Studying Psychology in English in Europe and beyond

A Career in Psychology

Psychology is one of the most popular subjects to study because it has a big impact on all areas of life, from education and health, to the economy and crime.

Psychology is the scientific study of human mind and behaviour. Psychologists apply scientific methodology to explain human behaviour. They formulate theories, test hypotheses through observation and experiment, and analyse their reports with statistical techniques that help them identify important findings.

If you are interested in finding out why people behave the way they do or how the brain works then psychology could be for you.

The British Psychological Society website offers some excellent resources for exploring careers in the different areas of Psychology: Forensic, Health, Clinical, Educational, Occupational, Neuro, Sport and Exercise, Counselling, Academia Research and Teaching

Will my degree be recognised?

You should have absolutely no problem with recognition of a psychology degree from a good university. If you are satisfied with the overall quality of the university and the reputation of its psychology department then it is unlikely that you will ever be at a disadvantage if you study psychology abroad.

Having said that, we have heard recently that it is important to choose a course with British Psychological Society accreditation. To date the society has not had a process for considering international degrees for accreditation and therefore no international degrees are currently BPS accredited.

Graduates who have not taken an accredited degree programme in Psychology can undertake a conversion course. Conversion courses provide an opportunity for graduates to build on their first degree qualification to become eligible for the Society's Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC). The course usually consists of at least one full year (approximately 45 weeks full-time, or its part-time equivalent) and typically comprises either 120 or 180.

You can search for accredited conversion courses online.

Does it make sense to study psychology abroad?

Yes. Psychology is one of the most popular subjects at British universities and there are lots of graduates every year competing for a relatively small number of interesting jobs. International experience will immediately differentiate you from your peers as you will have an understanding of how psychology is practised internationally.

What else should I bear in mind?

It is worthwhile looking at getting work experience abroad as part of your studies. This will help to build you a network which might make it easier to find a job after you graduate. Don't just assume that this will only help you abroad. Because of the international nature of psychology it could also help you in finding a job back home, too.

Where should I look for psychology degrees abroad?

Psychology is not often taught in English in other countries, although this is changing. Right now, your options are broadest in English-speaking countries but there are courses at the University of Groningen, Maastricht University, Erasmus University Rotterdam, and Leiden University in the Netherlands, as well as courses in Spain and Hungary where you can study psychology in English.

Some thoughts from psychology students at overseas universities

Ritwik Swain


Similar courses

About A Star Future

A Star Future provides information and guidance to British students looking to pursue their undergraduate studies abroad.

Through our presentations in schools and our websites we aim to ensure that British-educated students are well informed about their choices.