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Graduate membership (GMBPsS)

You’ve graduated and achieved the degree you wanted, but what’s your next step? A BPS Graduate membership is the best place to start - setting you on the road to a career as a psychologist.

Why should I become a Graduate Member?

Graduate membership is a prerequisite for many of our accredited post-graduate and Doctoral programmes, and also comes with a number of exclusive benefits, including:

  • Discounts on conferences and events
  • Free online access to the BPS's archive of academic journals
  • Online, app and print access to The Psychologist, the BPS's flagship publication
  • The ability to use the official title 'GMBPsS' after your name

View the full list of member benefits.

We are currently processing a high volume of new applications for people joining the BPS, plus helping our existing members who would like to join our various networks and registers.

We currently estimate that it will take approximately eight weeks to process your application.

How do I apply?

Applicants with UK qualifications

For UK-based applicants, you must meet the following criteria to begin the application process:

  • Hold at least a 2:2 undergraduate honours degree
  • Passed the empirical project in an undergraduate degree accredited by the BPS, or to have completed an accredited conversion course
  • Have copies of your academic transcripts (list of subjects and grades) to upload
  • If you're a non-member, you must pay a non-refundable £50 application assessment fee

We are unable to consider part-completed qualifications, or qualifications that have not been formally conferred by the university towards an application for membership.

Subscription fees

Once your application has been assessed by the Membership team, you will need to make the payment for the current year's membership subscription, with the rates as follows: 

  • Postgraduate students or those enrolled on BPS qualifications: £42.48 (enter details of your postgraduate course in the Qualifications section of the application)
  • Those who have graduated in the last 5 years from the qualification (providing eligibility for Graduate membership): £81.72
  • Standard Graduate Membership fee: £163.44
Renewals

Our membership runs on a 12 month cycle. You will be asked to renew your membership with us every 12 months from the date you first joined.

If you pay for your membership by Direct Debit, your membership will automatically renew every 12 months from the date you first joined.

Payment

There are a number of ways you can pay your subscription:

  • Online card payment (preferred)
  • Set up a Direct Debit (UK bank accounts only)
  • Bank transfer
  • By phone

Apply now

Applicants with non-UK qualifications

If you're applying for a Graduate membership and gained your degree at an institution outside of the UK, then there are still options open to you. When you apply, the BPS will consider the following criteria:

  • If you hold a degree from a recognised university or comparable institution
  • If it is of an equivalent standard to a British bachelors degree at a minimum of lower 2nd class honours level, having also passed an empirical project
  • If your degree is made up of at least 50% psychology content
  • If your qualifications cover the core areas of the GBC (cognitive psychology, psychobiology, developmental psychology, social psychology, individual differences, conceptual & historical issues and research)

Following a Memorandum of Cooperation between the BPS and the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), those eligible for Graduate Membership of the PSI after gaining an academic award accredited by the PSI are also eligible for the Graduate Basis for Chartered membership (GBC) of the BPS.

Please note: We are unable to consider part-completed qualifications, or qualifications that have not been formally conferred by the university towards an application for membership.

How do I start my application?

To begin your application, you need to have the following details available:

  • Full address
  • Qualification information
  • Copies of your academic transcripts (list of subjects and grades) to upload - official translations if originals not in English
Cost to apply

Non-members need to pay a non-refundable £50 application assessment fee. 

Once your application has been assessed by the Membership team, you will need to make the payment for the current year's membership subscription.

Apply now

Special case criteria

If for any reason you do not meet the criteria for Graduate Membership via the accredited training route you might still be eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered membership (GBC) via the Special Case criteria.

The special case route allows us to assess the eligibility for Graduate membership of those with qualifications not normally recognised by the society.

As a general guide, we will normally look to see that an applicant holds undergraduate (a classification of 2:2 or above) and postgraduate degrees, both with significant psychology content and that, combined, they cover the core areas of psychology in an equivalent breadth and depth as would be expected of a BPS-accredited undergraduate degree (or conversion course) in psychology.

The core areas we look to be covered are cognitive psychology, psychobiology, developmental psychology, social psychology, individual differences, conceptual & historical issues and research.

In applying for this route you will need to provide copies of any award certificates and academic transcripts for any qualifications you are submitting for assessment.

As our assessment of eligibility via the special case route is primarily based on academic study of the core GBC areas so any short courses, CPD activities, or work experience, etc. will normally only be considered as supplementary information to your academic qualifications. 

A qualification can only be considered once towards one grade of membership.

For this reason we would not usually consider a BPS-accredited stage 1 Master's degree towards the special case route for Graduate Membership.

These qualifications are designed specifically to meet stage one of the requirements towards Chartered Membership of the Society and, if used to meet the criteria for Graduate Membership, cannot then be submitted towards a future application for Chartered Membership.

Frequently asked questions
  • Which membership grade am I eligible for?

    Each membership grade has differing eligibility requirements which can be found on the relevant pages for each membership type.

    Eligibility for our membership grades is primarily based on society-accredited academic qualifications and experience, or their non-UK equivalent.

    Each membership grade has differing eligibility requirements. For further information, please visit the relevant pages for each membership grade.

    Please be aware that the information on each membership grade page provides a general guide to eligibility, it isn't exhaustive.

    Contact us

    If you have any queries, please contact the Membership Enquiries Team

     

  • What documents do I need to provide?

    You'll need to provide copies (we don’t require originals) of your psychology qualifications.

    Transcripts (the list of subjects and grades) are required for all undergraduate, conversion and non-UK qualifications.

    For any documents not in English translations are required.

    Contact us

    If you have any queries please contact the membership team.

     

  • How much does it cost to apply for Graduate Membership?

    Non-members will need to pay a non-refundable £50 application assessment fee. This enables us to assess your eligibility for membership.

    If your application is eligible for Graduate membership we will request the relevant society subscription fee - this payment will need to be received in order for us to admit you to membership.

    • The standard fee is £163.44.
    • For those who have graduated within the last five years from the qualification (giving eligibility for Graduate membership) the fee is £81.72
    • For those studying a postgraduate course or enrolled on a society qualification the fee is £42.48

    Please remember to enter your course's details on the application otherwise we won't know you're studying and will request one of the higher fees.

    If you also choose to join one or more of our Member Networks we will request their fees too.

    The application process outlines the fee for each network.

    Contact us

    If you have any queries please contact the Membership Team.

     

  • How do I obtain GBC (Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership) confirmation?

    We can only provide confirmation that you have the GBC if you’re a current Graduate member of the society.

    If you're not a member, to obtain confirmation of GBC from the society you'll need to apply for Graduate membership so we can assess your qualification(s) and determine eligibility.

    Contact us

    If you have any queries, please contact the Membership Team

     

  • How do I join a member network?

    Members can find information and how to apply on our Member Networks page. 

    Join a member network

    If you're applying for Graduate membership and would like to join one, or more, of the Member Networks you can add these as part of the application process, each network carries an additional fee.

    If you're applying for Chartered membership the application form enables you to join Member Networks at the relevant grade.

    Contact us

    If you have any queries, please contact the Membership Enquiries Team