Tom had started building a career in Law when he decided to go back to RGU to pursue his dream of becoming a Doctor of Psychology to help other people. Read about his experience studying the Master’s in Applied Psychology online at RGU.
Going back to university to change my career path
During my teenage years, if you had asked me if I wanted to study at university, my response would have probably been “Ehh no… absolutely not”. And yet, here I am at the age of 30 – a Trainee Counselling Psychologist at Glasgow Caledonian University and a two-time alumnus of Robert Gordon University.
After studying BA (Hons) Law and Management at RGU and graduating in 2017, I started my career in the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, which I really enjoyed. However, I always felt that something was missing.
Over time, I realised that I really missed helping roles, like during my RGU:Nightline days where I was able to listen to and support other people. I also always had a keen interest in psychology. So, in a wee leap of faith, I decided to apply for the MSc Applied Psychology conversion course at RGU (‘the MSc’) to see whether it could be a potential career change.
Studying a master’s in Applied Psychology online
At first, I was a tad apprehensive about studying online as I had been accustomed to attending in-person. To my surprise, online learning turned out to be a very positive experience. There were plenty of opportunities for me to engage with my fellow students through online tutorials, discussions and even a peer-created WhatsApp group.
Online study meant that I was able to remain in Edinburgh and the flexibility of online lectures allowed me to revisit lectures on demand, as well as catch up on things quickly when life got a little busy.
Another aspect of the MSc that I appreciated was the high level of support which, for me, went beyond academia. I received guidance and advice from my personal tutor and dissertation supervisor that was crucial in securing a place on the doctorate at GCU, which is an extremely competitive process. Throughout my dissertation, I also went from being someone who had little interest in research, to thoroughly enjoying the process and excited about the prospect of more (…if it is qualitative!).
The MSc team also arranged several live guest lectures from different divisions of psychology – such as forensic, health, clinical and counselling. A memorable highlight was that during the guest lecture from a practicing Counselling Psychologist, who was discussing her role and experience, I decided counselling psychology was the direction I wanted to pursue. I felt that something had just ‘clicked’ and, from that moment on, I began to set the wheels in motion for a complete career change and applied for the doctorate the following year.
Pursuing my dream role after graduation
And now, as I prepare for my Trainee Counselling Psychologist placements, I am really looking forward to being able to support other people, to provide an environment for them to flourish, and to contribute to psychology research and literature. I am so thankful for the support, guidance, and opportunities that the team on the MSc Applied Psychology at RGU provided me, especially my personal tutor and dissertation supervisor. Without them, I would not be on this new, challenging and very exciting path towards becoming a doctor of psychology.
Related blogs
My journey pursuing Psychology studies from undergraduate to PhD
From college to university as a student in Applied Social Sciences
Studying a master’s in Applied Psychology at RGU
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