I’m not sure whether to do psychology or law as a degree!
I do have a passion for psychology and I love knowing how the mind works and I’ve always loved books to do with psychology. However I know that psychologists and jobs to do with psychology don’t get paid very well and one of the most important factors for me is getting paid a good amount of money so I was thinking law might be a good degree for me however I don’t know how difficult it is and I don’t know if I’d enjoy it and I don’t know if the pay is worth all of the stress so I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice on which one to pick and tell me how difficult a lower degree is and if it is worth it.
Reply 1
Original post
by tatianafebrI do have a passion for psychology and I love knowing how the mind works and I’ve always loved books to do with psychology. However I know that psychologists and jobs to do with psychology don’t get paid very well and one of the most important factors for me is getting paid a good amount of money so I was thinking law might be a good degree for me however I don’t know how difficult it is and I don’t know if I’d enjoy it and I don’t know if the pay is worth all of the stress so I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice on which one to pick and tell me how difficult a lower degree is and if it is worth it.
Hello @tatianafebr,
That’s great to hear you are considering either psychology or law at university! I am currently studying psychology at the University of Southampton and I’ve had the best time. The degree is so interesting and there are so many opportunities to take part in research, conduct your own research, and pick the modules that interest you. Southampton also has a great careers team with lots of networking events, support meetings and guidance.
It depends on which path you go down, but psychologists often get paid a good amount of money. The highest paid jobs are ones where you have to do a postgraduate degree in order to be qualified. For example, clinical, educational, occupational and sports psychology. Psychology and law are both competitive, but that shouldn’t put you off if you are interested in pursuing either of them. The National Careers Service website has good information about how much psychologists and lawyers get paid, the hours and the responsibilities.
In my opinion, psychology has been challenging but very manageable. Universities offer lots of support and I’m sure you would enjoy it!
Which area of psychology are you interested in pursuing, or are you keeping your options open?
Hope this helped and let me know if you have any more questions!
Poppy, 3rd Year Psychology
Reply 2
3
it’s important to me that I make at least £60,000 in the future and I don’t want to wait until I’m 30 to get that kind of money. I do like the aspect of criminology so perhaps I’d go into forensic psychology however I want to go into whatever field of psychology makes the most amount of money as I love psychology either way and I’m keeping my options open. I want to have a stable salary without working too much. I’m wondering what the highest paying field in psychology is and also how easy it is to get a good job after graduating.
Reply 3
3
Original post
by Uni of Southampton StudentsHello @tatianafebr,
That’s great to hear you are considering either psychology or law at university! I am currently studying psychology at the University of Southampton and I’ve had the best time. The degree is so interesting and there are so many opportunities to take part in research, conduct your own research, and pick the modules that interest you. Southampton also has a great careers team with lots of networking events, support meetings and guidance.
It depends on which path you go down, but psychologists often get paid a good amount of money. The highest paid jobs are ones where you have to do a postgraduate degree in order to be qualified. For example, clinical, educational, occupational and sports psychology. Psychology and law are both competitive, but that shouldn’t put you off if you are interested in pursuing either of them. The National Careers Service website has good information about how much psychologists and lawyers get paid, the hours and the responsibilities.
In my opinion, psychology has been challenging but very manageable. Universities offer lots of support and I’m sure you would enjoy it!
Which area of psychology are you interested in pursuing, or are you keeping your options open?
Hope this helped and let me know if you have any more questions!
Poppy, 3rd Year Psychology
That’s great to hear you are considering either psychology or law at university! I am currently studying psychology at the University of Southampton and I’ve had the best time. The degree is so interesting and there are so many opportunities to take part in research, conduct your own research, and pick the modules that interest you. Southampton also has a great careers team with lots of networking events, support meetings and guidance.
It depends on which path you go down, but psychologists often get paid a good amount of money. The highest paid jobs are ones where you have to do a postgraduate degree in order to be qualified. For example, clinical, educational, occupational and sports psychology. Psychology and law are both competitive, but that shouldn’t put you off if you are interested in pursuing either of them. The National Careers Service website has good information about how much psychologists and lawyers get paid, the hours and the responsibilities.
In my opinion, psychology has been challenging but very manageable. Universities offer lots of support and I’m sure you would enjoy it!
Which area of psychology are you interested in pursuing, or are you keeping your options open?
Hope this helped and let me know if you have any more questions!
Poppy, 3rd Year Psychology
I am also wondering what the timetable is like do you have a lot of lectures? Do you have time to go out with your friends and still do well? Also thank you for all of your help. It’s very useful!
Reply 4
If you want to be a lawyer, many don't earn a lot (although some earn a lot of money), but you are unlikely to get the work-life balance you want.
You can earn a decent amount as a psychologist but given the time to get on the course and train, you are unlikely to be on £60k by 30, but you could be on your way to earning that money. I think clinical psychologists may be the best paid generally, but I'm not sure. The salaries for occupational and counselling psychologists are likely to be more difficult to find (and may vary far more), and of course working privately is different to NHS, for example
You can earn a decent amount as a psychologist but given the time to get on the course and train, you are unlikely to be on £60k by 30, but you could be on your way to earning that money. I think clinical psychologists may be the best paid generally, but I'm not sure. The salaries for occupational and counselling psychologists are likely to be more difficult to find (and may vary far more), and of course working privately is different to NHS, for example
Original post
by tatianafebrI do have a passion for psychology and I love knowing how the mind works and I’ve always loved books to do with psychology. However I know that psychologists and jobs to do with psychology don’t get paid very well and one of the most important factors for me is getting paid a good amount of money so I was thinking law might be a good degree for me however I don’t know how difficult it is and I don’t know if I’d enjoy it and I don’t know if the pay is worth all of the stress so I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice on which one to pick and tell me how difficult a lower degree is and if it is worth it.
It's worth noting, you can become a lawyer (of either variety) with any undergraduate degree.
You can only become a psychologist with a BPS accredited undergraduate degree in psychology.
Also as above, not all law graduates earn oodles of money at magic circle firms and arguably those that do are the exceptions, rather than the rule. Underemployment of law grads is pretty well known and documented and there are far more law grads than training contracts (and certainly pupillages) each year.
Clinical psychologists also make very good money working in the NHS as they have quite a high banding with the NHS pension, and I believe there is demand for private work too.
Really I think clinical psychologists have better salary outcomes on average, however it's arguably as difficult if not more so to get onto the next stage of training to become a clinical psychologist after the initial undergraduate degree, and you won't reach the high income brackets until a little later comparatively. However, there's nothing stopping you from getting your psychology degree then applying to a TC (and getting one) at a law firm then doing a conversion course and/or sitting the SQE (or doing a conversion course then applying to pupillage at the Bar).
Reply 6
Original post
by tatianafebrI do have a passion for psychology and I love knowing how the mind works and I’ve always loved books to do with psychology. However I know that psychologists and jobs to do with psychology don’t get paid very well and one of the most important factors for me is getting paid a good amount of money so I was thinking law might be a good degree for me however I don’t know how difficult it is and I don’t know if I’d enjoy it and I don’t know if the pay is worth all of the stress so I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice on which one to pick and tell me how difficult a lower degree is and if it is worth it.
Hope to see you there
Annie
Reply 7
Original post
by tatianafebrI do have a passion for psychology and I love knowing how the mind works and I’ve always loved books to do with psychology. However I know that psychologists and jobs to do with psychology don’t get paid very well and one of the most important factors for me is getting paid a good amount of money so I was thinking law might be a good degree for me however I don’t know how difficult it is and I don’t know if I’d enjoy it and I don’t know if the pay is worth all of the stress so I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice on which one to pick and tell me how difficult a lower degree is and if it is worth it.
Hi there,
It’s great that you’re already thinking carefully about your interests and future career goals. Both Psychology and Law are respected degrees that can lead to a wide range of opportunities, but they do differ quite a bit in content, style, and career paths, so it’s really about finding the one that fits you best.
If you have a genuine passion for understanding people and how the mind works, then studying Psychology could be really rewarding. At London South Bank University (LSBU), the BSc (Hons) Psychology degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), which means it meets professional standards and gives you the eligibility for postgraduate training if you decide to become a chartered psychologist. The course covers areas such as cognitive psychology, behaviour, neuroscience, mental health, and research methods. Psychology graduates can go on to careers in counselling, education, HR, research, health services, or business and many find that their understanding of human behaviour is useful across different industries. While salaries can vary early on, many psychology graduates progress into well-paying specialist roles or related careers where their skills are highly valued.
Law, on the other hand, is more focused on legal systems, justice, reasoning, and argument. At LSBU, the LLB (Hons) Law degree is approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Bar Standards Board (BSB), so it prepares you for the next step if you want to become a solicitor or barrister. Law degrees are academically demanding, you’ll spend a lot of time reading, writing, analysing cases, and developing strong logical and communication skills. It can be competitive, but it also opens doors to well-paid careers in the legal sector, business, politics, or government.
When deciding, think about what type of work excites you most, psychology tends to involve understanding people, behaviour, and research, while law is about analysis, logic, and applying rules to solve problems. Both require commitment, but success and salary in either field come from dedication and building experience over time.
If you’re still unsure, I’d really recommend attending our Open Day on Saturday the 15th November. You’ll be able to speak to lecturers and students from both psychology and law, ask about the workload, and get a feel for which course might suit your interests and ambitions best.
👉 You can sign up here: LSBU Open Day.
👉 You can also chat with our students through our Unibuddy platform: Chat with our students.
Whichever route you choose, LSBU provides strong career support, excellent teaching, and plenty of opportunities to gain practical experience, helping you build a successful and fulfilling career in your chosen field.
Reply 8
Original post
by tatianafebrI do have a passion for psychology and I love knowing how the mind works and I’ve always loved books to do with psychology. However I know that psychologists and jobs to do with psychology don’t get paid very well and one of the most important factors for me is getting paid a good amount of money so I was thinking law might be a good degree for me however I don’t know how difficult it is and I don’t know if I’d enjoy it and I don’t know if the pay is worth all of the stress so I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice on which one to pick and tell me how difficult a lower degree is and if it is worth it.
I’m having the exact same issue, i’ve already researched unis for psychology and written my personal statement surrounding it and my deadline soon and i dont know if its too late. I understand its good to do what you’re interested in but is it worth it? im not wealthy enough to be dropping 10k on a degree that won’t secure me a good job not to mention the time you spend out of work. I really want to study psychology but law seems like a more practical option
Reply 9
3
Original post
by cloudyskiess7I’m having the exact same issue, i’ve already researched unis for psychology and written my personal statement surrounding it and my deadline soon and i dont know if its too late. I understand its good to do what you’re interested in but is it worth it? im not wealthy enough to be dropping 10k on a degree that won’t secure me a good job not to mention the time you spend out of work. I really want to study psychology but law seems like a more practical option
at least we’re on the same boat 😌
Reply 10
Many law grads won't become lawyers, and most Psych grads won't become psychologists or do anything else related to psychology. Many graduate jobs don't specify a particular degree - your grades (inc potentially A Levels) and work skills are more important
Reply 11
one thing you could do is study psych at undergrad and do a conversion course for law later if you still want to. it's better than wasting money on doing law, realising you hate it, then dropping out or just staying enrolled and miserable. you're going to pay a lot for the degree anyway, so do psych if you enjoy it. pretty sure a law conversion course would only take you another year of study after graduating with a bachelor's. but you should defo do your research on that and not take anyone's word for it online. wishing you all the best xx
Reply 12
Original post
by tatianafebrI do have a passion for psychology and I love knowing how the mind works and I’ve always loved books to do with psychology. However I know that psychologists and jobs to do with psychology don’t get paid very well and one of the most important factors for me is getting paid a good amount of money so I was thinking law might be a good degree for me however I don’t know how difficult it is and I don’t know if I’d enjoy it and I don’t know if the pay is worth all of the stress so I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice on which one to pick and tell me how difficult a lower degree is and if it is worth it.
Hi Tatiana,
It’s great that you’re already thinking carefully about your options; both Psychology and Law are respected degrees that can lead to rewarding careers, so you’re definitely choosing between two strong paths. The key is finding the one that best fits your interests, strengths, and long-term goals.
If you’re passionate about understanding people and how the mind works, Psychology might be the more enjoyable choice for you. At London South Bank University (LSBU), our BSc (Hons) Psychology is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), which means it meets national professional standards and gives you eligibility to pursue postgraduate training to become a chartered psychologist later on. Psychology graduates from LSBU go into a wide range of careers, not just therapy or counselling, but also business, education, human resources, marketing, research, and public services. So even if you don’t go down the traditional psychology route, you can still build a well-paid and meaningful career using your analytical and people skills.
Law, on the other hand, is more focused on critical thinking, reasoning, and argument. At LSBU, our LLB (Hons) Law degree is approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Bar Standards Board (BSB), meaning it’s recognised for professional progression if you want to become a solicitor or barrister. Law can be challenging; it involves a lot of reading, essay writing, and attention to detail, but it’s also highly respected and can lead to strong earning potential, especially once you’re qualified.
In terms of pay, both degrees can lead to well-paying careers, but often after some experience or further study. Psychology can take longer to reach top salaries if you go into clinical or research roles, while Law can be competitive and demanding but offers clearer routes into higher-earning positions.
If you’re still deciding, think about what motivates you most: are you more interested in understanding people and behaviour (Psychology) or in structure, logic, and argument (Law)? Both require commitment and strong communication skills, and both can lead to stable, successful careers.
I’d also recommend coming along to our LSBU Open Day on Saturday, the 15th of November, where you can talk to lecturers and students from both Psychology and Law. Hearing their experiences might help you decide which subject feels more like you.
👉 You can sign up here: LSBU Open Day.
👉 You can also chat with our students through our Unibuddy platform: Chat with our students.
Whichever you choose, LSBU will support you with excellent teaching, strong professional accreditations, and great career guidance to help you reach your goals.
Reply 13
Original post
by tatianafebrI am also wondering what the timetable is like do you have a lot of lectures? Do you have time to go out with your friends and still do well? Also thank you for all of your help. It’s very useful!
I’m glad I could help!
Timetables depend on which modules you take, but in first year you will usually have one lecture a day, maybe two on some days and possibly a free day too, but this isn’t guaranteed. You’ll take four modules per semester, and each module has one lecture a week and some have a seminar each week as well. Lectures in psychology at our uni are usually 2 hours long with a 15 minute break in the middle.
I do find it very manageable and have lots of free time to hang out with friends, do independent study, societies, etc! I spend less time in lesson in uni compared to when I did A-levels in my opinion.
Poppy, 3rd Year Psychology
(edited 3 weeks ago)
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