Psychology Course In Malaysia

1. What Is Psychology?

A Psychology Course teaches you to examine the relationships between brain function and behavior, between the environment and behavior, and applying scientific studies and understanding to illuminate our perspective of the world and people around us.

Why it matters?

• Our mind is the single most important asset and psychology helps us understand why we think a certain way, why humans have different behaviours and how we interact accordingly.

• Mental health awareness is generally well accepted and no longer a taboo. Psychology services help people who will benefit from professional consultations.

• Psychology is still an evolving field as human behaviour is constantly evolving due to changes in environment and culture. The result is that psychological science unveils new and better ways for people to exist and thrive in a complex world.

Here’s an informative history and introduction about Psychology:

2. Psychologist vs Psychiatrist

Both psychology and psychiatry are key parts of the mental health field. But while each area of study examines the human mind, their focus and real-world application is very different.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors, psychologists are not. Psychiatrists prescribe medication, psychologists can’t. Psychiatrists diagnose illness, manage treatment and provide a range of therapies for complex and serious mental illness. Psychologists focus on providing psychotherapy (talk therapy) to help patients.

Here’s a quick comparison of the differences:

PSYCHOLOGIST	PSYCHIATRIST
Education
Master or PhD in Psychology	Medical Degree with a specialization in Psychiatry
Focus Area
Mental health assessment, therapy, and behavioral interventions	Diagnosis, treatment, and medical management of mental illnesses
Can Prescribe Medication?
❌ No (except in some U.S. states with additional training)	✅ Yes, as they are medical doctors
Treatment Methods
Psychotherapy (CBT, psychoanalysis, etc.), counselling, behavioural therapy	Medication, therapy, and medical treatments like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Work Settings
Private practice, schools, hospitals, research, corporate settings	Hospitals, psychiatric institutions, private practice, research
Common Conditions Treated
Anxiety, depression, PTSD, relationship issues, behavioral disorders	Severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, and OCD

3. Where To Study Psychology Courses In Malaysia?

Here are 10 best universities to study Psychology courses in Malaysia.

• #1 HELP University
• #2 University of Reading
• #3 Monash University Malaysia
• #4 Taylor’s University
• #5 University of Cyberjaya (UoC)
• #6 UNITAR International University
• #7 University of Nottingham Malaysia
• #8 Curtin University (Malaysia)
• #9 Quest International University (QIU)
• #10 Disted College

10 Best Universities For Psychology Courses In Malaysia

4. Psychology Course Pathways & Entry Requirements

There are 2 pathways one can consider when studying a business course.

Pathway 1: SPM/O-Levels ➔ Pre-University/Foundation ➔ Psychology Degree

The more popular pathway for Psychology studies is to enter a Pre-University course (A-Level, SACE, STPM) or a Foundation course offered by the university of your choice.

As an SPM / O-Level leaver, the entry requirement is 5 credits including Mathematics and one Science subject to enter Pre-U or Foundation.

A Pre-University course or Foundation typically takes 1 to 2 years to complete and will qualify you to enter into a Degree in Business.

A Psychology Degree will take 3 years to complete. Here are the general requirements to enter with qualifications from popular pre-university courses or a foundation course:

Qualifications	General Requirements
A-Level	2D
AUSMAT/SACE	ATAR 65
CIMP	65%
STPM	2C
UEC	5B
Foundation	CGPA 2.00

Note: Actual minimum requirements will differ between different universities.

In total, this pathway generally takes 4 years to complete.

Pathway 2: SPM/O-Levels ➔ Diploma ➔ Psychology Degree

Most students will follow Pathway 1 as there are only a handful of institutions that offer a Diploma in Psychology.

Furthermore, the upward career mobility for a Diploma graduate in Psychology is quite limited unless you look outside the Psychology field. To become a certified Psychologist, you need to first obtain a Degree qualification.

As an SPM / O-Level leaver, the entry requirement is 3 credits including Mathematics and one Science subject to enter a Diploma in Psychology and takes 2 to 2.5 years to complete depending on the university offering.

If you are continuing from a Diploma qualification, you will study for another 2 years to complete the Degree course with a minimum entry requirement of CGPA 2.0 for your Diploma.

5. Accreditation For Psychology In Malaysia

How To Become A Qualified Psychologist In Malaysia?

To become a qualified psychologist, you need to obtain a Master’s qualification and choose your area of psychology specialisation such as clinical psychology, counselling, organisational psychology, educational psychology and so forth.

A clinical psychologist in particular is considered to be an allied health profession and therefore is governed by the Malaysian Allied Health Council under the Allied Health Profession Act 774. So once you have completed your Master’s course, you can register with the council and fulfill the required working experience duration.

For other types of psychology specialisations, there is no governing law that oversees the profession but you are eligible to register with these organisations:

• Malaysian Psychological Association (PSIMA)
• Malaysian Counselling Association (PERKAMA International)
• Malaysia Educational Psychology Society (MEPS)

It is common for many psychology graduates to spend a year or more acquiring work experience before embarking on postgraduate study.

6. What You Learn In A Psychology Course

You’ll learn various theories and tools to understand the human psyche in a Psychology Course. These are common subjects you will encounter in most university courses that you can do some research on before applying:

• Abnormal Psychology
• Biological Psychology
• Child Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology
• Cognitive Rehabilitation
• Counselling Theories and Techniques
• Criminal Psychology
• Cross-Cultural Psychology
• Cyberpsychology
• Developing Self and Society
• Developmental Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• Ethics and Professional Issues in Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Health Psychology
• History of Psychology
• Human Resource Management
• Industrial and Organisational Psychology
• Lifespan Development
• Mind, Brain and Development
• Neuropsychology
• Personality Theories
• Philosophical Issues in Psychology
• Positive Psychology
• Professional Development in Psychology
• Psychological Testing and Measurement
• Psychology and Mental Health
• Research Methods and Analysis
• Social Psychology
• Theories of Learning
• Workplace Psychology

7. Why Should I Study Psychology?

There are benefits beyond pursuing a career when you study a Psychology Course.

• Cultivate Higher Self-Awareness – Gain insights into your own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, leading to personal growth and better self-management.

• Wide Career Opportunities – There are many Psychology graduates who pursue other paths such as research, education, sales and marketing, business consulting, talent recruitment and human resources. Knowledge in Psychology gives an added advantage in dealing with people.

• Social Impact And Improving Lives – As a Clinical Psychologist, you have the responsibility and privilege to help patients going through tough times mentally and with the right tools and methodologies used, you can help improve their lives immensely.

RIASEC Compatibility To A Psychology Course

The John Holland Theory of Career Choice states that in choosing a career, people will choose one similar to their personality to ensure job satisfaction, job performance, and career success. The test generates 6 different personality types:

• Realistic (R)
• Investigative (I)
• Artistic (A)
• Social (S)
• Enterprising (E)
• Conventional (C)

With the RIASEC Test, the 6 personalities can generate up to 720 combination possibilities to provide career compatibility. You can try the test yourself here.

You should have these Top 3 traits ideally before jumping into a Psychology Course:

INVESTIGATIVE

• Individuals with investigative traits are analytical, curious, and enjoy solving complex problems. These characteristics are crucial for psychologists, who must conduct research, analyze data, and diagnose patients’ psychological symptoms and underlying issues.

SOCIAL

• The social personality type is compassionate, helpful, and drawn to teaching, counseling, or healthcare. Psychologists need strong interpersonal skills to connect with patients, provide therapy, and offer support.

ARTISTIC

• While it may not be immediately obvious, this trait facilitates innovative approaches to therapy and problem-solving, as well as the ability to communicate effectively and empathetically with patients.

8. Career Opportunities For Psychology

Psychology graduates can either choose to continue studying Master’s to become qualified Psychologists or consider some of these paths below:

Areas of Opportunity	Types of Roles
Clinical and Counselling Psychology	Clinical Psychologist, Counselling Psychologist, School Counsellor, Marriage and Family Therapist
Industrial-Organizational Psychology	HR Specialist, Organisational Consultant, Talent Development Manager, Talent Recruitment Specialist
Educational Psychology	Educational Psychologist, Academic Advisor, Learning and Development Specialist
Research and Academia	Psychology Researcher, University Professor, Data Analyst in Research
Forensic Psychology	Forensic Psychologist, Criminal Profiler
Health and Wellbeing	Health Psychologist, Rehabilitation Specialist, Addiction Counselor
Community and Social Services	Social Worker, Community Outreach Coordinator, Youth Worker
Specialised Fields	Sports Psychologist, Neuropsychologist, Child Psychologist
Corporate and Business Roles	Sales Specialist, Market Research Analyst, Brand & Marketing Manager, User Experience (UX) Researcher, Behavioral Analyst

Recommended Course Guides

Looking for other related courses? Here are various education and social science-related course guides you should check out:

• Education Course In Malaysia

• Early Childhood Education Course In Malaysia

If you’re still not sure what to study, we have many other Course Guides that will provide more guidance on the subject matter. Share with your friends!

We also took the liberty to compile all our University Guides and Course Fees Guides so you don’t have to go anywhere else!

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About the Author:

Ken Hoong is the co-founder of Uni Enrol and a contributing writer. Drawing on his close work with Uni Enrol’s counsellors, he brings keen insight into Malaysia’s evolving private higher education landscape and the shifting preferences of students in learning and career choices.