Careers in Psychology: What Can You Do With a Psychology Degree?

Wondering what jobs you can get with a psychology degree in Ireland? Dr Kristin Finkbeiner of Griffith College Dublin outlines real career options available after a bachelor's and master's degree.

Dr Kristin Finkbeiner is Deputy Programme Director for Psychology at Griffith College Dublin.

This two-part series explores psychology career pathways in Ireland and beyond, covering roles available after a bachelor’s degree, master’s programmes, and doctoral routes. Part 1 focuses on employment options for psychology graduates at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Introduction: Navigating a Psychology Career

One of the main reasons people seek to attend college is to ensure that, upon graduation, their employability is high. Psychology is no exception to this. However, what makes psychology a complex field to navigate from a career’s perspective is the vast number of pathways available to you.

Psychology concerns the study and knowledge of human cognition, emotion and behaviour. In this sense, psychology can be applied to everyone and, in theory, to every discipline (yes, even AI!). It is no wonder that students interested in psychology find themselves a little lost when it comes to focusing on a possible career path upon graduation.

While this is likely to remain a dilemma for prospective students, the following posts aim to help them navigate that journey and support graduates by showing what is possible.

Below, and in Part 2, I have compiled three main career pathways to consider for future employability. This is not an exhaustive list, but it provides general guidance that aligns with the level of education and further training a psychology graduate is ready and able to take on.

Pathway 1: Immediate Options Upon Graduation (Bachelor’s Degree)

Yes, despite what you might hear, you can gain employment in a psychology-related field immediately upon graduation. The value of in-depth psychological knowledge is an asset to any individual venture, team or organisation.

While you won’t be eligible to register as a Psychologist with CORU (Health and Social Care Professionals Council) without further training, you can absolutely apply your knowledge of psychological frameworks, biological understanding and practical research skills to a variety of roles in both the private and public sector.

Here are some examples of what that can look like:

Private Sector

Business and Marketing

• User experience (UX) research
• Market research analyst
   

Education Support

• Learning support worker
• Special needs assistant (SNA)
   

Human Resources

• HR administration
• Learning and Development coordinator
   

Public Sector

Community and Support Roles

• Addiction services support worker
• Youth and project worker
• Health and Wellbeing specialist
   

Research and Data Evaluation

• Research Assistant (agencies, universities)
• Data Evaluation Project Lead (government organisations and charities)
   

These roles allow psychology graduates to gain direct, real-world experience while developing their professional profiles. Many employers in healthcare, education, and the public sector specifically value the research, communication, and analytical skills that come with a psychology degree.

Pathway 2: Options After Applied Training (Master’s Degree)

Applying for a master’s programme after a bachelor’s degree in psychology is the most common pathway for future psychologists. The strength of a master’s programme is that it combines highly practical training with a deeper theoretical understanding of a particular area of psychological practice.

For instance, if you are drawn to the mental health elements of your psychological studies, there are many master’s programmes to suit your specific interests, depending on the population you would like to work with. Alternatively, if you discovered a passion for research at the undergraduate level, there are Research Master’s options that will extend the scope of your contribution to the field.

Some of the most common master’s programmes sought by psychology graduates include:

• Mental Health: Addiction Studies, Counselling and Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Health Psychology: Health Promotion, Community and Public Health, Occupational Health
• Developmental Psychology: Applied Behavioural Analysis, Child and Family Health and Wellbeing
• Research: Data Analysis, Research Methods, Project Management
• Forensic Psychology: Clinical, Correctional, Criminal, Child Forensic, Victimology
• Cyberpsychology: Online Consumer Behaviour, Telepsychology, Cyberforensics and Cybercrime, Social Media Psychology
• Neuropsychology: Biological Basis of Behaviour, Cognitive Science
• Organisational Psychology: Industrial Psychology, Change Management, Employee Motivation and Wellbeing
   

The breadth of these programmes reflects just how widely psychology can be applied. Whether your interest lies in clinical settings, corporate organisations, or cutting-edge research, there is a master’s pathway to match.

Coming up in Part 2: we look at the routes into highly specialised practice, including doctoral-level training and the PSI’s four chartered psychology pathways in Ireland. We also cover the big picture takeaway: no matter what stage you are at, a psychology degree opens more doors than you might expect.