Psychology A Level

Other subjects that work well with this course are:

• Sociology
• Biology
• English language
• History
• Health and Social care

Why study Psychology A Level?
Psychology is a vibrant and exciting scientific discipline that seeks to find answers to real world problems. In a world were human interaction is multi-layered, psychology attempts to help us better understand our environment. Students love Psychology because it provides them with an opportunity to find out what is the science behind human behaviours and it gives them a better range of skills to help in everyday and complex human interactions.
Psychology students cover a variety of different areas but understanding criminal behaviour, aggression and stress are always ones that capture student’s interests

Course overview

• Students will learn through a range of different teaching strategies, including class discussion, group work, independent study task and research.
• The content looks at understanding why we obey, why we conform, how we remember and forget, why phobias develop and how mental health issues are diagnosed, and how they are treated.
• Using your Psychological and scientific skills you will examine research evidence and apply it to real world questions such as; are we born evil or does our environment shape us? And, are some people born aggressive or do we learn it?
• Students develop excellent evaluation skills, critical analysis and thinking and understand the importance of constructing a well-evidenced point of view.

Students studying Psychology will:

• Have a chance to learn more about the research skills used by psychologists.
• Explore issues in mental health, there symptoms and treatments.
• Investigate different aspects of applied psychology including mental health and learn more about the classic psychology studies.
• Apply knowledge to ‘the real world’ and better understand why people do the things they do.

Progression routes and future careers

• Transferable skills – Psychology students become skilled in critical thinking and analysis, they also leave having a much better understanding of human behaviour which is a must in any workplace.
• Possible careers – Studying psychology at A Level open the doors to careers in criminology, forensic science, nursing, child, education and sports psychology.

Psychology Careers

What are the psychological professions?

If you have an interest in how people think and behave and want to use the study of psychology to help people improve their mental wellbeing, a career in the psychological professions could be for you.

One in four people will suffer from mental health problems at some point in their lives. This can range from mild conditions, such as anxiety, to severe depression or more rare and complex conditions such as psychosis, personality disorders or bipolar disorder. You could be helping people and their families cope with problems as diverse as trauma, drug or alcohol addiction, eating disorders, family breakdown, bereavement or the effects of disability. You might work with people with major health conditions such as cancer, diabetes or cardiovascular disease to help tackle psychological issues linked to their health.

Helping children, young people and adults to understand their condition and develop ways to cope with or overcome their problems and lead a normal life can offer real job satisfaction.

The psychological professions include branches of psychology related to healthcare, such as clinical or health psychology, counselling and psychotherapy roles and jobs within Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services.

Increases in funding to tackle mental health problems mean job opportunities are increasing, especially through the IAPT initiative and to work in new services for children and young people.

For more information about roles in the psychological professions, see

www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/psychprofessions

For an explanation of the differences between psychology, psychiatry and psychotherapy, take a look www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/psychprofessionsdifferences 

FAQs

Do I need A-level psychology to do a psychology degree?

No, but you may find it a useful introduction to the subject. More important is that you can handle scientific concepts (many psychology courses ask for at least one science A-level), are numerate and have good writing skills.

My degree isn’t in psychology. Can I still become a clinical psychologist?

If your degree isn’t in psychology you can study for an approved conversion course which will give you eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS). This membership then allows you to apply for postgraduate courses in clinical psychology. This is also

the case for health, forensic and counselling psychology.

Can I work as an assistant in the psychological professions?

Yes, it is possible to work as an assistant clinical psychologist under the supervision of a qualified psychologist. You would normally need a British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited degree in psychology. You could also consider working as a mental health support worker or a trainee post

as a psychological wellbeing practitioner.

You would need a degree or relevant life experience with evidence of ability to study at degree level.

What is psychiatry?

Psychiatrists are doctors who have trained in medicine and then qualified in psychiatry. They diagnose and help manage mental health conditions. Psychiatry is not covered in this booklet but you can find out more at www. healthcareers.nhs.uk/psychiatry

Are there any other health careers where I can work with people with mental ill health?

In addition to the roles mentioned in this booklet, there are other roles related to working in mental ill health. These include some of the allied health professions (such as occupational therapist, art therapist, drama therapist and music therapist), psychiatrist and mental health nurse.

Find out more about the allied health professions at www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/AHP 

For information about psychiatry as a career, visit www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/psychiatry

mental health nursing. You can find out more at www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/mentalhealthnurse 

Which Role do I choose?

All roles in the psychological professions involve helping people with mental wellbeing,  but differ in the people or types of conditions you may deal with and the amount of training you need.

Training may range from a practical counselling qualification to the three-year Doctorate required to practise as a clinical psychologist where you will learn a range of psychological theories and also undertake your own research project.

In all cases, you need to be able to relate to a wide range of people, have a patient and sympathetic nature and be resilient enough to deal with emotionally charged situations. You may also work with couples, families or groups.

Most roles involve seeing an individual patient over a number of sessions and building up a relationship of trust. You’ll need patience and resilience, but the job can be satisfying in helping a client manage their condition.

Some roles involve working independently with responsibility for a caseload of clients. However, being able to work as one of a team of professionals is also important.

Some roles to consider

If you are interested in working with people with anxiety or depression you may wish to consider roles in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services.

•Psychological wellbeing practitioners see a large number of people for short sessions. They identify areas where an individual wishes to change how they feel, and promote self-help.

•High intensity therapists help smaller numbers of clients with more complex problems and provide therapy programmes over a longer period of time.

•Forensic psychologists use psychology to understand criminal behaviour. They work with offenders on ways to reduce the risk of re-offending.

• Health psychologist If you are interested in health, diet and exercise you could consider the role of health psychologist. They promote positive changesin thinking and behaviour to tackle problems such as smoking, drug and alcohol abuse and poor diet.

•Counsellors work in a variety of settings such as hospitals and GP surgeries, advice centres, colleges and universities, and for charities.

Many roles need a degree or postgraduate qualification.

This means you need good grades at A-level or equivalent qualifications at level 3 to gain a place on a university course, or relevant work experience combined with evidence of academic ability.

You don’t necessarily need a degree to get into counselling but employers prefer a recognised counselling qualification at least to diploma level

Getting started in the psychological professions

If you have an interest in a career in the psychological professions, there are a number of different ways you can get started.

Work placements and volunteering

Volunteering or arranging a work placement is the best way to find out if a career in health is right for you.

For a career in the psychological professions getting experience with people with mental health problems will be most useful.

Experience doesn’t always need to be gained in the NHS, so think about charities that support mental health and other

organisations where you could help or talk to people. If you care for a friend or relative, this can also provide valuable experience. Work shadowing an experienced practitioner is also useful.

Studying a psychology degree

The starting point for many (but not all) roles in the psychological professions is a British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited degree in psychology. This gives you Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) and eligibility to apply for postgraduate courses in clinical, health, forensic and counselling psychology. If your degree isn’t in psychology or isn’t accredited you can take an accredited conversion course before applying for postgraduate study.

Check universities for specific requirements for psychology degrees. You’ll usually need two A-levels (preferably three) or equivalent. Psychology A-level isn’t needed but a science A-level is often required or preferred. You’ll also need to be numerate. If you have lots of relevant work or life experience entry requirements may be more flexible.

Next steps and progressing your career

If you’ve decided you want to work in the psychological professions, it is important to find out as much information as you can about the qualifications you need and the opportunities that are available.

For degree courses you’ll usually need to apply through UCAS. For postgraduate courses it is usually to the university directly or a Clearing House, such as the Clearing House for Postgraduate Courses in Clinical Psychology.

Many roles require postgraduate study either to Master’s level or a Doctorate. You will often need a 2:1 degree and relevant work experience. For a trainee place on a Doctorate in clinical psychology, check the entry requirements and necessary relevant clinical experience carefully. Use the course finder on the Health Careers website www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/courses to identify professional postgraduate courses in clinical, counselling, forensic and health psychology.

For counselling, employers require a recognised counselling qualification, such as those accredited by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).