Psychology : Further study

A 2011 HESA survey of 2010 graduates indicates that six months after graduation almost a quarter of psychology graduates were in further study. Postgraduate training and study is a requirement to become a chartered psychologist (there are alternative routes to chartership but only a handful of well-experienced people use these routes each year). Many psychology graduates spend a year or more gaining work experience before embarking on postgraduate study due to course entry requirements.

Popular courses for psychology graduates include one-year MSc programmes in forensic, occupational, health or sport and exercise psychology. Other graduates take a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or Scottish Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) to qualify as teachers as a route into educational psychology. Whilst a teaching qualification is no longer a requirement for this profession, it is still recommended as the most popular route. For those entering clinical psychology, a three-year Doctorate is required, though few graduates are able to enter this immediately after their undergraduate degree.

Many psychology graduates pursue postgraduate study options outside of psychology. Popular choices include human resource management, marketing and public relations.

These trends show only what previous graduates in your subject did immediately upon graduating. Over the course of their career - the first few years in particular - many others will opt for some form of further study, either part time or full time. If further study interests you, start by thinking about postgrad study and search courses and research to identify your options.

Look at funding my further study for details relating to finance and the application process.