always asked questions on why this PhD is taking so long. Very frustrating! But, I can understand why the interviewer would prefer someone with a completed PhD rather than an applicant like me still working on a PhD after 5 years!

Still waiting and jumping everytime my laptop notifies me of a new email. Perhaps it's time to close my email inbox!

Thanks Ant, maybe we're at the same uni. :)

Thanks everyone. Glad I'm not the only one who feels this is unreasonable and ridiculous. Hadn't thought about seeking legal advice. I don't think I'm allowed to contact my examiners.

Looks as if all chasing for a decision is coming from the postgrad office (and not my supervisors), but due to annual leave etc, I'll probably have to wait until January. It feels like my university department have completely washed their hands of me, so feeling very isolated and alone with this. I'm deliberately keeping all contact as emotive free and cool as possible. I'm not harassing them by any means, but does feel like I'm all alone with this.

I'm just exhausted! This waiting stress has sapped all the energy out of me to the point where I don't think I can go to this research assistant job interview on Monday. I know how difficult it is to obtain interviews, so feel I should go to this interview, but if I go, their likely to spot something is wrong under the surface and not sure if I'm ready for another rejection! I've got two other psychology related jobs, but this research post is for a longer contract, more money and closer to home. Will have a think about whether to attend this interview or not.

Wait continues, but thank you all for your support.

Thanks Kronkodile for your message. Very helpful!

Postgraduate office now closed for Christmas and supervisors now on annual leave. No more updates other than to simply 'hang in there' and wait. Unless I hear otherwise, will have to wait until 2013 for any news.

Unsuccessful with yesterdays interview, although not that upset given very low salary, only a 3 month contract and long commuting distance.

Will need to try and pull myself together and focus for next interview.

The wait continues.