Want to Study Psychology?

Choosing a career is a big decision and the salary is just one of many factors that you need to consider. Money is obviously an important component, but factors such as job outlook and quality of life are also essential.

Think about how a particular career may suit your personality and goals in life before committing. In the end, the best job for you is the one that you will enjoy the most and that fulfils your personal and professional needs. If we ask the question "why study psychology" it opens up a whole world of career options. Despite stereotypes, not everyone who studies psychology ends up being a counsellor (though it may be part of the expertise).

Master's programs in psychology will give you the foundation you need to conduct or apply psychological research that ultimately improves the lives of others. If you'd like to pursue a career as a psychologist, you must start with a graduate degree in psychology before earning your doctorate. A Masters in Psychology is a versatile, open-ended qualification that can allow you to embark on a career as a psychologist or a similar profession, as well as a broad range of business sectors. Often taken as a postgraduate conversion course by people who studied a different subject at Bachelors level. Psychology also pushes students to greater self-awareness, helping students understand their actions and personalities.

 What jobs can I get with a Masters in Psychology?

The versatility of a Psychology Masters means that there are lots of different employment paths you can take with your qualification, from psychology itself to a whole range of industries in both the public and private sectors.

If you want to go down the more traditional route of becoming a psychologist, you should make sure that you’re studying a programme that is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), allowing you to gain Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC). This qualification could be a postgraduate conversion course for those who didn’t study Psychology at undergraduate level.

Some students may choose a master's in psychology as a stand-alone program to achieve a specific career goal such as research while others used it as a foundation for a doctoral degree. A master's degree in psychology can open up doors to lucrative careers within the health and education fields.

Careers in clinical and counselling psychology are expected to grow especially fast due to the greater demand for clinical and counselling psychologists in hospitals, mental health centres, and social service agencies. Salaries for professionals with three to ten years' experience are usually US$50,400 to US$80,200 per year. Psychologists are among the most wanted professionals in the world.

A 5% increase in the postgraduate psychology enrolment in UK was observed from 2017-2018 to 2018 to 2019. With the world confined within their house, mental health awareness has attained a new peak. In the middle of a pandemic, the need for psychologists, therapists, and related professionals has hit a new high. With the upcoming demand for such professionals, graduates from masters in psychology can be assured that in near future lies there will be no shortage of need for mental health workers.

 These are some of the main branches of psychology you could pursue a career in:

? Academia and teaching, embarking on research or working as a lecturer

? Clinical psychology, helping and advising patients with mental health issues

? Counselling psychology, offering different forms of therapy to individuals with mental health problems

? Educational psychology, supporting children and young people in schools and other educational settings

? Forensic psychology, dealing with criminal and civil law

? Health psychology, focusing on well-being and healthy lifestyles

? Neuropsychology, helping people with brain injuries and diseases

? Occupational psychology, helping companies identify ways in which they can support employees

? Sport and exercise psychology, assisting athletes and coaches with the psychological aspects of competitive sport

Of course, you aren’t limited to a career in psychology – many companies and industries don’t require job applicants to have studied a particular subject at graduate level, but will nevertheless welcome the transferrable skills you gained during your Masters. Psychology study are also sought out by companies and organizations. A lot of their marketing and advertising strategies are thought of by Psychology Graduates. Companies might also hire psychologists to help them with many aspects important to the success of a company, such as methods to increase productivity, employee job satisfaction and recruitment.

Study of Psychology in the US:

The number of Indian students applying to study psychology in the US is growing by the day. Psychology is a growing and upcoming field of interest which brings many international students to the US in a pursuit to study Psychology.

The American Psychological Association recognizes over 50 subdivisions of psychology, making career options immense for students who study psychology in the US. For example, there are neuropsychologists, social psychologists and industrial organizational psychologists, who have little or nothing to do with mainstream counselling.

The US has always been in the forefront when it comes to research. It is also a fore runner when it comes to psychology. For international students who have found a compelling answer to the question "why study psychology?" it is no doubt one of the best countries in the world to study in. The degrees and diplomas earned in the US are recognized in almost all parts of the world and are also looked at with great reverence.

Requirements to study psychology in the US depend on the course an international student wishes to enrol in. For a Master's degree, students are generally required to have the equivalence of an American Bachelor's degree from their country of education. (US has a disadvantage when it comes to masters if you have 3 year graduation, in US Bachelor’s is 4 years, hence you should be doing bridge program, preferably in Psychology) For pursuing a doctoral degree, universities in the US mostly require a student to have an American Master's degree or equivalent. Also, most universities require students to take a GRE exam and a TOEFL or IELTS exam (requirements may vary for each university and generally are country specific depending on whether English is an official language of instruction or not). Admission procedures and requirements may be fairly rigorous when it comes to minimum score requirements in these exams. GPA's are also taken into consideration, although a high score on the GRE may overpower a mediocre GPA. Reference letters and personal essays are also highly important in the application procedure. Relevant work experience may also make for a stronger admission application. Many universities may advise students to seek out a recognized third party credential evaluator to translate their mark sheets and scores.

The US has several competent colleges in every state with high quality psychology programs with various specialties. The US system of education encourages hands-on research and spurs individual thinking and growth. Universities and colleges in the US also promote an all-round environment for their students. Across the country, there are colleges to suit most preferences and budgets and many colleges also offer financial aid making education a very possible dream to achieve for many international students who wish to study psychology in the US.

Masters in Psychology in USA: Admission Requirements

To be eligible for a masters in psychology in USA, all aspiring international students need to fulfil the following admission requirements:

·        Applicant must have a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field of study

·        A minimum GPA of 3.0- 3.5 on a scale of 4.0 or equivalent is required

·        A background in introductory or general psychology, experimental psychology with a laboratory course, and statistics are a few of the prerequisites for admissions.

·        There are no minimum GRE scores required. However, a score of around 310 is considered for admissions

Some Top Universities in US:

1. New York University (NYU)
2. Columbia University
3. University of Chicago
4. Northwestern University
5. University of Texas at Austin

Masters in Psychology in UK:

Offered by over 50 universities, Masters in Psychology in UK can take from a year to 3 years to complete. The curriculum for psychology in the universities of UK includes research, statistics and learning brain behaviour, etc. The average cost of pursuing masters in psychology in UK universities ranges between 20,000 GBP to 50,000 GBP (19 lakhs to 48 lakhs). A postgraduate degree in psychology can help a student become a charted psychologist and to register as a practitioner with HCPC (Health and Care Professionals Council) and earn 100,000 GBP to 250,000 GBP per year (~97 LPA to 2.4 Cr) (Note: The UK has announced a new Graduate Route offering two-year post-study work visas for all international students who graduate from summer 2021 onwards. There is no restriction on the kind of work you can do or how long you have to find a job within the two-year period.)

Aspirants who wish to study in UK as a master's in psychology students are required to have work experience along with a bachelor’s degree with at least a 50-60% score by certain universities. Merely fulfilling these admission criteria will not get you into the British education system. A holistic approach towards your admissions will enhance your chances of receiving an acceptance letter from UK universities.

 Masters in Psychology in UK: Admissions

All universities in the U.K. require applicants to have a prior bachelor’s degree either in psychology or a similar field. A minimum of 3 to 4-year bachelor’s degrees must be completed to be eligible for admission in postgraduate degree programs.

Masters in Psychology is a graduate program that includes the study of the human mind and behaviour. The degree helps in understanding thoughts and emotions. Students with an undergraduate level degree in psychology or similar attend the master's program for one year (full-time). The part-time program usually extends to two years.

 Types of Degrees:

In the U.K., students have the choice of choosing between MS (Master of Science), MA (Master of Arts), M.Res. (Master of Research), and M.Ed. (Master of Education) for the psychology degree specialization.

Specializations: A postgraduate degree in psychology is offered in multiple specializations. There is usually a general psychology degree with its own course requirements. Some universities offer more specialized forms of the same degree. The common specializations offered in the top university in UK are- Clinical Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology, Health Psychology, Psychological Research, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Social Psychology, Organizational Psychology, Counselling Psychology, etc.

Among all the psychology specializations, the most popular ones are clinical psychology, counselling psychology, psychological research. Criminal psychology is becoming a new and upcoming popular specialization.

Where to apply: All the top universities and institutes offering a Masters in Psychology accept applications through their own application portals. Some colleges also do accept applications through the UCAS common application portal.

Eligibility Criteria for Masters in Psychology in UK: When applying for admissions to masters in psychology in UK, you are required to fulfil both general and specific eligibility criteria.

Study of Psychology in India:

Subjects during the school

To be a Psychologist, you can opt for any stream in your 12th grade. Majority of the schools have started including Psychology in their curriculum, and the beauty of the subject lies in the fact that you can study Psychology with any stream as the fifth subject. It is advisable to take Psychology in school to have a basic understanding of the subject; however, it’s not a compulsion.

 Graduation (B.A. / B.Sc.)

Obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology from a UGC-recognized institution. A graduate degree will help build base in psychology. You will study all the subjects of psychology, which will help you identify your interest. Certain subjects which are taught are General Psychology, Clinical psychology, Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Organizational Behaviour etc. Generally the subjects are more theoretical, but the one on Statistics includes numerical application. It is very important for the students interested in the field of Research to have in-depth knowledge of the subject. During the three years, you will get an exposure to the basic elements of Psychology. Workshops are conducted every year on different topics ranging from Hypnosis to dream analysis. This varies from college to college. Generally, after graduation, the job opportunities are not in plenty. The top colleges that provide bachelors are as follows –

• Delhi University (New Delhi)
• Jamia Milia Islamia (New Delhi)
• Ambedkar University (New Delhi)
• Panjab University (Chandigarh)
• Banaras Hindu University (Varanasi)
• Aligarh Muslim University
• Fergusson College (Pune)
• Christ University (Bangalore)

 Post-Graduation

Once you are done with your graduation, you can pursue post-graduation. Admission to the various colleges will be through entrance exams or your marks in graduation. Different universities have different criterion. If you are from a different background, you can still apply. But the admission route will be only through entrance exams. At post-graduation level, you can choose your area of specialization. It is very important to pursue post-graduation, if you want to build a career in psychology. Due to high level of competition, just a graduation degree is not enough. It will help you build your skills in your area of interest. At post-graduation, students will get an opportunity to write their dissertation in their area of interest. Dissertation is an in-depth study on a particular topic, and the student will conduct the research under the supervision of an expert from their college. Also, the students will complete their internship for approximately 2-3 months. Internship is a very crucial period of a psychologist’s life. It is a phase of your education where you work and learn under the supervision of the expert. It is very important to practically apply all theories and knowledge, which will help you understand the concepts. Various universities also conduct educational trips, which further help you to apply your skills in a realistic manner.

COLLEGES FOR POST-GRADUATION IN DELHI         

Delhi University

• M.A. in Applied Psychology with specialization in Clinical, Social or Organizational Behaviour
• M.A. in Psychology

Tata Institute of Social Sciences

• M.A. in psychology with specialization in Counseling, Clinical and HR.

 Jamia Milia Islamia

• Masters in Applied psychology with specialization in (Clinical, Counseling or Organizational Behaviour)

Ambedkar University

• M.A. in Applied Psychology with specialization in Clinical Psychology

Panjab University

• Masters in Psychology

Banaras Hindu University

• Masters in Psychology

Aligarh Muslim University

• M.A. in Psychology with Specialization in Clinical and Organizational Psychology.

Gautam Budh University

• M.A. in Applied Psychology 

 Scope of Psychology in India:

Psychology in India is gaining importance, and its demand is on the rise. After post-graduation, you will get an opportunity to work in different areas.

·        Counsellors are required in NGOs, Old age homes, Rehabilitation Centers etc. Counsellor understands the problem of the clients, and help them come out of their miseries. The problems can include some traumatic event in the person’s life, or some personal problem in relationships. In old-age homes, counsellors’ jobs is to ensure that the residents should not feel lonely or worthless. Counsellors working in rehabilitation centers (E.g. Drug addicts) help the patients to reduce the intake of drug. They try to figure out the reasons, and help them come out of the miserable life. They don’t deal with serious cases. The average pay of a fresher is 20–30K per month (approx).

 ·        Education Sector: Psychologists are required as school counsellors, trainers, career counselors, etc. They help children during their educational years. They also deal with students who have learning difficulties or some behavioral issues. Career counsellors, on the other hand, help students to understand their potential, and help them to choose the right career for them. This industry absorbs the highest number of psychologists. The average pay in the area for the fresher is 20-35K per month (approx).

 ·        Clinical psychology: Clinical Psychologists, today, are in great demand. It is a long route, and you should first complete M.Phil, before you start independent practice. They deal with patients who require clinical attention, and they generally don’t deal with the day-to-day problems. They apply various therapies, and work parallel to a psychiatrist. Generally, people get confused between a clinical psychologist and a Psychiatrist. Psychiatrists are required to first complete their MBBS, and they study Psychiatry as a subject in their MD. They can prescribe medicines where as a clinical psychologist only apply therapies with the clients. Hence, it is very important for a psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist to work together as a team. They are paid 30–35K per month on an average after completing their M.Phil.

 ·        Organizational Psychology: Organizational psychologists work for MNCs and organizations, Human Resource development and HR department. Their job is to handle the problems of the employees as well as help the employees to work together effectively as a team. The average pay of a fresher is 30K per month (approx).

·        Research: If you have a passion for research, both qualitative and quantitative research are promising areas. Researchers are paid approx. 25K per month. The amount will increase with time, and you may also pursue PhD, if the area interests you.

Note: It is advised for all psychologists and counselors to get registered with the Rehabilitation Counsel of India to practice legally as a counselor. M.Phil. (with RCI) is required to practice as a Clinical Psychologist.