The surprising degree that can open many different career opportunities
by Rachel Rutherford · Wales OnlinePeople often study degrees to boost their futures, but there's one specific course that offers more than just subject knowledge.
Psychology is part of everything we do, every day. It underpins thinking, reasoning, memory, and language, and contributes to how we interact with the world.
So, the more you understand psychology, the more you can understand how and why people act the way they do - a vital skill to have in life.
At Swansea University, its British Psychological Society (BPS)-accredited psychology degrees give students expert scientific training in the relationship between the mind, brain, and behaviour.
This can prepare them for a range of career pathways in not only psychology, but various other areas - completely opening up their future.
Psychology courses at Swansea University
Swansea University's School of Psychology has an outstanding reputation both in the UK and internationally.
In its most recent research assessment, it maintained its research culture and strong record of translating science into real-world consequences, with 100% of its impact rated as internationally excellent.
The school offers a range of psychology degrees available across three and four years.
An undergraduate Psychology BSc (Hons) course can be taken with or without a year abroad or year in industry, with a foundation year, or with a masters qualification to come out with an MSci.
There is also the option for a joint honours programme to combine psychology with either criminology, education, or sociology.
Within all of these degrees, students develop excellent research, written, and critical analysis skills, as well as a high degree of numeracy and ICT ability.
Swansea University's teaching approach - which includes lectures, personal tutorials, academic seminars, workshops, practical research classes, and work placements - encourages vital attributes for the workplace such as effective teamwork and high-quality communication skills.
Professor Amy Brown started her journey at Swansea University with a BSc Psychology degree in 2003, before studying an MSc Econ in Social Research Methods and then a Psychology PhD.
Her research into breastfeeding is shaping public policy and helping mothers and babies get off to a great start, and she is now a professor of Child Public Health at the university.
She initially chose Swansea University for the beach and the beautiful surroundings, but it quickly became more than that.
She said: "Once on campus for an open day I realised what a friendly and welcoming environment Swansea had – from the staff in the psychology department to the general vibe around the lecture theatres and halls.
"It felt like somewhere you could call home – which was a good thing, as I’ve been wandering around that campus for 20 years now!"
Future jobs
As this BPS-accredited degree starts the journey towards a professional career in psychology, many graduates have gone on to further study or work in specialist psychology fields.
Providing you achieve at least a 2:2 in your degree, you will be eligible for Graduate Membership of the BPS and the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), the first step to becoming a chartered psychologist.
The typical starting salary for an NHS trainee clinical psychologist is £35,392 on average, with career progression leading to salaries of between £50,056 and £96,376 or higher in some cases.
However, students can easily turn to different industries as their skills and knowledge can be applied extensively, for example, in areas such as public services, education, health and social care, management, research, marketing, and the Civil Service.