Annual Salary
£44,000 to £94,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
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Psychiatrists are doctors who diagnose and treat patients with mental health problems.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; on a rota
There will be
3.8% more Psychiatrist jobs in 2027.
In this role you could:
You could work in an NHS or private hospital, in the community, in a prison or at a client's home.
Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.
You can get into this job through a university course or an apprenticeship.
To become a psychiatrist you'll need to complete:
A medical degree normally takes 5 years to complete. Some courses have the option to include an extra year if you want to study a subject further. This is called an intercalated year.
You might be able to study a foundation year before starting a medical degree. This will depend on your circumstances or if you have not studied enough sciences. Check with the admissions department where you want to study.
If you already have a degree, you could take a 4-year graduate entry route into medicine. There’s lots of competition and entry requirements vary, so check with the admissions department where you want to study.
Entry tests
When you apply for a course in medicine, you may be asked to take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT).
It tests the skills you'll need on the course, like critical thinking, problem solving, data analysis, communication and scientific knowledge.
Work experience
Medical schools will also expect you to have some relevant paid or voluntary work experience. The British Medical Association provides information on how to find a placement.
You'll usually need:
You might be able to do a doctor degree apprenticeship which will take around 5 years to complete.
The apprenticeship is recognised by the General Medical Council.
You could then progress to the foundation course of general training before completing the specialist training.
You can gain valuable caring skills from volunteering in education, health, charity or social care settings. You could:
You'll need to:
The General Medical Council has a guide on what it means to be a good doctor. You might find this useful when preparing for medical school interviews.
You can use online resources to find out more about the types of interviews you can expect to get into for medical school.
You could join the British Medical Association for professional development and training opportunities.
You can find out more about becoming a psychiatrist from the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Health Careers.
With experience you could:become a senior consultant, once you're on the General Medical Council Specialist Register; lead a team or manage a unit or department; move into teaching trainee doctors and other healthcare professionals
You can find out more about becoming a psychiatrist from the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Health Careers.
You'll need: