Psychology

A psychology degree is a great starting point for a career as a psychologist, but also opens up opportunities in many different sectors with a wide range of employers

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Clinical psychologist
• Counselling psychologist
• Educational psychologist
• Forensic psychologist
• Further education teacher
• Health psychologist
• Occupational psychologist
• Sport and exercise psychologist

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Advice worker
• Advertising account planner
• Careers adviser
• Civil Service Fast Streamer
• Counsellor
• Crime scene investigator
• Education mental health practitioner
• High intensity therapist
• Human resources officer
• Intelligence analyst
• Learning mentor
• Life coach
• Marketing executive
• Media buyer
• Neuroscientist
• Policy officer
• Psychological wellbeing practitioner
• Psychotherapist
• Social researcher
• Solicitor

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Work experience

Postgraduate study and training is essential to become a chartered psychologist, and many graduates spend a year or more getting work experience before applying. Start as early as possible, perhaps in a voluntary role to begin with, to build relevant experience.

The type of experience needed depends on the area of psychology you want to train in. Whatever experience you get, however, must be with groups and services directly relevant to your chosen field and must involve interacting with people facing health or psychological challenges.

Work as an assistant psychologist is particularly helpful. Roles in nursing, social work and mental health services, and working in prisons, probation or social services are valuable for many psychology specialisms.

Educational psychologists need experience with children in educational or community settings, while occupational psychologists benefit from experience in HR, business or management. Research assistant roles are also relevant.

Many graduates pursue careers outside psychology, where getting some relevant work experience is still key. This can be through part-time jobs, summer placements or internships, as well as voluntary work and work shadowing. Some universities also offer a year out in industry as part of your degree where you can put your academic learning into practice. Look for opportunities to gain experience that match your career goals.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.

Typical employers

A psychology degree provides a strong foundation for a wide range of careers. While some psychology graduates undertake further training to become professional psychologists, many go on to work in related careers or even completely different fields.

Key employers of psychology graduates include:

• careers and counselling services
• commercial and industrial companies
• banking and financial organisations
• HR departments
• legal firms and organisations providing advice
• local and national government
• marketing, communications and media companies
• the NHS and other healthcare providers
• police forces, the Probation Service and prisons
• schools, colleges and universities
• social and market research organisations
• social services.

Psychology graduates are valued for their analytical, communication and problem-solving skills, making them highly employable across various sectors.

Find information on employers in healthcare, teacher training and education, marketing, advertising and PR and other job sectors.

Skills for your CV

Your psychology degree equips you with a diverse skill set that is valued across many industries. The scientific elements of your course, for example, such as applying a reasoned approach, problem solving and data analysis, are particularly useful for careers in healthcare, law enforcement, finance, IT and research.

Your understanding of human behaviour and motivation, along with your ability to critically analyse problems, construct arguments and generate new ideas, makes you well-suited for roles in the creative industries, legal sector, government and education.

Other key skills you develop during your degree include:

• written and verbal communication, including report writing and presenting
• IT and data handling
• statistical analysis and research
• critical thinking
• the ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team
• project and time management.

Further study

Postgraduate study and training are essential if you want to become a chartered psychologist and register as a practitioner psychologist with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Training is available in the following areas of psychology:

• clinical
• counselling
• educational
• forensic psychology
• health
• occupational
• sport and exercise.

If you don't plan to practise as a psychologist, further training can open doors to careers in teaching or law, for example. You could also pursue a Masters or professional qualifications in areas such as advertising, digital marketing or HR.

Alternatively, you could undertake research at Masters or PhD level to follow an academic career that combines research and teaching.

For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search postgraduate courses in psychology.

What do psychology graduates do?

The top five jobs held by psychology graduates 15 months after graduation include care workers and home carers (6%), educational support assistants (6%), welfare and housing associate professionals (5%), other psychologists (5%) and nursing auxiliaries and assistants (3%).

For a detailed breakdown of what psychology graduates are doing after graduation, see What do graduates do?

Graduate Outcomes survey data from HESA.

Find out more

• The British Psychological Society (BPS)