Scope of Psychology in Pakistan: psychologist salary, career counseling

After passing intermediate exams, students start taking an interest in opting for a degree. The selection of your field of study is as important in your career as your efforts of twelve years.

Scope of Psychology in Pakistan

At this point, many students unconsciously make wrong decisions that disturb their upcoming life and create obstacles in their careers. 

However, proper counseling can help students make the right choice, thus saving them from unexpected regrets. 

Like all other domains of study, most of the students come to know about psychology and wish to select it. 

Scope of psychology in Pakistan, clinical counseling jobs and salary

If you are one of those students or a parent who is reading this for the sake of your child, this article will help you make your mind. 

It will outline the scheme of studies in the field of psychology, its scope and what services can a psychology graduate perform in government and private sector. 

What is Psychology?

Psychology is the study of the human mind and behavior. It tries to explain the complex system that makes us think, feel and behave. 

Unlike biology which concerns itself with the biological and chemical structure and functioning of the human body, psychology deals with his cognition and its functions. 

The study of psychology is based on its five major schools of thought: structuralism, functionalism, psychoanalysis, behaviorism, gestalt psychology and humanistic psychology. 

Each tries to explain the intricacies of the human mind and behavior through different perspectives. A student who is willing to get enrolled in psychology should read these schools of thought prior to apply to a university. 

Psychology and Psychiatry and Psychologist

A great many students confuse psychology with psychiatry. It is, therefore, to draw a margin between both fields. 

Although they are similar in their function, they differ in their study and methods. 

Psychology deals with the study of the human mind and behavior and their disabilities and illnesses through different therapies. 

Whereas psychiatry is the study of resolving these problems with medications and physical treatments. 

Students who are interested in taking admission in psychology should first distinguish between these disciplines and then make their choice as to what they are going to study in graduation or master's.

Psychology at Undergraduate, Graduate, and Postgraduate Levels in Pakistan

In Pakistan, institutes offer psychology programs at three different levels: undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate level. 

Students can also opt for psychology in intermediate in FA. However, this is not a trend in Pakistan because most of the students go for FSc. 

In addition to this, most of the students who elect psychology study it at graduation level in BA or BS. 

BS Psychology

In BA, it is studied as a subject out of other subjects. But BS in Psychology is the most recently launched and comprehensive program offering more than 36 courses that are to be studied over a period of 4 years. 

MSc Psychology

Students who elect psychology in BA can apply for MA in Psychology in different universities like the University of the Punjab and the University of Sargodha. 

As for the BS Psychology students, they can pursue M.Phil in different fields of psychology. Some of the universities in Pakistan also offer a doctorate program in psychology.

Scope of Psychology and Job Opportunities 


Psychology has a vast scope in terms of career development in Pakistan. 

Psychology graduates are open to opportunities in fields like child protection centers, rehabilitation centers, research laboratories, welfare organizations and detention centers. 

Various job positions are available for psychology graduates in the government and private sectors. We will enlist and explain some of the job vacancies in relation to Pakistan:

A psychologist can do the following jobs:

1. Career Counselor

This is one of the famous professions for psychology students. Career counselors are advisors who guide individuals through their life journey and career development. 

Mainly, they help individuals making choices at the decisive points of their lives. In a guidance session, counselors help an individual look into his polished skills, check his education levels, and then provide suggestions to him about continuing education and picking his interests and personality. 

Counselors can also administer an intelligence test or a flair test.

2. Clinical Psychologist

Clinical psychologists are trained experts who work in hospitals and rehabilitation centers to diagnose and treat psychological disorders in patients. 

They also own private clinics. Clinical psychology is one of the growing sub-domains of psychology. It is for this reason that the urbanization and mechanization of contemporary have given birth to many psychological issues. 

Mental health has become a necessity in this age. Therefore, individuals schedule visits with their psychologists to seek the treatment of their mental disorders or illnesses.

3. Educational Psychologist

Educational psychologists work closely with students, teachers, and administration staff to find out more about the foremost effective learning methods. 

There is a good scope of educational psychology in Pakistan.

They are mainly involved in assisting governments and institutes with their recommendations to scheme educational policies. 

Educational psychologists are unlike educationists. Their focus is fixed on the psychological implications of education. 

Educational psychology aims at the harmonious growth and rightful conduct of youngsters in too. It aims at helping the teacher by providing facts and generalizations in his task of assisting the kid to grow.

4. Consumer Psychologist

Psychology is important in all fields of life. Consumer psychologists work closely with marketing managers in large firms and help them suggest ways to attract the attention of consumers to their products. 

These psychologists are highly paid by the multinational groups they work in. Their focus is fixed on the psychological implications of marketing and business. 

A successful consumer psychologist is the one who maximizes the psychological scope of a product and can create a sale and profit hype with his techniques and recommendations.

5. Criminal Psychologist

Every human needs psychological assessment and treatment. Nobody is exempted from this rule. That is why criminal psychologists work closely with law enforcement agencies. 

They do psychological assistance to criminals in order to help police or other agencies resolve their cases. Their primary concern is with the psychological well-being of the criminals. 

They work in detention centers or jails and help criminals grow positively into better human beings.

Criminal psychologists are widely hired by governments and get allocated to national departments of security and peace.

Salary of Psychologists in Pakistan


In Pakistan, a psychologist gets a handsome salary of 50,000 to 80,000 in the beginning stages of their career.

Psychology-related Jobs in Pakistan

Psychologists are working in the following public and private sectors and departments in Pakistan.
  • Hospitals
  • Mental Hospitals
  • Jails
  • Pak army
  • Colleges and Universities
  • Old Homes
  • Private clinics
  • Family Centers
  • Family Planning Association
  • Research organizations
The psychologists and students of psychology are working in the following capacities in various departments:
  • Career counselors
  • Clinical psychologists
  • Mental health advisors
  • Psychotherapists
  • Family therapists
  • Psychatrists
  • Mental health officers
  • Doctors
  • Teachers and lecturers
  • Professors
  • Research officers
Now I hope you have got complete information about the scope of BS psychology and MSc psychology in Pakistan.

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