Psychology or Media studies degree
guys i’m having a crisis so i’ve chosen to do a psychology degree (bournemouth uni) but i keep thinking about media studies and how i wish i would’ve picked that instead as it’s my favourite a level and i love the subject so much. In terms of job prospects and value of the degree i chose psychology as its more respected i guess but I’m second guessing which is really more valuable and better for employment i hear that psychology is only really good if you do a masters/phd and now i’m not sure anymore.
Reply 1
3
~i just want decent job opportunities after uni and im worried theres nothing to do in psychology except teaching which i dont want to do lol, any advice? (for context i do bio, psych and media a level and i’m predicted A*AB, so i could reapply to a different course)
Reply 2
20
Media Studies - bit of a waste of time. Psychology - a solid, respected degree subject that would put you in a good position for graduate entry to hundreds of different career areas, and defiintely not just teaching.
Reply 3
Original post
by Megag090101guys i’m having a crisis so i’ve chosen to do a psychology degree (bournemouth uni) but i keep thinking about media studies and how i wish i would’ve picked that instead as it’s my favourite a level and i love the subject so much. In terms of job prospects and value of the degree i chose psychology as its more respected i guess but I’m second guessing which is really more valuable and better for employment i hear that psychology is only really good if you do a masters/phd and now i’m not sure anymore.
Hi there,
I think you've made the right choice. I can't speak for MS having never done it, but I did psychology at uni and me and my friends have all gone onto do a lot of different things. Indeed you could aim to do your masters and PhD/doctorate if you wanted to carry on in the psychology field, but you could also go into something like marketing, business management, journalism/science writing, wellbeing counselling, working with children, working with animals, HR, school counselling, or user experience design.
I have one friend who went into psychology research, one who went into HR, one who went into consulting, one who went into innovation management, and I decided to work in higher education. Basically, whilst psychology-centric jobs often require further study, there is plenty you can do with just your undergrad as its a broad, respected degree with a lot of transferrable skills. You may be a bit more restricted if you went for media studies in this respect.
I hope that helps and best of luck this year 🙂
Holly
University of Bath
Original post
by Megag090101guys i’m having a crisis so i’ve chosen to do a psychology degree (bournemouth uni) but i keep thinking about media studies and how i wish i would’ve picked that instead as it’s my favourite a level and i love the subject so much. In terms of job prospects and value of the degree i chose psychology as its more respected i guess but I’m second guessing which is really more valuable and better for employment i hear that psychology is only really good if you do a masters/phd and now i’m not sure anymore.
Hi @Megag090101
As someone who has changed their mind multiple times – and I still do – I totally understand feeling a bit confused about what is best for you. It is really difficult to decide what’s right for yourself when you enjoy different things!
I study BSc Psychology and Criminology myself – and I will say I have found that psychology as a subject is extremely flexible, versatile and lends itself well to take in whichever direction you like. Additionally, there can be ways to bring in other elements to it, which may suit you. I have one friend who also wants to work with animals, who is aiming to go into animal therapy. Similarly, I have another who also loves dance, who wants to work in dance therapy. More media related – media psychology is a popular and important field with lots of opportunities to pursue, for my course I had the option to choose this as a module in third year. Postgraduate study for psychology will help you keep climbing the ladder, but it is not always essential depending on what you would like to do.
However, focusing on what you can think about for now, only you will know what is right for you. I always advocate for doing what you enjoy most and the rest will follow. Maybe there is a way you can pursue media studies in other areas of your life?
Some advice I could give you is:
•
Make a list of why you want to study each subject, have a look at the course page on university websites and see if they fit with what you might see yourself enjoying
•
Try and speak to people who have studied media studies about their experiences and career goals. Speaking to any graduates of media studies courses could be good too. Either through searching on here as you have been, looking at university course pages, or websites like Prospects can be quite useful.
•
Get in touch with Bournemouth University, if this is where you wished to go for a media studies-related course too, and see if they could give you any advice. A very quick google search gave me this link for an Enquiry Form, and I noticed there are options to ask a question or speak to a current student. We have a similar thing at UoS with our Course Enquiries team who are always happy to have a chat with people and point you to relevant sources, and I'm sure wherever you choose will do the same. It's really tough figuring out what you want to do, the best thing you can do is reach out, as you are doing now 😊
•
Lastly, open days or offer holder days are a really great way to chat to other students and staff members and could be a good chance for you to ask questions.
Keep exploring your options and keep reaching out for advice. Good luck! And if you have any questions, particularly if you want to chat about psychology at all, I'm happy to help 😊
Becky
University of Salford Student Rep
Original post
by Megag090101~i just want decent job opportunities after uni and im worried theres nothing to do in psychology except teaching which i dont want to do lol, any advice? (for context i do bio, psych and media a level and i’m predicted A*AB, so i could reapply to a different course)
A lot of psych grads go into marketing or market research (or HR) - that’s something that would be an option with a media degree too.
Do you think that would appeal to you as a possible career path?
If so then you should be able to switch degrees at Bournemouth and still benefit from their placement year scheme.
Employers employ YOU not your university or degree - so if you think you’d be happier and more motivated to do well and get stuck into activities and opportunities beyond your studies if you pick media then that’s likely to make you more appealing to employers.
(edited 9 months ago)
Reply 6
Hi there!
Choosing your degree can be really difficult but it is not too late to change your mind!
I studied Psychology so again I can add a little bit to that side of things. It is a degree that opens a lot of door for your future career but to work within Psychology you will need to do further study like a Masters and PhD. If you didn't want to go onto postgraduate courses, there is still a lot of career options you can go into, I now work in Recruitment in Higher Education but other people on my course have gone on to work in marketing or as care workers.
Have you has a look at combined honours degrees? At Liverpool Hope we offer a lot of different combined honours degrees where you can study 50% of one course and 50% of another course. While we do not offer Media with Psychology, a different university may do and it might mean that you don't have to pick between the two!
If you don't want to do a combined honours degree, I'd recommend making a pros and cons list of the two courses you want to do, looking at the course content as well as future career prospects, as getting it all on a page might help you make the decision.
But remember, at the end of the day, you will be studying the subject you choose for the next three years, you need to choose a subject you enjoy!
I hope this helps😃
Lottie, Graduate Advocate
Choosing your degree can be really difficult but it is not too late to change your mind!
I studied Psychology so again I can add a little bit to that side of things. It is a degree that opens a lot of door for your future career but to work within Psychology you will need to do further study like a Masters and PhD. If you didn't want to go onto postgraduate courses, there is still a lot of career options you can go into, I now work in Recruitment in Higher Education but other people on my course have gone on to work in marketing or as care workers.
Have you has a look at combined honours degrees? At Liverpool Hope we offer a lot of different combined honours degrees where you can study 50% of one course and 50% of another course. While we do not offer Media with Psychology, a different university may do and it might mean that you don't have to pick between the two!
If you don't want to do a combined honours degree, I'd recommend making a pros and cons list of the two courses you want to do, looking at the course content as well as future career prospects, as getting it all on a page might help you make the decision.
But remember, at the end of the day, you will be studying the subject you choose for the next three years, you need to choose a subject you enjoy!
I hope this helps😃
Lottie, Graduate Advocate
Reply 7
Original post
by Megag090101guys i’m having a crisis so i’ve chosen to do a psychology degree (bournemouth uni) but i keep thinking about media studies and how i wish i would’ve picked that instead as it’s my favourite a level and i love the subject so much. In terms of job prospects and value of the degree i chose psychology as its more respected i guess but I’m second guessing which is really more valuable and better for employment i hear that psychology is only really good if you do a masters/phd and now i’m not sure anymore.
Hi there,
This is a common worry, so please feel reassured. Trying to decide on what you'd like to do in the future can be super difficult, especially when you have many different interests!
Psychology is a very well-respected subject, and can take you in many different directions, even if you don't go on to do further study. Media studies can also take you to a variety of different places, and can be worthwhile if you are truly passionate and have a true drive to go down a certain path. I'd recommend you research what career options are out there for both, for which I've linked the Prospects webpages here and here.
I've also found a great article, linked here, which lists potential careers in psychology and common employers.
There are also loads of options out there. Have you considered looking for joint honours degree courses? What about pursuing your media passion as a hobby? Studying one subject doesn't mean you have to completely abandon the other!
At the end of the day, only you can make this choice knowing what is best for you. Continue reaching out for advice and exploring your options, and you'll get there! Best of luck, and I hope this helps. 🙂
Isabella
Fourth-Year Geography (With a Year Abroad)
Reply 8
Hi @Megag090101 - so exciting that you're considering joining us in September!
You still have time to make a decision on which course suits you best and which one you think you would enjoy studying more. If you do change your mind, simply complete an application changes form and we can get it switched for you.
You might find it helpful to know that our Psychology grads have gone into careers in education, health & wellbeing, human resources and psychology roles such as mental health support worker etc.
In comparison, our grads on our Media, Film, TV & Music Production courses have gone into careers in TV, radio, film production, video editing, sound engineering, script editing etc.
You could have a chat with some current students on both courses to hear their experiences too, you can do this via Unibuddy.
I hope this helps, but feel free to reach out to us if you want to chat through your options!
Isla
BU Official Rep
You still have time to make a decision on which course suits you best and which one you think you would enjoy studying more. If you do change your mind, simply complete an application changes form and we can get it switched for you.
You might find it helpful to know that our Psychology grads have gone into careers in education, health & wellbeing, human resources and psychology roles such as mental health support worker etc.
In comparison, our grads on our Media, Film, TV & Music Production courses have gone into careers in TV, radio, film production, video editing, sound engineering, script editing etc.
You could have a chat with some current students on both courses to hear their experiences too, you can do this via Unibuddy.
I hope this helps, but feel free to reach out to us if you want to chat through your options!
Isla
BU Official Rep
Reply 9
Original post
by Megag090101guys i’m having a crisis so i’ve chosen to do a psychology degree (bournemouth uni) but i keep thinking about media studies and how i wish i would’ve picked that instead as it’s my favourite a level and i love the subject so much. In terms of job prospects and value of the degree i chose psychology as its more respected i guess but I’m second guessing which is really more valuable and better for employment i hear that psychology is only really good if you do a masters/phd and now i’m not sure anymore.
Hi,
My name is Nally, and I am a second-year student in Media, Communications and Sociology at City St George’s, University of London. I totally understand how uni choices can feel like such a big deal. Although I have no experience in the Psychology, but I can help you by giving some helpful insights about my Media course.
Media is sometimes underrated, but it’s actually really versatile and very relevant right now with how central digital content, branding, and communication are in almost every industry.
My Media and Communications course is a broad degree. It covers media theory, digital platforms, PR, marketing, and even elements of journalism, so it does not limit you to just one career path. You will be able to develop strong writing, research, and critical thinking skills that are useful for various fields like screenwriting, advertising, branding and social media strategy. Media course will open doors for various career opportunities such as PR, marketing, publishing, digital content, and more.
Ultimately, both degrees have value — it just depends on the direction you want to pursue in the future. If Media is what excites you and you’re passionate about it, that really does matter.
I hope my answer helps! Good luck with your journey ahead 😊
Nally
Reply 10
Original post
by Megag090101guys i’m having a crisis so i’ve chosen to do a psychology degree (bournemouth uni) but i keep thinking about media studies and how i wish i would’ve picked that instead as it’s my favourite a level and i love the subject so much. In terms of job prospects and value of the degree i chose psychology as its more respected i guess but I’m second guessing which is really more valuable and better for employment i hear that psychology is only really good if you do a masters/phd and now i’m not sure anymore.
Hi Megag090101,
I am a current Psychology student at Bournemouth University so I thought I'd share with you my experience and my views. If you're worried about the potential for the employment I would definitely say that psychology is the right choice. For example, I've been literally working in marketing, events and outreach for my placement year which some might think is very different from what a typical psychology job is. However, it is perfectly normal to do psychology as a degree but go on and do something else.
My other friends that do psychology want to go into HR and another one into education whereas I plan to go into mental health support, potentially becoming a dance movement psychotherapist. It is very varied and I have changed my mind so many times during my years at university which I think is great to be honest because not many degrees allow you to do this.
Also, as you have an interest in media, you can incorporate that in psychology as there are few units that allow you to choose on topic of your choice (e.g., media portrayal of mental health). We also have so many lecturers specialising in social media and mental health so don't think that you need to completely give up media if you choose psychology.
At Bournemouth University you can also get involved with our radio and help run it. Basically what I am trying to say is that there are many ways to keep doing media even if you choose psychology. So, you get the best of both worlds- a degree with great graduate employment prospects and opportunities to show your passion for media!
Please don't hesitate to ask more questions!
Valeria 🙂
Reply 11
Original post
by Megag090101guys i’m having a crisis so i’ve chosen to do a psychology degree (bournemouth uni) but i keep thinking about media studies and how i wish i would’ve picked that instead as it’s my favourite a level and i love the subject so much. In terms of job prospects and value of the degree i chose psychology as its more respected i guess but I’m second guessing which is really more valuable and better for employment i hear that psychology is only really good if you do a masters/phd and now i’m not sure anymore.
Hi @Megag090101,
It’s really common to feel torn between passion and practicality, but the truth is, both psychology and media studies can lead to solid career paths, it just depends on what you do with them.
You’re right that psychology often requires postgrad study if you want to become a psychologist or therapist, but the degree itself is still very versatile. Loads of psychology grads go into areas like HR, marketing, UX research, education, or even media-related roles, because it teaches skills like critical thinking, data analysis, and understanding people. On the flip side, media studies also opens doors, especially if you’re interested in creative industries, communications, PR, journalism, content creation, or film/TV.
If media is something you genuinely love and you can see yourself thriving in that space long-term, it’s totally valid to reconsider your course choice, especially if you’re still early enough to switch. Passion matters, especially in creative fields where your drive and portfolio can count just as much as your degree title. But if you’re staying with psychology for now, maybe look into doing media-related optional modules, a media-heavy dissertation topic, or get involved in student media/societies alongside your course. That way, you keep both doors open.
Hope this helps,
Danish
BCU Student Rep
Reply 12
Original post
by Megag090101guys i’m having a crisis so i’ve chosen to do a psychology degree (bournemouth uni) but i keep thinking about media studies and how i wish i would’ve picked that instead as it’s my favourite a level and i love the subject so much. In terms of job prospects and value of the degree i chose psychology as its more respected i guess but I’m second guessing which is really more valuable and better for employment i hear that psychology is only really good if you do a masters/phd and now i’m not sure anymore.
Hi @Megag090101,
My name is Q and I study Media Production at Bournemouth University. Whilst I don’t study Psychology, I can share some of the experiences I have had having finished my degree.
Media has taught me a lot of skills across a variety of different communication types, such as presenting, writing scripts for factual and fiction video/audio content, writing blogs and articles and also optimising the content I produce - those are just an overview of what I have done.
Where that has taken me, is a variety of experiences including presenting on panels, coordinating and leading projects, and also completing work experience in digital marketing, social media and a variety of production roles, so there are a few different industries you could go into after graduating.
If you have any questions about what I studied or my experiences in the industry, let me know.
Q
BU Student Rep
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