Studies & Degrees in Psychology
Psychology Study Programs
Psychology is the scientific study of people, the mind and behaviour, in the words of the United Kingdom's Health and Care Professions Council. Psychologists study cognitive, emotional and social processes by observing, interpreting and recording how people relate to one another and to their environments, as the US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts it. The subject sits between the social sciences and the health sciences, and a degree includes more biology, statistics and research methods than many new students expect.
The first degree gives a general grounding. The work most people associate with psychology, such as therapy, assessment and diagnosis, is regulated in many countries and needs a further qualification after the bachelor's degree.
What students learn
The bachelor's degree (grado) in Psychology of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) is a useful example of the structure. Of its 240 ECTS credits, 60 are basic training, 132 are compulsory subjects, 30 are electives, 12 are placements and 6 are the final project. Subjects across such a degree usually include:
- Psychobiology and the biological bases of behaviour
- Attention, memory, learning and other basic processes
- Developmental psychology, from childhood to old age
- Social psychology and personality
- Research methods and statistics
- Psychological assessment and psychopathology
- Applied areas: clinical and health, education, work and organisations
Qualifications and levels
- Spain. Official bachelor's degrees have 240 ECTS credits. The Universidad de Murcia, for example, teaches its Grado en Psicología in Spanish over four years and offers 205 first-year places. The UOC teaches the same degree fully online, in Spanish and in Catalan. The degree alone does not qualify a graduate to work as a psychologist in the health sector: the law requires, in addition, the official Máster en Psicología General Sanitaria, a master's degree of 90 ECTS credits of which at least 30 are placements in authorised centres. Psychologists who provide health services in centres of the National Health System, or centres under contract with it, must hold a different official title, Psicólogo Especialista en Psicología Clínica.
- United Kingdom. The Psychology BSc Honours of the University of Westminster lasts three or four years and is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). Graduates of a BPS-accredited degree are eligible for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, which the National Health Service asks for before clinical training. That training is a three-year, full-time taught doctorate. Titles such as clinical, counselling, educational, forensic, health and occupational psychologist are protected by law.
- United States. Psychology is a common undergraduate major, but psychologists typically need at least a master's degree to enter the occupation. Clinical and counselling psychologists typically need a Ph.D. in psychology or a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree, and in most states practising psychology or using the title of psychologist requires a licence.
Where to study
SpainExchange lists 519 active schools for psychology. The United States has 217, Spain 63, the United Kingdom 48, Canada 19 and Australia 13, followed by Brazil (11), Chile and Argentina (10 each), Germany (9) and France (7). Examples from the list are the Universidad de Cádiz and the UOC in Spain, the University of Westminster and the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom, The Ohio State University and the University of Michigan in the United States, Ghent University in Belgium and the University of the Fraser Valley in Canada.
Degrees are normally taught in the language of the country. Because the right to practise is regulated nationally, students who plan to work in another country should check before enrolling whether the degree will be recognised there.
Careers
Psychology graduates work in health care, schools, social services, human resources, market research and universities. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics distinguishes, among others, clinical and counselling psychologists, school psychologists and industrial-organisational psychologists, who apply psychological principles to workplace problems. It counted 209,400 jobs for psychologists in the United States in 2025 and projects employment to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035.
Many graduates do not become licensed psychologists. They use the degree's training in research, data analysis and human behaviour in other jobs, or continue with a master's degree in a specialised area.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work as a psychologist with only a bachelor's degree?
It depends on the country and the field. In Spain, working as a psychologist in the health sector also requires the official Máster en Psicología General Sanitaria. In the United States, psychologists typically need at least a master's degree, and most states require a licence.
How long does it take to study psychology in Spain?
The bachelor's degree has 240 ECTS credits and takes four years. The Máster en Psicología General Sanitaria adds 90 ECTS credits, including at least 30 of placements.
Can I study psychology online?
Yes. The UOC teaches its official bachelor's degree in Psychology fully online, in Spanish and in Catalan, with 12 ECTS credits of placements.
Can I enter the Spanish health psychology master's with a foreign degree?
The law allows access with a foreign official university degree in Psychology that meets the requirements of Order CNU/1309/2018. Ask the university that teaches the master's how it checks this before applying.