Whether you are currently trying to decide to do a degree in psychology or are already a student here, what happens after you graduate will be an important decision.
Psychology sounds like it would be an interesting and fun thing to study, but I don’t want to be a psychologist. What other options are there?First, most people think of a psychologist as either a counsellor or a clinical psychologist. These two careers represent only a tiny number of careers that psychology graduates can follow. So before you decide that a lifetime dedicated to psychology may not be for you, look through all of the options below. Some of them may surprise you!
Doing a psychology degree gives you fantastic preparation for a wide range of careers. In what job isn’t it useful to understand the way that people think? Psychology graduates are also often sought after for their research skills training.
Our graduates have entered into a wide range of careers, from nursing and teaching through to human resources and travel agency, and even becoming a surveyor.
The University of Dundee careers service can provide a great deal of information and support. Not only can they advise you if you know the career path that you would like to follow, but they can help you to explore the options available to you if you are undecided.
I’d like to have a career in psychology after I graduate. What kinds of jobs to psychologists do and how do I become one?If you want to become a psychologist, it is vital that your psychology degree is recognised by the British Psychological Society (BPS) so that you can end up with Graduate Basis for Registration. This is an important point to consider if you are currently deciding where to do your degree.
The single honours psychology degree at the University of Dundee is recognised by the BPS, so you can aim for any psychology career path you want when you graduate. Most of our joint honours degrees are also recognised by the BPS. This is something that you need to consider when choosing options in Levels Three and Four and the Level coordinator will be able to help you make these decisions.
For most careers in psychology you will need to complete postgraduate studies. Lots of information about careers in psychology and how to qualify can be found on the BPS webpage:
Clinical psychologists Counselling psychologists Educational psychologists Forensic psychologists Health psychologists Neuropsychologists Occupational psychologists Sport and exercise psychologists Teachers and researchers in psychology Other types of psychologist Related fields How can I improve my chances of having a successful career in psychology after I graduate?Getting into postgraduate training for any of the possible careers in psychology is very competitive. There are a number of things you can do to help your chances of getting into these course. Here are some of the possibilities at Dundee.
Dundee University Psychology Society (DUPS): Psychology students are encouraged to join DUPS. The society is run by the students and organises both social and academic events. They hold fortnightly seminars where working psychologists come in to talk about their careers and offer advice to students. Visit and join the DUPS Facebook page. Every year we hold a two day away break for third and fourth year students. During this time students have the opportunity to have informal discussions with the lecturers and with postgraduate students, to learn more about postgraduate research and careers. For many careers, getting some kind of experience outside of your studies is almost essential. We have an active volunteer scheme set up in Dundee that could help you get that vital experience, from educational psychology through to clinical psychology http://www.volunteerdundee.org.uk/ Research experience is highly desired in many jobs. Many funding bodies offer funding to support students to do research during the summer holidays between their 3rd and 4th year. We have been very successful in getting this funding. Even if you don’t get funding, there are often openings for voluntary research assistants. If you volunteer to help part-time in the lab of a member of staff, you can gain valuable experience and skills, and obtain a personal reference to help your future applications. In many jobs it is important to be able to summarise and present information. Every year the Scottish branch of the BPS runs a one day conference at which final year students can present their research. We strongly encourage all of our dissertation students to attend and present at this conference. Many of our Level Three students also attend this conference to prepare for their dissertation research. In your final year at Dundee you will take a number of option classes that allow you to specialise in various areas of psychology. In these, you will learn important transferable skills, including presentations, working in small groups, critical thinking and analytical skills. The University of Dundee also runs a scheme called the Enterprise Gym. This gives students the opportunity to develop entrepreneurial skills in association with various local businesses. http://enterprise-gym.com/ I’ve really enjoyed studying for my psychology degree and I would like to continue my studies in this area. What options are available?There are many different options for postgraduate study in psychology. In addition to the vocational training for applied psychology careers outlined above, there are a number of postgraduate options that allow you to follow a more academic or research based route.
If you want to spend more time learning about this fascinating subject, you could apply for a masters degree. Within the School of Psychology at the University of Dundee we offer MSc (Master of Science) courses in several specialised areas. Further information is available from our MSc site.
When you are choosing your MSc course, it is important to consider what you want to do after your studies are completed. With undergraduate studies, if you want to have a career in psychology, it is important that the degree is recognised by the BPS. MSc courses are slightly different in that they are recognised and accredited by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). This recognition is important in two ways. First, ESRC recognition means that you will receive excellent research training in your MSc studies. ESRC recognition is a real stamp of quality on an MSc course. Second, if you want to go on to complete a PhD, the MSc that you complete should be accredited by the ESRC. The Dundee MSc in Psychological Research Methods is accredited by the ESRC. You may also be interested in pursuing a career as an academic in the field of psychology, or you may want to be a professional researcher outside of academia, such as a research scientist working for the NHS, a government agency or a private research institute. To follow this kind of path you will need to complete a PhD in psychology. This usually takes about 3 years. During this time you will conduct your own research in the area of your choosing with the support and guidance of a supervisor who will be an expert in the field. Most psychology departments in the UK offer PhD places. The School of Psychology at the University of Dundee has a thriving postgraduate community with many PhD students further information is available from our PhD site.
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