The module will support students to transition to Psychology and develop a life/career plan. The module will include support sessions developing skills such as referencing and academic writing in Psychology, as well as developing their action plans. The module will give students the opportunity to carry out a self-assessment of their action plans with the support of their supervisors/academic mentors. University careers sessions will be provided focussing on search for employment and application to PhD programs and other postgraduate courses.

The future directions assessment is an oral presentation that should cover:

• A comprehensive critical evaluation of skills, values, attributes and interests and potential barriers to skill development that may exist.
• Three possible future careers/life pathways and an action plan for how to achieve them.

Students will identify personal and professional development opportunities (e.g., volunteering/LinkedIn Learning courses/other relevant short courses) that may help them proceed in at least one of the identified career/life pathways.

Formative assessment will also be included in the module. Students will be asked to carry out a series of activities that relate to analysing their skillset and researching life plans and personal development opportunities (e.g., creating or updating their post-Graduate LinkedIn profile).

Students will have formative assessments and receive verbal feedback identifying strengths, limitations and guidance for improvement on their proposed action plans.

The module will be run by a combination of large group sessions, small workshops and some one-to-one tutorials. The large group sessions will be part-supported by the University careers team, the Library and Academic Skills Team and three one-to-one tutorials with academic mentors will be particularly helpful with the preparation of students’ action plan presentations with their Academic Mentors.

1. Demonstrate an in-depth critical understanding and evaluation of your skills, values and attributes, and how these relate to your current career and/or life plans.

Personal development and Entrepreneurship

2. Identify and reflect upon personal development opportunities to achieve next steps.

Reflection

3. Professionally communicate your action plan for future career/life in a presentation.

Communication

BPS Careers webpages https://careers.bps.org.uk/

Forsythe, A. (2021). The Psychology Student’s Career Survival Guide: Here Be Dragons. UK, Routledge.
Hammond, M. S., & Brady-Amoon, P. (2021). Building your career in psychology. Routledge.
Kuther, T.L. & Morgan, R. D. (2019) Careers in Psychology: Opportunities in a Changing World (5th Edition). USA, Sage.
Leggett, R., Waldeck, D., & Burrell, A. (2021). How to Make the Most of Your Psychology Degree: Study Skills, Employability and Professional Development. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).

This module will act as one of the main support mechanisms during your course. You will be assigned a L7 supervisor/academic mentor who will support you in developing a career plan in preparation for seeking employment or further postgraduate study. You will have the opportunity to present your action plan to your supervisor and receive feedback on your presentation. Taught sessions will explore next steps to professional training in Psychology and other careers as well as appropriate academic skills to support your transition to Psychology.