Congratulations, you earned your Bachelor’s degree! But what’s next? If you want to diversify your career opportunities or pursue a career in psychology, a Master’s degree in Psychology might be a great option.
What you can do with a Master’s in Psychology is not limited to becoming a psychologist. From human resources to communications, there are many other fields that you can get into.
Is a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology required for a Master’s in Psychology?
Not necessarily! Having a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology can make getting into an MA or MSc Psychology programme easier, but it’s not always necessary. If your Bachelor’s is from a related discipline, such as Sociology, Criminology, or Philosophy, transitioning into MA or MSc Psychology should not be that difficult.
That said, it’s always worth checking the admission requirements of your university. Some universities offer preparatory courses for students who haven’t studied BA or BSc in Psychology.
What jobs can you do with a Master’s in Psychology?
Psychology is one of the most popular Master’s degrees for international students. This is not surprising — who doesn’t want to learn more about how the human mind works after all? Besides professional knowledge, a degree in Psychology will also equip you with critical soft skills, such as communication and empathy. Your knowledge and skills will be transferable further on in your career.
Check out our list of 2900 Psychology Master's programmes
So what jobs can you do with a Master’s in Psychology? Firstly, we must note that there are many different types of Psychology degrees, including Counseling Psychology, Educational Psychology, and Clinical Psychology. Depending on your career goals, you can either opt for a general Psychology degree or a specialised one.
Here are the careers that you can pursue with a Master’s in Psychology:
1. Clinical Psychologist
Clinical psychologists treat people with mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders. They do this by conducting psychological tests, holding sessions, and recommending treatment methods through therapy. If you want to become a clinical psychologist, a dedicated Clinical Psychology degree is required. In most cases, you would also need a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology as well. Your workplace will usually be a hospital or private clinic.
- Similar job titles: Clinical case manager, psychotherapist, neuropsychologist, rehabilitation psychologist, and more.
- Related programme: MSc in Clinical Psychology at the University of Plymouth
2. Counsellor
Counselling is a popular pathway for Psychology graduates. By talking to clients and holding sessions, counsellors help them with their mental health and well-being. You can counsel individuals with various aspects of their lives. For example, if you become a career counsellor, you will be helping people to find the most fulfilling career pathway for themselves.
- Other types of counselling: Family counselling, couple counselling, mental health counselling, education counselling, grief counselling, child counselling, and more.
- Related programme: MA in Counselling at the University of Canberra
3. School Psychologist
School psychologists work at public or private schools to support students’ learning. This includes helping students who have learning difficulties and assisting teachers with their relationships with students. Becoming a school psychologist is a good option for having a career in both education and psychology.
- Similar job titles: Educational Psychologist.
- Related programme: MA in School Psychology at George Mason University
4. Psychology Teacher
Psychologists also have the possibility to go into teaching. If you want to share your passion for the field of Psychology, teaching is one of the most rewarding careers. You could teach in secondary schools, universities, or community colleges.
- Similar job titles: Lecturer, teaching assistant, teaching psychologist, and more.
- Related programme: Postgraduate Certificate in Secondary Education -Psychology at University of Wolverhampton
5. Forensic Psychologist
To help understand the reasons behind crimes, forensic psychologists work closely with the police, mental health professionals, and probation officers. If you want to work in law and order, becoming a forensic psychologist can be an exciting career that will give you a chance to contribute to society.
- Similar job titles: Criminal psychologist, criminologist, and more.
- Related programme: MSc in Forensic Psychology at Glasgow Caledonian University
6. Mental Health Worker
Demand for mental health professionals is growing day by day. Mental health workers provide services for a wide range of organisations, including hospitals, NGOs, community centres, and clinics.
- Similar job titles: Mental health nurse, mental wellbeing worker.
- Related programme: MSc in Psychology and Neuroscience of Mental Health Online at King’s College London
7. Social Worker
There are a lot of people who are facing serious problems, such as unemployment, substance abuse, domestic violence, and more. To overcome these problems, they need professional help. This is where social workers come in. They often work for agencies, health organisations, and welfare centres, and help bring people back into society.
- Similar job titles: Child protection worker, family services worker, rehabilitation worker, social service worker, social service manager, welfare worker, welfare officer, and more.
- Related programme: MSc in Social Psychology at The University of Edinburgh
8. Corporate Psychologist
According to The American Institute of Stress, 25% of people think that their job is the most stressful aspect of their lives. In the same report, 40% of the respondents say that they feel extremely stressed at work. Corporate life is very stressful indeed. This is why many companies are hiring corporate psychologists to help with the mental health of their employees. As experts in human behaviour at work, corporate psychologists improve the workplace by talking to employees and conducting training sessions. Most corporate psychologists work as independent contractors.
- Similar job titles: Organisational psychologist, industrial psychologist, business psychologist, industrial-organisational psychologist, and more.
- Related programme: MA in Business Psychology at Business College of Athens
9. Sports Psychologist
Sports psychology can be a dream career for Psychology graduates who are also sports fans. If you pursue this career, your aim will be to analyse the psychological factors behind athletes’ performance and help them improve it.
- Similar job titles: Sports and exercise psychologist, performance psychologist, mental performance coach, and more.
- Related programme: MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Loughborough University
10. Human Resources Officer
Hiring the right person for the job is one of the most important things for companies. Who can do it better than someone who understands the human mind? Psychologists can put themselves in both the job seekers’ and recruiters’ shoes, which is crucial for a career in HR.
- Similar job titles: HR assistant, HR manager, recruiter, and more.
- Related programme: MA in Business and Organizational Psychology at Institute of Executive Capabilities, Steinbeis University Berlin
11. Communications Officer
Working in communications entails promoting a company’s values, creating content, and managing internal and external relations. Psychologists are often very skilled communicators which is a huge asset for the nature of work.
- Similar job titles: PR officer, media officer, media relations officer, and more.
- Related programme: MA in Psychology of the Digital Media at Erasmus University Rotterdam
12. Sales Representative
Being a successful sales professional requires excellent communication skills, people management skills, and negotiation skills. The interpersonal skills that Psychology students have can be very useful in sales and customer service.
- Similar jobs: Sales assistant, customer service officer, and more.
- Related programme: MSc in Organizational Psychology at Southern Methodist University
What is the salary for Master’s in Psychology holders?
The salary for MA or MSc Psychology holders depends on the country, field, and job position. According to a recent Indeed report, psychologists in the USA earn an average salary of $93,269 per year. The American Psychological Association also reports that Master’s and Ph.D. holders have higher job and life satisfaction than those who only have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology.
Where to study a Master’s in Psychology abroad?
Studying abroad for your MA or MSc in Psychology is a great idea. Since there are many English-taught programmes all over the world, you will have tons of options. If you want to be in an English-speaking country, you can consider going to the UK and the USA, which have some of the world’s best Psychology programmes.
The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and other European countries are also popular destinations. These countries also offer Psychology programmes in English, and they tend to be more affordable than the United Kingdom and the United States. Plus, you will also get the chance of learning the local language while living there.