Top Psychology Universities in 2022-2023

Best Colleges and Universities for Psychology in the World

About Psychology

Psychology is a discipline of medicine concerned with the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health problems. Psychologists observe, interpret, and document how people interact with one another and their surroundings in order to better understand cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior. For many ages, psychology has been in high demand. The overall psychology field is expected to grow by 8% between 2020 and 2030 (United States Department of Labor), creating a plethora of job opportunities for students interested in pursuing a career in it.

Skills of a Psychologist

 The skills listed below are some of the most important for a student to acquire in order to have a successful career in psychology.

• Communication skills: Psychologists must be able to communicate professionally as they spend much of their time listening to and speaking with patients. 
• Analytical skills: Since psychologists are involved in gathering information from their patients, they must possess good analytical skills to draw logical conclusions.  
• Problem-solving skills: As a psychologist, the person should be able to evaluate the mental and behavioral problems of the patients to derive a solution or treatment for the same. 
• Integrity: Psychologists must maintain doctor-patient confidentiality to gain the trust of their patients. 
• Observational skills: To comprehend the possible meanings of facial expressions, body positions, behaviors, and interactions, a psychologist must have strong observational skills.
• Patience: When treating patients with delicate behavioral issues, a psychologist must demonstrate patience.
• Interpersonal skills: Psychologists should be able to communicate effectively with people both, individually and in groups.

Popular degrees for pursuing a career in Psychology

Associate Programs

An associate degree of two years in psychology provides a quick entry into the job field. It provides an array of entry-level jobs in the mental health fields such as social work and human  services. It also serves as a stepping stone for advanced degrees in psychology – bachelor’s or master’s degrees, saving both time and money.

• Associate of Arts 
• Associate of Science

Bachelor’s Programs

For students with little or no college experience who want to pursue entry-level careers, a bachelor’s degree in psychology is the best option. Students can choose either one of the following courses:

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
• Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Master’s Programs

Many aspiring psychologists choose a master’s degree as their terminal degree because it provides specialized expertise in a certain area of psychology. It guarantees a higher salary than a bachelor’s degree and prepares students for doctoral studies. There are two kinds of master’s degree programs offered in psychology:

• Master of Arts in Psychology
• Master of Science in Psychology

Doctoral Programs

A doctoral degree is best for aspiring clinical psychologists who wish to get licensed and practice independently. It expands the number of research-related job opportunities. Students can either choose a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree. Ph.D. degrees have a greater emphasis on research and technique, whereas PsyD degrees place a greater emphasis on the application of psychological knowledge.

Students might also choose to pursue online degrees because there is no difference in educational levels between the offline and online modes of study in psychology. Online programs may be helpful for students who have commitment difficulties, such as those working full-time jobs. 

Specializations in Psychology

When it comes to a diverse field such as psychology, picking a specialization is very important. Some paths a candidate with an advanced degree in psychology can take are

• Clinical psychology
• Industrial-organizational psychology
• Forensic psychology
• Counseling psychology
• School psychology
• Educational psychology
• Environmental psychology
• Family psychology
• Social psychology
• Community psychology
• Experimental psychology

Duration of Psychology Programs

The majority of the positions in psychology require a master’s degree or higher, but for entry-level jobs, a bachelor’s or even an associate degree is sufficient. The general duration of these programs is as follows:

Career opportunities for Psychologists

Psychology is used to assist people better understand their behavior and solve some of the common problems they confront on a daily basis. A psychologist can find career opportunities in the following settings:

• Psychiatric hospitals
• Public or private hospitals
• Private practices
• Nursing homes
• Prisons
• Rehabilitation programs
• University medical centers
• Palliative care and hospice programs

Average salaries for Psychologists

The average annual pay for a psychologist in the USA is 190,226 USD/year. The entry-level psychiatry jobs start at 60,649 USD/year while most experienced ones can make up to 257,963 USD/year. (Source: Talent, USA). 

Canada pays an annual salary of 247,467 USD/year to psychologists. The most experienced workers make up to $354,048 USD/year, whereas entry-level jobs pay up to 146,000 USD/year. (Source: Talent, Canada). 

The salary for a psychologist in the UK is 91,186 USD/year. The freshers get paid around 51,447USD/year and the experienced psychologists get paid 96,390 USD/year. (Source: Talent, UK). 

A psychologist in Australia makes around 190,624 USD/year. The entry-level salary for psychologists in Australia starts at 55,783 USD/year and experienced psychologists get 221,481 USD/year.

Top 50 Universities in the world for Psychology based on various rankings (Shanghai/QS/THE):

Top Universities in USA for Psychology:

Top Universities in UK for Psychology:

Top Universities in Netherlands for Psychology:

Academic Requirements for studying Psychology 

The academic requirements for pursuing a psychology degree may differ from one university to another, but the following are the typical criteria as given by the top universities:

Associate level

• A high school diploma or GED
• Personal statement of intent
• High school transcripts 
• ACT/SAT score
• TOEFL/IELTS score

Bachelor’s level

• A high school diploma or GED
• Personal statement of intent
• High school transcripts 
• Recommendation letter
• ACT/SAT score
• TOEFL/IELTS score

Master’s level

• A bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field of study with a GPA score of 3.0-3.5
• Personal statement of intent
• Recommendation letter
• TOEFL/IELTS score
• Some programs also ask for an average GRE score of 618
• Internships/research experience
• Published research papers 

Doctoral level

• A master’s degree in psychology with a GPA score of 3.0-3.5 or a bachelor’s degree with relevant work experience
• Personal statement of intent
• Recommendation letter
• TOEFL/IELTS score
• Some programs also ask for an average GRE score of 618
• Internships/research experience
• Published research papers 
• Personal interview