Top Private Universities in Malaysia to Study Psychology

Study Psychology at the Best University or College in Malaysia

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Psychology is a study of human behaviour, thoughts, feelings and the human mind. They apply their knowledge to help people function better. Psychology is concerned with all aspects of behaviour and with the thoughts, feelings and motivations underlying that behaviour. Psychology is a growing profession in Malaysia and graduates find work in various industries. Psychologists study everything about the human experience from the basic workings of the human brain to consciousness, memory, reasoning and language to personality and mental health.

Students after SPM, O-Levels, A-Levels, STPM or UEC who enjoy listening to people and helping them with their problems can consider a career in Psychology. In order to succeed in the career, students should choose the best university or college in Malaysia to study psychology.

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• Top Private Universities in Malaysia to Study Psychology
• Top Private Universities in Malaysia to Study Psychology
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Study Psychology at the Best Private Universities in Malaysia

Psychology is the scientific study of human mind and behaviour: how we think, feel, act and interact individually and in groups.  Psychology is both a science and a profession. As a science, psychology applies the scientific method to study psychological phenomena .Psychology studies human behaviour by observing, measuring and testing, then arriving at conclusions that are based in sound scientific methodology. A goal of psychology is not only to understand the processes that underly human thinking and behaviour, but apply that understanding to solve practical problems.

With advanced training in psychology, you can choose to work in scientific research, neuroscience, clinical practice, or as a consultant in large corporations, banks, hospitals or government agencies in Malaysia or overseas. Applied or practising psychologists use the knowledge gained from this research in a wide range of settings. Applied psychologists help people with all sorts of problems, working with them to bring about change for the better.

Top private universities & college in Malaysia for Psychology degree programmes are

1. HELP University
2. Taylor’s University
3. Asia Pacific University (APU)
4. Heriot-Watt University Malaysia

The Different Areas in Psychology to Study in Malaysia

A Psychologist may gather information about their clients by administrating personality, performance, aptitude and intelligence tests, counseling sessions and through controlled laboratory experiments. Psychology is an exciting field that encompasses a wide variety of 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. ). They work mostly in psychiatric clinics and hospitals, rehabilitation and community health centres, research centres, and private clinics.  Clinical Psychologists apply psychology to the understanding, assessment, diagnosis and treatment of psychological dysfunctions.
• 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.
• Cognitive Psychologists deal with memory, thinking and perception. They try to understand how people remember, make decisions and process information.
• Counselling Psychologists help people deal with their personal and relationship problems. They also assist people in dealing with adjustment and personal issues.
• Development Psychologists study the development process that takes place throughout the lifespan. It is the study of how people develop intellectually, morally, emotionally and socially. How people develop physically, socially and emotionally from infancy to late adulthood.
• Educational Psychologists work in schools with students, teachers and parents to resolve students’ learning and behavioural problems. They assist student’s in their choosing their career pathways through counseling, aptitude and guidance tests. It is about understanding how people learn to increase teaching effectiveness.
• Sports Psychologists provide psychological assistance to sports competitors to enhance their performance and enjoyment.
• Industrial or Organisational Psychologists apply their knowledge to improve productivity and the quality of work life. It is about helping organizations select, inspire, manage and empower their workers.
• Forensic Psychology is about applying psychology to legal issues and understanding people who commit crimes.
• Health Psychology is applying psychology to people’s health issues like substance abuse, accident prevention and stress management.

Forecasted Demand for Psychologists in Malaysia

Reasons why the demand for Psychologists will continue to rise at a rapid rate in Malaysia.

1. All developed countries have highly developed psychology industries. These include Western as well as Eastern countries like Singapore and Japan.
2. Malaysia is relying increasingly on a human resource based economy. Therefore there is a growing emphasis on understanding and maximizing the potential of our population.
3. The government through the Ministry of Education, Social Welfare and Health have all stated that psychologists and counselors will play an increasingly important role in nation building.
4. The number of corporate companies employing psychologists is increasing.
5. Estimated 1090 psychology graduates in Malaysia with the population of 24 million ¨C Ratio 1: 22000 ( Ideal ratio 1:500 )

Psychology Careers in Malaysia

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes- in simpler terms, understanding how people think, feel and behave.

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.

Professions in Malaysia which do not require Postgraduate Qualifications in Psychology

• Organisational management
  • Large multinational companies like General Electric (GE), Shell, PETRONAS, Citibank and HSBC have for years been recruiting psychology graduates for their organizations. Psychology graduates working in these companies typically enhance organizational effectiveness by applying psychological principles to issues like human motivation, performances management, work satisfaction, stress management, conflict resolution, talent management and talent requisition.

• Mentoring, Training and Development
  • Most of the more than 200 training companies in the Klang Valley specialize in soft-skill corporate development programmes, in areas like stress management, emotional intelligence (EQ), customer-service, change management, motivation and performance, conflict management and team building – in essence, to help people become more effective in their work.
  • Psychology graduates are well equipped for this particular industry with their expertise in human thought, feelings and behavior. This is a potentially lucrative field as some trainers can earn between RM1,500 to RM5,000 a day for training sessions.
  • To be successful in this industry, psychology graduates will need to develop their communication and facilitation skills. Top consulting firms like Accenture, Hewitt and McKinsey & Company are aggressively recruiting psychology graduates in Malaysia.
• Research and recruitment
  • With their expertise in conducting systematic research, psychology graduates also have the option of working in research companies and recruitment firms.
  • In market research companies, psychology graduates research different aspects of people’s attitudes or behavior which are of interest to companies trying to sell products. Researchers’ responsibilities include designing surveys, identifying samples, organizing data collection, analyzing and subsequently presenting the data in an easily understandable way.
  • In recruitment firms (which are sometimes known as headhunting companies), your clients will often be companies wanting to fill positions in their workforce. Your job may include running personality assessment tests to see if job applicants fit the company culture and interviewing shortlisted candidates.
• Social and Community Work
  • Psychology graduates who want to make a difference in the community need not look far for jobs. In the klang valley alone, there are more than 180 associations which work with various communities, including people with physical or mental disabilities, victims of abuse, recovering drug addicts, impoverished communities and children who have been separated from their parents. Psychology graduates will play the role of helpers as well as advocates and organizers.
• Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations (PR)
  • With their knowledge of how people think, psychology graduates are able to develop creative and effective marketing and advertising programmes. For the past 20 years, psychology graduates have been employed by leading advertising companies like Saatchi & Saatchi, Leo Burnett and Ogilvy & Mather.
  • Many psychology graduates also work in public relations, which include political operatives. In many parts of the world, psychologists work as speechwriters and campaign managers for politicians.

Professions in Malaysia that require Psychology Postgraduate Qualifications

• Clinical Psychology
  • Clinical psychology is a specialist field which involves helping people with mental health issues, which include depression, autism and post-dramatic stress disorder. Clinical psychologists work either in private practice, or in private or public hospitals. Many clinicians also develop community education programmes to help spread awareness of mental health issues.
  • The World Health Organizations (WHO) estimates that Malaysia requires more than 340 clinical psychologists, but currently has less than 70. There is a huge shortage of clinical psychologists in this country and as a result most of them are incredibly overworked, with waiting lists that span months.
• Organisational Psychology
  • Organisational psychologists work as consultants with organizations to improve work quality and productivity as well as worker satisfaction. They are licensed to design and administer psychological assessments in the workplace.
• School and Educational Psychology
  • School psychologists work within the education system to improve learning and make education effective and interesting for students. They also help students with learning disabilities like dyslexia.
• Health Psychology
  • Health psychologists are interested in improving people’s psychological interventions in areas like stress management, overcoming addictions and cultivating healthy eating habits. They often work for the government, though some work in consulting and private practice.
• Academic Work
  • The academic world may interest those who enjoy teaching and research and is a relatively stable profession which affords travel opportunities and new experiences.

Challenges in the field of Psychology in Malaysia

• 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.
• Working with people is also challenging as they are often mysterious, unpredictable and sometimes can stretch your patience and determination. It’s thus important to acquire good people skills and develop a genuine empathy for others. It’s difficult to understand and help people unless you learn to care about them.

Some Advice

Psychology is a wide field, with many areas to explore. Explore as many areas as possible during your undergraduate degree by spending time discussing issues with lecturers, attending seminars, conferences and workshops, and joining clubs and societies to help you discover more.

As Asia develops, there will be a need for more psychologists in many different fields. In the end, people are what matter most in this world. If you’re interested in understanding and empowering people, this is certainly the field for you.

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¡ªrecruits, supervises, trains, and evaluates volunteers.

Indication of Salaries for Undergraduate Degree Holders in Malaysia

Job	Typical Salary
Corporate / Business Sector	RM1800 – RM2200 and above
NGOs	RM1000 – RM1500

Careers for Psychology Postgraduate Holders in Malaysia

• Academic / Research
  Experimental Psychology, University or College Lecturer
• Description of Careers
• Experimental / Research Psychology
  Studies behavior processes through research in humans and animals
• University or College Lecturer
  Teaching undergraduate students and post graduates students
• Applied
  Counseling Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Child Psychology, Clinical psychology, Psychopharmacology, Abnormal Psychology

Description of Careers for Psychologists in Malaysia

• Forensic Psychologist
  Person who applies psychology to criminology and legal issues
• Child Psychology
  The study of the mental states and processes of children
• Clinical Psychologist
  Clinical psychologists assess and treat people with psychological problems.
• Psychopharmacologist
  The individual who deals with the psychological effects of drugs.
• Counseling Psychologist
  Counseling psychologists do many of the same things that clinical psychologists do. However, counseling psychologists tend to focus more on persons with adjustment problems, rather than on persons suffering from severe psychological disorders.
• Crisis Counseling
  Crisis counseling provides education, guidance and support. The focus is on single or recurrent problems that are overwhelming or traumatic.

Indication of Salaries for Postgraduate Degree holder in Malaysia

Job	Typical Salary
Applied	RM2,200 – RM3,000 and above
Corporate	RM2,200 – RM3,000 and above

General Aptitude Required for Careers in Psychology

• The most important quality of all is a desire and interest to understand and help people
• Secondary qualities (these can be developed during the course of study)
• Analytical and critical mind
• Motivation to work hard
• High level of emotional intelligence
• Maturity
• Ability to communicate well
• Problem-solving ability
• Tolerance for stress

What careers are available to Psychology graduates in Malaysia?

Psychologists provide mental health care in hospitals, clinics, schools, and in private consultation in Malaysia where their work cover a wide range of activities. Their clients include children, adults, couples, families and community organisations. Psychologists can also work in the business sector in human resource management, advertising, management, consultancy, media, marketing, public relations, or training. Social work and education are other options.

Psychology Graduates with postgraduate degrees can find work in Malaysia as:

• Clinical Psychologist
• Child Psychologist
• Counsellor
• Crisis Counsellor
• Educational Psychologist
• Forensic Psychologist
• Academic Lecturer & Researcher
• Industrial Psychologist
• Sports Psychologist
• Ergonomist

Psychology Graduates with bachelor’s degrees can find work in Malaysia as:

• Human Resource Management
• Management Executive
• Market Research Analyst
• Marketing Executive
• Advertising Consultant
• Conflict Resolution & Mediation Consultant
• Customer Relationship Management
• Public Relations Manager
• Political Strategist
• Life Coach
• Corporate Training and Consulting
• Social Worker
• Youth Worker
• Family Worker
• Newspaper Reporter
• Occupational Health Consultant
• Opinion Survey Researcher
• Academic Tutor
• Public Statistician
• Religious Worker
• Research Assistant