Psychology is a fascinating subject, exploring the mind and behaviour of human beings, and examining how people think, feel and behave in society.
A qualification in psychology can therefore have a great impact on wider society, not to mention open up a variety of fantastic career opportunities.
How useful is a Psychology qualification?
Having a psychology qualification can set you up in a variety of careers across different industries. From business to healthcare, social work to the world of sports, understanding other people is key to every field, making a qualification in psychology an invaluable asset.
Psychology has so many specialties that qualifications can open many doors for psychology students and psychology graduates. Whether you are working as a social worker helping vulnerable people or working in advertising trying to create the most appealing campaigns, a qualification in psychology is key.
Popular psychology jobs in Ireland include becoming a school psychologist, neuropsychologist, research assistant, or working with substance abuse, in psychotherapy, or in social services.
Clinical Psychologist
Clinical psychologists work with people with mental health issues, consulting with patients to help improve their wellbeing and administer treatments such as therapies. Clinical psychologists often work in mental health services, such as hospitals, with people who have conditions such as anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, eating disorders, and schizophrenia.
How to Become a Clinical Psychologist in Ireland
A qualification in psychology is the best way to break into this role, whether you are just starting out in the working world or are a career pivoter. In order to become a clinical psychologist, you will need to have a bachelor’s degree in psychology and complete a postgraduate training programme in clinical psychology.
In order to go into research, a doctoral degree would also be necessary. If you have an undergraduate degree in another subject or are not a psychology major, you can go on a conversion course.
For a foundational understanding of the science of mind and behaviour, there are also a variety of online psychology courses in mental health suitable for all levels. These can also help you enter into further study in higher education and begin your career in clinical psychology.
Educational Psychologist
Educational psychology is an area of psychology that is concerned with the learning and development of children. It involved exploring the way in which childhood development can impact our later years and how we can best provide for and understand children and adolescents.
How to Become an Educational Psychologist in Ireland
Becoming an educational psychologist follows the same general route as the previously mentioned psychology careers, including a bachelor’s degree and postgraduate training program. However, work experience or a qualification associated with education is also a great way to get into this career path.
A qualification in psychology, such as an online psychology course in Ireland, combined with experience working in childcare or working in mental health, can help you get onto a more advanced psychology course. Having a qualification in Childcare can also help you succeed in this career field.
Sports Psychologist
Sports psychology seeks to help athletes and those who participate in sports to get the best out of their performance by optimising their mental health. This branch of psychology combines the social, psychological, and physical aspects of sport and exercise.
How to Become a Sports Psychologist in Ireland
Sports psychology covers a variety of psychological areas, including motivation, stress, mental health, and concentration, so gaining a qualification in psychology is a must.
Becoming a sports psychologist also requires a bachelor’s and postgraduate qualification. However, specific sports psychology degrees are few and far between in Ireland. Instead, the preferred route to get a sports psychology graduate job in Ireland is to gain an accredited psychology qualification and then specialise in postgraduate training in sport and exercise psychology.
Career in Marketing
If you are not interested in pursuing one of the more direct jobs in psychology, then there are several other career options in which a qualification in psychology can be incredibly useful. This includes the world of business, many aspects of which rely on our understanding of others, such as human resources. One of the lesser-discussed related fields is marketing, which actually incorporates psychology in a number of ways.
Psychology is often used in marketing to help businesses to gain insight into how they can better appeal to customers by understanding how they think, feel, and behave. This helps businesses to build strategies to attract and keep more customers.
Psychology in marketing is often used in areas such as advertising and market research, however, it can be useful in most marketing job roles, and having a qualification in psychology is likely to give you an edge over other candidates whose primary qualifications are likely to be solely in business and marketing.
Completing an online digital marketing course can further put you ahead of the competition when it comes to job opportunities and starting your career. With a foundation in psychology and digital marketing, you are well-prepared for a career in marketing.
Psychology fundamentally provides insight into other people, and therefore any career which is people-focused will benefit from an understanding of psychology. Whether you are wondering what you can do with a psychology degree or are keen to take your first steps into the science of mind and behaviour, knowledge of psychology can help you have the career you really want.
Browse All Courses