School of Psychology
Information for applicants
DEdPsy Professional Training Programme
2014-2017 cohort
starts 1st September 2014
Programme website at - http://psych.cf.ac.uk/degreeprogrammes/postgraduate/dedpsy/index.html
Main Questions
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What does the Cardiff three-year DEdPsy Initial
Training Programme provide?
What are the main features of the Cardiff DEdPsy
selection process?
What are the entry requirements for the Cardiff
DEdPsy Professional Training Programme starting
September 2014?
What procedures govern applications for places?
What are the funding arrangements?
How can you find out more?
2
What does the Cardiff DEdPsy Initial Training
Programme provide? - 1
The Cardiff Programme is based on:
 the Health and Care Professions Council’s (HCPC’s)
Standards of Education and Training (SET);
 the HCPC’s Standards of Proficiency (SoP);
 the British Psychological Society’s (BPS’s) standards
for Doctoral programmes in educational psychology in
England, Northern Ireland and Wales; and
 The BPS’s Required Competencies (RCs) for
educational psychologists who are eligible for
Chartered Membership.
3
What does the Cardiff DEdPsy Initial Training
Programme provide? - 2
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Trainees who successfully complete the programme will be eligible:
 for Chartered Status with the BPS; and
 to apply for registration with the HCPC as an educational
psychologist, which is an essential requirement for practitioner
psychologists.
However, applicants should note the following.
Applicants will be expected to meet the HCPC’s recommendations
with regard to fitness to practice (HCPC Guidance on Health and
Character, 2009). These recommendations include the requirement
that students’ health should not “affect their ability to practise safely
and effectively” (p.21).
4
What does the Cardiff DEdPsy Initial
Training Programme provide? - 3

Cardiff University has in place a Policy for Determining
Applicants’Fitness to Practise and Eligibility to Pursue Regulated
Programmes of Study. This policy will be followed where information is
disclosed or received about applicants, which suggests that a fitness to
practise assessment is required. Information is available at
http://www.cf.ac.uk/regis/general/applyonline/APPLICANT%20F
TP%20POLICY%20Senate%20approved.docx
What does the Cardiff DEdPsy Initial Training
Programme provide? - 4
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Eligibility to enrol on the programme, if offered a place, is
dependent upon satisfactory completion of an Enhanced
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check, i.e., one that does
not reveal any information that suggests a trainee would be
unsuitable for work with children, young people and vulnerable
adults. Those offered a place on the programme must agree to
show their DBS certificates to the Programme Administrator, for
checking.
The HCPC carries out its own health and character checks to
determine whether individuals are fit to practise and can be
included on the Register. So passing all elements of this
programme does not guarantee automatic inclusion on the
HCPC’s Register.
6
What does the Cardiff DEdPsy Initial Training
Programme provide? - 5
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The programme is designed to provide a wideranging overview of issues and practices in
educational psychology. There is a balance
struck between developing professional skills
and competencies and developing an
understanding of the theories and process
issues, which inform good practice.
7
What does the Cardiff DEdPsy Initial Training
Programme provide? - 6
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The programme consists of:
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university-based sessions (blocked weeks);
investigative visits (pre-induction weeks) and practical
fieldwork placements in Local Authority settings and
Educational Psychology Services (blocked weeks);
reading and directed study (blocked weeks);
research projects, both collaborative and individual; and
private study time.
8
What does the Cardiff DEdPsy Initial Training
Programme provide? - 7

Arrangements across the three years are likely to be as
follows (approximate percentages).
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Year 1 - University - including research (60%)
Fieldwork - including investigative visits (40%)
Year 2 - University - (33%)
Fieldwork - including research (67%)
Year 3 - University (28%)
Fieldwork - including research (72%)
9
Cardiff University - DEdPsy Year Plan for 2013-2014
Term One
W/C
1
2/09
Year 1
DS & IVs
Term Two
Year 2
Year 3
W/C
Year 1
Year 2
Term Three
Year 3
R & DS
R & DS
6/01
U
EPS 2 **
EPS 3 *
W/C
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
28/04
EPS 1
EPS 2 **
EPS 3 ***
2
9/09
DS & IVs
U
EPS 3 *
13/01
U
EPS 2
EPS 3
5/05
EPS 1
EPS 2
EPS 3
3
16/09
DS & IVs
U (2w)
EPS 3
20/01
U
EPS 2
EPS 3
12/05
EPS 1
EPS 2
EPS 3
4
23/09
DS & IVs
EPS 2 **
EPS 3
27/01
U
EPS 2
EPS 3
19/05
EPS 1
EPS 2
EPS 3
5
30/09
DS & IVs (5w)
EPS 2
EPS 3
3/02
U (5w)
EPS 2
EPS 3
26/05
R & DS
R & DS
R & DS
6
07/10
U (Induction)
EPS 2
EPS 3
10/02
EPS 1
EPS 2
EPS 3
2/06
EPS 1 (5w)
EPS 2
EPS 3
7
14/10
U
EPS 2
EPS 3
17/02
EPS 1
EPS 2
EPS 3
9/06
U
EPS 2 (6w)
EPS 3 (6w)
8
21/10
U
EPS 2
EPS 3
24/02
R & DS
R & DS
R & DS
16/06
U
U (Th)
U
9
28/10
R & DS
R & DS
R & DS (1w)
3/03
EPS 1
EPS 2
EPS 3
23/06
U
U (Th)
U
10
4/11
U
EPS 2
EPS 3
10/03
EPS 1
EPS 2
EPS 3
30/06
U (4w)
U (Th) (3w)
U (3w)
11
11/11
U
EPS 2
EPS 3
17/03
EPS 1
EPS 2
EPS 3
7/07
R & DS
R & DS
R & DS
12
18/11
U
EPS 2
EPS 3
24/03
EPS 1
EPS 2
EPS 3
14/07
R & DS (3w)
R & DS (3w)
R & DS (3w)
13
25/11
U
EPS 2
EPS 3
31/03
EPS 1 (7w)
EPS 2 (12w)
EPS 3 (12w)
14
2/12
U (8w)
EPS 2
EPS 3
7/04
R & DS (2w)
R & DS (2w)
R & DS (2w)
15
9/12
R & DS
EPS 2 (11w)
EPS 3 (13w)
16
16/12
R & DS (3w)
R & DS (3w)
U (1w)
48
48
23
29
44
Total EPS days
Last day of Term
52
th
Friday, 20 December 2013
35
th
Friday, 11 April 2014
24
th
Friday, 18 July 2014
DS & IVs = Directed Study and Investigative Visits
* All EPS 3 weeks in terms 1 and 2 = Monday to Thursday for
(Th) = Thesis Work (University-Based)
U = University Sessions
fieldwork placements and Friday for thesis-related work
*** All EPS 3 weeks from 28th April = Monday to Friday for
R & DS = Reading and Directed Study
** All EPS 2 weeks = Monday to Thursday for fieldwork
fieldwork placements (Thesis submitted on 10th April)
Numbers in brackets = number of weeks spent on specific activities
placements and Friday for Small Scale Research Project and
thesis-related work
EPS = Fieldwork Placement
Year 1 Total EPS days for 2013-2014 = 59
Year 2 Total EPS days for 2013-2014 = 115
Year 3 Total EPS days for 2013-2014 = 129
What does the Cardiff DEdPsy Initial Training
Programme provide? - 8
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It is important to note that:
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the programme begins each year on 1st September;
trainees are expected to engage fully in programme
activities during all of the weeks listed on the Year
Plan (including Reading and Directed Study weeks);
and
the year ends on the Friday of the last week of term 3
listed on the Year Plan.
11
What does the Cardiff DEdPsy Initial Training
Programme provide? - 9
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The following themes underpin University-based
sessions.
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Research Methods in Educational Psychology.
Processes and Methods of Assessment.
The Psychology of Learning: Managing Change.
The Psychology of Behaviour: Managing Change.
Understanding and Working with Organisations, Systems
and Groups: Managing Change.
The Role of the Educational Psychologist: Managing
Change.
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What does the Cardiff DEdPsy Initial Training
Programme provide? - 10
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All trainees on the Cardiff programme:
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have placements in local authority psychology services in Wales
and some counties in southern England, with Welsh placements
prioritised (arranged by the programme staff, in consultation with
local authorities and trainees themselves) during all three years
of their programme and do not need to find employment during
years 2 and 3;
have three separate fieldwork placements in different local
authorities across the full term of the programme; and
cannot opt out of these arrangements, for example, to seek
employment in any of the three years.
13
What does the Cardiff DEdPsy Initial Training
Programme provide? - 11
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The tutors have been developing ‘COMOIRA’ - the Constructionist
Model of Informed, Reasoned Action. This is an innovative model for
applying psychology, where psychological theory and research lie at
the centre of a flexible process that can inform all the different tasks
in which EPs can become involved.
It will be used by the trainees on their fieldwork placements and in
group investigations, but is more than simply a fieldwork tool. The
programme team is keen to use COMOIRA in all aspects of work on
the programme including professional supervision sessions and
group consultations. COMOIRA is in a process of dynamic
development and will continue to influence all aspects of the
programme.
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COMOIRA References
Gameson, J., Rhydderch, G., Ellis, D. and Carroll, H.C.M.
(2003). Constructing a flexible model of integrated
professional practice: part 1, conceptual and theoretical
issues. Educational and Child Psychology, 20, 4, 96115.
Gameson, J., Rhydderch, G., Ellis, D. and Carroll, H.C.M.
(2005). Constructing a flexible model of integrated
professional practice: part 2, process and practice issues.
Educational and Child Psychology, 22, 4, 41-55.
15
COMOIRA References
Rhydderch, G. and Gameson, J. (2010). Constructing a
flexible model of integrated professional practice: part 3,
the model in practice. Educational Psychology in
Practice, 26, 2, 123-149.
Gameson, J. and Rhydderch, G. (2008). The Constructionist
Model of Informed and Reasoned Action (COMOIRA). in
B. Kelly, L. Woolfson and J. Boyle (Eds.), Frameworks
for Practice in Educational Psychology: A Textbook
for Trainees and Practitioners. London: Jessica
Kingsley.
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COMOIRA References
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Electronic copies of the three COMOIRA
papers, and the chapter in the Frameworks
book, are available on request from the
Programme Administrator:
Email: dedpsyadmin@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone: 02920 875393
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What are the main features of the Cardiff DEdPsy
selection process? - 1
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Two stage selection process
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Stage 1 Short-listing based upon application forms
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Stage 2 (Monday 31st March 2014) - A range of
selection activities (all day) for short listed
applicants.
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What are the main features of the Cardiff DEdPsy
selection process? - 2
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The programme team is looking to recruit trainees who:
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have made good use of their relevant experiences of working
with children and young people in education, child care or
community settings to prepare themselves for professional
training as an educational psychologist of the highest quality;
have a good understanding of the needs of children and/or
young people, especially in educational contexts;
have a good understanding of schools, local authority education
systems and/or children’s services, and the broader systems to
which they relate;
are able to apply psychology appropriately in their work with
children, young people and adults; continued…
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What are the main features of the Cardiff DEdPsy
selection process? - 3
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The programme team is looking to recruit trainees who:
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have a good understanding of the key issues and debates in
education;
have a good understanding of the role and function of
educational psychologists;
have maintained a keen interest in psychology itself (since the
programme will not involve the re-teaching of undergraduate
psychology);
have a good understanding of the key issues and developments
in the profession of educational psychology;
have excellent interpersonal skills and manage their interactions
with others sensitively; continued…
20
What are the main features of the Cardiff DEdPsy
selection process? - 4
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The programme team is looking to recruit trainees who:
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have excellent self-management skills and can demonstrate
these skills in stressful and complex situations, e.g., the
selection process;
can reflect on their own experiences in order to identify salient
aspects of learning;
are able to communicate effectively to a high standard - orally
and in writing;
would participate enthusiastically in all aspects of the
programme and be open to new learning and experiences; and
would also be willing to undertake placements in any area of
Wales or in parts of England.
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What are the entry requirements for the Cardiff
DEdPsy Programme starting September 2014? - 1
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Currently, applicants must be eligible for the Graduate Basis for
Chartered Membership (GBC), formerly the Graduate Basis for
Registration (GBR), of the British Psychological Society (BPS)
and must provide written confirmation of this with their application
forms.
To be eligible for GBC applicants must either have:
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undertaken a qualification in psychology (usually a Bachelor (Honours)
degree) which has been approved by the BPS as conferring the Graduate
Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) ; or
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passed the Society's Qualifying Examination; or
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undertaken an appropriate Society approved conversion course.
Further details can be found on the BPS website.
22
What are the entry requirements for the Cardiff
DEdPsy Programme starting September 2014? - 2
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Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have benefited
from direct, relevant and appropriate work with children and young
people (0 - 19) within educational, childcare or community settings,
that has:
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helped to prepare them for training as an educational psychologist;
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been sufficient and sustained, showing continuity and commitment; and
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included being supervised/managed by an appropriate responsible professional.
The programme team is not in a position to comment on the
suitability of particular experiences.
The programme team is most interested in the use applicants have
made of their experiences to prepare themselves for training as
applied psychologists of the highest quality in education contexts.
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What are the entry requirements for the Cardiff
DEdPsy Programme starting September 2014? - 3

Applicants who undertook their psychology degrees at a
university in the UK or Republic of Ireland, and who are
unsure whether they are eligible for GBC, should contact
their respective course directors who should be able to
confirm whether they have GBC or not. A full list of
undergraduate accredited courses is available from the
British Psychological Society (BPS). Applicants will be
required to provide written confirmation of eligibility for
GBC.
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What are the entry requirements for the Cardiff
DEdPsy Programme starting September 2014? - 4
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Applicants who studied overseas will be required to
demonstrate that they are eligible for GBC and
should apply to the BPS for Graduate Membership.
Eligibility for GBC will be considered automatically
when applying for Membership and decisions on
both will be communicated at the same time.
Please note that applicants are responsible for
confirming GBC and applications for Graduate
Membership can take several months to process.
25
What are the entry requirements for the Cardiff
DEdPsy Programme starting September 2014? - 5
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All applicants must have a standard of written and spoken
English that will enable them to complete doctoral level
written assignments, participate fully in all Universitybased sessions and function competently as trainee
educational psychologists in fieldwork placement contexts.
The minimum English language level accepted for
application to the DEdPsy Programme (where appropriate)
is an International English Language Test (IELT) score of
7.5. In addition, during all aspects of the selection process
(including scrutiny of submitted application forms), English
language proficiency will be monitored and assessed.
26
What procedures govern applications for places?
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Cardiff University now has a separate application
process for places on the Cardiff DEdPsy.
Further details are published on our DEdPsy web
pages at:
http://psych.cf.ac.uk/degreeprogrammes/postgraduate/dedpsy/index.html
27
What are the funding arrangements? - 1
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For the 2014-2017 cohort, each funded trainee on the Cardiff
DEdPsy programme will receive a training grant/bursary (£12,600)
from the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and Welsh
Government (WG) for all three years of the programme.
No additional funds are provided for travel expenses etc. but many
EPSs now pay the costs of travel for journeys that trainees make on
EPS business during placement.
Trainees on the Cardiff DEdPsy Programme are not employed
during any of the three years of their training and, therefore, do not
accrue pension and other entitlements during this time.
Fees will be paid from WLGA/WG central funds.
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What are the funding arrangements? - 2
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Trainees on the Cardiff DEdPsy programme must
successfully complete all programme
requirements each year in order to progress to the
next year.
Funding in a subsequent year depends on
successful completion of the previous year.
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What are the funding arrangements? - 3
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The Cardiff DEdPsy programme has now started to offer places to
a limited number of candidates who meet all selection criteria and
wish to self-fund.
Self funders have to pay the full fees for all three years of the
Programme.
All prospective self funding candidates must meet all of the
DEdPsy stringent selection criteria and programme requirements
and no special allowances are made for them.
30
What are the funding arrangements? - 4
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It is expected that the 3 years of training will be
continuous. Any breaks in training will have to be
justified and will normally only be allowed in case
of:
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maternity/paternity break;
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certificated sickness; and
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some other unavoidable emergency.
31
What are the funding arrangements? - 5
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Funded trainees who withdraw from the programme will no longer be
eligible for the training grant/bursary and may be required to reimburse
all payments made.
Funded trainees who withdraw from the programme, or fail to progress,
will not be eligible for any further funding under the scheme.
Funded trainees who are required to repeat any part of the programme
will not be eligible for additional funding for the repeated period.
Any trainee who is required to repeat any part of the programme is also
likely to have to pay fees for the repeated period.
The Cardiff DEdPsy Programme does not offer any interim, exit or
aegrotat awards for trainees who do not successfully complete all
programme requirements. This includes successful completion of the
thesis.
32
What are the funding arrangements? - 6
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Upon successful completion of the training
programme, ‘funded’ trainees may be required, as is
currently the case, to complete two years of
employment as an educational psychologist within a
Local Authority in England or Wales.
Failure to undertake this may result in the recovery of
all or a part of the training grant/bursary.
In this event, each case would be considered on an
individual basis.
33
What are the funding arrangements? - 8
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There are currently no conditions attached to the
WLGA central funding for trainees on the Cardiff
programme
However, at any time in the future, this situation could
change, resulting in funded Cardiff trainees:
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having all their fieldwork placements in Wales; and
being obliged to apply for vacant EP posts in Wales, and
possibly work in Wales, for two years after they qualify.
34
How can you find out more?
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For information and links to other sites, visit our website at:
http://psych.cf.ac.uk/degreeprogrammes/postgraduate/dedpsy/index.html
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Contact an Educational Psychology Service (EPS) and ask to
shadow/interview an EP.
Read the journal ‘Educational Psychology in Practice’ which all
members of the Association of Educational Psychologists (AEP)
receive quarterly and which may also be available in University
libraries.
Read the journal ‘Educational and Child Psychology’ which
members of the Division of Educational and Child Psychology
(DECP) receive quarterly and which may also be available in
University libraries.
35