Health Psychology
Health psychology is a healthcare profession that involves applying knowledge and skills of psychology to understand and promote healthy behaviours and general wellbeing to the population.
Breaking Down the Personal Statement
The personal statement is broken down into 3 questions. Each question requires a minimum answer of 350 characters, and across the questions there is a limit of 4000 characters for you to distribute how ever you see fit.
For psychology, where there aren’t typically interviews, the personal statement is crucial in getting your personality and interests across to the university admission teams! Below is a breakdown of the questions, and examples of how you could link the prompts to clinical psychology.
Question 1: Why do you want to study this course or subject?
As explained by UCAS, this question is “your opportunity to showcase your passion and knowledge of your chosen subject area and to demonstrate to universities and colleges why it’s a good fit for you and your future ambitions”. Here is how UCAS further breaks this down:
Your motivations for studying this course(s): This point specifically includes what has inspired you to want to study psychology as a degree, whether it be a particular moment in your life, or a certain role model. This can include your studies so far, but also real-world experiences and examples. Further, you may be drawn to health psychology because of how it allows you to put your personal qualities to good use, such as empathy, communication, and wanting to help others (you can detail this in question 2).
Your knowledge of this subject area and interests: This point is your opportunity to focus on any super-curricular activities or research that you have done that show your focus on aspects of health psychology. This could be reading, whether it be books like “Unprocessed: How the Food We Eat Is Fuelling Our Mental Health Crisis”, academic articles like the BPS Research Digest, and even our blogs. However, listening to a podcast or watching an academic talk are equally valuable experiences too!
Your future plans and why this is a good fit for you: All types of psychologists typically start with a psychology degree, so it is here that you can explain you want to specialise in health psychology. Furthermore, you could delve into your potential aspirations for career progression, whether it be wanting to work in teaching and research, to wanting to contribute to public health programmes.
Question 2: How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
UCAS describes this question as “your chance to shout about the relevant or transferable skills you’ve gained from your formal education and highlight your understanding of how they will help you succeed in this subject area”. They break this down into the following:
How your studies or training relate to your chosen course(s) or subject area: Here is the place to mention how specific content in your A-levels have further sparked your interest in health psychology, whether it be considering the effect of normative social influence in persuading individuals to change their behaviour, or considering how illness and behaviour are interpreted differently across cultures. You don’t have to talk about your subjects individually, but can also acknowledge the overlap between subjects, such as sociology and psychology (if you’ve done both), and how this gives you a more holistic insight into how one’s understanding of illness and access to healthcare can differ based on demographic variables. Additionally, this would be the place to discuss any courses, projects, or coursework that may be relevant, such as if you have completed an EPQ on a related topic.
What relevant or transferable skills you have that make you a great candidate: Relevant and transferable skills can come from both inside and outside of school. For example, your studies may have helped you develop your data analysis skills and problem-solving, both of which are crucial as a health psychologist. Additionally, personal attributes such as empathy and trustworthiness are equally important. It is important to demonstrate these through examples, such as by mentioning the specific topics you’ve learnt that cover these skills, or by detailing times you have put these qualities to use.
Any relevant educational achievements: Within this point, you don’t need to mention your predicted grades, but rather talk about any accomplishments you have achieved during your time in school. These could be more academic things like having the best presentation in your class, to having a key role in the school such as being a prefect, student ambassador, or sports captain. These achievements can be used to support any key qualities you want to emphasise about yourself, such as communication, teamwork, and dedication, all of which are needed as a health psychologist.
Question 3: What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences helpful?
According to UCAS, this final question is “your chance to talk about any other activities you have undertaken outside of your formal education or personal experiences which further demonstrate your suitability for the course”. This section is more personal to you as in individual, and “anything you do include should reflect on why you’re including it”. UCAS lists the following as examples of things to include when answering this question:
Work experience, employment, or volunteering: Direct work experience for health psychology can be difficult to get, but that’s no problem, as your personal statement can be strong without any. However, it is worth noting that you can easily link volunteering, whether it be for the NHS or charity shops, to a career in psychology by drawing on the way it shows you have genuine commitment and care towards people. Additionally, it is possible to gain virtual work experience, such as through sites like Springpod.
Personal life experiences or responsibilities: Although you don’t want to make your personal statement too personal, it can sometimes be valuable to account an experience you have observed, and how this may have developed skills or attributes like curiosity and empathy.
Hobbies and any extracurricular or outreach activities: These don’t need to be directly related to your studies, but can be demonstrative of your enthusiasm and interest in learning. For example, it could be valuable to take part in a summer school like UNIQ, Discover Bath, Brighton Summer School to show your passion for your subject area, but also your independence and readiness for university life. Additionally, including a hobby or two are useful in showing that you are capable of having a healthy work-life balance!
Achievements outside of school or college: Achievements like learning another language, mastering a musical instrument, or winning a competition you’ve entered, such as the John Locke Essay Competition, serve a similar purpose. They not only demonstrate your dedication to learning, but also show that you have a range of skills and are always looking to expand your skill set.
For further information and advice, take a look at the UCAS personal statement guide!
British Psychological Society
The British Psychological Society (BPS) is a body that represents psychology and psychologists in the United Kingdom.
In order to pursue a career in clinical psychology, your undergraduate degree must be accredited by the British Psychological Society. Whilst many undergraduate courses have the same name, they may not all be BPS accredited. Additionally, your degree does not have to be specifically titled “clinical psychology” to be eligible to pursue a career in clinical psychology. You can check if the course you’re interested in is accredited by using accredited courses checker, or by checking the specific university webpage.
The British Psychology Society has created a Code of Ethics and Conduct, which guides all members on how they should professionally conduct themselves. It focuses on 4 main principles.
Key Principles
Respect
Understanding that all humans have worth, regardless of any real or apparent differences, such as gender and ethnicity. As a result, all people are worthy of equal moral consideration, and each individual should be treated with dignity and regard to their rights.
Responsibility
Members should value the responsibility they have towards individuals, the general public, and the profession of psychology itself. Hence, they should take accountability for their actions, respect the welfare of others, avoid harm, and prevent the misuse of their work and contributions.
Competence
Members of the BPS offer professional services that require specific skills, experience, and knowledge. They should ensure that they work within their ability, and do not attempt to work outside of their capabilities. This ensures they maintain a professional standard and a high quality of service.
Integrity
It is important to be objective in a professional context, one’s behaviour in an open and unbiased manner, with the avoidance of self-interest. Members should also consider values such as honesty, accuracy, fairness, maintaining personal and professional boundaries, and the address of any misconduct.
Moving Up The Ladder
Agenda for Change pay scales are used by the NHS, and can be used to refer to the different levels or bands of clinical psychology practice within the NHS in the United Kingdom. These bands outline the career progression and responsibilities of clinical psychologists. The bands are organised based on experience, skills, and professional development. It is worth realising that the specific details may vary, and the following is a generalist outline of some bands.
Band 6 - Trainee Health Psychologist:
You will typically be employed as a trainee as you complete your stage 2 training in health psychology (stage 1 would be a Masters degree in health psychology).
Responsibilities include carrying out observations and assessments, supporting patients as individuals and in groups, and presenting written reports.
Bands 7 to 8a/b - Health Psychologist:
Training is now complete.
There are opportunities to specialise in certain health conditions and treatments, as well as whether you want to go into a more patient-facing role, or a more research-based role.
Bands 8c/d - Consultant Health Psychologist:
Once gained enough specialist experience, there is the opportunity to progress into more senior roles.
Responsibilities include greater leadership and managerial duties.
Please note that the specific titles and responsibilities may vary between NHS Trusts and healthcare organisations. The banding system provides a framework for standardising pay scales, but individual roles may have unique titles based on local organisational structures.
Alternative Pathway for Health Psychology
If you haven’t completed an undergraduate degree accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), don’t let that stop you from becoming a health psychologist. There is another available pathway that will get you into the career (though it does still involve getting a degree)!
Conversion Course
What is a conversion course?
A type of postgraduate degree that provides the information necessary to progress into a career that your undergraduate degree may not have prepared you for
They are typically one year long if studying full-time, or two years long if studying part-time
To become a health psychologist, the conversion course you complete must be in psychology and accredited by the BPS
When is a conversion course an option?
When you have an undergraduate degree in a subject other than psychology
When you have completed an undergraduate psychology degree that doesn’t have a BPS accreditation
What happens after a conversion course?
After completing a conversion course, you can continue the pathway to becoming a health psychologist
This would be firstly gaining work experience, before completing a postgraduate doctorate (PhD or DHealthPsych) in health psychology