Some programmes at Queen Mary require the satisfactory completion of a DBS check (formerly known as a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check). This page outlines who will need a DBS check and how to apply for one.
If you are joining any course or programme of research that involves regulated activity, such as clinical placements, involving children or vulnerable adults, you will be required to undertake and pass a DBS check. This is a UK legal requirement.
The DBS check will reveal information about any criminal convictions you have, regardless of whether they are spent or unspent. Read more about DBS checks on GOV.UK.
For information on declaring revelant criminal convictions please click here.
You may be required to undertake a DBS check once you are an enrolled student, for example, if your studies involve working with vulnerable children or adults. A DBS check may also be required if you decide to participate in certain voluntary or paid activities, such as working as a student ambassador or volunteering with the Legal Advice Centre. In certain circumstances you may be prevented from undertaking specific optional modules or voluntary or paid activities if your DBS check reveals relevant criminal convictions.
Institute of Dentistry
Institute of Health Sciences Education
School of Medicine and Dentistry
William Harvey Research Institute
Wolfson Institute of Population Health
If you are required to undertake a DBS check and you have lived outside the UK for a period of more than six months in the last five years you will be required to provide a police check from the country or countries where you lived during that period.
If you are ineligible for a police check in the country you lived in outside the UK, we may accept references from previous places of study or employment from that country. This could have been because you were under the age required for police checks or you are not a national of the country you lived in outside of the UK. If this applies to you, please contact us for further guidance.
Some overseas countries may charge for a police check. Details on fees charged by different countries can be found in the link below. There is further information on police checks and guidance for overseas applicants on the UK Government webpages.
If you have never lived in the UK, you will be required to apply for an Enhanced DBS check as well as providing your international police check. You apply for an enhanced DBS when you arrive in the UK at the start of your course.
If you have applied for a course which requires a DBS check, you will receive an email from us which includes all the steps you need to take to complete your DBS application. These are summarised here:
DBS offers an online update service which you can subscribe to for an annual fee. It allows you to keep your DBS certificate up to date, and enables institutions and employers to check your DBS clearance online.
If you already hold DBS clearance (for the correct level of check for the programme you’re applying to) and have subscribed to the DBS update service then you can provide Queen Mary with a copy of your latest DBS certificate. With your permission, we will be able to check online to see if anything has changed since the date of issuance.
You can register for the update service within 30 days of the DBS certificate being issued. For further information please see the UK Government DBS Update Service.
If you are unable to find the information you need on this page, please contact us at the following details: