Best place to study psychology BA online?

[Vexar]

Posting here for traffic. Would like to go to a 'good' uni if possible. Didn't get on with Open because my background is academic and I just found out too much like being spoonfed.

There's the option to do a conversion course but I'm worried it would rule me out for further study - are these highly regarded or not? Is the BA always required?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Thank you for this, that's really helpful. Did you enjoy the training week with other students?

I'm vaguely aware of this which is why I want to get the first bit right. I've resisted the thought of doing this for ages because I don't know quite what to do with it if I can't get one of these gold dust places. Is there any other goal that you would recommend going after with this degree? I would happily research but wouldn't want to do it forever.

Just to add if you're replying on the Masters loan to pay your fees you'll have to study part time as you already have an MA.

*relying

I know nothing of this. What master's loan?

As a Clinical Psychologist with many years experience who interviews for Assistant Psychologist posts and the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, my advice is to most definitely do the conversion MSc. It is highly regarded and much quicker than doing another degree (which is pointless). But - do try and get yourself a good grade (ideally distinction, but at least over 60), and preferably do it at a red brick uni if you can (though not essential)

Good luck! It's an interesting career :)

To find out more about Psychology careers, you should browse around the following forum (as recommended up thread) www.clinpsy.org.uk and also check out the 'Leeds Clearing House' for info on the pathway for Clinical Psychology training.

I wouldn't be put off by stories of how competitive the DClin is. Yes, you need to have experience, and in your case the MSc, and to come across well at interview, but it's very doable. If you apply for a few years and don't get a place, there is also a new route to qualify as a 'clinical Associate in Psychology' (CAP) which is much less competitive and many are qualifying as CAPs, working for a couple of years, and then applying again for the DClin.

The MSc will help you work out if you want to pursue the DClin, and I'd suggest working as an Assistant Psychologist during or after the MSc to get to know what clinical psychology is all about and gain the experience necessary for a DClin post. There are also lots of other options after your MSc like a PhD, counselling psychology training or forensic psychology training, or you could look to train as a psychotherapist or CBT therapist. Do the MSc and then it will become clearer to you what you might want to continue with ...

How were you planning on paying your fees? You could google 'masters loan'....

Thank you very much for this advice. I'm very grateful. Would you mind if I asked another question? I didn't do either psychology or statistics at A Level. Do you think it would be advisable to study those first as I'm not sure I can pull off a distinction on a conversion course from such a clueless starting point? I work hard but my brain hasn't got any younger and I'm not intuitive with figures. Thank you.

Right, yes, I thought this was a special psychology thing. I start to panic when I Google but I need to do more of it clearly!

No A level maths or Psychology is fine! You will be taught statistics on the MSc. It's not as hard to pick up as you might think (and you'll forget it all again anyway and have to re-learn it if you do the DClin!!) And they will show you computer programmes you can use which do all the stats for you! A couple of good books guide you how to use the computer programmes (was mainly SPSS in my day but it's changed a bit now, but stuff out there!)

A distinction is ideal to aim for, but above 60 is fine :)

Good luck

this

Psychology graduate here, working in mental health, in research.

inform yourself and think very carefully about your situation (financial, time) and whether you can take the hard, unforgiving slog of getting into clinical psychology. It is not for the faint of heart. Better to do this now and potentially save yourself years and the money spent on training

Avoid the MSc conversion course at Arden University if you can. I found the teaching, resources and communication to be very poor.
If I had my time again I’d go with Leeds or MMU.
Good luck!

Op I have a doctorate in psychology. I did an undergrad degree (not psychology but related). I did a masters conversion course (Master of Education) and to gain the GBR I needed to show that I had completed enough credits in psychology in my undergrad. You need to check the requirements of any conversion course you hope to do. If you don't meet criteria then you will need to do a psychology degree.

The funded doctorate places are like gold dust. You will need at least 1 years relevant experience in a psychology related field before applying for a doctorate. In reality most people have many more years experience (I had 10 years).

If you're planning on a PhD, you need to pull yourself together if the notion of merely Googling something makes you panic.

I'm doing one, and Googling will be the least of all the baffling things you'll have to stay on top of. Give some very serious thought as to whether you have a PhD in you, many don't.

I can see why you'd think that. I do a good deep dive once I'm orientated.

Thanks for this. It's exactly the kind of thing that I'm scared of - sign up, pay the money, do the work and find out I'm not accredited at the end. Warning much appreciated!

Thanks, will avoid Arden!

@Vexar when you're doing your research the individual unis will tell you their criteria and what you achieve at the end. If you can't see it then contact them directly.

I'd be so grateful if anyone can shed light on this, please.

I've just read that conversion courses usually require a certain number of credits in psychology from the previous course. If one doesn't have this it's necessary to study for a Graduate Certificate in Psychology for 6-12 months before being eligible for the conversion courses.

Some posters have mentioned this possibility but others have said a conversion course is designed for people with no prior training in psychology.

A Graduate Certificate followed by a conversion course sounds similar to a full degree in terms of time spent and cost. So I'm wondering is it really necessary and which route is better?

I would be so grateful if anyone can shed light on this. Lunarloveroo I know you did mention it and I appreciate it.

Perhaps @PsychLady could help?

Can you not just look at the entry requirements of any MSc conversion courses you're interested in to see if you need a grad cert? And read the course details which will tell you if it's accredited for grad status with BPS.

This is a pretty basic level of research which you should be able to do without MN doing the leg work for you.

I mean the first page of google gives me this:
This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and satisfies the requirements for the Graduate Basis of Chartership in just one year; a vital step in your journey towards becoming a professional psychologist. Previous study of psychology is not required.

Thanks for googling on my behalf. With respect, this is a very big thing to get wrong. I can ask individual universities but there is a lot to be said for talking to experts or past students as the information regarding this is conflicting. It's no skin off your nose if someone is kind enough to advise me :)

Have you done any statistics in your work prior to being a SAHM? I mean to you have any experience with stats?

I ask this because I'm doing OU psych BSc and can tell you that while it's not brain surgery, it does take time to orient your mind to if you've no prior experience. Also, if you can do a MSc Psych with no prior experience with stats, you'll need to do a LOT of work catching up. And if you want to study psychology to be studying people, then it's very likely this won't be an enjoyable part of your study anyway.

I'm wondering from your posts if you know what psychologists do, specifically in the NHS. And also what you see yourself doing. Do you want to be a pure research psychologist or do you want to be working with clients/patients? Do you have a population or condition that you're interested in, or is your interest more general?

I'm asking all these questions because a lot of people who want to be a psychologist actually want to be a professional (as in not doing a 3-hr online course) counsellor. Or the function that is actually a mental health nurse. They don't imagine that they'll be spending training time learning to interpret statistics and grappling with statistical programmes. You didn't seem to realise that psychology is a social science in the beginning (the Sc part of BSc), which suggests it may be prudent to think about how you want to spend your work days ultimately, and work back to training/qualifications from that.

Hi, I did a BA in English Lit followed by a psychology conversion Masters, and am now a psychologist. The Masters is not considered inferior to an undergrad degree.

Psychology degrees can be either Arts or Science degrees, depending on the faculty where the course is run in each uni. So long as your course is BPS accredited, it doesn't make a difference in terms of eligibility for further study.