Are you looking to change careers or specialise? Then an MSc in Psychology can take you in all sorts of directions. Whether you want to work in mental health services, clinical settings, or even human resources, it equips you with a strong foundation and flexible career options for various sectors.
With a psychology graduate degree, you’ll build key skills that employers really value. These include research, communication, problem-solving, and appreciation of human behaviour. They come in use across many different roles, not just in traditional psychology jobs.
Depending on the route you take, the course usually takes 1-5 years to complete. It also brings you closer to specialist roles that need further training or registration. If you are aiming to become a chartered psychologist, we have outlined the steps you'll need to take in our guide: What is BPS accreditation, and why is it important?
Walbrook has applied for British Psychological Society (BPS) accreditation, which is still pending. If chartered status is your goal, you’ll need to plan with that in mind – but in the meantime, our MSc Psychology master's degrees give you strong theory, research, and applied skills valued across many roles. traditional psychology jobs.
Directly related career pathways for psychology
If you're looking to build a psychology career that closely follows an accredited master's degree, these roles are a natural next step. These roles also often form part of the route to becoming a chartered psychologist.
Discover our MSc Psychology degreeApplication for BPS accreditation submitted and in progress.
Assistant psychologist and clinical research roles
Most clinical psychology roles need a doctoral degree, but you can start gaining experience by working as an assistant psychologist. You'll support clinical psychologists with assessments, treatment plans, and therapy sessions.
It’s a great way to build research skills and relevant experience, which are both key if you plan to move into counselling, clinical, or forensic psychology later on.
Educational psychologist and school-based roles
To become a qualified Educational Psychologist in the UK you’ll need a specialist doctorate in Educational Psychology (EdPsy), but you can begin building experience in educational settings before that stage. Many graduates start out in schools as learning support assistants, teaching assistants, or wellbeing mentors, often providing support to pupils with learning and emotional needs.
These roles usually involve close collaboration with teachers, families, and sometimes school psychologists, giving you first-hand insight into issues like special educational needs and school anxiety. This early exposure to teaching and child development can be a valuable foundation if you decide to progress to EdPsy training or other psychology careers focused on supporting young people.
Forensic psychologist and offender behaviour specialist
If you’re drawn to working in the criminal justice system, becoming a forensic psychologist might be the career for you. A master's degree can open the door to roles like risk assessment officer or treatment programme assistant.
Although becoming a qualified forensic psychologist usually means completing a master's degree followed by a doctorate, assistant roles offer valuable hands-on experience within real-world forensic psychology. You might find yourself applying psychological theory to make sense of criminal behaviour, helping with rehabilitation efforts, or carrying out analysis to support treatment planning.
Counselling psychology roles
A master's degree can set you up for a career in counselling psychology, which consists of one-to-one work with clients to help them manage emotional and mental health issues.
Many people start out in support roles to build relevant experience before going on to train as a practising clinical psychologist or counsellor. With a psychology degree, the strong interaction between theory, fieldwork projects, and practical placements means you can develop your clinical psychology and counselling skills as you learn.
Mental health careers
Mental health and wellbeing roles are in demand (according to NHS England) and deeply rewarding for psychology graduates keen to work in therapy, service delivery and community work either in the public or private sectors.
Discover our MSc Psychology of Mental Health and WellbeingApplication for BPS accreditation submitted and in progress.
Mental health support roles
A postgraduate degree in psychology is one route into one of the many roles in mental health services. These roles can range from support worker to service coordinator to project lead in the NHS or third sector.
It also sets you up for further training to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist, school psychologist, or family therapist later. Working in mental health services is a great way to gain practical insight into treatment programmes and the therapeutic process.
Clinical psychologist training
To become a clinical psychologist, there are several steps you will need to undertake. You will either need to successfully complete an accredited undergraduate or an accredited conversion master's degree, followed by a doctorate. Once qualified, you will assess and treat mental health disorders, using analysis-based interventions and psychotherapeutic techniques.
It's a highly demanding, but highly rewarding job that directly impacts people’s well-being and quality of life.
Family therapist roles
As a family therapist, you could work with organisations or institutions that offer family support, child-focused therapy, or community-based programmes. While further training beyond an MSc in psychology is needed to become a fully licensed family therapist, your degree gives you a strong foundation to build on.
Applied psychology careers
Careers in this field let you apply your knowledge in workplaces, communities, and other real-world environments, often in ways people don't immediately associate with psychology.
Occupational psychologists and organisational development
As more employers begin to see the connection between staff wellbeing, retention, and productivity, the demand for occupational psychologists grows. Professional of occupational or organisational psychology use their education and experience to devise wellbeing programmes, refine recruitment and training processes, or adjust workplace design.
Psychological services alongside social work
Some psychology graduates pursue careers working alongside social workers to offer more academic insights within mental health and community settings.
In this role, you might help design and evaluate support programmes, carry out assessments, and provide the education only a psychologist could offer clients. It’s a rewarding way to combine and pursue careers in psychology and social work.
Human resources and career counsellor
Human resources is another area with plenty of opportunities for psychology graduates. Can you imagine yourself managing recruitment, training, and employee development? You'll be well-positioned to use your insights into the human mind to improve hiring practices and staff engagement.
Another similar but niche role is that of a career counsellor. They do anything from helping individuals clarify their career goals to developing interview skills within students in universities. Both roles allow you to apply a psychologist's knowledge to people‑focused contexts.
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How to make the most of your Psychology Master's degree
Here's some valuable advice to get the most out of your MSc in Psychology:
Gain experience: look for placements, internships, or part-time work in clinics, schools, charities, or HR departments.
Join professional bodies: memberships with the British Psychological Society or HCPC help you stay informed and connected.
Develop research skills: take on research projects, learn advanced statistical analysis, and present your findings at student conferences.
Networking: connect with supervisors, placement supervisors, and alumni working in relevant fields.
Plan your career: set career goals early and identify what qualifications, licensure, or training you’ll need.
Consider further education: if you aim to become a chartered psychologist or specialise, start exploring doctoral degree programmes.
Walbrook's career service is always on hand to help students get the most out of their degree.
Specialisations and interdisciplinary careers
As you gain experience beyond your psychology degree, you might specialise in a psychology field or combine it with areas like education, healthcare, or data science, depending on your interests.
Psychology in life and social sciences
Your psychology background can lead to roles in social or life sciences, where you might work on research in public health, neuroscience, or behavioural science. You'll use your understanding of the human mind to shape studies, interpret data, and inform policy or practice.
Data and statistical analysis careers
Psychology graduates with strong statistical analysis skills can pivot into data‑focused roles. You might work as a data analyst, evaluating survey results, interpreting patterns and creating reports. These roles often sit in market research, public sector organisations or NGOs.
MSc Psychology career opportunities and development
An MSc in Psychology is about more than finding a job. It is a step towards building a long-term career and can lead to further study, skill development, or roles in leadership and university teaching.
Further education and doctoral study
An MSc can be the launchpad for doctoral degrees such as a PhD in Psychology. If you are aiming for further training, most programmes will require a graduate basis for chartered membership, which an accredited MSc can provide.
Doctoral programmes open doors to research, academia, or highly specialised psychological roles. You’ll learn how to design and run research projects, analyse data, and contribute alongside other psychologists to the evidence base in psychology.
Research roles in many sectors
Even without further study, the research abilities gained from a psychology degree will allow you to pursue roles as a research assistant or data analyst. Psychology graduates are in demand in universities, charities, healthcare, education, and the private sector. Your understanding of statistics will help you to interpret human behaviour patterns and evaluate interventions.
Teaching and academic roles
With a master's degree, you may also have opportunities to work in teaching support roles at universities or colleges. You could assist teaching students in undergraduate psychology classes, supervise projects, or run workshops on research methods. These roles often become the first step towards further academic careers.
Emerging trends and technologies in psychology
A psychology degree continues to be relevant despite shifting global attitudes and tech. Want to know where your psychology career could take you in the future? We've identified some emerging trends that could shape your path.
1. Digital therapy and e‑health
One of the biggest trends in psychology is online therapy and digital wellbeing services. Psychology graduates are now working with tech teams to design therapy apps, virtual support platforms, and digital wellbeing tools.
2. Virtual reality and performance training
Virtual reality is opening up new possibilities in sports psychology and therapeutic work. You could find yourself involved in developing VR programmes that help people manage stress, build resilience, or overcome phobias through a safe yet immersive space.
3. AI and human‑centred technology
Artificial intelligence is everywhere, and psychology is no exception. Graduates can contribute to human‑centred AI design, helping develop systems that understand and adapt to people’s needs, blending psychology with tech, data analysis, and behavioural science.
4. Staying up to date with research and practice
Once you've earned your degree, the learning doesn't stop there. You’ll need to keep up with the latest research, attend conferences, and complete Continuing Professional Development. You’ll also need to stay current with emerging tools, like digital diagnostics and online therapy.
MSc Psychology: a stable career choice
We've seen that an MSc in Psychology can open up many job opportunities and prepare you for working in different fields. From mental wellbeing services, educational psychology, and human resources, to everything in between, it gives you the opportunity to broaden your horizons, or pursue your dream role, from occupational psychologist to forensic psychologist or family therapist.
Or why stop at a master's degree? Many students will use their graduate degree as a stepping stone to pursuing their doctorate and becoming a chartered psychologist. To become chartered, you will need to study a degree accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). We’ve submitted our application for BPS accreditation, which is currently under review.
At Walbrook, we ensure our students leave with the right mix of qualifications, experience, skills, and preparation for an exciting and fulfilling career. Over 90% of our recent graduates are in paid employment or further education. Join them today.
Explore our MSc Psychology degree
