Psych Star Scheme
This one-year scheme is open to UK medical students with an interest and commitment to psychiatry seeking mentoring and financial support for activities intended to increase awareness and knowledge of psychiatry.Scheme participants will be supported financially, receive mentoring and in turn will be expected to act as ambassadors for psychiatry.
Information evening – Tuesday 21 February 2023 6:30pm-8pm
The College hosted a free information evening for medical students interested in applying for the Psych Star Scheme 2023/24.
The event provided an opportunity to hear from Dr Declan Hyland, Associate Dean for Choose Psychiatry and Lead Clinician for the scheme. Current Psych Stars shared their experience of the scheme, provided tips for applying and explained how being on the scheme benefited them.
Current application round
Applications for the 2024 cohort will be open in Spring.
Eligibility
- You must be a current student enrolled at a UK medical school for the full duration of the scheme (1 September 2024 - 1 September 2025)
- You must be a current Student Associate of the College and demonstrate an interest in and commitment to Psychiatry.
- Students who are intercalating are eligible to apply.
- current and previous Pathfinder and Foundation Fellowship holders are not eligible to apply.
College Psych Star Application Process
You should submit the following to careers@rcpsych.ac.uk in one PDF document, 12 pt. font, with all identifying information removed (e.g. name, address, medical school, named institutions or individuals):
- A CV on one side of A4
- A list of any previous awards, prizes or bursaries from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, other Royal Colleges, universities, charities or organisations and answers to the following questions:
- How do you propose to spend the Psych Star CPD/Travel fund of £525? (max 500 words)
- What do you hope to achieve in your career as a psychiatrist? Please outline how you will prepare for this both personally and professionally. (max 500 words)
- Describe a situation with a patient which made you reflect. (max 500 words)
You should consider the College's values and behaviours when completing your application.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Please see our FAQ for more information. We hope you can find the question you are looking for. If you have a question that is not listed please email careers@rcpsych.ac.uk.
Faculty Psych Star Application Process
If you are applying for one of these positions, please submit everything listed above in points 1-5 plus the answer to the faculty-specific question as listed below.
- You can apply for the College Psych Star and Faculty Specific Psych Star positions
- You can apply to more than one Faculty Psych Star position.
- In your application please list the positions you are applying for in order of preference
Academic: What is your interest in Academic Psychiatry and how would you want to explore this if you are chosen as the faculty Psych Star? (500 words max)
Addictions: In no more than 500 words outline your interest in addictions psychiatry and how you have or intend to explore this sub-specialty.
Child and Adolescent: Please outline your interest in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and how you have, or intend to, explore this sub-specialty (500 words max)
Eating Disorders: What interest do you have in eating disorders? (500 words max)
Forensic: What is your interest in Forensic Psychiatry and how would you want to explore this if you are chosen as the faculty Psych Star? (500 words max)
General Adult: Is there a specific area of general adult psychiatry you are interested in & what experience have you had in this area? (500 words max)
Intellectual Disability: Outline your interest in the Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability and how you have or intend to explore this sub-specialty (500 words max)
Liaison: What particularly interests you at the interface between physical and mental health? (500 words max)
Neuropsychiatry: Explain your interest in the neurosciences and how it links with a career in psychiatry (500 words max)
Old Age: In no more than 500 words, please outline your interest in the Psychiatry of Old Age and how you have or intend to explore this sub-specialty.
Perinatal: What interests you in perinatal psychiatry? (500 words max)
Rehabilitation and Social: Please outline your interest in Rehabilitation and Social Psychiatry and how you have, or intend to, explore this sub-specialty (500 words max)
Benefits of the scheme
- You'll receive a welcome and induction pack from the College.
- Mentoring – You will be assigned a mentor to give you advice and support, so you can network with other Psych Stars and mentors.
- International Congress – you will be given free registration to attend International Congress of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. A contribution towards accommodation and travel will be given.
- You'll receive a certificate evidencing your time on the scheme.
- CPD and travel fund – This is a £500 fund to be spent on psychiatry-related activities of your choosing, such as conferences, courses and learning materials.
- CPD eLearning – You will be given free access to the Royal College of Psychiatrists' CPD eLearning modules. Over 200 modules and 160 podcasts to keep you up to date with new research and best practice in psychiatry.
- TrOn – Trainees Online is our online learning resource to support trainee psychiatrists prepare for MRCPsych exams.
- Journal Subscriptions – You will be given free print copies of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' journals: BJPsych Bulletin and British Journal of Psychiatry.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Please see our FAQ for more information. We hope you can find the question you are looking for. If you have a question that is not listed please email careers@rcpsych.ac.uk.
Promotional flyers
We have two flyers you can use to advertise the scheme.
