What career pathways are in Psychology?

Studying psychology offers a diverse range of career pathways, as it’s a field that incorporates many sub-disciplines and specialisations from clinical and educational psychology to forensic and counselling psychology. The choice of a specific career path often depends on individual interests, education, and training. Studying psychology at undergraduate or postgraduate level can open doors to various exciting careers and industries beyond psychology, such as business management, human resources (HR), teaching and social work - just to name a few. Psychology degrees provide valuable knowledge and skills applicable to a wide range of careers, positioning you well for opportunities in both the sciences and the arts. Studying psychology can be the first step toward a rewarding and fulfilling career where you can make a positive impact on the world around you. In this blog, I explore some of the many career pathways in Psychology.  

1. Clinical Psychology 

Clinical psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on assessing, diagnosing, and treating mental illnesses, emotional disorders, and behavioural issues. Clinical psychologists work with individuals, couples, families, and groups to improve mental health and wellbeing. They typically work in healthcare settings, social services, schools, or prisons. According to the National Careers Service, the average starting salary for a trainee clinical psychologist is £35,000 and experienced practitioners can earn around £50,000. To become a clinical psychologist, you need a degree in psychology accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). If your degree isn’t accredited or if you studied another subject, you could complete a Psychology Conversion Master’s like the University of Huddersfield’s Psychology MSc Conversion. Following this, you’ll need to study for a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy), a three-year programme of academic and clinical training. Gaining work experience as an assistant psychologist, research assistant, or nurse in a mental health setting is also important. 

2. Health Psychology  

Health psychology explores how behavioural, psychological, and social processes influence physical health and wellbeing. Health psychologists may carry out health promotion and education, help people manage stress and work with those who have chronic health conditions to improve their quality of life. They may also support patients dealing with illness, surgery, or medical procedures, and conduct research to understand the psychological factors influencing health. Health psychologists work in hospitals, clinics, research institutions, and universities. To become a health psychologist, you’ll need an accredited degree in psychology recognised by the BPS, and a doctoral-level qualification in health psychology.  Experience is important, so seek paid or voluntary opportunities. University Career Services can provide further information.  

3. Forensic Psychology 

Forensic psychology involves the intersection of psychology and the legal system. Forensic psychologists apply psychological theory to criminal investigations to understand criminal behaviour and the treatment of offenders. They assist legal professionals, law enforcement, and the judiciary by offering psychological insights, assessments, and interventions. Forensic psychologists work in prisons, law enforcement agencies, courts, private practices, government agencies, hospitals, and the military. In the UK, the largest employer of Forensic Psychologists is HM Prison and Probation Service. To become a forensic psychologist, you need a BPS accredited degree in forensic psychology such as the University of Huddersfield’s Investigative Psychology MSc. Investigative psychology is a specialised area that assists in criminal investigations through the analysis of criminal behaviour and offender profiling. Many forensic psychologists hold a Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D.) or a PhD in clinical psychology or forensic psychology. According to the National Careers Service, forensic psychologists' average starting salary is £27,000, with experienced practitioners earning up to £54,000.  

4. Educational Psychology 

Educational psychology focuses on how individuals learn and develop within educational settings. Educational psychologists examine students’ diverse needs, abilities, and learning styles, contribute to instructional learning materials design, provide insights into effective classroom management and support teachers’ professional development. They work in schools, universities, research institutions, local authorities, and educational agencies. To become an educational psychologist, you need a BPS accredited degree (at undergraduate level or a postgraduate conversion course) and a Doctorate in Educational psychology, accredited by the BPS.  

5. Counselling Psychology 

Counselling psychology helps people tackle personal, social, emotional, and behavioural challenges. Counselling psychologists promote mental health and well-being, facilitate personal growth, and help clients manage difficulties. They conduct one-to-one or group sessions, assess and diagnose psychological issues, and provide therapy.  Counselling psychologists may work in mental health services, hospitals, GP surgeries, and educational settings. To become a counselling psychologist, you need a BPS accredited degree in psychology, and either a Doctorate in counselling psychology or a BPS qualification in counselling psychology. Work experience opportunities include roles as a counselling helpline worker or a counselling charity support worker.  

6. Other careers  

Studying psychology provides valuable skills and knowledge applicable to many careers outside the field of psychology. For example, psychology can be beneficial in business management, human resources, sales, marketing, and PR as understanding human behaviour and decision-making is invaluable. It’s also beneficial in education, such as teachers or education consultants to better understand pupil behaviour and learning processes, as well as in social work and legal careers. Psychology degrees offer transferable skills such as data analysis, research, critical thinking, and communication, which are beneficial in many professions.  

Conclusion 

Psychology is a diverse field with various career paths, each focusing on different aspects of human behaviour and mental processes. Studying psychology can open doors to exciting careers within the discipline such as clinical, health, education, counselling, and forensic psychology. You can tailor your chosen career pathway to your interests, education, and training. Psychology is also valuable for careers that work closely with people. By studying psychology, you can better understand yourself and others, contribute to society, and make a positive impact in the world.  

If you’d like to find out more about our studying psychology at Huddersfield, visit Psychology - University of Huddersfield