What is Psychology and which is the Top University to Study Psychology in Malaysia?

Find Out What is Psychology and Studying the Course in Malaysia

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Psychology is both an applied and academic field that studies the human mind and behaviour. Research in psychology seeks to understand and explain how we think, act and feel. Most people know that a large part of work in psychology is devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues. They apply their knowledge to help people function better. Their work covers a wide range of activities, and their clients include children, adults, couples, families and community organisation. To work in the psychology field in Malaysia, students must possess at least a Masters degree. However, with a degree in psychology, graduates are able to find work in many other fields such as Human Resource Management, Marketing, Education Counsellors, Management, and more.

With at least 5 credits in SPM or O-Levels students can go for the Foundation in Arts at the best private universities in Malaysia. After that, they can enter into the 3-year Psychology degree programme. Pre-University students with the relevant results in STPM, A-Levels, SAM, CPU, AUSMAT, etc. can enter directly into Year 1 of the Psychology degree.

You might also be interested to read:

• Top 4 Private Universities in Malaysia to Study Psychology
• Best Psychology Degree Course in Malaysia at Top Universities
• Best Psychology Degree Courses in Malaysia at Top Ranked Private Universities
• What is Psychology and the Best Universities for Psychology in Malaysia
• Top Private Universities in Malaysia to Study Psychology
• Top Private Universities in Malaysia to Study Psychology
• Best Psychology Degree Course in Malaysia at Top Universities

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Studying Psychology at Top Private Universities in Malaysia

Below are a list of the best private colleges and universities in Malaysia in their various fields, in my opinion.

• Top private universities & college in Malaysia for Psychology degree programmes are HELP University,  Taylor’s University, Asia Pacific University (APU) and Heriot-Watt University Malaysia
• Top ranked HELP University at Subang 2 campus uniquely offers the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Flinders-HELP Joint Degree)
• Best private universities in Malaysia for Business Psychology are Heriot-Watt University Malaysia and HELP University

Studying the Psychology Course

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes- in simpler terms, understanding how people think, feel and behave. In addition, Psychology is a broad field of study, encompassing areas like biopsychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, cognitive psychology, organizational psychology, health psychology, abnormal psychology, educational psychology, sports psychology, human personality and more. This field is ideal for those interested in understanding, working with and helping people.

Psychology requires a lot of reading and analysis, and considerable research. To succeed in this area, students will need to be committed wholeheartedly which is why passion and interest are essential.

There are many different things you could do with a psychology degree in Malaysia. You will find that, while they are all very different professions, they all have one thing in common: they involve working with people. The psychology programme will equip you with very important skills in dealing with people, decision-making skills, teamwork and managing people.

Sample of Psychology Subjects in a Degree Course

• Biopsychology
• Individual Differences
• Cognitive Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Abnormal Psychology)
• Quantitative Methods
• Qualitative Methods
• Social Psychology
• Human Personality
• Biopsychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Counselling Skills
• Conflict Theory and Resolution
• Human Services
• Educational Psychology
• Group Process
• Developmental Disorders
• Psychological Testing
• Industrial / Organisational Psychology
• Counselling Theories and Techniques
• Issues in Contemporary Psychology
• Psychosocial Effects of Substance Abuse
• Forensic Psychology
• Health Psychology
• Cross Cultural Psychology
• Psychology of Eating
• Human Motivation
• Learning Disabilities

Careers for  Psychology Undergraduate Degree Holders in Malaysia

• Business and Public Sectors
  Management, Marketing, Human Resource, Advertising, Public Relations, Consultancy, Training, Media, Financial Advisor
• Description of Careers
• Advertising
  The profession of planning, designing, and writing advertisements
• Advertising Copywriter
  Researches audience and media, write text of advertisements
• Human Resource 
  The personnel employed by a given company, institution, or the like.
• Personnel Administrator 
  Works with employee relations, selection, promotions etc.
• Management
  The skill or practice of controlling, directing or planning something, especially a commercial enterprise or activity.
• Marketing Research Analysts 
  Marketing research analysts are concerned with the potential sales of a product or service. They analyze statistical data on past sales to predict future sales.
• Marketing
  Business the techniques or processes by which a product or service is sold, including assessment of its sales potential and responsibility for its promotion, distribution and development.
• Public Relations
  The department that is responsible for creating a good relationship between an organization, etc and the public, especially with regard to reputation, communication of information
• Consultancy 
  A person or firm that provides consulting advice or services
• Media Buyer
  Researches product and audiences to select most effective media for advertising.
• Newspaper Reporter
  Social science, psychological interest areas.
• Opinion Survey Researcher 
  Does opinion polls and interprets results
• Financial Advisor
  A person who advise the allocation and management of finances and capital through budgeting, investment and etc.
• Public Statistician 
  Collects and interprets data on health and disease and community relations.
• Research Assistant
  Assists in the collection and analysis of data for major investigations. Positions usually available only in large hospitals, businesses, and government.
• Sales Representative 
  Major publishers of psychological books often seek out undergraduates with psychology majors for these positions on college campuses.
• Technical Writer
  Researches and writes material dealing with social science and psychological knowledge for magazines, newspapers and journals.
• Customs Inspector
  Serves at international borders and airports in investigations and inquiries.
• Education Sector 
  Teaching, Kindergartens, School Counseling, Teacher Training

Description of Careers for Psychology Undergraduate Degree Holders in Malaysia

• Educational Psychologists
  Educational psychologists study how people learn, and they design the methods and materials used to educate people of all ages.
• School Psychologist 
  School psychologists help educators and others promote the intellectual, social, and emotion development of children.
• Special Education 
  Educating children with special needs.
• University or College Lecturer 
  Teaching undergraduate students and post graduates students
• Social Work 
  Children’s Work, Special Education, Crisis Counseling, Conflict Resolution and Mediation
• Description of Careers
• Child Psychology 
  The study of the mental states and processes of children
• Conflict Resolution and Mediation
  Designate processes for bringing about agreement or reconciliation between opponents in a dispute.
• Director of Volunteer Service 
  Responsible for volunteers recruits, supervises, trains, and evaluates volunteers.

The Different Areas of Psychology Studies at the Best Universities in Malaysia

Other than mental health, psychology can be applied to a variety of issues that impact health and daily life including performance enhancement, self-help, ergonomics, motivation, productivity, and much more

However, note that in order to offer professional counseling you will need at least a Masters degree in Malaysia.

Psychologists frequently are innovators, evolving new approaches from established knowledge to meet the changing needs of people, organizations and societies. They develop theories and test them through their research. As this research yields new information, these findings become part of the body of knowledge that practitioners call on in their work with clients and patients, as well as with organizations and communities.

Psychology is a tremendously varied field. Psychologists conduct both basic and applied research, serve as consultants to communities and organizations, diagnose and treat people, and teach future psychologists and those who will pursue other disciplines. Psychologists may gather information about their clients by administrating personality, performance, aptitude and intelligence tests, and through controlled laboratory experiments. Many psychologists work as health care providers. They assess behavioral and mental function and well-being, study how human beings relate to each other and also to machines, and work to improve these relationships.

Many psychologists work independently and also team up with other professionals — for example, with other scientists, physicians, lawyers, school personnel, computer experts, engineers, policymakers and managers — to contribute to every area of society. Thus, we find them in laboratories, hospitals, courtrooms, schools and universities, community health centers, prisons and corporate offices.

Psychologists traditionally study both normal and abnormal functioning and treat individuals with mental and emotional problems. They also concentrate on behaviors that affect the mental and emotional health and mental functioning of healthy human beings. For example, psychologists work with patients to help them change behaviors that are having negative effects on their physical health. They work with business executives, performers and athletes to reduce stress and improve performance.

Many employers are interested in the skills that psychology majors bring to collecting, analyzing and interpreting data and their experience with statistics and experimental design.

Opportunities for people with advanced degrees in psychology are expanding in number as well as in scope. The move toward preventing illness rather than merely diagnosing and treating it requires people to learn how to make healthy behavior a routine part of living.

Indeed, many of the problems facing society today are problems of behavior — for example, chronic health conditions or disease, drug addiction, poor personal relationships, violence at home and in the street, and the harm we do to our environment. Psychologists contribute solutions to problems through careful collection of data, analysis of data and development of intervention strategies — in other words, by applying scientific principles, the hallmark of psychology.

There are many specialisations available, of which the following are examples.

Clinical Psychologists are concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of psychological disorders, such as assisting mentally or emotionally disturbed patients adjust to life, helping people to deal with personal crisis, or helping those with physical stress ( chronic pain, alcohol and drug addiction, multiple sclerosis. ). Clinical Psychology is focused on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders. It is also considered the largest employment area within psychology. They work mostly in psychiatric clinics and hospitals, rehabilitation and community health centres, research centres, and private clinics.

Clinical psychologists assess and treat mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. These range from short-term crises, such as difficulties resulting from adolescent conflicts, to more severe, chronic conditions, such as schizophrenia. Some clinical psychologists treat specific problems exclusively, such as phobias or clinical depression. Others focus on specific populations — for instance, youths; familes or couples; ethnic minority groups; gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals; or older people. They also consult with physicians on physical problems that have underlying psychological causes.

Cognitive Psychologists deal with memory, thinking and perception. It is the study of human thought processes and cognitions. Cognitive psychologists study topics such as attention, memory, perception, decision-making, problem-

solving, and language acquisition. Cognitive psychologists are interested in questions such as how the mind represents reality, how people learn and how people understand and produce language.

Cognitive psychologists also study reasoning, judgment and decision making. Cognitive and perceptual psychologists frequently collaborate with behavioral neuroscientists to understand the biological bases of perception or cognition or with researchers in other areas of psychology to better understand the cognitive biases in the thinking of people with depression, for example.

Community Psychologists
Community psychologists work to strengthen the abilities of communities, settings, organizations and broader social systems to meet people’s needs. They help people access resources and collaborate with others to improve their lives and communities. Instead of helping individuals cope with negative circumstances (e.g., trauma, poverty), community psychologists help empower people to change those circumstances, prevent problems and develop stronger communities.

Examples of community psychology interventions include improving support for hurricane victims, partnering with neighborhoods to prevent crime, collaborating with schools to prevent bullying and helping change policies to improve health outcomes. Community psychologists blend research and practice, partnering with diverse citizens to plan and implement community changes, advance social justice and use research to inform and evaluate this work.

Counseling Psychologists
Counseling psychologists help people recognize their strengths and resources to cope with everyday problems and serious adversity. They do counseling/psychotherapy, teaching and scientific research with individuals of all ages, families and organizations (e.g., schools, hospitals, businesses). Counseling psychologists help people understand and take action on career and work problems, they pay attention to how problems and people differ across the lifespan, and they have great respect for the influence of differences among people (such as race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability status) on psychological well-being. They believe that behavior is affected by many things, including qualities of the individual (e.g., psychological, physical or spiritual factors) and factors in the person’s environment (e.g., family, society and cultural groups).

Development Psychologists study the development process that takes place throughout the lifespan. They will look  at human growth and development. Theories often focus on the development of cognitive abilities, morality, social functioning, identity, and other life areas.

Educational Psychologists work in schools, colleges or universites with students, teachers and parents to resolve students’ learning and behavioural problems. They are engaged in the delivery of comprehensive psychological services to children, adolescents and families in schools and other applied settings.

They assess and counsel students, consult with parents and school staff, and conduct behavioral interventions when appropriate. Most schools employ school counselors full time. Counselors hired by private universities and colleges help students to adjust to university life, study problems, advise on proper study habits, personal problems and maybe take care of the clubs and students’ activities.

Experimental or Research Psychologist investigate the sensory, cognitive, emotional and social aspects of human behaviour, and the behavioural processes of animals such as rats, and monkeys, usually in university research or private research centres.

Experimental psychologists are interested in a wide range of psychological phenomena, including cognitive processes, comparative psychology (cross-species comparisons), and learning and conditioning. They study both human and nonhuman animals with respect to their abilities to detect what is happening in a particular environment and to acquire and maintain responses to what is happening.

Experimental psychologists work with the empirical method (collecting data) and the manipulation of variables within the laboratory as a way of understanding certain phenomena and advancing scientific knowledge. In addition to working in academic settings, experimental psychologists work in places as diverse as manufacturing settings, zoos and engineering firms.

Forensic Psychology is an applied field focused on using psychological research and principles in the legal and criminal justice system. They can, for example, help a judge decide which parent should have custody of a child or evaluate a defendant’s mental competence to stand trial. Forensic psychologists also conduct research on jury behavior or eyewitness testimony. Some forensic psychologists are trained in both psychology and the law.

Health psychologists

Health psychologists specialize in how biological, psychological and social factors affect health and illness. They study how patients handle illness, why some people don’t follow medical advice and the most effective ways to control pain or change poor health habits. They also develop health care strategies that foster emotional and physical well-being.

Health psychologists team up with other health care professionals in independent practice and in hospitals to provide patients with complete health care. They educate health care professionals about psychological problems that arise from the pain and stress of illness and about symptoms that may seem to be physical in origin but actually have psychological causes. They also investigate issues that affect a large segment of society and develop and implement programs to deal with these problems. Examples include teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, risky sexual behaviors, smoking, lack of exercise and poor diet.

Industrial Psychologists apply their knowledge to improve productivity and the quality of work life. It is a field that uses psychological research to enhance work performance, select employee, improve product design, and enhance usability. Many serve as human resources specialists, helping organizations with staffing, training and employee development. They may provide employers with testing and other valid selection procedures in their hiring and promotion processes. 

Some psychologists design programs for recruiting, selecting, placing and training employees. They evaluate, monitor and improve performance. They help make changes in the way the organization is set up. Others help design the actual tasks, tools and environments people must deal with when doing their jobs. These specialists can also help design the products that organizations create and conduct research related to product design. For example, they play a big role in making computer hardware and software more user friendly.

“Industrial-organizational psychologists can help employers understand their organizations better and sort out restructuring so as to help boost worker productivity and retention rates in a wide range of businesses. Industrial-organizational psychologists will help companies deal with issues such as workplace diversity and anti-discrimination policies. Companies also will use psychologists’ expertise in survey design, analysis, and research to develop tools for marketing evaluation and statistical analysis.” The need for psychologists’ abilities in applied research settings and activities such as survey and market research will be particularly acute in the next decade. Others work as management consultants in such areas as strategic planning, quality management and coping with organizational change.

Rehabilitation psychologists

Rehabilitation psychologists work with stroke and accident victims, people with mental retardation and those with developmental disabilities caused by such conditions as cerebral palsy, epilepsy and autism. They help clients adapt to their situation and improve their lives, and they frequently work with other health care professionals. They deal with issues of personal adjustment, interpersonal relations, the work world and pain management.
Rehabilitation psychologists are also involved in public health programs to prevent disabilities, including those caused by violence and substance abuse. And they testify in court as expert witnesses about the causes and effects of a disability and a person’s rehabilitation needs.

Social psychologists

Social psychologists study how a person’s mental life and behavior are shaped by interactions with other people. They are interested in all aspects of interpersonal relationships, including both individual and group influences, and seek ways to improve such interactions. For example, their research helps us understand how people form attitudes toward others

Psychology graduates can work with private colleges and universities as education counselors to help students choose the right course

and, when these are harmful — as in the case of prejudice — provides insight into ways to change them.
Social psychologists are found in a variety of settings, from academic institutions (where they teach and conduct research), to advertising agencies (where they study consumer attitudes and preferences), to businesses and government agencies (where they help with a variety of problems in organization and management).

Sports Psychologists provide psychological assistance to sports competitors to enhance their performance and enjoyment. Sport psychologists help athletes refine their focus on competition goals, become more motivated, and learn to deal with the anxiety and fear of failure that often accompany competition.

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Best Psychology Programmes Offered at HELP University Subang 2 Campus

HELP University is the pioneer of psychology programmes in Malaysia and is acknowledged to be the best university for psychology in Malaysia. HELP University has about 1300 full time students making them one of the largest undergraduate schools in Asia. The Psychology Faculty at HELP University has over 60 staff with 37 academic staff specialising in various areas in psychology. Psychology students at HELP University can choose from over 200 organisations to perform their internships.

Students in Malaysia can choose from the following top Psychology undergraduate programmes offered at HELP University Subang 2 Campus

• Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) at HELP University

• Bachelor of Psychological Science (Flinders-HELP Joint Degree)
• Bachelor of Business Psychology (Hons) Degree at HELP University

Students interested to register for the psychology degree programmes should do so early as the hostel accommodation fills up quickly. Top deserving students may apply for scholarships to study at HELP University.

The Best Reasons to Study Psychology at HELP University Subang 2

HELP University is the pioneer of psychology programmes in Malaysia. HELP University is also acknowledged as the best university for psychology in Malaysia.

• One of the largest undergraduate psychology programs in Asia with over 1,100 full time students majoring in psychology
• A strong faculty consisting of over 41 staff members, with a team of 35 psychology academic staff who specialize in different areas of psychology and counselling
• A pioneer in psychology among private institutions in Malaysia
• 4 Masters programs in psychology for full time students and working adults

  

• A facilitative and interactive program that attracts top student achievers from all over Malaysia and around the world
• The first non-Australian University to attain the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accreditation for an undergraduate psychology program
• An all round educational experience that strikes a balance between theory and practice
• Guaranteed transfer arrangements with over 50 top universities in the US, Australia, UK and New Zealand
• Complete academic support services including online access to over 500,000 full text articles from over 370 psychology journals from around the world, including all major journals from the influential American Psychological Association (APA)
• Opportunities for practical training through internships with over 200 organizations

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Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) Programme at Taylor’s University in Malaysia

At Taylor’s University, our Psychology degree programme prepares students with the essential knowledge and skills in psychology. Co-taught by industry experts, the programme covers a wide range of subjects including biology, physiology, sociology and philosophy, preparing students for a wide range of career options.

Taylor’s University  3-yearBachelor of Psychology (Hons) degree programme prepares students with the essential knowledge and skills in psychology. Co-taught by industry experts, the programme covers a wide range of subjects including biology, physiology, sociology and philosophy, preparing students for a wide range of career options.

Students after SPM or O-Levels with at least 5 credits including the relevant subjects may enter the Foundation in Arts at Taylor’s University and then enter the psychology degree.

Taylor’s University is one of the best universities in Malaysia for you to study psychology. Taylor’s University is now ranked 49th in the world among young universities below 50 years old, and is the only Malaysian private university to be ranked within the coveted Top 50 Under 50 ranking by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) for the 2021 edition. Taylor’s University continues to break barriers as the institution is now ranked 89 in Asia according to the latest QS Asia University Rankings 2021 exercise. Rising 90 ranks since 2016, the University made positive strides in Academic Reputation, Employer Reputation, Internationalisation and Faculty – Student ratio.

Taylor’s University has achieved a new milestone by being recognised as Malaysia’s and Southeast Asia’s Top Private University according to the latest QS World University Rankings. The university has also been awarded QS 5 Stars for Online Learning achievement.

Leaping a total of 135 ranks, the university is now at a global rank of 379, placing us among the world’s top flight universities.

These achievements are not only a testament to the university’s commitment to providing quality education for students, but also acknowledges the strength and support of the community, from dedicated lecturers, researchers, and industry partners, to the trust given by students and their parents.

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UK Dual Award Psychology Degree Course at Asia Pacific University (APU)

Asia Pacific University (APU), a top private university in Malaysia famous for its technology courses has now launched the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology degree programme. Students will benefit from its technology focused curriculum and all rounded areas. In addition, APU’s Psychology programme is specifically designed to provide a solid understanding of psychology and its concepts in the contemporary environment for students to be able to articulate what they have learned as a human scientist. This three-year undergraduate programme will provide a clear apprehension of human mind, behaviors, and different types of personalities.

Award-winning Asia Pacific University (APU) offers the UK Dual Award Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology. Upon completion of the degree, students will receive a degree from APU and another from De Montfort University, UK.

What you will study in the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology Degree Course at Asia Pacific University (APU)

The Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology at Asia Pacific University (APU)  is specifically designed for students to:

• Describe systematic knowledge of influences on psychological functioning, conceptualisation across the core areas of the discipline, and how it interrelates.
• Apply problem-solving, critical, analytical and scientific research skills to resolve complex application and unpredictable issues in the areas of psychology.
• Perform a range of psychological and/or physiological measurements as demonstrated in the area of psychology.
• Display sensitiveness, and react appropriately to contextual and interpersonal factors in social groups and teams, including working co-operatively, and responsibly in making contributions to team objectives.
• Identify broad range of information, media and technology applications for psychological research.
• Demonstrate competence in problem-solving and scientific research skills including generating research questions or hypotheses, devise ways of testing these using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Demonstrating leadership in social settings, including communicating an understanding of the role of evidence when making critical judgements about psychological issues and arguments.

 

Outstanding Psychology with Management BSc (Hons) Degree Programme at Heriot-Watt University Malaysia

Psychologists employ a wide range of research skills such as observation, surveys and experiments. This Bachelor’s degree aims to introduce you to these scientific methods and the critical evaluations that go into answering important questions from a psychological perspective.

Heriot-Watt is a top ranked UK university and students will get the best of British Education at its campus in Putrajaya. Heriot-Watt University Malaysia psychology component of the programme (70%) covers the discipline’s main areas, namely social psychology, developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, biological psychology, individual differences and research methods, and emphasises their application to various employment-related contexts. The management component of the programme (30%) introduces a range of topics that are relevant to Psychology such as consumer behaviour, marketing, human resource management and project management. Heriot-Watt University Malaysia’s psychology graduates have a strong record of employment building careers in business, teaching, counselling, nursing, probation work and market research.

Students after SPM or O-Levels who are interested in this course can enter the Foundation in Business at Heriot-Watt University Malaysia before proceeding into the 3-year Psychology with Management BSc (Hons).