• Hear about a career/subject from a professional or university student

• Reflect on what you like/dislike about this career/subject

• Make links between this career/subject and your skills, current studies, and career goals

Psychologist

AVERAGE SALARY: £45,000

Get inside the mind of a career that changes lives. This month marks World Mental Health Day, a global day dedicated to raising awareness of mental health and challenging stigma. In honour of this, our career of the month is: Psychologist! Psychologists study how people think, feel and behave, using that understanding to support and improve people’s lives across all kinds of settings. If you’re endlessly curious about what makes people tick and want a career built on empathy and evidence, this could be the path for you. 

Time to get inside their minds… 

JOB DESCRIPTION

Psychologists work across a huge range of settings, from hospitals and schools to prisons, businesses and sports teams. Depending on your specialism, you might assess and support people with mental health difficulties as a Clinical Psychologist, help children with learning or behavioural needs as an Educational Psychologist, or improve workplace wellbeing and performance as an Occupational Psychologist. Whatever the setting, the role usually involves assessing individuals, carrying out research and developing evidence-based strategies to support them. It’s a career that combines science with genuine human connection. 

QUALIFICATIONS

To become a Psychologist, you’ll first need a psychology degree accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), which gives you the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC). Entry usually requires A-Levels, often including a science subject alongside strong overall grades. 

After your degree, you’ll need to specialise through further postgraduate study or training, such as a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, a Masters in Educational Psychology, or equivalent training relevant to your chosen field. Most routes also expect some relevant experience beforehand, such as an assistant psychologist role, support work or a research assistant position. 

What you can be doing now

Build your understanding of people and behaviour now by studying subjects like Psychology, Biology or Sociology if they’re available to you. Volunteering or work experience in caring, teaching or mentoring roles – such as with youth groups, care homes or SEN support – is a brilliant way to build empathy and see psychology in action. Reading around the subject, following credible psychology resources, and practising active listening in everyday conversations will all help build skills you’ll use throughout your career. 

Understand the mind, support the person, and build a career as a Psychologist!