Psychology conversion courses

If you didn鈥檛 study psychology as an undergraduate, you can still become a psychologist by enrolling in a psychology conversion course to gain an accredited qualification

These intense courses, lasting up to one-year full time, bring you to the same point in becoming a psychologist as those who studied an approved undergraduate psychology degree.

Why do a psychology conversion course?

To become a psychologist, it is necessary to gain the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS). This means that you must have completed either an undergraduate degree or a conversion course that is accredited by the BPS.

'Completing a conversion course that is accredited makes graduates more competitive in the job market and provides a smoother pathway towards many professional careers in psychology, such as clinical psychology or educational psychology,' advises Dr Gwen Brekelmans, psychology (conversion) programme lead at Queen Mary University of London.

Take a look at psychologist聽job profiles聽to learn more about qualification routes.

How do I choose a programme?

Before choosing a psychology course, it is important to ensure that it is accredited by the BPS. You can check this by searching the list of accredited courses on their website.

There are different types of psychology conversion courses available:

MSc Psychology聽- a full Masters degree, taking one year to complete. To be eligible for the MSc course, you'll typically need to have achieved a 2:2 or above in any subject. The course will consist of exams and coursework, and you will also be assessed on a personal project or dissertation.
Postgraduate diploma (PGDip) or graduate diploma in psychology聽- these programmes typically involve full-time study for nine months and require fewer independent research projects than a Masters degree. To be eligible for a PGDip, you will typically need to have completed a certain number of psychology credits from previous study.

Check university websites for up-to-date entry criteria. These courses are widely available in the UK and offered parttime or online.

Most have a general title such as MSc or PGDip Psychology, providing core subject knowledge required for BPS accreditation.

What does a psychology conversion course involve?

A BPS accredited course ensures competence and shared knowledge for future psychologists. The main assessment areas are:

biological psychology
cognitive psychology
conceptual and historical issues
developmental psychology
personality and individual differences
research methods
social psychology. 聽

It's worth noting that in order to excel in a psychology course, you may need to have a solid foundation in mathematics, as many psychological studies involve statistical analyses and numerical data interpretation.

Some psychology courses offer specialisation options, such as educational or developmental psychology. However, it鈥檚 worthwhile experiencing all areas of psychology before committing to a specialisation as Dr Eric Bowman, lecturer and director of taught postgraduates from the University of St Andrews emphasises, 'it opens a variety of career paths related to psychology. We do not recommend that students specialise in a psychological subdiscipline so early in their careers, before sampling the broad range of psychology.'

To see what's on offer,聽search psychology conversion courses.

How much is a psychology conversion course?

聽Before making a decision to study a conversion course, it's important to consider the costs involved. Typically, the tuition fees for MSc conversion courses range from 拢6,000 to 拢15,000, while diplomas are relatively less expensive.

Some examples of MSc conversion course fees per year are:

Keep in mind that in England, postgraduate loans are available only for Masters courses but not for PGDips or graduate diplomas.

Where will my qualification lead?

Once you've achieved GBC through your accredited degree or conversion course, you're ready to take the next step towards becoming a psychologist.

It's important to note that psychologists must receive Doctorate-level training that has been approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in order to practice professionally.

Be sure to keep an open mind as there are various roles and branches of psychology. Consider volunteering and gaining experience in as many areas as possible to help you choose.

To learn more about each role, take a look at these job profiles:

Find out more

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