Psychology Graduate Programs

International students with a graduate degree in psychology have a greater chance of landing a job in the field of their choosing 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 a diverse variety of 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 country for studying psychology include:

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

Why Should one achieve a graduate degree in Psychology?

To choose a specific area of study within psychology, one must first decide on psychology as a profession. Cognitive, behavioral, and clinical fields of psychology are among the most common majors. Most of these have a lot of space for advancement. But on the other hand, Clinical psychology allows for the most development since it eventually leads to the establishment of one's own practice.

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 in order to be able to achieve that goal.

Top graduate programs in Psychology

Top graduate programs in Psychology are offered by the top 5 universities mentioned below:

Stanford University

• The graduate psychology programs available at Stanford are on career counseling; Cognitive Neuroscience; Foundations of Cognition; Cortical Plasticity: Perception and Memory; Social Psychology; Computational Neuroimaging; Foundations of Memory; and many more. Students can choose one of the courses as their major.
• The academic requirements of Stanford University for a master's in Psychology include completing 45 credits of Psychology and related courses, a thesis during the undergraduate years, and including 18 units from miscellaneous but related activities such as lab work, independent study, and much more. Additionally, prospective students must have a background in research and statistics as a part of their Psychology course.
• As for English requirements, Stanford University does not accept IELTS score. Students who have to submit English proficiency scores must submit their TOEFL scores. At Stanford, the acceptable score for TOEFL is 100 overall.
• The annual tuition fee for a graduation degree falls between $12,000 and $19,000.

Yale University

• Yale is an extremely prestigious university with admission percentages in the single digits. The graduate psychology programs available at Yale are Cognitive Psychology; Clinical Psychology; Social Psychology; Neuroscience; and Developmental Psychology. Students are able to choose one of the courses as their major.
• The academic requirements of Yale University for a master's in Psychology include proof of an undergraduate degree with one subject being Psychology focused and other subjects can be a variety, a thesis during the undergraduate years, a pre-thesis essay stating their outline of the research. Additionally, prospective students must have a background in research and statistics as a part of their Psychology course.
• Yale University requires 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. Additionally, students may submit PTE scores of 70 or higher.
• The annual tuition fee for a graduation degree is $41,000.

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 of Michigan provides degrees in social work, education & counseling, or a general degree in counseling. Students are able to choose one of the courses as their major.
• The academic requirements of the University of Michigan for a master's in Psychology include proof of a four-year undergraduate degree with their major area of study being Psychology. Additionally, prospective students must have a background in research and statistics as a part of their course.
• The admission of a prospective student is only completed when the department the student shows interest in recommends their application to the university.
• The English requirements for the University of Michigan 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 $24,500 for in-state students; whereas the annual tuition fee for out-of-state students is $55,000.

Harvard University

• The 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 degrees in Social Psychology; Cognition, Brain, and Behaviour Psychology; Clinical Science; and Developmental Psychology.
• The academic requirements of Harvard University for a master's in Psychology include proof of a four-year undergraduate degree with their major area of study being Psychology, a thesis in the same field of interest, and a research proposal. Additionally, prospective students must have a background in research and statistics as a part of their course.
• It is important to note that having GRE scores is entirely optional.
• The English requirements for the University of Michigan include a TOEFL score of 100 overall, or an IELTS score of 7.0 overall, with no less than 6.5 in every component. Furthermore, students can also submit their PTE scores of 70 or above.
• The annual tuition fee for a graduation degree is $51,000.

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 degrees in Cognitive Neuroscience; Language, Learning, and Memory; Behavioral Economics; Perception and Cognition; Social Psychology, etc. Students are able to choose one of the courses as their major.
• The academic requirements of the University of Michigan for a master's in Psychology include proof of a four-year undergraduate degree with their major area of study being Psychology. Additionally, prospective students must have a background in research and statistics as a part of their course.
• The admission of a prospective student is only completed when the department the student shows interest in recommends their application to the university.
• The English requirements for the University of Michigan 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 $54,500.

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. Foundation Graduate Student Scholarship

This scholarship is provided by the infamous American Psychological Association (APA). The scholarship is provided to a collective of 21 doctorate or graduate students every year. Students at any stage of their graduate education can apply for the scholarship.

The scholarship grants anywhere between $2,000 to $5,000 off to selected students. The entry requirements for the scholarship include:

• Submission of academic record
• Letter(s) of recommendation
• A CV
• A brief essay that briefly defines the thesis project of the student
• The application form

2. Franklin D. Boyce Health Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded by John Randolph Association, 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
• Fill 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, in order to support their research.

The amount awarded to selected students is $2,000. 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

The Top Careers with a Graduate Degree in Psychology

The average starting salary of a person with a graduate degree in Psychology is approximately anywhere between $60,000 to $100,000. The salary can increase or decrease based upon 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. Neuropsychologist
3. Industrial Psychologist
4. Counseling Psychologist
5. Forensic Psychologist

Psychology and much more

Psychology is also a popular major that is taken in conjunction with another degree, such as criminal justice or public administration. This allows students to enhance their job opportunities, increase their salary potential as well as their career growth. The job market is getting harder, and harder so many students are not relying solely on one job possibility upon graduation.

A graduate degree in psychology has a significant number of benefits, however, choosing the right school and major can make a difference at graduation regarding career and salary.