What is the cost of accreditation?
Annual subscriptions are charged to each department that offers accredited programme(s),
Cost of accreditation through partnership
Contact us
If you have any queries please contact the Partnership and Accreditation Team.
How can I check if my course is accredited when applying for Associate membership?
If you're unsure whether your programme of study will give you eligibility for Associate membership, you need to check whether your course was accredited for your intake year.
To do this please use the Find an accredited course search function.
How do I find out more about the CPD Quality Mark scheme?
The scheme enables providers to gain recognition, by the BPS, of high quality CPD activity that meets our standards for professional development and aligns with the interests of the BPS and our members.
I am a course provider and would like to apply for approval of my course through the BPS CPD Quality Mark scheme. I am uncertain about my delivery dates/frequency for next year. What do I do?
Include in your application your estimated delivery dates and frequency and we will base your quote on this information. If there are any significant changes to this, you can let us know as part of the annual declaration and we can then adjust the following year's fee accordingly.
Why does the course webpage need to be live prior to applying to the CPD Quality Mark scheme?
The course webpage needs to be live before a course is accepted into the CPD Quality Mark scheme as this helps us to review the clarity of information provided to learners as part of the review process. This relates to Standard 4 of the scheme.
My course is based outside of the UK. Can I still apply to the CPD Quality Mark scheme?
Yes, we will consider courses delivered outside of the UK. All materials submitted for assessment must be in the English language.
How do I check that a course is approved through the CPD Quality Mark scheme?
Please visit our Continuing professional development (CPD) page and you can search our course listing.
How do I raise a concern about a course approved through the CPD Quality Mark scheme?
Concerns about a course recognised through the scheme should be emailed to [email protected]. Concerns must be directly related to one or more of the standards.
How do I raise a complaint about a course approved through the CPD Quality Mark scheme?
Formal complaints about a course recognised through the scheme should be emailed to [email protected]. Complaints must be directly related to one or more of the standards.
Does the society accredit international degrees?
Although the society began accrediting UK awards delivered outside of the UK in 2014/15, it doesn't currently accredit international degrees.
If you completed your degree at an institution outside of the UK, you will, therefore, need to submit an individual application for Graduate Membership of the Society so that our Membership team can properly assess eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership based on the qualifications you have.
GBC is an important step towards becoming a Chartered Member of the Society (CPsychol). If you hope to continue to study psychology after your degree, it is recommended that you choose an accredited course so that you can leave your options open.
Without eligibility for the GBC, you won't be able to complete society-accredited postgraduate and professional studies.
More information on becoming a member of the society.
All overseas applications are assessed on the individual merit of the qualifications received, and confirmation of your eligibility for the GBC will then be available to you.
If you're not eligible, then you may need to complete an accredited conversion programme.
Contact us
If you have any queries about applying for Society membership, email the Membership Team or call +44 (0)116 252 9911.
What is an accredited conversion programme?
Graduates who haven't taken an accredited programme in psychology may undertake a conversion course. Conversion courses provide an opportunity for graduates to build on their first-degree qualification to become eligible for the Society's Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership.
The course will usually consist of at least one full year (approximately 45 weeks full-time, or its part-time equivalent) and typically comprise either 120 or 180 credits.
Applicants to conversion programmes must normally have a degree at any level which has not been accredited by the Society (whether in psychology or another subject). For conversion programmes comprising 180 credits, this is the only entry requirement set by the Society, although individual providers may set other requirements that they expect their applicants to meet.
Previous studies
For awards comprising only 120 credits, applicants will need to have previously studied the equivalent of at least 60 credits of psychology at the undergraduate level (level 4 or above; level 7 in Scotland). If you haven't done 60 credits or more of psychology study, you can usually do a bridging or access course (often a certificate in psychology) first.
A small number of conversion course providers also welcome applicants who have completed a Society-accredited programme and therefore are already eligible for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership. They typically offer their courses in more specialist areas that may offer interesting further study opportunities for psychology graduates.
Contact us
If you have any queries, please contact the Customer Support Team.
Can the society recommend one programme over another?
The British Psychological Society is unable to recommend one accredited programme over another, or likewise comment on the differences or strengths of the courses by way of comparison.
All of the programmes that are currently accredited have met the criteria which we set in order to ensure that they facilitate a high standard of psychology education or training. We're only able to indicate that accredited programmes have met our minimum standards.
Depending on the type of course or University you're interested in, you may find it helpful to look at league tables and other public data sources such as the Guardian's University Guide, the Times Good University Guide, or the Times Higher Education Supplement.
You may also find the results of the National Student Survey valuable.
We'd also recommend that you spend time looking at individual University websites to find out more about the particular research and teaching strengths that different Departments have, as these may help you make a choice, particularly if you already have an idea of the particular areas of psychology that are of greatest interest to you.
Find out more
Contact us
If you have any queries, please contact the Customer Support Team.