Download Guidance for International Fee-Paying Candidates on Referees and

Guidance for International Fee-Paying Candidates on
Referees and References
Choosing Your Referees
You need two references: one academic and one relevant experience.
Please choose your referees carefully. You should check that they are willing to
write a reference for you and that they can submit it to you to as a pdf to enable
you to upload it to the online application form by the deadline of 1 December
2014. The references need to be uploaded alongside the other required
documentation at the time of applying.
What do the references cover?
The academic referee should be able to comment on your academic ability and
preferably have direct experience of your academic work. The relevant
experience referee should be able to comment on your performance in a relevant
clinical and/or research context and should be your current employer where
possible.
Please ensure that your referees can comment on the areas covered by the type
of reference you are asking them to write.
Who can act as a referee?
References should be from your current employer where possible. You can
use a previous employer as your experience referee if there is a good reason eg
you are not currently working in a relevant role, or you have only worked in
your current role for a few months, or your current employer can only provide a
standard Human Resources reference. However, you must explain why you are
not using your current employer as your experience referee in section 7 on the
International Candidates Application Personal Statement for D.Clin.Psy.
You should not normally ask your close relations, members of your immediate
household or your business partner to be your referee. In other words, you
should not use a referee with whom you have a personal connection. If, however,
you cannot avoid using such a referee, you must explain why and state the
nature of your relationship in the Personal Statements, Background Information
section of your application.
Guidance for your Referees
For both your academic and relevant experience reference we require
information regarding the title, position and role of your chosen referee, how
long they have known you for and in what capacity.
We also ask that the referees bear in mind that whilst commenting on your
suitability as an applicant for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology they need to
please bear in mind their duty of care to course centres and ultimately to the
public, as well as their duty of care to you as the applicant.
It would also be helpful if your referees could please use language that does not
identify you, as we use a “blind” rating system eg use “the applicant” or “X”
instead of their name, use “they” or “s/he” instead of he or she etc.
Guidance for your Academic Referee
Please offer your referees some guidance on the content of the reference they
provide for you. With regards to the Academic reference we would suggest you
offer your referee the following guidance:
 Please comment on the applicant’s academic ability and potential
including details of attainments to date.
 Please comment on the applicant’s ability to apply their academic
knowledge to practical problems eg lab work, research projects.
 Please comment on the applicant’s ability to interact satisfactorily with
staff and peers/colleagues.
 Please comment on the applicant’s overall suitability for postgraduate
training as an applied clinical scientist/practitioner.
Guidance for your Relevant Experience Referee
Please offer your referees some guidance on the content of the reference they
provide for you. With regards to the Relevant Experience reference we would
suggest you offer your referee the following guidance:
 Please comment on the applicant’s intellectual competence:
(a) Does the applicant show evidence that they can think creatively about
their work?
(b) Are they able to apply their knowledge eg by showing ingenuity in
problem-solving?
(c) Is the applicant suited to a further period of intensive academic work
alongside demands of a more practical kind?
(d) Is the applicant’s written work of an appropriate standard?
 Please comment on the applicant’s performance in the work situation: can
the applicant meet the requirements of their post; do they appear
motivated; are they capable of striking the right balance between
autonomy and responsiveness to supervision?
 Please comment on the applicant’s interaction with colleagues and/or
clients: does the applicant show a capacity to relate appropriately; to
show sensitivity; to be resilient in the face of difficulties?