After six months of preparation, which Alba described as “making the PIR my priority, temporarily putting aside social life, other projects, and focusing all my energy on studying,” the psychology graduate has successfully passed the rigorous exam on her first attempt. Despite the limited number of places available – 274 for over 3,800 candidates – the usual path to securing a PIR position is to study for about two years. Alba believes that her success in just six months was thanks to “the education I received at UIC Barcelona during my four years on the degree, where I had the opportunity to learn a lot and understand in detail from the very first year the best way to prepare for the PIR exam.”

As Suñer recalls, “The PIR is a specialised training that allows psychology graduates who pass the exam to undertake a four-year residency in a hospital and other public mental health facilities, both for adults and for children and adolescents.”  Although the psychology graduate is still in the process of choosing her placement, she hopes that her rank of 144 out of 274 positions will allow her to “stay in the Vallès and be close to home.”

Alba Suñer also highlights that the PIR “is undoubtedly the best way to train in clinical psychology because, over four years, you have the opportunity to work alongside professionals from different specialties and see all types of patients.”  To achieve this success, Suñer stresses that for her, “consistency and sacrifice over these six months were key, but it was worth it because it led to achieving the greatest accomplishment of my life and fulfilling a dream. To achieve this success, Suñer stresses that for her, “consistency and sacrifice over these six months were key, but it was worth it because it led to achieving the greatest accomplishment of my life and fulfilling a dream.