Psychology undergraduate internship opportunities

We believe that as an employer of psychologists we have a responsibility to contribute to undergraduate learning, so as to produce graduates with the knowledge and skills that are of value to us in the future. Offering placements also enables us to work with intelligent and committed individuals who will help to contribute to the effectiveness of the organisation

These internship opportunities are available for psychology students undertaking a four year psychology degree in which their third year is expected to be a year in industry placement.

Benefits to the psychology undergraduates

  • An opportunity to acquire and develop knowledge as it occurs in professional practice.
  • Experience of working in a professional environment.
  • Understand the applicability of psychology in professional settings.
  • Ability to use and apply analytical skills in real-life situations.
  • Full induction.
  • Provided with own laptop for duration of internship.
  • Training on the NHS structure and organisation.
  • Peer supervision opportunities.

Role of practitioner psychologists

The following roles work at the Trust:

  • forensic psychologists
  • clinical neuropsychologists
  • clinical psychologists
  • counselling psychologists

As well as interns and assistant psychologists, we also have the following placement role:

  • clinical associate psychologists
  • trainee clinical psychologists

We work in a range of settings including community, outpatient, and inpatient. We work with a range of populations across the life span from children to older people. As well as working with a broad range of teams and services including:

  • inpatient psychiatric (dementia, intensive care, acute, rehabilitation, and forensic units)
  • community mental health (child and adolescent, adult, and older adult)
  • community forensic
  • perinatal, special parenting, families and paediatric
  • home treatment
  • personality disorder
  • eating disorder
  • psychosis
  • memory assessment
  • learning disabilities

Psychologists work in many different ways on many different levels depending on their specific role within the organisation. We are actively involved in service development, provision, audit and evaluation, and aim to promote co-production and service user involvement in all of these activities.

Our work can include assessment, formulation, intervention (using many different therapeutic models), and evaluation when working directly with people with mental health difficulties, families, and carers. We also increasingly work indirectly with multi-disciplinary teams in order to make best use of resources. We offer leadership, consultation, supervision, training and facilitation such as reflective practice and team formulation sessions.

Psychologists within the trust are encouraged to get involved with local, national and international research projects and draw on research to inform all aspects of their work. We strongly value and appreciate the contribution that Psychology Interns can make to the quality of care we can offer.

This site provides information for both our psychology internship supervisors and our prospective applicants about our psychology undergraduate internship programme, including application processes.

Application process

Thank you for considering applying for a position as a psychology undergraduate intern. We encourage you to apply for any positions that you would like to experience. Rank these in order of preference with your preferred option, followed by your second choice and so on. You do not have to rank all placements.

If you wish to apply for an internship position, complete the psychology internship 2025-26 application form (DOCX, 56 KB) before the closing date of 1 December 2024. Email your completed form and a copy of your current CV to our Education and Training Team.

Interviews will be held online via Microsoft Teams. The provisional interview date will be fourth week in January 2025 but this will be confirmed nearer the time if you are successful at shortlisting.

Available placements

We are pleased to announce that we have a wide range of prospective internship placements available to undergraduate psychology students wishing to undertake a year in industry as part of their course requirements.

Available placements

Intern placements are currently unpaid. We hope to be able to fund placements in the not too distant future. Interns are entitled to claim travelling expenses and take annual leave equivalent to a paid member of staff.

Relocating to Cornwall

Before applying for a position in Cornwall, we advise students look at what would be involved for them having a placement year here.

If you would need to relocate, we recommend looking at the types and costs of accommodation available and public transport links in the county. Previous students have found accommodation on social media sites and room sharing apps such as Spare Room.

If are successfully recruited to the placement, we can put you in touch with the rest of the cohort. If there are others looking to relocate, you could then potentially look together depending on the geography of your placements.

Internship supervisors

Psychology interns can be recruited from any university within the UK offering a year in industry between the second and third year of study, as part of their psychology undergraduate degree programme.

Interns can make a truly valuable contribution to a service in return for the training, supervision and experience they gain on placement.

They should not be used to replace paid members of staff or provide essential aspects of the commissioned service. Rather their roles should be designed to enhance the quality of services.

“We have a risk warning system which was set up and maintained by an undergraduate volunteer psychology assistant (and is still in use). She also delivered training on the system which was very well received and had been identified as good practice by external peer review” Dr Ian Hogbin, Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, Bowman Ward

We hope you will be willing to offer an undergraduate internship placement.

Key points to consider

  • Placements begin in September and typically run for a year (minimum 30 weeks, maximum 46 weeks).
  • Intern placements are unpaid (at this time), but interns are entitled to claim travelling expenses and take annual leave equivalent to a paid member of staff, and are entitled to appropriate facilities (such as work space) and resources to fulfil their role.
  • Placements cannot be offered for more than 4 days a week, but must be for at least 3 days a week. This makes it easier for Interns to find paid employment alongside their internship which helps prevent privileging interns who have greater financial means.
  • You may wish to consider offering a joint placement together with a colleague.

Where there is a conflict in providing a placement for a psychology intern or a trainee clinical psychologist, services should prioritise the preservation of placements for Trainees.

If you are willing to offer an internship placement, email the Education and Training Team.

Resources