Age and gender
Roughly two thirds of respondents (64 per cent) were aged between 25–29 years old when they started their training. This is similar to last year (63 per cent) and greater than national data, with less than a third (31 per cent) of full-time postgraduates across subjects enrolling in this age group (HESA , 2022-23). Compared to all full-time postgraduates, respondents started their training at a slightly older age.
The majority (85 per cent) of respondents described their gender as female and only 11 per cent as male. This is similar to last year (84 per cent and 12 per cent respectively). This is slightly greater than the national figure, where 80 per cent of full-time psychology postgraduates were female (HESA , 2022-23).
Figures also reflect findings from The Right Track (2021) commissioned by The Nuffield Trust on behalf of the BPS, which showed that one in six (16.7 per cent) of the NHS psychological workforce are male.
Respondents were provided with the opportunity to self-identify their preferred gender identity. One per cent described themselves as non-binary and two percent preferred not to say; this remains unchanged from last year. Ten per cent of respondents responded that they lived and worked/studied in a gender role different from their sex registered at birth, slightly lower than the eleven per cent who said this last year.
Ethnicity, race, and culture
The majority (79 per cent) of respondents described their ethnicity as White, which is slightly lower than last year (81 per cent).
Eighteen per cent described themselves as being from a minoritised ethnic group, with the highest proportion (7 per cent) of those identifying as Asian.
These figures are higher than those reported nationally where 72 per cent of full-time postgraduates studying psychology describe themselves as White and 21 per cent as from a minoritised ethnic group (HESA, 2022-23).
The Right Track (2021) research findings also showed disparities, with certain minoritised ethnic groups less likely to progress in their career, having entered the NHS workforce post study.
For instance, 9 per cent of applicants with Black and Asian ethnicities were accepted onto clinical psychology training courses compared with 17 per cent who applied.
Sexual orientation
Just under three quarters of respondents (71 percent) described their sexual orientation as Heterosexual/Straight, a similar proportion to last year (72 per cent).
Twenty-two per cent identified as Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual, slightly higher than last year (20 per cent).
Religion and belief
Sixty-seven per cent of respondents described themselves as having no religion or belief, which slightly lower than last year (70 per cent). This is greater than the national figure of 35 per cent for all full-time postgraduates ( HESA , 2022-23).
Social mobility
Just under half (47 per cent) of respondents reported that the highest qualifications achieved by their parents(s) /guardian(s) by the time they were 18 was a degree level (compared with 48 per cent last year).
Over one in five (23 per cent) respondents reported that the type of work the main/highest income earner in their household did when they were aged around 14 was a modern professional occupation (e.g. teacher/ lecturer, nurse, and physiotherapist). This was similar to last year (22 per cent).
Disability, impairment, learning differences, and long-term conditions
Nearly a third (32 per cent) of respondents reported having a disability, impairment, learning difference or long-term condition, which is higher than last year (28 per cent) and the year before (25 per cent). This is much greater than the national figure, where 9 per cent of full-time postgraduates reported having a disability ( HESA , 2022-23).
Disability and reasonable adjustments
Trainees who reported having a disability, impairment, learning difference or long-term condition were asked some further questions about reasonable adjustments. Fifty-eight per cent of these students reported that they had disclosed their disability, impairment, learning difference or long-term condition to their university prior to starting their course, and 28 per cent disclosed this during the course.
When asked if reasonable adjustments were put in place at different stages of the selection process (i.e. at the interview or prior to this), 62 per cent of trainees reported that they were not put in place because they did not need them. Ten per cent reported that reasonable adjustments were put in place at the interview only, nine per cent reported that they were put in place both before the interview and at the interview, and 4 per cent reported they were put in place prior to the interview only.
A new question was added to this year’s handbook, which asked trainees to what extent they agreed or disagreed with the following statement: “The university has provided me with adequate reasonable adjustments, which have been tailored to my needs”. Forty-four per cent of students strongly agreed or agreed with this statement, while thirty-one per cent strongly disagreed or disagreed. Sixteen percent neither agreed nor disagreed.
Caring responsibilities
Nearly a fifth (16 per cent) of respondents reported having a caring responsibility, consistent with last year (also 16 per cent). The most reported caring responsibility among carers (45 per cent) was being a primary carer of a child/ children (under 18 years), or being a secondary carer, where another person carries out the main caring role (39 per cent).
Caring responsibilities and reasonable adjustments
Trainees who reported that they had caring responsibilities were asked some further questions about reasonable adjustments.
Prior to starting their course, just over half (54 per cent) of trainees with caring responsibilities discussed these responsibilities with staff at their university, while 42 per cent did not discuss their caring responsibilities. When asked if their course had offered and supported them with reasonable adjustments, over half (57 per cent) reported that their course had offered them with reasonable adjustments and over a third (34 per cent) reported that their course had not.
When asked to what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement: ‘I feel able to manage both my caring and course responsibilities’, half (50 per cent) of respondents strongly agreed or agreed, just under a quarter (23 per cent) strongly disagreed or disagreed and 27 per cent neither agreed nor disagreed.
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