Psychology Post-Graduate Programs

Students with a graduate degree in psychology have a greater chance of landing a job in their chosen field because the degree is more streamlined and geared towards a specific area of expertise. Students can not only improve their earnings but also their career development by targeting a particular major within the field of psychology.

Psychology is one of the most prevalent majors in the Arts & Sciences because it is a fast-growing discipline with diverse subareas. As both a response and need, hundreds of schools deliver a graduate degree in psychology, and thus a wide range of subjects from which students can choose.

The top 5 universities in the US for studying psychology include:

1. Stanford University
2. Yale University
3. University of Michigan
4. Harvard University
5. Princeton University

What can be Done with a Graduate Degree in Psychology?

The benefits of obtaining a postgraduate degree in psychology include advanced knowledge and skills in the field, which can lead to increased job opportunities and higher earning potential. Postgraduate study allows for specialization in a particular area of psychology, such as clinical, counseling, or industrial-organizational psychology, and can lead to licensure as a psychologist. Additionally, a postgraduate degree can open doors to research and teaching positions in academia, as well as opportunities for advancement in the field.

Some psychology majors go on to work as psychologists; others go on to work as counselors or in the Human Resources department, where they work closely with corporations. A major must be chosen based on a specific career goal to be able to achieve that goal.

Top Graduate Programs in Psychology in the US

1

Stanford University

• Stanford University provides doctoral and Master of Arts degrees in Psychology. Graduate students currently in the Psychology PhD program, having fulfilled the first and second-year course requirements, and completed a minimum of 45 units of Psychology courses, are eligible to seek the MA degree.
• The University does not provide a terminal MA Degree in Psychology to students not concurrently pursuing another advanced degree at Stanford.
• Research areas for the psychology programs at the university are- Addictive Behaviors, Aging, Audition, Computational Approaches, Culture, Decision Science, Developmental Approaches, Diversity, Education, Interventions, Language, Learning and Memory, Mathematical Cognition, Meaning, and Mental Representation, Motivation and Emotion, Neuroimaging, Perception, Plasticity and Change, Psychopathology and Risk, Reasoning and Problem Solving, Self and Identity, Self-Regulation and Control, Social Cognition, Stereotyping and Stereotype Threat, Vision Science, Words and Categories
• In the Ph.D. program, students have the opportunity to engage in thorough research within a chosen area of focus. These areas are- Affective, Cognitive Psychology, Developmental, Neuroscience, and Social Psychology.
• For admission into the Ph.D. program, applicants must hold a U.S. bachelor's degree for its foreign equivalent, Statement of Purpose, 3 Letters of Recommendation, and unofficial transcripts from all colleges/universities they have attended.
• The tuition fee for the master's and Ph.D. programs is $1,400 per unit.

2

Yale University

• Yale University provides doctoral and master's programs in Psychology. There is no standalone master's program available, but Ph.D. students can earn a master's degree upon fulfilling their second-year requirements for the Ph.D. program.
• University offers doctoral training in Clinical Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Neuroscience, and Social/ Personality Psychology.
• Applicants for the Ph.D. program must hold an undergraduate degree or its international equivalent, 3 Letters of Recommendation, official academic transcripts, and an essay that states the student's area of interest clearly and concisely.
• The English requirements for Yale University include a TOEFL score of 100 overall, or an IELTS score of 7.0 overall, with no less than 6.5 in every component.
• The annual tuition fee for a graduation degree is $25,000 per term.

3

University of Michigan

• The University of Michigan is one of the most prestigious public universities in the United States. Admission is competitive, especially for international students.
• The university provides opportunities for students to pursue a Ph.D. and an Accelerated master's degree in psychology. Faculty members at LSA College actively encourage current students to enroll in graduate-level courses, and upper-level statistics courses, and engage in independent research during their senior year. Based on their academic performance, students may be invited by faculty members to apply for the Accelerated Master's Degree in Psychology.
• The Ph.D. program is offered in 6 areas, namely, Biopsychology, Clinical Science, Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental Psychology, Personality and Social Contexts, and Social Psychology.
• There are 3 joint programs of study for Ph.D., namely, Combined Program in Education and Psychology, Social Work and Psychology, and Psychology and Women's and Gender Studies.
• To be considered for the Ph.D. program, candidates are required to possess a four-year bachelor's degree from a U.S. institution or its equivalent from an international university, submit an academic statement of purpose, a personal statement within a 500-word limit, official academic transcripts, or three letters of recommendation. GRE scores are not mandatory.
• International students who do not have English as their native language are required to achieve a minimum overall TOEFL score of 84 or an overall IELTS band score of 6.5 for admission into graduate programs.
• The tuition fee for the graduate programs is $1,900 per credit hour for in-state students and $3,600 per credit hour for out-of-state students.

4

Harvard University

• Harvard University is one of the most reputed public research universities in the States. Admission is highly competitive, for international and domestic students alike.
• Harvard University provides a Ph.D. program in psychology as well as a Master of Arts in Psychology, despite the latter being a non-terminal degree. In order to qualify for the MA program, current students at the university must fulfill the necessary Harvard Griffin GSAS residence requirements, course requirements, and first- and second-year projects.
• The Ph.D. program is offered in four areas- Clinical Science, Social, Developmental, and Cognition, Brain, and Behavior.
• The psychology PhD program offers two pathways: a common curriculum designed for students specializing in developmental, social, cognition, brain, and behavior (CBB) areas, and a clinical psychology track tailored for those focusing on clinical psychology.
• The tuition fee for the graduate programs is $56,000.

5

Princeton University

• Princeton University is a renowned public research university, known for its academics, research, as well as high student satisfaction. Nevertheless, getting admission is quite difficult. Princeton University provides Ph.D. programs in psychology in diverse areas including behavioral economics, cognitive neuroscience, culture, developmental science, diversity science, emotion, language and communication, learning and memory, perception and cognition, the psychology of inequality, social neuroscience, social psychology, and systems neuroscience.
• Doctoral students are required to finish a minimum of five courses in their initial year, conduct autonomous research, compose a research paper and theory paper for their comprehensive examination, draft a dissertation proposal, and participate in advanced seminars.
• The applicants for the Ph.D. program should hold a bachelor's degree or its international equivalent, a statement of purpose, a resume/CV, a transcript, and 3 letters of recommendation.
• International students hailing from non-English speaking nations are required to meet the English proficiency criteria in addition to other prerequisites. They have the option to provide scores from TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE tests.
• The tuition fee for the graduate programs in psychology is $60,000.

Scholarships for Graduate Students

Pursuing higher studies in Psychology from a renowned university can put significant financial pressure on students who are on a budget. Higher education in Psychology is not cheap, almost meeting the sky-high tuition fee of medical courses. Hence, below is a list of some scholarship programs that provide financial aid to students who are looking into pursuing higher studies in Psychology.

1. Beth N. Rom-Rymer Scholarships

The American Psychological Association offers this scholarship to graduate students and licensed psychologists, enabling them to pursue further training in psychopharmacology programs.

The amount of the award is $5,000. The requirements to be eligible for the scholarship are:

• Proof of registration for a clinical psychopharmacology training program.
• Personal declaration outlining how the applicant meets the criteria for the scholarships.
• An official or unofficial academic transcript for predoctoral students.
• Two letters of recommendation
• Current CV

2. Franklin D. Boyce Health Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded by the John Randolph Foundation, which is granted every year to undergraduate and graduate students. The student must be enrolled in a health or psychology-related field of study to be eligible for the scholarship.

The amount awarded to selected students is $2,500 and the entry requirements include:

• The submission of academic transcripts (with a GPA of 3.0 or higher)
• Three letters of recommendation
• Accomplish a Student Aid Report or SAR and Expected Family Contribution with the EFC number
• Fill out the online application form
• Show the financial need documents

3. Benton-Meier Scholarship

The Benton-Meier Scholarship is awarded by the American Psychological Foundation (APF) to students who are enrolled in the neuroscience field of study, to support their research.

The amount awarded to selected students is $2,500 twice annually. Students must submit the following documents:

• Display proof of acceptance in doctorial candidacy and show proficiency in their area of research.
• Submit a CV
• Letters of recommendation
• Project outline
• Financial reasons for applying for the scholarship

Careers with a Graduate Degree in Psychology

The average starting salary of a person with a degree in Psychology is approximately anywhere between $68,000 to $125,000. The salary can increase, or decrease based on criteria such as the geography of the job, the employer as well as the actual position.

A graduate degree in psychology is useful in a variety of careers, which is why it is such a prominent degree among students. The top 5 careers with a graduate degree are:

1. Psychiatrist
2. Clinical Psychologist
3. School Psychologist
4. Neuropsychologist
5. Industrial/Organizational Psychologist
6. Counseling Psychologist
7. Forensic Psychologist