MSc, Clinical Psychology

Name: Olga Lee

Age: 21

Primary degree: BA Psychology, University College Dublin (2010)

Postgraduate degrees: MSc Foundations in Clinical Psychology, Bangor University (2011)

I've known for a long time that I wanted to pursue a career in clinical psychology. I also knew that masters degrees can open doors and improve employment prospects. My MSc offered a balance between the practical, applied client-facing side of clinical psychology, and theoretical, academic research. I love the mix of the two and wouldn't want one without the other.

I decided on Bangor University partly because its psychology department has such a fantastic reputation. The course also represented very good value for money, which was another important factor.

I'd heard a lot from friends who'd done masters degrees about what a step up from undergraduate level they were, so I was expecting this. What really took me by surprise was not so much the intensity, but the sheer amount of work. Just trying to keep on top of it all was a job in itself. Speaking to postgraduate students beforehand was really helpful however, and gave me an idea of what was to come.

On the course we were expected to work much more independently than I was used to on my BA. The supervisors are there for you to bounce ideas off, but they won't lay out all the options: that's down to you as a student to research. As an undergraduate I learned a lot of theory as a broad discipline; at postgraduate level it's more about the application of those theories.

My MSc encouraged me to think a lot more for myself – it was a great way of developing critical thinking. It has also been very relevant to the area I want to go down (clinical practice), as postgraduate study is vital if you want to work in this area. Having just finished my course, my next step is to get a job under the supervision of a clinical psychologist. So far I've applied for two positions and I’ve got interviews for both, which is encouraging.

I relied a huge amount on my savings to get myself through my time at Bangor. As a back-up I also took out a loan. My parents paid for my fees and I had a part-time job – as a support worker for children with disabilities – for the duration, which was a great help.

Clinical psychologists work in a broad spectrum of areas – in hospitals, or other settings such as organisations that provide social and residential care to people with disabilities, or clinics for people with primary mental health problems.

I'm looking for jobs in both Ireland and the UK at the moment. Ideally I'd like to be based in Ireland, but currently there's more on offer in the UK. Supply outstrips demand in Ireland right now, which partially explains the relative shortfall in available positions, but the freeze on HSE employment in the aftermath of the recession hasn't helped.

The most enjoyable aspect of my course has been meeting people – both lecturers and other students – with similar interests and backgrounds. I had fantastic lecturers who made the topics really exciting and interesting and who showed me a new side to clinical psychology. I also loved seeing the application of theory in a practical setting.

Additionally I really appreciated the fact that the tutors understood that students were going to go on and look for work at the end of the course – we weren't just studying for the sake of it. To this end, the programme incorporated modules devoted to helping postgrads maximise their employability skills, including mock-interviews, to equip us for the job hunt once the course was completed.

Advice for postgraduates

Carefully research all the postgraduate options you are interested in. Ask yourself: will it improve my employability? Is it good value for money? Is it relevant to what I ultimately want to do? Check the credentials of the staff and department. What journals are they published in? What kind of research do they conduct? What reputation do they have?