membership terms
1. INTRODUCTION AND CONTRACT
1.1 Scope
These Terms govern applications for and admission to free membership of the European Psychological Society (EPS), continuing membership, member benefits, conduct, disciplinary measures, resignation and participation in EPS activities. A membership relationship begins when EPS confirms acceptance in writing or by electronic communication. Applicable mandatory rights and the EPS constitution take precedence where the law requires.
1.2 Related documents
The EPS constitution (where adopted), Code of Ethics, Privacy Policy and any clearly disclosed activity-specific terms apply alongside these Terms. In the event of an inconsistency, mandatory law and the governing constitutional documents take priority.
2. MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES
2.1 Student
Available to enrolled students of recognized psychology programmes, subject to verification. Student Membership is not evidence of professional qualification.
2.2 Regular
Available to those holding at least a bachelor’s degree in psychology or an EPS-accepted equivalent, supported by documents when reasonably requested.
2.3 Institutional
Available to properly constituted entities working in psychology, psychological research, education or associated evidence-based practice. An authorized representative must be designated; institutional membership does not enroll staff automatically.
2.4 International access
Applications may be accepted internationally subject to law, relevant sanctions, eligibility and service availability.
3. APPLICATION AND ADMISSION
3.1 Information
Applications are submitted through the EPS website. Applicants must provide detailed, complete and accurate information requested for their membership category, which may include identifying and contact details, academic history, qualifications, enrolment, professional experience, affiliations, professional status and supporting certificates or documents. EPS may request reasonable clarification and verify submitted credentials, including with relevant institutions where lawful and necessary. Applicants must update material changes. EPS will handle personal data in accordance with its Privacy Policy.
3.2 Decision
Membership is not automatic. EPS may decline applications where published eligibility criteria are not met, required evidence is not provided, material information is false or misleading, or reliably established serious misconduct creates a substantial and demonstrable conflict with EPS’s professional and ethical purposes. Decisions will be made fairly, proportionately and without unlawful discrimination. Applicants may request an explanation and correction of factual errors.
3.3 Commencement
Membership begins on the date specified in EPS’s written or electronic acceptance. No payment is required for ordinary EPS membership.
4. TERM AND DURATION
4.1 Initial term
Unless EPS expressly states a different term in the admission confirmation, membership is granted for 12 months from its commencement date.
4.2 Renewal choice
EPS will explain the applicable expiry and renewal arrangements to members. Renewal is free and may require updated eligibility information. No paid or automatic billing arrangement applies to ordinary membership.
5. FEES AND BILLING
5.1 Upfront transparency
Ordinary Student, Regular and Institutional EPS memberships are currently free of charge. There is no membership application fee, subscription fee or automatic membership payment.
5.2 Collection and arrears
EPS does not collect recurring membership fees. Events, courses or other optional activities may be subject to separately disclosed terms and charges; such charges do not change the free status of ordinary membership.
5.3 Price modifications
If EPS introduces paid membership in the future, it will disclose the change and applicable terms before any obligation to pay arises. No member will be charged or moved to paid membership without a valid lawful agreement.
6. MEMBER BENEFITS
6.1 Entitlements
Benefits may include member updates, scientific resources, networking, collaboration opportunities, eligible educational activities, events, publications and announced concessions, as described in the applicable membership offer.
6.2 Limitations
Membership does not guarantee employment, publication, funding, professional recognition, career advancement, access to limited-capacity activities or services offered separately. Any optional paid activities will be clearly identified before booking.
7. PROFESSIONAL STATUS
7.1 No licence
Membership is not a statutory professional licence, clinical registration, qualification, accreditation or legal authority to practise psychology, psychotherapy or another regulated profession.
7.2 Individual compliance
Each member must comply with national protected-title, licensure, supervision, assessment and healthcare requirements and must not confuse ordinary membership with separately awarded EPS credentials.
8. CERTIFICATES AND DESIGNATIONS
8.1 Accurate descriptions
While active, members may use the accurate titles “Student Member of the European Psychological Society”, “Regular Member of the European Psychological Society” or “Institutional Member of the European Psychological Society”.
8.2 Prohibited implications
Such titles do not indicate licensing, verified clinical competence, official accreditation or EPS endorsement. EPS insignia may be used only as authorized; use of a current-member title must cease on expiry or termination.
9. ETHICAL CONDUCT
9.1 Standards
Members shall uphold research and professional integrity, human dignity, diversity, confidentiality, lawful professional practice and accurate representations of credentials.
9.2 Breaches
Fraud, material misrepresentation, exploitation, abuse, harassment, intimidation, serious discrimination, plagiarism, fabricated research, unauthorised disclosure of personal data, unlawful professional practice, serious misuse of EPS branding and substantial disruption of EPS activities may lead to disciplinary measures. Legitimate academic disagreement, good-faith complaints, whistleblowing or lawful criticism alone do not constitute misconduct.
10. PRIVACY AND DATA PROTECTION
10.1 Administration
EPS processes personal information to assess detailed membership applications and credentials, administer membership and events, provide communications, maintain security, handle complaints and fulfil legal obligations, on the lawful bases described in its Privacy Policy. Ordinary membership is free and does not involve membership-fee billing. Information concerning alleged criminal conduct must only be processed where a valid Article 6 lawful basis and the additional legal requirements for criminal-offence data are satisfied.
10.2 Rights and marketing
Applicable rights may include access, rectification, erasure, objection, restriction and portability. Optional marketing consent shall be separate. Data shall be secured and retained only as needed in compliance with applicable law.
11. PUBLIC DIRECTORY
11.1 Optional listings
EPS does not currently operate a public membership directory. If it introduces a directory, it will first publish the applicable listing terms and privacy information. Membership alone never authorises publication of private personal information.
11.2 Accuracy
Members must maintain accurate profile information. A directory is not proof of national licensure unless verification is expressly described.
12. RENEWAL
12.1 Transparent process
EPS will inform members how and when to renew, or whether a new membership application is required. Ordinary membership renewal is free of charge.
12.2 Eligibility changes
EPS may request updated student, professional or institutional evidence where reasonably needed. Renewal may be refused for lawful, relevant eligibility or serious conduct reasons after a fair assessment.
13. CANCELLATION AND REFUNDS
13.1 Member cancellation
A member may resign at any time by emailing mail@eupsy.eu. EPS will acknowledge the request and confirm the effective termination date, subject to reasonable identity verification. Membership is free and no subscription refund arises.
13.2 Mandatory withdrawal rights
Any mandatory statutory cancellation or withdrawal rights applicable to a particular service remain unaffected. Separate paid event or service bookings, if offered, may have their own disclosed cancellation and refund terms.
13.3 Other refunds
There are no ordinary membership fees to refund. Where optional paid events or services are offered, any applicable refunds or statutory remedies follow the terms disclosed for that purchase and mandatory law.
14. EPS SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION
14.1 Grounds
EPS may suspend or terminate membership, including after admission, for a material false statement, serious breach of these Terms or the Code of Ethics, loss of eligibility, serious unlawful or unethical conduct, or other conduct that demonstrably undermines the safety, integrity or legitimate professional purposes of EPS. This may include serious criminal conduct or serious misconduct that subsequently becomes a matter of public attention, provided the relevant facts are assessed reliably and the conduct is sufficiently connected to EPS’s purposes, members or public trust. A criminal allegation, arrest, adverse media report, controversy or reputational criticism alone does not establish wrongdoing or automatically justify exclusion. The nature, gravity, relevance, timing and reliability of evidence, the member’s response and the proportionality of the proposed measure must be assessed.
14.2 Fairness
Except where immediate interim action is reasonably necessary to protect individuals or EPS, the member will receive written notice of the specific concerns, an adequate opportunity to respond and a reasoned written decision. EPS may consider a warning, conditions, temporary suspension or termination, depending on seriousness. Investigations must be impartial and confidential as far as practicable, avoid unlawful discrimination, and respect applicable privacy and data-protection rules. Interim suspension must be reviewed promptly and is not a finding of misconduct.
14.3 Public reports, criminal allegations and data safeguards
EPS will not treat public notoriety, unverified allegations or press reporting as proof of misconduct. Any information about convictions, suspected offences or criminal proceedings will be collected only when necessary and lawful, with access restricted to authorised persons. EPS will identify and document the applicable legal basis and any additional criminal-offence-data processing condition required by UK or EU data-protection law before processing such material; without a valid condition, EPS must not undertake that processing. EPS will not publish allegations, disciplinary findings or reasons for termination except where a separate lawful basis exists.
14.4 Constitutional authority, consistency and non-discrimination
Any disciplinary action, suspension or exclusion must be authorised by and consistent with the applicable EPS constitution and validly adopted internal rules. Where those documents require a particular decision-maker, quorum, vote, notice period or appeal procedure, EPS will follow those requirements. Decisions must comply with applicable equality and human-rights protections. EPS will not penalise members solely for protected characteristics, lawful expression, good-faith whistleblowing, legitimate academic disagreement or criticism. Decision-makers must disclose relevant conflicts of interest and recuse themselves where impartiality could reasonably be questioned.
14.5 Criminal-offence information and documented safeguards
Before reviewing or recording personal data concerning criminal convictions, offences, allegations or proceedings, EPS will document a suitable Article 6 lawful basis and, where UK GDPR applies, a relevant Data Protection Act 2018 Schedule 1 condition (or other lawful authorisation) satisfying Article 10. Equivalent applicable EU safeguards will be considered where EU GDPR applies. EPS will maintain any appropriate policy document and processing records required by law, limit access and disclosure, check accuracy and context, avoid unnecessary background checks, and apply proportionate retention and secure deletion. If no lawful condition applies, EPS will not process criminal-offence data for disciplinary purposes. Decisions must not rest solely on unverified press coverage.
15. COMPLAINTS AND APPEALS
15.1 Process
Members may submit complaints about membership administration, member conduct or EPS activities to mail@eupsy.eu. EPS aims to acknowledge complaints within 10 working days and ordinarily communicate an outcome or progress update within 30 calendar days, where reasonably practicable. Statutory privacy complaints follow applicable data-protection requirements.
15.2 Review and legal rights
A member receiving an adverse admission, suspension or termination decision may seek internal review by emailing mail@eupsy.eu within 28 calendar days after notice. A reviewer who was not responsible for the initial decision should assess whether the procedure, evidence and outcome were fair and proportionate. The member must be informed of the review outcome in writing. Internal review does not remove statutory, regulatory or judicial rights.
16. EVENTS AND DIGITAL SERVICES
16.1 Additional rules
Courses, conferences, meetings, forums, publications and digital platforms may carry specific registration, payment, attendance, cancellation and acceptable-use terms.
16.2 Security and moderation
Members shall not interfere with systems, distribute restricted content unlawfully or misuse accounts. Proportionate moderation may address harassment, illegal content and privacy violations without improperly curtailing scientific discourse.
17. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
17.1 EPS materials
Membership does not transfer EPS trademarks, copyright or educational-material ownership. Copying and redistribution are allowed only as licensed or legally permitted.
17.2 Submitted work
Contributor rights and publication permissions shall be governed by the specific submission or contributor agreement.
18. INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
18.1 Authorized representative
Institutional members must nominate and maintain an authorized representative and inform EPS of material changes to their organization.
18.2 No implied endorsement
An institutional relationship does not accredit the institution or automatically confer memberships or credentials on employees, teachers or students. Brand use requires authorization.
19. CHANGES TO TERMS
19.1 Notice
EPS may amend terms for valid operational or legal reasons, publishing version and effective date and notifying members as required.
19.2 Existing paid contracts
Ordinary EPS membership is free. Where separate paid services exist, any modification to their terms must respect the agreed contract, mandatory consumer law and applicable notice, consent and remedy requirements.
20. LIABILITY
20.1 Standard of care
EPS shall perform contractual services with reasonable care and skill where required. No particular educational, scientific or career results are guaranteed.
20.2 Non-excludable claims
Nothing excludes fraud or other liability that cannot lawfully be limited, including applicable negligence-related injury claims or consumer statutory rights. EPS does not automatically assume liability for independent professional services supplied by members.
21. EFFECTS OF TERMINATION
21.1 Access and continuing duties
Access to member-only resources and use of EPS membership titles ends upon expiry, resignation or termination. Lawful confidentiality, intellectual-property, complaint-handling and records-management duties may continue, with data retained or deleted according to the Privacy Policy and applicable law.
22. GOVERNING LAW AND DISPUTES
22.1 Applicable rules
These Terms are intended to be interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales, subject to any overriding applicable statutory rules and mandatory protections that cannot lawfully be excluded. EPS should confirm that this position is consistent with its constitution before publication.
22.2 Disputes
Parties should first attempt reasonable direct resolution. Courts, regulators and legally required alternative-dispute mechanisms remain available as prescribed by law.
23. CONTACT DETAILS
23.1 Membership provider
European Psychological Society (EPS), an unincorporated non-profit association based in the United Kingdom. Correspondence address: 1 Fore Street Avenue, London EC2Y 9DT, United Kingdom. Email: mail@eupsy.eu. Telephone: +44 2045 770 008. Website: https://www.eupsy.eu.
23.2 Specific contacts
Membership enquiries, resignations, complaints and appeals: mail@eupsy.eu. Privacy and GDPR contact: Noah Taylor Williams, via mail@eupsy.eu. This designation does not represent an appointment as an EU Article 27 representative.
24. ACCEPTANCE
24.1 Express acceptance
Before submitting the membership application, applicants must be able to read and retain these Terms and must actively confirm their acceptance. EPS confirms admission electronically or in writing. Ordinary membership is free and no payment consent is requested.
24.2 Separate marketing choice
Consent to optional promotional emails must be separate from acceptance of membership terms where consent is required. Essential membership and service messages may be sent under an applicable lawful basis. Members can unsubscribe from optional marketing communications.