Psychology & Philosophy
I'm new to the student room but I'm looking for advice from both psychology and philosophy students at university.
I'm currently behind in my academics and I'm not due to start university for another 4 years, my interests of study for a degree are psychology and philosophy.
I'm looking to gain as much knowledge as I can about these topics, university degrees, and people's personal experiences with this university degree in this time.
If anyone could leave a comment about either of these then I would deeply appreciate it, you can share anything at all but here are some questions that I would love for you to answer if you have the free time
1. What made you pursue this topic for a degree?
2. How have you found studying it? Can you share what has been your favourite aspect and the most challenging aspect for you?
3. What are your career aspirations after graduation?
4. What advice would you give to someone considering studying this topic for a degree?
5. Are there any specific skills or interests that you think would make someone a good fit for this degree?
6. Is there anything you wish you knew before you started your degree?
7. And lastly, if you feel comfortable enough to share, have ever struggled with your degree? And in what personal way?
Reply 1
I'm new to the student room but I'm looking for advice from both psychology and philosophy students at university.
I'm currently behind in my academics and I'm not due to start university for another 4 years, my interests of study for a degree are psychology and philosophy.
I'm looking to gain as much knowledge as I can about these topics, university degrees, and people's personal experiences with this university degree in this time.
If anyone could leave a comment about either of these then I would deeply appreciate it, you can share anything at all but here are some questions that I would love for you to answer if you have the free time
1. What made you pursue this topic for a degree?
2. How have you found studying it? Can you share what has been your favourite aspect and the most challenging aspect for you?
3. What are your career aspirations after graduation?
4. What advice would you give to someone considering studying this topic for a degree?
5. Are there any specific skills or interests that you think would make someone a good fit for this degree?
6. Is there anything you wish you knew before you started your degree?
7. And lastly, if you feel comfortable enough to share, have ever struggled with your degree? And in what personal way?
Hi @MonCherí🌟
I'm so glad you are thinking about psychology and philosophy - such a fascinating area to get into! I came across your post and as a current psychology student I may be able to give you some insights of what it's like to study it.🎓
1.
What made you pursue this topic for a degree? I’ve always been fascinated by human behaviour—why we think, feel, and act the way we do. During my undergraduate studies, I became particularly interested in organisational behaviour an social psychology, which motivated me to pursue a master's in Psychology. I also wanted to develop research skills and gain a deeper understanding of how psychological theories can be applied in real-world settings.
2.
How have you found studying it? Can you share what has been your favourite aspect and the most challenging aspect for you? Studying psychology has been both rewarding and intense. My favourite aspect is the opportunity to engage in research and critically analyse psychological theories. The most challenging aspect has been managing the workload—balancing coursework, research, and practical experience can be overwhelming at times.
3.
What are your career aspirations after graduation? I’m interested in pursuing a career in organisational psychology or a closely related field, but I’m also drawn to academia and research, particularly in areas related to artificial intelligence and cognition.
4.
What advice would you give to someone considering studying this topic for a degree? Be prepared for a lot of reading, critical thinking, and self-reflection. Psychology is a fascinating field, but it requires dedication, especially at the master's level. If you’re interested in clinical work, try to gain some hands-on experience, whether through volunteering, internships, or shadowing professionals. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for support when needed—mental health professionals also need to take care of their own well-being!
5.
Are there any specific skills or interests that you think would make someone a good fit for this degree? Strong analytical and research skills are essential, as you’ll be critically evaluating theories and conducting studies. Empathy and good communication skills are also crucial, especially for those interested in counselling or clinical psychology. An interest in human behaviour, mental health, and scientific inquiry will help keep you engaged throughout the program.
6.
Is there anything you wish you knew before you started your degree? I wish I had known just how important time management would be. The workload can be intense, especially if you’re juggling coursework, research, and practical placements. I also didn’t fully anticipate the emotional toll of studying certain topics—some areas of psychology, especially those related to trauma and mental illness, can be quite heavy.
7.
And lastly, if you feel comfortable enough to share, have you ever struggled with your degree? And in what personal way? Yes, I’ve definitely struggled at times. The pressure to perform academically while also managing practical work has been challenging. There have been moments of self-doubt, especially when dealing with complex theories or statistical analyses in research. On a personal level, learning about certain psychological conditions and real-world cases has been emotionally taxing. However, I’ve found that seeking support from peers and professors, as well as practicing self-care, has helped me navigate these challenges.
Best wishes,
Essex Student Rep - Renaldas✌️
I'm new to the student room but I'm looking for advice from both psychology and philosophy students at university.
I'm currently behind in my academics and I'm not due to start university for another 4 years, my interests of study for a degree are psychology and philosophy.
I'm looking to gain as much knowledge as I can about these topics, university degrees, and people's personal experiences with this university degree in this time.
If anyone could leave a comment about either of these then I would deeply appreciate it, you can share anything at all but here are some questions that I would love for you to answer if you have the free time
1. What made you pursue this topic for a degree?
2. How have you found studying it? Can you share what has been your favourite aspect and the most challenging aspect for you?
3. What are your career aspirations after graduation?
4. What advice would you give to someone considering studying this topic for a degree?
5. Are there any specific skills or interests that you think would make someone a good fit for this degree?
6. Is there anything you wish you knew before you started your degree?
7. And lastly, if you feel comfortable enough to share, have ever struggled with your degree? And in what personal way?
Hello @MonCherí!
That's great to hear that you are already thinking about what to study at university. I'm a second year studying psychology at Southampton University, here are my answers:
What made you pursue this topic for a degree?
When I was in secondary school, I worked as a party host for children's birthdays. This inspired me to look into developmental psychology and after taking psychology as an A-level, I became interested in many other areas too.
How have you found studying it? Favourite and most challenging aspect?
Studying psychology has been so fun for me so far. My favourite part is the wide range of topics we get to cover and how it links into other subjects too such as biology, sociology, history, politics, etc. I also enjoy being a participant in postgraduate research and learning how to use equipment myself, such as the eye trackers. For me, the most challenging part has been the research methods and statistics module as maths is not my favourite subject. However, our lecturer is so patient and helpful and the department understands that many people struggle with this part. Therefore, we have regular seminars once a week where we can get 1-1 support from the lecturer and assistants.
Career aspirations?
I would love to go into educational psychology and have a year of gaining work experience before I apply for a postgraduate course.
Advice?
My advice for studying psychology would be to get involved with as much as you can in the course and in uni in general (without tiring yourself out). Also make the most of your lecturers and don't be afraid to say if you are struggling.
Specific skills?
Critical thinking and time management are two important skills to have. This is because much of our coursework and exams involve evaluating and questioning research and theories rather than simply accepting them. It is also good to become familiar with how referencing and citations work. It is quite easy to understand once you get the hang of it, and saves you worrying about learning it from scratch when starting in first year. Taking an EPQ in college is great for this and really helps with the transition into university.
Anything you wish you knew before starting?
I wish I knew how important it is to keep on top of your work and start revision early, as it can pile up quickly! I also wish I knew how friendly everyone would be, as I was quite nervous about the social aspect of uni before starting.
Have you ever struggled with the degree?
Like I mentioned above, I have struggled with the research methods module and sometimes with time management. But, there is lots of support all around at the University of Southampton for academic and personal issues that you may be facing.
What made you interested in studying psychology and philosophy? 🙂
Let me know if you have any other questions, hope this helped!
Poppy, 2nd Year Psychology
I'm so glad you are thinking about psychology and philosophy - such a fascinating area to get into! I came across your post and as a current psychology student I may be able to give you some insights of what it's like to study it.🎓
1.
What made you pursue this topic for a degree? I’ve always been fascinated by human behaviour—why we think, feel, and act the way we do. During my undergraduate studies, I became particularly interested in organisational behaviour an social psychology, which motivated me to pursue a master's in Psychology. I also wanted to develop research skills and gain a deeper understanding of how psychological theories can be applied in real-world settings.
2.
How have you found studying it? Can you share what has been your favourite aspect and the most challenging aspect for you? Studying psychology has been both rewarding and intense. My favourite aspect is the opportunity to engage in research and critically analyse psychological theories. The most challenging aspect has been managing the workload—balancing coursework, research, and practical experience can be overwhelming at times.
3.
What are your career aspirations after graduation? I’m interested in pursuing a career in organisational psychology or a closely related field, but I’m also drawn to academia and research, particularly in areas related to artificial intelligence and cognition.
4.
What advice would you give to someone considering studying this topic for a degree? Be prepared for a lot of reading, critical thinking, and self-reflection. Psychology is a fascinating field, but it requires dedication, especially at the master's level. If you’re interested in clinical work, try to gain some hands-on experience, whether through volunteering, internships, or shadowing professionals. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for support when needed—mental health professionals also need to take care of their own well-being!
5.
Are there any specific skills or interests that you think would make someone a good fit for this degree? Strong analytical and research skills are essential, as you’ll be critically evaluating theories and conducting studies. Empathy and good communication skills are also crucial, especially for those interested in counselling or clinical psychology. An interest in human behaviour, mental health, and scientific inquiry will help keep you engaged throughout the program.
6.
Is there anything you wish you knew before you started your degree? I wish I had known just how important time management would be. The workload can be intense, especially if you’re juggling coursework, research, and practical placements. I also didn’t fully anticipate the emotional toll of studying certain topics—some areas of psychology, especially those related to trauma and mental illness, can be quite heavy.
7.
And lastly, if you feel comfortable enough to share, have you ever struggled with your degree? And in what personal way? Yes, I’ve definitely struggled at times. The pressure to perform academically while also managing practical work has been challenging. There have been moments of self-doubt, especially when dealing with complex theories or statistical analyses in research. On a personal level, learning about certain psychological conditions and real-world cases has been emotionally taxing. However, I’ve found that seeking support from peers and professors, as well as practicing self-care, has helped me navigate these challenges.
Best wishes,
Essex Student Rep - Renaldas✌️
Thank you so much Renaldas!! I really appreciate your thoughtful and in depth response to all of my questions, you have been very informative and helpful to me. I will definitely reach out if I have any more questions but your answer really answers a lot for me
That's great to hear that you are already thinking about what to study at university. I'm a second year studying psychology at Southampton University, here are my answers:
What made you pursue this topic for a degree?
When I was in secondary school, I worked as a party host for children's birthdays. This inspired me to look into developmental psychology and after taking psychology as an A-level, I became interested in many other areas too.
How have you found studying it? Favourite and most challenging aspect?
Studying psychology has been so fun for me so far. My favourite part is the wide range of topics we get to cover and how it links into other subjects too such as biology, sociology, history, politics, etc. I also enjoy being a participant in postgraduate research and learning how to use equipment myself, such as the eye trackers. For me, the most challenging part has been the research methods and statistics module as maths is not my favourite subject. However, our lecturer is so patient and helpful and the department understands that many people struggle with this part. Therefore, we have regular seminars once a week where we can get 1-1 support from the lecturer and assistants.
Career aspirations?
I would love to go into educational psychology and have a year of gaining work experience before I apply for a postgraduate course.
Advice?
My advice for studying psychology would be to get involved with as much as you can in the course and in uni in general (without tiring yourself out). Also make the most of your lecturers and don't be afraid to say if you are struggling.
Specific skills?
Critical thinking and time management are two important skills to have. This is because much of our coursework and exams involve evaluating and questioning research and theories rather than simply accepting them. It is also good to become familiar with how referencing and citations work. It is quite easy to understand once you get the hang of it, and saves you worrying about learning it from scratch when starting in first year. Taking an EPQ in college is great for this and really helps with the transition into university.
Anything you wish you knew before starting?
I wish I knew how important it is to keep on top of your work and start revision early, as it can pile up quickly! I also wish I knew how friendly everyone would be, as I was quite nervous about the social aspect of uni before starting.
Have you ever struggled with the degree?
Like I mentioned above, I have struggled with the research methods module and sometimes with time management. But, there is lots of support all around at the University of Southampton for academic and personal issues that you may be facing.
What made you interested in studying psychology and philosophy? 🙂
Let me know if you have any other questions, hope this helped!
Poppy, 2nd Year Psychology
Thank you Poppy! You're answers are really interesting and informative. you've touched on the questions that I've had and I feel like I have more answers. I will definitely let you know if I have any more questions but that was helpful! - to answer yours, I've always been interested in philosophy, my main desire was to become a psychologist with the focus on mental health and to help other people this way and philosophy was always an interest that came to me naturally as I always questioned everything and had a curiosity about myself, others and the world around me, I hope to pursue either of them someday - thank you again
Reply 5
I'm new to the student room but I'm looking for advice from both psychology and philosophy students at university.
I'm currently behind in my academics and I'm not due to start university for another 4 years, my interests of study for a degree are psychology and philosophy.
I'm looking to gain as much knowledge as I can about these topics, university degrees, and people's personal experiences with this university degree in this time.
If anyone could leave a comment about either of these then I would deeply appreciate it, you can share anything at all but here are some questions that I would love for you to answer if you have the free time
1. What made you pursue this topic for a degree?
2. How have you found studying it? Can you share what has been your favourite aspect and the most challenging aspect for you?
3. What are your career aspirations after graduation?
4. What advice would you give to someone considering studying this topic for a degree?
5. Are there any specific skills or interests that you think would make someone a good fit for this degree?
6. Is there anything you wish you knew before you started your degree?
7. And lastly, if you feel comfortable enough to share, have ever struggled with your degree? And in what personal way?
Hi there MonCheri!
First of all, it's amazing that you're interested already in psychology! You're much more organised than I was! I'm Kiera, I'm in my third year of studying Psychology BSc (Hons) at York St. John. I'm going to answer your questions one at a time below!
1. What made you pursue this topic for a degree?
I originally knew I wanted to do something to help people. I was looking around the ideas of pediatric nursing, but after learning more about what the job involved, I figured it's not for me! I eventually stumbled across psychology, and I thought that sounds great, so I'll do it for A-Level! At A-Level I ended up taking psychology, biology, and computer science. I absolutely loved psychology, it was the one subject I was always motivated for and always came back to. I looked around at what careers exist, and really liked the sound of working with children in psychology/ the mental health sector.
2. How have you found studying it?
I've really loved studying it! I won't lie, psychology at A-Level was really hard! It's a lot to learn, but doing it at A-Level has made my degree a breeze. At university level psychology, you'll study lots of different areas of psychology, looking at older research, and newer research, you'll compare them, and eventually get to carry out your own research like I am now! I'm looking at how waiting for an Autism diagnosis (due to current UK waitlist problems) can impact depression and loneliness! Some friends of mine are looking at virtual reality and how that can be used to help those suffering from chronic pain conditions, and some of my other friends are looking at how distractions affect your short-term memory! My point is, there's a lot you can specialise in, some areas are really niche, but it makes it so much more interesting🤗
2.5. Can you share what has been your favourite aspect and the most challenging aspect for you?
My favourite part has been finding my niche! I got to find an area of research (neurodivergence) that really interests me! The most challenging aspect I'd say is memorising studies, which you don't do too much of at university compared to A-Level.
3. What are your career aspirations after graduation?
After I finish my undergraduate degree, I'll be doing a MRes (Master of Research Degree) which will allow me to study more about my area of interest, and I'll have to write a 20k word dissertation/thesis which I'll hopefully be able to get published! After this I'm looking towards doing the professional doctorate in educational psychology (3 years)!
4. What advice would you give to someone considering studying this topic for a degree?
If you love it, do it, and don't let anything put you off! But be aware that psychology does almost always require more than just an undergraduate degree for you to become fully qualified!
5. Are there any specific skills or interests that you think would make someone a good fit for this degree?
A love for the subject is the most important in my opinion! Empathy will make you amazing for any client work (e.g., counselling psychology). Most of the academic skills you need you'll pick up during A-Levels and you'll be shown how to write a good essay, etc. while at sixth form and the start of university🤗
6. Is there anything you wish you knew before you started your degree?
How broad and new psychology actually is! Like I said above, there are new areas of psychology emerging currently. New jobs exist that didn't when I started my degree. For that reason, you'll never be able to learn everything! Everyone usually specialises in 1/2 areas.
7. And lastly, if you feel comfortable enough to share, have ever struggled with your degree? And in what personal way?
I've struggled socially at university at times - which is a wider issue and not course-specific! Adjusting to university is a whole thing in itself, so it can become easy to fall behind. But honestly, your tutors and lecturers want the best for you, and its important to ask for help when you need it, which I wish I'd realised sooner!
If there's anything you want me to expand on or if you have any further questions please let me know! Hopefully this helps a little - awesome questions by the way!
-Kiera (Student Ambassador, York St. John)
No worries, I'm glad I could help! That sounds really interesting, wishing you luck 🙂
Thank you so much Kiera for your response! It's always so helpful to hear from someone like you and as every experience is individual and unique, all responses are beneficial to me to give me insight, your path is interesting! & I wanted to ask more about the social side of your experiences not course related, personally I do have worries and fears about this that i can't really speak to anyone about and I don't really have friends or a social circle and I find it hard to fit in and connect with others and I just wanted to share a little bit about your experience as you struggled and I feel like it could resonate and reassure me that I'm not alone in this daunting social side of university, thank you!
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