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Your journey into psychology www.bps.org.uk/careers
A degree in psychology offers not only a pathway to becoming a psychologist, but also the knowledge and skills that you can apply in a wide range of careers. Professor Ann Colley, CPsychol Chief Executive, The British Psychological Society
Who we are and what we do
The British Psychological Society
is the representative body for
psychology and psychologists in
the United Kingdom and is a
registered charity.
The Society promotes excellence and
ethical practice in the science, education
and practical applications of psychology.
Our core purposes are to:
• be the Learned Society and
Professional Body for the discipline
• make psychology accessible to all
• promote and advance the discipline
• be the authoritative and public voice
of psychology
• determine and ensure the highest
standards in all we do.
www.bps.org.uk/careers 1
As applied psychologists we have a real opportunity, based on
research, knowledge and experience, to help individuals or
groups to develop positive solutions, to identify preferred futures
or to work towards improved performance on a variety of issues.
Richard Walsh, CPsychol AFBPsS
2 www.bps.org.uk/careers
What is psychology and why do we need it?
Psychology is the scientific
study of the human mind
and behaviour.
We need psychology as it can give us a • assisting athletes and sports people to of behaviour. This includes observing,
clearer picture on how we think, act, perform better measuring, testing and carrying out
react and communicate with others. • helping people to overcome depression, statistical analysis with individuals and
stress, trauma or phobias groups to gain relevant information to
Psychology has a big impact on all areas support different situations. This enables
of life, particularly in education, health, • easing the effects of parental divorce
on children psychologists to find solutions to
the economy, industry and crime.
problems in various settings.
Psychologists work in many different • speeding up recovery from brain injury
areas of society and are concerned with • helping stop or prevent bullying at
problems such as: school or in the workplace
• ensuring that school pupils and
• making sure that people are happy at
students are being taught in the most
work and perform to the best of
effective way.
their abilities
• supporting the police, courts and prison Psychologists help by applying scientific
service to perform more effectively methods to obtain a better understanding
www.bps.org.uk/careers 3
Where to start?
Many schools and colleges
now offer a variety of
psychology courses.
These include GCSE, the International
Baccalaureate, AS and A2 Level or
the Scottish NQ Intermediate 1,
Intermediate 2, Higher and Advanced
Higher courses.
GCSE psychology provides students with
an introduction to the world of
psychology. AS/A2 Level and Scottish
Higher courses take this further and look
at how ideas and theories are developed.
Your local school or college will be able
to provide you with more information.
4 www.bps.org.uk/careers
I’m really glad I studied
Psychology Higher. It
was such an interesting
subject and I definitely
think it has helped me
better understand myself
and others, and my role
in society.
Juliette Berlsford, Winner of the
2007 Scottish Higher Award
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6 www.bps.org.uk/careers
What qualifications do I need to apply for a psychology degree?
Applicants to degree courses will normally
need to demonstrate good numeracy and
literacy skills and an ability to handle
scientific concepts.
Biology, mathematics, english, history, The Society accredits undergraduate
economics and similar arts or social degree courses that will give you eligibility
science subjects are all useful for the Graduate Basis for Chartered
preparation for a degree course. Many Membership (GBC). You will need to have
universities now require at least one GBC if you want to apply for Society
science A Level. accredited postgraduate training courses
and become a Chartered Psychologist.
A or AS Level Psychology is not normally
required to get onto a degree course but
taking an A Level or GCSE in psychology
can give you a head start in the subject. You can find a full list
For more information on specific entry
requirements please contact institutions
of Society accredited
or go to the University Central Admissions undergraduate degree
Service website: www.ucas.com
courses on our website at
www.bps.org.uk/careers
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What should I expect from a psychology degree?
The exact content of an
undergraduate degree can vary
from one university to another.
Society accredited courses will include: • Conceptual and historical issues – how
psychological explanations have
• Biological psychology – how the brain changed over time and key debates
influences behaviour, the effects of which shape its future
hormones, how it can be affected
• Research methods – how to conduct
by drugs
quantitative and qualitative methods,
• Cognitive psychology – how we research design, data collection,
remember, learn, think, reason, analysis and interpretation.
perceive, speak and understand
• Developmental psychology – how Many degrees allow students to select
humans develop physically, mentally modules in addition to the core content.
and socially during childhood and All will include some form of
adolescence and their life span independent project and practical work.
• Social psychology – how human For information regarding specific course
behaviour and experience are affected content, contact universities directly.
by the social context such as in groups
and relationships
• Individual differences – why people
have different personalities, how we
can measure intelligence, how we treat
mental disorders
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It feels a real privilege to
work as a psychologist.
The work is well paid
and very varied. Skills
learnt in previous
occupations can often
augment experience and
understanding as a
psychologist.
Professor Graham Towel,
CPsychol FBPsS
10 www.bps.org.uk/careersWhat if I have a degree in another subject?
If you hold a degree that is not
accredited by the Society, you
have the option of undertaking
an accredited conversion course.
This is an alternative to completing an
undergraduate degree, which usually
takes 3 years full-time to complete.
An accredited conversion course can
take around half that time and will give
you eligibility for GBC.
There are different variations of
accredited conversion courses available
in the UK that will all meet the
necessary requirements for GBC.
For information on entry requirements,
fees, time scales and funding you will
need to contact universities directly.
You can find a full list of accredited
conversion courses on the Society website.
www.bps.org.uk/careers 11What skills do Psychologists need?
Psychologists have a diverse range of
skills, from effective communication to
planning and project management.
On completing an accredited psychology to consider alternative approaches Psychology is a versatile subject that can
undergraduate or conversion programme, and solutions give you skills needed in other areas such
you would have the skills to: • make critical judgements and as humanities, science and statistics.
evaluations to gain different
• comprehend and use data sufficiently Studying psychology can help you pursue
perspectives on a variety of issues
by understanding, analysing and postgraduate training as well as finding
presenting complex ideas • be sensitive to contextual and employment in a variety of sectors
interpersonal factors, including including education, business, health
• retrieve and organise information
behaviour and social interaction and the media.
successfully through various sources
• use personal planning and project
• engage in effective team work
management skills to become more
• problem solve and reason scientifically independent and pragmatic.
Applied psychologists combine knowledge
with enthusiasm, flexibility, and resilience
to bring about positive changes for both
individuals and organisations.
Dr Jennifer Unwin, CPsychol AFBPsS
12 www.bps.org.uk/careerswww.bps.org.uk/careers 13
Work experience is a win-win
situation. The intern gets exposure to
a workplace and an employer, tests
out applying some concept or theory
they’ve read about, develops new
competencies and skills, and receives
meaningful feedback from an
experienced person. In return, the
employer gets extra resources and
possibly even new insights; also, their
applicant pool is now broadened.
Dr Gene Johnson, CPsychol AFBPsS
14 www.bps.org.uk/careersWhat work experience will I need?
Work experience is a great
way to gain a practical insight
into psychology.
It is also vital for progression to Below are some ideas of where you can
postgraduate study, as well as finding undertake work experience:
employment. Work experience can
demonstrate that you are a dedicated • Hospitals
candidate with applied psychological • Schools and colleges
knowledge and it will advance your • Nursing homes
application to make you stand out from
• Sports teams
the crowd.
• Social services
It is a good idea to build up work • Local authorities
experience as soon as you can. In most
• Prison service
cases you will have to gain experience on
a voluntary basis before you can apply • Probation service.
for a paid position. The type of work experience you will
need depends on the area of psychology
you want to go into. Many universities
have specific requirements on work
experience; therefore, it is best to
contact course providers for their criteria.
www.bps.org.uk/careers 15What is a Chartered Psychologist?
Becoming a Chartered Psychologist
reflects the highest standard of
psychological knowledge and expertise,
allowing the use of the designated
title ‘CPsychol’.
It is the benchmark of professional three years of Society accredited • Health psychology
recognition demonstrating a mark of postgraduate training in one of the • Occupational psychology
experience, competence and reputation following disciplines:
• Sport and exercise psychology
for anyone looking to learn from,
consult or employ a psychologist. • Clinical psychology • Teaching and research psychology.
• Counselling psychology
In order to become a Chartered
• Educational psychology
Psychologist, you will need to gain
GBC and then complete a further • Forensic psychology
More detailed information on the qualifications
required to become a Chartered Psychologist
is available on the Society’s website:
www.bps.org.uk/careers
16 www.bps.org.uk/careersChartered status has also affected how I’m perceived
and it has certainly helped my career development.
Dr Joanne Thatcher, CPsychol CSci
www.bps.org.uk/careers 17Clinical psychology Counselling psychology Educational psychology
What is it? What is it? What is it?
Clinical psychology aims to reduce Counselling psychologists focus on Educational psychology is concerned
psychological distress and to enhance working with a tailored psychological with children and young people in
the promotion of psychological formulation to improve psychological educational and early years settings.
well-being. functioning and well-being, working
collaboratively with people across a Educational psychologists tackle
Clinical psychologists deal with a wide diverse range of disciplines. challenges such as learning difficulties,
range of mental and physical health social and emotional problems, issues
problems including addiction, anxiety, Counselling psychologists deal with a around disability as well as more
depression, learning difficulties and wide range of mental health problems complex developmental disorders.
relationship issues. concerning life issues including
bereavement, domestic violence, sexual They work in a variety of ways including
They may undertake a clinical abuse, traumas and relationship issues. observations, interviews and assessments
assessment to investigate a clients’ and offer consultation, advice and
situation. There are a variety of methods They understand diagnosis and the support to teachers, parents, the wider
available including psychometric tests, medical context to mental health community as well as the young people
interviews and direct observation of problems and work with the individual’s concerned. They research innovative
behaviour. Assessment may lead to unique subjective psychological ways of helping vulnerable young people
advice, counselling or therapy. experience to empower their recovery and often train teachers, learning
and alleviate distress. support assistants and others working
Where do they work? with children.
Where do they work?
Clinical psychologists work largely in Where do they work?
health and social care settings such as Counselling psychologists work in
hospitals, health centres, community hospitals (acute admissions, psychiatric Local authorities (LAs) employ the
mental health teams, child and intensive care, rehabilitation), health majority of educational psychologists
adolescent mental health services centres, Improving Access to working in schools, colleges, nurseries
(CAMHS) and social services. They often Psychological Therapy Services, and special units although increasing
work in a team with other health Community Mental Health Teams and numbers are working directly in schools,
professionals and practitioners. Most are Child and Adolescent Mental Health academies and other educational
employed by the National Health Service Services. They also work within private settings. They regularly liaise with other
(NHS), but some work in private practice. hospitals, private practice, forensic professionals from education, health and
settings, industry, education, research social services. A growing number work
and corporate institutions. as independent or private consultants.
18 www.bps.org.uk/careersForensic psychology Health psychology Neuropsychology
What is it? What is it? What is it?
Forensic psychology is devoted to Health psychology is concerned with Neuropsychology is concerned with the
psychological aspects of legal processes people’s experiences of health and illness. assessment and rehabilitation of people
in courts. The term is also often used to with brain injury or other neurological
refer to investigative and criminological Health psychologists use their knowledge disease. They work with people of all
psychology: applying psychological of psychology and health to promote ages dealing with patients who have had
theory to criminal investigation, general well-being and understand traumatic brain injury, strokes, toxic and
understanding psychological problems physical illness. They are specially metabolic disorders, tumours and neuro-
associated with criminal behaviour, and trained to help people deal with the degenerative diseases.
the treatment of those who have psychological and emotional aspects of
committed offences. health and illness as well as supporting Neuropsychologists require not only
people who are chronically ill. Health general clinical skills and knowledge
Daily key tasks can include piloting and psychologists promote healthier lifestyles of the broad range of mental health
implementing treatment programmes; and try to find ways to encourage people problems, but also a substantial degree
modifying offender behaviour; responding to improve their health. For example, of specialist knowledge in the
to the changing needs of staff and they may help people to lose weight or neurosciences.
prisoners as well as reducing stress for stop smoking. Health psychologists also
staff and prisoners. Forensic use their skills to try to improve the Neuropsychology is a post qualification
psychologists also provide hard research healthcare system. For example, they discipline, in which you first need to be
evidence to support practice including may advise doctors about better ways to a Chartered Psychologist within the field
undertaking statistical analysis for communicate with their patients. of clinical or educational psychology.
prisoner profiling, giving evidence in
Where do they work? Where do they work?
courts, plus advising parole boards and
mental health tribunals. Neuropsychologists most commonly work
Health psychologists are represented in a
number of settings, such as hospitals, in acute settings, usually in regional
Where do they work?
academic health research units, health neuroscience centres where their main
The largest employer in the UK is authorities, university departments and focus is on the early effects of trauma,
the HM Prison Service. Forensic also in consultancy practice. They may neurosurgery and neurological diseases.
psychologists are also employed by deal with problems identified by health They also work in rehabilitation centres
rehabilitation units, secure hospitals; care agencies, including NHS Trusts and providing post-acute assessment,
social services and in university health authorities. This is in addition to training and support for people who have
departments or private consultancy. also working alongside other medical sustained brain injury, or who have other
professionals such as GP’s, nurses and neurological problems.
rehabilitation therapists. Health
psychologists may also deal with
organisations and employees outside the
health care system.
www.bps.org.uk/careers 19Occupational psychology Research and Academic Sport and Exercise psychology
psychology
What is it? What is it?
What is it?
Occupational psychology delivers Sport psychology’s predominant aim is to
tangible benefits by enhancing the Research in psychology requires the help athletes prepare psychologically for
effectiveness of organisations and application of skills and knowledge to the demands of competition and
developing the performance, motivation scientifically hypothesise about an aspect training. Examples of the work sport
and well-being of people in the workplace. of human behaviour, then to test it, psychologists carry out include
analyse it and communicate the results. counselling referees to deal with the
Occupational psychologists apply the stressful and demanding aspects of their
science of psychology to work. They Research underpins much of the teaching role, advising coaches on how to build
develop and apply a range of tools and and practice of psychology as it provides cohesion within their squad of athletes,
interventions, including psychometrics the evidence-base for psychological and helping athletes with personal
and assessment, learning and theory and the effectiveness of development and the psychological
development, stress-management, treatments, interventions, tests and consequences of sustaining an injury.
organisational change, coaching and teaching methods.
job design. Exercise psychology is primarily
Typically academics or researchers in concerned with the application of
Where do they work? higher education undertake both research psychology to increase exercise
and teaching and lecturing. participation and motivational levels in
Occupational psychologists work with
the general public. Examples of the work
organisations and businesses of all sizes Where do they work?
they do include optimising the benefits
across the private, public and third
Most researchers are employed in higher that can be derived from exercise
sectors. You will find Occupational
education institutions or specialist participation and helping individual
psychologists working in government and
research units; however, others are clients with the implementation of goal-
public services, in leadership
employed in a wide variety of contexts - setting strategies.
development centres and consultancies.
They work alongside other professionals including the food and drink industries,
Practitioners typically specialise in either
such as managers, HR, union pharmaceutical industries, marketing,
the sport or exercise branches, though
representatives, training advisors and government departments (such as the
some work equally in both fields.
specialist staff within client Ministry of Defence) and the NHS.
organisations. Where do they work?
Sport and exercise psychologists work in a
wide range of settings with a diverse range
of clients participating in recreational,
amateur, and elite levels of competition.
20 www.bps.org.uk/careersTeaching psychology Health Professions Council
(HPC) and the Regulation
What is it?
of Psychologists
Some sport psychologists work as private Teachers of psychology work across a
consultants or hold full-time positions variety of academic levels to deliver a The Health Professions Council (HPC)
with professional sports teams or psychological education to their students is the regulator for Practitioner
national governing bodies of sport. in order for them to gain skills, Psychologists in the UK.
Most combine their consultancy work knowledge and qualifications.
In order to use the following titles,
with teaching and research or also work
Teachers within schools teach psychology psychologists must have their
in other areas such as the clinical and
at GCSE, A Level, Scottish Higher or as qualifications approved by the HPC
occupational domains.
part of the International Baccalaureate; and be listed on their register:
Exercise psychologists combine teachers or lecturers within higher
• Clinical psychologist
consultancy with teaching and research education are mainly engaged in
careers. The work of exercise teaching psychology on undergraduate • Counselling psychologist
psychologists might involve GP exercise and postgraduate programmes. • Educational psychologist
referral and setting up and evaluating • Forensic psychologist
exercise programmes in employment, Teachers often combine a career in
teaching with research. • Health psychologist
prison and psychiatric contexts.
• Occupational psychologist
Where do they do it?
• Sport and Exercise psychologist
Teachers mainly work in schools, • Registered psychologist
colleges and higher educational • Practitioner psychologist.
institutions. Students include diverse
cohorts from 14-19 year olds at Please contact the HPC for more
secondary schools to adult learning and information on the regulation of
CPD training for professionals. psychologists and details on their
approval process.
www.bps.org.uk/careers 21Join the Society
Joining the Society is an
important part of becoming
a psychologist.
It provides recognition of professional • Psychologist Appointments – job • Library membership – access Europe’s
status and reflects your aspiration to vacancies and careers advice largest psychology library at Senate
represent the highest possible • Journals – free online access to the House in London
professional standards. Society’s academic journals and • A range of high street discounts
selected Wiley-Blackwell journals and offers.
Collectively, our membership has a
powerful voice in raising the profile of • The Psychologist – free subscription to
psychology, developing standards and the Society’s monthly magazine
advancing the discipline. Our members • Books – discount of 30% on books
matters to us, and we continue to look at from BPS Blackwell and 20% discount
adding value to Society membership on selected books from Oxford
through additional member benefits University Press
such as:
For more information on joining the Society,
please contact our membership team:
t: +44 (0)116 252 9911
e: membership@bps.org.uk
w: www.bps.org.uk/membership
22 www.bps.org.uk/careersMembership of the British Psychological Society and
CPsychol are strong indicators that a psychologist
has the experience and knowledge to hold positions
of responsibility in what is a very challenging field.
Professor Ray Bull, CPsychol HonFBPsS
www.bps.org.uk/careers 23If you would like more information on careers in psychology and postgraduate study, call our careers information line or email: t: +44 (0)116 252 9534 e: careers@bpshelpdesk.org.uk How useful was this booklet? We would be interested to hear any suggestions or comments you may have. Please email careers@bpshelpdesk.org.uk
For further information on the work of the Society please visit our website or contact us at: w: www.bps.org.uk t: +44 (0)116 254 9568 e: enquiries@bps.org.uk The British Psychological Society St Andrews House 48 Princess Road East Leicester LE1 7DR www.bps.org.uk/careers
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