Work Experience for Psychology Students UK: Where to Look and What Counts (2026)
Based on the British Psychological Society (BPS) guidance for people starting out in psychology. There is no single required type of work experience: the BPS says no one experience guarantees a place on a training programme.
If you study psychology, work experience is how you show employers and training providers that you can use the subject with real people. The BPS says gaining experience helps you understand what different careers involve, build confidence and transferable skills, strengthen applications and decide whether a career is right for you.
This guide replaces our older list of six places to look. It starts from what the BPS actually says about experience, then maps common settings to the psychology specialism they fit, and flags two warnings: unpaid Assistant Psychologist roles and paid services that promise placements.
What counts as work experience for psychology students
The BPS lists many kinds of experience that can help: paid employment, volunteering, work placements, internships, research projects, work shadowing, student societies and activities, community organisations, support and care roles, caring responsibilities, employer engagement activities and conversations with professionals.
It also says you do not have to work in a psychology setting to build useful skills. Part-time work, volunteering, community involvement, sport and hobbies can all develop communication, active listening, teamwork, empathy, critical thinking, research, data analysis and organisation. The useful step is to note what you did, what you learned and how you would apply it in a future role.
Match the experience to the psychology career you want
The BPS gives examples of how experience lines up with specialisms. Use them as a starting point, not a rule: training providers set their own requirements, so always check the programme you are aiming for.
| If you are interested in | Experience the BPS points to | Specialism it relates to |
|---|---|---|
| Working with children and schools | Experience in education | Educational psychology |
| People at work, recruitment, leadership | Experience in HR, business or management | Occupational psychology |
| Research careers and postgraduate study | Research experience, for example a research project or research assistant work | Research-focused pathways and other research careers |
| Supporting people with health or care needs | Support and care roles; Assistant Psychologist roles are often highlighted | Clinical, counselling and health psychology (check each programme) |
The seven practitioner psychology professions in the UK are Clinical, Counselling, Educational, Forensic, Health, Occupational, and Sport and Exercise Psychology. The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) regulates these titles, and you must be registered with the HCPC to use them. Each area has its own training route and entry requirements.
Where to look: six practical settings
These are the settings our earlier guide covered, now tied to what each can show. Availability and entry rules vary by employer, so treat each as somewhere to enquire, not a guaranteed placement.
| Setting | What it can show | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| NHS and health services | Exposure to care settings and the wider psychological workforce | NHS Health Careers and the Psychological Professions Network career map |
| Police and justice | Behaviour in the context of crime, offending and rehabilitation; links to forensic psychology | Check police, probation and prison service volunteering and staff pages directly |
| HR departments | People at work, recruitment, motivation; links to occupational psychology | Ask HR teams at employers near you about placements or shadowing |
| Sports clubs | Motivation, teamwork and performance; links to sport and exercise psychology | Contact local clubs about volunteering or support roles |
| After-school clubs and schools | Child development and learning; links to educational psychology | Schools, youth groups and community organisations |
| Charities | Support and care roles, community work, fundraising | Local charity volunteering pages; see our guide to work experience, internships and volunteering |
Assistant Psychologist roles: read this before you apply
Assistant Psychologist roles are often highlighted as a route into clinical-type training, and they can give valuable insight into practice. The BPS is clear on two points: they are not the only way to gain relevant experience, and the BPS does not support unpaid Assistant Psychologist roles. It publishes expected standards for the role that you can read before you apply.
If you are weighing unpaid work in general, our page on internships and volunteering explains when the law says you must be paid.
Be careful with paid experience services
The BPS warns about organisations that sell services claiming to guarantee work experience, interviews, university places or employment. Its position is that there is no guaranteed route into psychology and paying for a service does not guarantee admission to a course, an interview or a job offer. Before paying, check exactly what is offered and whether it is good value for your circumstances.
Degree route and Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC)
For many postgraduate psychology routes, GBC is an important requirement. A BPS-accredited psychology degree can give eligibility. According to the BPS, if your degree was in another subject, or your psychology degree was not accredited, a BPS-accredited conversion course may give eligibility, but a conversion course is not needed for every psychology-related career.
You do not need to become a psychologist to use the degree. The BPS lists graduate destinations including education, health and social care, research, HR, business, public services, government and policy, marketing and communications, the voluntary sector, careers services and law, crime and justice. Many employers also recruit from any degree subject; see the Graduate Scheme hub for programmes open to psychology graduates.
How to log your experience so it counts
- Record the setting, dates, hours and your supervisor or contact while it is fresh.
- Write one line on what you did and one on what you learned, using skills the BPS names, such as communication, active listening, teamwork or research.
- Keep evidence of impact where possible, for example a task you completed or feedback you received.
- Ask a supervisor for a reference or short letter before you leave.
- Match the entry to the role you apply for, using the table above.
Log your experience so it counts
0 of 5 confirmed. Tick each point that applies to you.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need work experience to get a psychology job after my degree?
Not every route requires it, but the BPS says experience helps you understand careers, build skills and strengthen applications. Requirements depend on the specific role or training programme, so check each one.
Is unpaid work experience legal?
It depends on your status, not the label. GOV.UK says an intern who counts as a worker is normally due the National Minimum Wage; voluntary workers for a charity, voluntary organisation or statutory body who receive only limited expenses are not. See our guide to the difference.
Do I have to become an Assistant Psychologist first?
No. The BPS says Assistant Psychologist roles are not the only way to gain relevant experience and that no single experience guarantees entry to training.
Can I work in psychology without a degree?
Yes, in some roles. The BPS says the wider psychological workforce includes roles with different education, training and experience requirements, so check the entry requirements for each role.
What if my degree is not in psychology?
A BPS-accredited conversion course may give eligibility for GBC, which many training routes require. Check the requirements of the career you want before choosing a course.
Sources
- BPS: Start your journey into psychology
- BPS: What does Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) mean?
- BPS: Career options in psychology
- BPS: Expected standards for assistant psychologists
- GOV.UK: Employment rights and pay for interns
- NHS Health Careers
- Psychological Professions Network
Back to the Graduate Scheme hub. Last checked against the sources above on 30 October 2026; rules and requirements can change, so confirm with the BPS and the training provider.
