Psych conversion or social research

[Yourstory]

Good morning,

I was hoping to get some advice off of you all if that's OK. I fairly recently graduated with a psychology based degree (not bps accredited). I am currently considering whether to do a postgraduate course in social research or psychology (conversion).

I loved studying psychology and I particularly enjoyed social psychology. As my degree isn't bps accredited I don't know if I would be best doing the conversion course. Without it I worry about having a lot of options cut off or it being a reason I miss out on jobs. Doing this would hopefully lead to a PhD and perhaps becoming a psychology lecturer one day but if not having the bps accreditation might then mean I can at least apply for all lower level practical jobs requiring it.

I have heard that taking the postgraduate course in social research might attract funding for that and a PhD. It would mean that I could get some research experience in my masters which would be helpful for a PhD or at least show me that it isn't for me. It would also mean that I am not spending my masters going over everything I have already done. I am interested in the area of relative poverty and children's mental health. I guess if following the PhD route didn't work out with this route their might be jobs in social research? I am not sure how viable this is.

Failing all else I could wait a few years until my children are older and do my pgce full time. I would be looking to do the above courses part time and distance learning.

Any words of advice from all of you wise people would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Hi

I'm going to put a spanner in the works here. It seems your ultimate aim in terms of qualifications is a PhD. I'd look into this properly first. I always tell students to look at where you want to end up, then work your way backwards to track your path.

There are lots of good reasons to do a Masters, but be aware that you don't necessarily need a Masters to do a PhD.

Thank you for your reply. I hadn't really considered doing a PhD without a masters. That is good advice. Perhaps the problem is that I'm not 100% sure on where I want to end up and I am also focused on what if I don't make it, which option leaves me where. I appreciate the insight.

A masters can do different things depending on what course it is. Some are effectively an apprenticeship for a PhD (which is then an apprenticeship for lecturer) and give lots of training in research skills etc. Others are aimed at training for other professions - psychology is now all accredited at MSc level rather than BSc level, so lack of a BPS accredited degree shouldn't really matter. Do ask carefully what % of students go on to do a PhD from the course you are applying for - lots will claim in their prospectus to provide an entry to research, but does anyone actually do that?

the BPS has a useful guide to possible careers.
careers.bps.org.uk/

Also, think carefully about PhD funding options. You will need funding to do a PhD, either from the university or from an external scholarship, so think about what domain you want to study and what university you want to be based at. It is a good idea to do your MSc at the same place as your likely PhD as that will give you a bit of an inside track on the funding options. Funding deadlines can be as early as December when you only started the MSc in September, so you do need to be active in pursuing them (or wait another year to apply).

The conversion is worth it if you want to have the option of one of the chartered routes - clinical, counselling, occupational psych etc. You can’t do those without the graduate basis for registration. But you wouldn’t necessarily need BPS accreditation for a social psychology research PhD as long as you have enough subject knowledge. So if that’s your aim, a research focussed masters, or a social psychology specific one, might make more sense.

Some phd funding offers 3+1 which includes a research masters, but for that you’d need a strong proposal at the outset.

Thank you both so much for the replies. They have given me so much to think about.