What to expect when studying psychology
On this year’s A-Level results day, current psychology Masters student Alnur Alchinbay has reflected on their experiences studying A-Level and undergraduate psychology.
15 August 2024
I recently studied psychology for my BSc degree, and studied psychology as one of my A-levels, so I know that studying psychology is a unique experience. The broadness of psychology is very well represented at A-Level, and gives an opportunity for you to explore your preferences within the field, from clinical to cognitive psychology.
If you have chosen psychology as one of your A-Levels, my first tip for success would be to get lots of practice with exam questions! What really helped me was not simply practising a lot of past paper questions, but also understanding the logic behind the question, and what you need to give as an answer to get full marks.
Another important way to increase your chances of success is to seek opportunities for extra classes with your teachers. If there are extra workshops, do attend them, and ask more questions. This will help you to improve and be ready to get a great mark on your A-Levels!
If, like me, you want to study psychology at the undergraduate level, you have to ask yourself a few questions.
Firstly - what is my own particular interest in psychology? If it is to become a practitioner psychologist, then you might apply for a four-year course, where you will have the opportunity to start learning to become a practitioner.
If your plan is to follow a research-based path, then you should apply to psychology courses where you can develop your maths and research skills. You should think about whether you can pass statistics modules for your degree - I helped several first-year students in my second and third years of my degree, to help them understand the concepts and logic behind statistics, and universities should have a lot of options for you to improve on those skills.
Your maths skills could develop as far as making your dissertation on simulating results using computational modelling techniques!
Lastly, if you are unsure what to do and your choice of psychology is not motivated by three previous points, then that is perfectly okay. A degree in psychology allows you to develop a lot of marketable skills - you will learn how to use data analysis software, how to give presentations, and much more.
Studying psychology in further and higher education is rewarding and interesting, and you'll develop lots of useful skills for later in life. If you're considering it, I hope this blog helps, and good luck!
If you're studying on a BPS-accredited undergraduate degree, conversion course or a BPS-accredited programme of study for the wider psychological workforce, you can get your first year of BPS membership for free – find out more on our website.