Teaching and research in psychology usually go hand in hand. Some teaching staff will have qualified in one of the applied psychological professions already mentioned. They may return to teaching to develop professional practice and conduct research, or simply to share their knowledge. All university lecturers are expected to help extend their subject by gathering psychological evidence on key research questions, and then tell others what they have found by publishing articles.

Administration is an essential part of a lecturers’ life, and can take up a great deal of time. It includes student selection, devising new teaching programmes, sitting on committees which allocate resources, and co-ordinating aspects of the life of the department.

Many schools and sixth-form colleges of further education now offer psychology as a subject at GCSE, A level, A/S level and as part of a general studies programme. Teachers prepare students for published syllabuses set by the examination bodies, so their work is not as flexible as that of teachers of undergraduates. Nevertheless, there is considerable choice in what to offer within the syllabus and an enormous range of possible studies in practical and laboratory courses.

Where?

Lecturers and researchers work in universities, colleges and schools.‘Research scientists’ may also work in research units (such as the MRC Applied Psychology Unit). However, few people are able to develop careers consisting solely of research.

How?

Qualifications and training

To teach psychology in a state school, it is necessary to have a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Formal qualifications in psychology are not always required by employers. In fact, psychology graduates sometimes find it difficult to find places on PGCE courses because psychology is not a National Curriculum subject. Care is needed in selecting subsidiary courses at undergraduate level as these choices can help or hinder graduates with their studies later;

those who are unable to get on a PGCE course can undertake a conversion course from another degree to psychology if necessary to help them qualify for a place.This course usually lasts for two years. For more information contact the Graduate Teacher Training Registry or The Teacher Training Agency.

No teacher training colleges offer psychology as a main subject at secondary level, and psychology graduates therefore have to train to teach one of the subjects included in the National Curriculum in addition to psychology.

There are no formal qualifications which prepare you to teach undergraduate students, although most universities make provision for newly appointed staff to take a postgraduate certificate in Higher Education – this is likely to become the norm.A degree in psychology is rarely, if ever, a sufficient qualification for appointment to a lecturer post.

Most applicants already have a PhD or have held a research post in the UK or abroad, or have trained as an applied psychologist and worked as a practitioner.A graduate NVQ in Applied Psychological Research is now available for those whose research cannot be published because of confidentiality.

Appointing committees for lectureships and senior research posts ideally require someone who is likely to bring credit to their department in the form of an international reputation, publications, and a track record in gaining research funds. Since teaching is central to a lectureship post, the committee will look for ability to speak in public and relate to others. Lecturers are rarely appointed under the age of 25 because a PhD takes a minimum of three years.

Full Membership of the Division of Teachers and Researchers in Psychology on the basis of teaching will be granted on the fulfilment of various criteria, including evidence of professional contributions such as:

experience as an external examiner;
experience as a trainer or supervisor of teachers;
published teaching material;
teaching experience.

Many psychologists become a Chartered Psychologist by virtue of holding a postgraduate research degree in psychology. Registration is usually only open to those who hold a Societyaccredited first degree in addition to a doctoral level degree in psychology. Very occasionally psychologists will be registered by virtue of publications in refereed journals, but only when their work is judged equivalent to a PhD in Psychology.

Alternatively, Registration as a Chartered Psychologist and Full Membership of the Division may be obtained on successful completion of the Society’s Diploma in the Applied Psychology of Teaching.This is a two-year full-time (or equivalent) qualification for teachers and lecturers in psychology, who already have some teaching experience. It includes the study of psychological perspectives on education, as well as applied teaching assessments and a dissertation.The regulations and syllabus are available on request.

The Society’s Diploma in the Applied Psychology of Teaching offers a qualification which enables teachers to become Chartered Psychologists.

Pay, prospects and conditions

Qualified graduate teachers’ salaries range from £15,500 to £39,000. Deputy head teachers’ salaries range from £27,000 to £61,000 and head teachers’ range from £33,000 to £78,000.

Additional income may be possible through private tutoring, examining other institutions or examination boards, and through consultancy work.

Salaries for lecturers at FE and HE institutions range from:

Lecturer £17,000 – £25,500
Senior Lecturer £24,000 – £31,500
Principal Lecturer £30,000 – £37,000

University lecturers’ salaries range from:

Lecturer A £20,500 – £24,000
Lecturer B £25,500 – £32,500
Senior Lecturer £34,000 – £38,500
Professor from £37,500

Although the teaching year for both teachers and lecturers is determined by the academic and school year, and for teachers by the LEAs, there is additional work involved which will often extend beyond normal working hours. Most lecturers probably work a 50 - hour week, with only half that time allocated to teaching.

Research work is particularly time consuming, and thus may often be undertaken during the long summer vacation.
The Society is unable to assist in finding research places for psychology graduates wishing to pursue a doctoral degree. However, it does publish So you want to do a PhD? which is a guide to starting a research degree.

Funding for research may be provided by the various Research Councils (the ESRC, MRC, BBSRC, and EPSRC) which provide research studentships and research grants. Funding may also be obtained from industry and government departments. Some lecturers also act as consultants to industry, particularly in the fields of organisational psychology
and human factors.

Publication of research findings in scientific journals or in books is important for university lecturers. It is a means of establishing their reputation and securing invitations to visit foreign research centres, or to present papers at conferences. Promotion is very much dependent upon your reputation as a scholar or researcher.

Further Information

www.bps.org.uk/dtrp

The Teacher Training Agency
TTA Communications Centre,
PO Box 3210, Chelmsford,
Essex CM1 3WA
Tel: 0845 6000 991
Fax: 01245 261668
E-mail: teaching@ttaino.co.uk
Website: www.teach.org.uk
(Can suggest alternative route to teacher training than PGCE.)