Female presenter standing at the front of a class

Education providers

If you are a provider of an accredited education or training programme, or wish to become one, explore more information to help guide you.

The accreditation application process

Our process typically allows a decision on accreditation to be made before the programme is up and running. Dependent on the timing of your application, and whether your submission and the evidence you provide enables our reviewers to confirm that our standards have been adequately met, this means that you will be able to advertise the programme as accredited when you are recruiting students.

The Partnership and Accreditation team, and the reviewers we work with, manage a large number of accreditation reviews and visits over the course of the year, and the period between March and June is typically our busiest. We are able to accept applications for accreditation for new programmes at any time, but we would encourage providers to apply as early in the academic year as possible.

Whilst we are unable to specify how long it will take to reach a decision regarding the accreditation of your new programme, we aim to give initial feedback on your application within three months of receipt, and to have agreed an initial outcome no later than six months following receipt.

Full guidance on the accreditation application process is available in the documents below.

Making changes to an accredited programme

You should complete the programme changes form if you wish to notify the society about changes you have made, or are planning to make, to your accredited programme. 

Your submission will be considered by members of the Partnership and Accreditation Team, who may refer your application to reviewers for consideration. Dependent on the extent of the changes being outlined, we may request a full new programme submission.

Other information for providers

Accreditation documents

Undergraduate, conversion, and integrated Masters programmes

Our standards
Self-evaluation questionnaires

Please contact the Partnership and Accreditation team prior to completing the new programme self-evaluation questionnaire below. New providers will be issued with a bespoke staff-student ratio data capture template spreadsheet. Existing providers will be issued a revised template spreadsheet.

Visit timetables
Suggested questions for partnership visits

Associate Psychologists

Our standards
Self-evaluation questionnaires

Please contact the Partnership and Accreditation Team prior to completing the new programme self-evaluation questionnaire below. New providers will be issued with a bespoke staff-student ratio data capture template spreadsheet. Existing providers will be issued a revised template spreadsheet.

Visit timetables
Suggested Questions for Partnership Visits
  • Coming soon

Children and Young People (CYP) programmes

Our standards
Self-evaluation questionnaires

Please contact the Partnership and Accreditation Team prior to completing the new programme self-evaluation questionnaire below.

New providers will be issued with a bespoke staff-student ratio data capture template spreadsheet. Existing providers will be issued a revised template spreadsheet.

Visit timetables
  • Coming soon
Suggested questions for partnership visits
  • Coming soon

Clinical Psychology

​Our standards
Self-evaluation questionnaires

Please contact the Partnership and Accreditation Team prior to completing the new programme self-evaluation questionnaire below.

New providers will be issued with a bespoke staff-student ratio data capture template spreadsheet. Existing providers will be issued a revised template spreadsheet.

Visit timetables
Suggested questions for partnership visits
Additional guidance

Clinical Neuropsychology

Our standards
Self-evaluation questionnaires

Please contact the Partnership and Accreditation Team prior to completing the new programme self-evaluation questionnaire below. New providers will be issued with a bespoke staff-student ratio data capture template spreadsheet. Existing providers will be issued a revised template spreadsheet.

Use the following forms to apply for accreditation of a new post-qualification programme:

Use the following forms to apply for accreditation of a new post-qualification programme:

Use this form to apply for accreditation of a new post-qualification programme:

For information regarding these documents please contact us.

Visit timetables
Suggested questions for partnership visits

Coaching Psychology

​​Our standards
Self-evaluation questionnaires

Please contact the Partnership and Accreditation Team prior to completing the new programme self-evaluation questionnaire below.

New providers will be issued with a bespoke staff-student ratio data capture template spreadsheet. Existing providers will be issued a revised template spreadsheet.

Counselling Psychology

Our standards
Self-evaluation questionnaires

Please contact the Partnership and Accreditation Team prior to completing the new programme self-evaluation questionnaire below. New providers will be issued with a bespoke staff-student ratio data capture template spreadsheet. Existing providers will be issued a revised template spreadsheet.

Visit timetables
Suggested questions for partnership visits
Additional guidance

Educational Psychology – England, Northern Ireland, and Wales

Our standards
Self-evaluation questionnaires

Please contact the Partnership and Accreditation Team prior to completing the new programme self-evaluation questionnaire below. New providers will be issued with a bespoke staff-student ratio data capture template spreadsheet. Existing providers will be issued a revised template spreadsheet.

Visit timetables
Suggested questions for partnership visits

Educational Psychology - Scotland

Our standards
Self-evaluatation questionnaires

Please contact the Partnership and Accreditation Team prior to completing the new programme self-evaluation questionnaire below. New providers will be issued with a bespoke staff-student ratio data capture template spreadsheet. Existing providers will be issued a revised template spreadsheet.

Visit timetables
Suggested questions for partnership visits
Additional guidance

Forensic Psychology

Our standards
Self-evaluation questionnaires

Please contact the Partnership and Accreditation Team prior to completing the new programme self-evaluation questionnaire below. New providers will be issued with a bespoke staff-student ratio data capture template spreadsheet. Existing providers will be issued a revised template spreadsheet.

Visit timetables
Suggested questions for partnership visits

Health Psychology

Our standards
Self-evaluation questionnaires

Please contact the Partnership and Accreditation Team prior to completing the new programme self-evaluation questionnaire below. New providers will be issued with a bespoke staff-student ratio data capture template spreadsheet. Existing providers will be issued a revised template spreadsheet.

Visit timetables
Suggested questions for partnership visits

Mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioner

Our standards
Self-evaluation questionnaires

Please contact the Partnership and Accreditation team prior to completing the new programme self-evaluation questionnaire below. New providers will be issued with a bespoke staff-student ratio data capture template spreadsheet. Existing providers will be issued a revised template spreadsheet.

Visit timetables
Suggested questions for partnership visits

Occupational Psychology

Our standards
Self-evaluation questionnaires

Please contact the Partnership and Accreditation Team prior to completing the new programme self-evaluation questionnaire below. New providers will be issued with a bespoke staff-student ratio data capture template spreadsheet. Existing providers will be issued a revised template spreadsheet.

Visit timetables
Suggested questions for partnership visits

Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners

Our standards
Self-evaluation questionnaires

Please contact the Partnership and Accreditation Team prior to completing the new programme self-evaluation questionnaire below. New providers will be issued with a bespoke staff-student ratio data capture template spreadsheet. Existing providers will be issued a revised template spreadsheet.

Visit timetables
Suggested questions for partnership visits
Additional guidance

Sport and Exercise Psychology

Our standards
Self-evaluation questionnaires

Please contact the Partnership and Accreditation Team prior to completing the new programme self-evaluation questionnaire below. New providers will be issued with a bespoke staff-student ratio data capture template spreadsheet. Existing providers will be issued a revised template spreadsheet.

Visit timetables
Suggested questions for partnership visits

Guidance for research and research methods

Supplementary guidance for providers of accredited programmes on the roles and contributions of staff

Frequently asked questions
  • What types of programmes does the BPS accredit?

    We accredit undergraduate, conversion and postgraduate courses and training programmes. The society's accreditation process is open to all UK providers, and covers provision delivered in the UK and internationally.

    Undergraduate

    At the undergraduate level, the society accredits a range of single, joint and combined honours courses leading to eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC).

    Conversion courses are intended for graduates with a non-accredited undergraduate degree who wish to obtain GBC.

    Postgraduate

    At the postgraduate level, the society accredits psychology courses relating to the different routes to Chartered Membership. These include:

    • Clinical Psychology
    • Counselling Psychology
    • Forensic Psychology
    • Educational Psychology
    • Health Psychology
    • Occupational Psychology
    • Sport and Exercise Psychology

    These areas also correspond with the seven domains of practice regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

    Training programmes

    We also accredit training programmes in clinical neuropsychology, a post-qualification specialism.

    The society also accredits training programmes designed to prepare people for roles within the wider psychological workforce, including courses for people training to be psychological wellbeing practitioners (PWP).

    Contact us

    If you have any queries, please contact the Qualifications Team

     

  • What are the benefits of accreditation?

    There are many reasons why gaining accreditation can be beneficial for students and education providers.

    These include:

    • it's a mark of quality that prospective students and employers understand and value;
    • it gives graduates the opportunity to gain Graduate and/or Chartered Membership of the society;
    • it keeps open the widest range of training, development and employment opportunities for graduates;
    • it's a high-quality benchmarking process that's defined and delivered in partnership with psychologists and other highly skilled and experienced psychological practitioners;
    • it's aimed at getting the best out of programmes, by promoting psychological science and practice, ensuring quality and providing solution-focused support;
    • it provides a direct opportunity for education providers and students to influence the society, and its policies for the future.

    Additional information

    Providers may use the society's 'accredited' logo in their promotional and marketing materials and should contact the PACT Team for further information.

     

  • What is the cost of accreditation?

    Accreditation through partnership is funded through a combination of annual subscriptions and fees to contribute to the costs of undertaking on site visits.

    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.

     

  • Does the BPS accredit programmes delivered outside of the UK?

    The society has approved the extension of our existing standards and processes to cover transnational education, i.e. programmes that are delivered by UK institutions outside of the UK.

    Accreditation is limited to those UK providers who have successfully graduated at least one cohort of UK students, and to provision that is delivered in the English language.

    Providers have been asked to advise the society of any provision of this kind that is either running currently, or that is in development, so that we can plan our schedule of accreditation visits.

    Guidance on accrediting programmes outside of the UK can be found in our Accreditation Documents.

    Contact us

    If you are involved in developing provision outside of the UK please contact us for further information.

     

  • Is it possible to study outside of the UK as part of an accredited programme?

    Our accreditation standards allow students to undertake up to one-third of the credits for their accredited programme outside of the UK.

    However, the availability of study-abroad opportunities will depend on several factors.

    These include the relationships that the UK education provider has in place with international partner universities, and the processes they have in place to risk assess potential international study placements or exchange opportunities.

    The education provider will also need to be satisfied with the content of the study to be undertaken outside of the UK. Will it effectively support students' progression when they return to the UK, and will students still be able to cover the curriculum required for accreditation in full by the time they complete their degree?

    Because of this, study abroad opportunities may not be available to all students.

    Download our guidance

    Contact us

    If you have any queries, please contact the Customer Support Team