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Both the Prospects and NHS quizzes can help you get an idea of what you would like to do

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Look at the different paths Psychology may lead to!

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Look at the different paths Psychology may lead to!

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A psychology degree is a great starting point for a career in both science and the arts, as it equips you with a range of skills and opens up opportunities with a range of employers

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

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

Take a few minutes to answer the Job Match quiz and find out what careers would suit you

Work experience

Postgraduate training and study is a requirement to become a chartered psychologist. Due to course entry requirements, many psychology graduates spend a year or more getting work experience before embarking on postgraduate study.

It's a good idea to build up your work experience as soon as you can. You will usually need to work on a voluntary basis first to get enough experience to apply for a paid job.

The type of experience needed depends on the area of psychology you're interested in. Work as an assistant psychologist or in areas such as nursing, social work, mental health work, services for individuals with disabilities, mentoring young offenders and work in prisons, probation or social services is vital.

Experience as a research assistant is also relevant.

For educational psychology, experience of working with children in educational, childcare, or community settings is required. Although not essential, experience as a teacher is useful.

Experience in personnel or human resources and business and management is needed for those interested in occupational psychology.

Many psychology graduates choose to enter other career areas. Again, work or voluntary experience in your chosen field is important. This can include part-time work during your degree, summer placements and internships, as well as voluntary work and work shadowing. Some universities also offer a year out in industry where you can put your academic learning into practice.

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

Typical employers

Although some psychology graduates become professional psychologists, many go on to work in related fields.

A degree in psychology provides a useful foundation for a range of careers and employers.

Major employers of psychology graduates include:

careers and counselling services

commercial and industrial companies

financial organisations

human resources departments

legal firms and organisations providing advice

local and national government

marketing companies

the media

the NHS

police forces, the National Probation Service and prisons

schools, sixth form colleges, colleges of further education and higher education institutions

social research organisations

social services.

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

Skills for your CV

Transferable skills include:

written and verbal communication, including report writing and presenting

information technology

handling of data and statistics

analytical research

problem solving

the ability to work in teams as well as independently

project management.

The scientific aspects of your psychology course, including the application of a reasoned approach, problem solving and manipulation of data, provide useful tools for careers in healthcare, law enforcement, finance, IT and research.

Your knowledge of human behaviour and motivation, ability to critically analyse a problem, formulate a considered response, create an argument and generate new ideas lend themselves well to careers in the creative industries, the legal sector, government administration and education.

Are you considering a career in psychology?

Discover our range of online psychology Masters programmes

Further study

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

Postgraduate study is available in areas such as clinical, counselling, educational, health, occupational, sport and exercise, or forensic psychology.

Some graduates qualify as teachers as a route into educational psychology. A teaching qualification is not a requirement for this profession, but it still provides useful relevant experience.

Psychology graduates who don't want to be a psychologist may choose to do a postgraduate qualification in their chosen career area, for example advertising, marketing, teaching or human resources.

Some graduates go on to undertake research at Masters and PhD level in order 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 (12%), teaching and childcare support occupations (7%), welfare and housing associate professionals (8%), therapy professionals (6%) and teaching professionals (5%).

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

Graduate destinations data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

Find out more

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What can I do with a psychology degree? | Prospects.ac.uk

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A psychology degree is a great starting point for a career in both science and the arts, as it equips you with a range of skills and opens up opportunities with a range of employers Jobs directly related to your degree include: Jobs where your degree would be useful include: Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

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Create a LinkedIn profile and start networking

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From volunteering to societies there is something for everyone

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University is one of the shortest chapters in our lives, yet it makes one of the largest impacts, both personally and professionally
- (Will Knapp, Students' Union Activities Officer)
Getting involved with extracurricular activities during your time here at Nottingham is a great way to learn something new and immerse yourself in the dynamic student community at the University.

But did you know that by taking part in these activities, you'll also be developing skills that employers want to see? Demonstrating these skills and experiences you've had will help you to stand out in applications and interviews.

Discover the ways that you can get involved during your time at the University of Nottingham.

You can find out more about any of these activities on our student life webpages.

Hear from other students

Don't just take our word for why you should get involved. In this five minute video, students discuss their extracurricular activities and how these experiences have given them skills that will be of benefit after graduation.

Read about our students' experiences

Download the PDF version

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University is one of the shortest chapters in our lives, yet it makes one of the largest impacts, both personally and professionally - (Will Knapp, Students' Union Activities Officer) Getting involved with extracurricular activities during your time here at Nottingham is a great way to learn something new and immerse yourself in the dynamic student community at the University.

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Follow the advice given on this page and use websites like Unitemps, Prospects, E4S, TargetJobs, RateMyPlacement for work experience opportunities

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Login to MyCareer, and see what careers events are coming up that you might be interested in.