Hello people,

I'm doing an MA in sociology at the moment and was told by my department that i was definately going to get PhD funding for my proposed topic. They let me down at the last minute which i never envisaged, so i've been frantically applying everywhere trying to get funding for a PhD. I've had a stressful year and have begun to get slightly disillusioned with the subject and noticed a trend in myself that i lean towards psychology a lot and enjoy it. I am wondering now whether to try and get on to an MA Psychology course in an attempt to change career path but am not sure if they'll accept someone who has no previous qualifications in the subject at all. There are people on my MA Sociology who've never done sociology before which is why i'm wondering if it can be done.

As people who've probably been there/done that, does anyone have similar experiences or can offer me any advice?

Thankyou!

I might be wrong but the way I have always thought is that masters courses are for people exactly like you! I.e. those wishing to change track from their undergraduate course. Not sure about experience but certainly with courses i've seen in the sciences they simple want a first degree in a reasonbly related discipline.... I'm guessing sociology and psychology would probably count as being related but I know little about the social sciences to be honest!

hi- the best thing if you want to follow this route might be to take an experimental psychology msc which is basically a conversion course for non pysch grads, and i believe it gives you bps status if you wanted to become a clinical psychologist. it would also help you attain funding for a specifically psychological phd. sussex and bristol have this course off the top of my head, and im sure a few others will as well.

^^ You're a star! I did not know this existed, i'm going to try and find one a little closer to home but knowing it's out there is great. Thankyou!

jonwilliams - you're thinking of Masters by Coursework, as opposed to the Masters by Research degree which is what LucyDee is doing.

LucyDee - if you decide to change course partway through your current degree, you wouldn't be the first who has done that, so it's entirely possible. The best thing to do is ask the destination dept/faculty whether your proposal to change is possible. Different depts at different universities have different requirements and prerequisites.

Wait a minute, it is unclear whether LucyDee is doing a research degree or coursework... I assumed you were enrolled in a Masters research degree with the intention of conversion to a PhD.

I am doing a taught MA course and am writing my thesis up now, and have been accepted at several places to do a PhD, but i cannot afford to do so as i have not been offered funding. Yet after much thinking, i have decided i want to pursue a career in psychology and so would like to transfer to a taught psychology MSc/MA and then possibly go on to a PhD or employment from there.

FYI. You would need to either do a full 3 year BSc/BA in psychology or a do a Postgraduate conversion course (this is not a masters course) to achieve BPS accreditation known as GBR (which is essential to become a chartered psychologist in Britain). They are also a necessary prerequisite to doing Clinical, Forensic, Health, Educational and some other postgraduate qualifications (either at masters or doctoral level).

There are some Psychology MSc courses that do not require you to have GBR. Similarly you could do a PhD in psychology related field, but still not be eligible to call yourself a chartered psychologist if you a) don't have GBR and B) are not supervised by a chartered psychologist.

and even if you do you still may not find work afterwards like me...

fyi badhaircut - sussex's exp. psych. msc course claims to be gbr accredited.

Hi I'm rying to go the other way (from psych to sociology). I've only just started speakjing to supervisors but they're very positive, they sya to give it a go. You've just got to win them over and get a bit lucky I think.

The Open University do a psychology conversion course for postgraduates.
http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?Q01D15
I don't know if this would be any use.