Biopsychology: Careers, Salary, Scope, Courses

Biopsychology, also called Biological Psychology, is when the study of principles of biology is applied to the study of mental behaviour. Simply put, it is the science of studying human behaviour in biological terms. So, rather than a psychological approach, a biological approach is followed to ascertain the processes of emotions, cognition, motivation, etc. If this is something that generates your interest, then this blog shall attract your attention; for it talks about the fields of biopsychology; the types of courses therein; top universities, career prospects and more. Continue reading to know more! 

What is Biopsychology? 

As mentioned, biopsychology deals with the analysis of the human body’s connection with the human mind. Topics such as genetics, the nervous system, hormones, etc, are explored in this field of study. It also comprises the understanding of the brain and its lobes which are the frontal lobe, occipital lobe, parietal lobe, and temporal lobe. Working around the same, the definition of biopsychology can be summed up as the analysis of the way the brain and/or neurotransmitters, along with other aspects of our biology, affect the functioning of our feelings and emotions and behaviours. 

Sub-Fields of Biopsychology

There are certain sub-fields of biopsychology that students can take on to study and indulge in. 

Subfields of Biopsychology

Neuropsychology Cognitive Neuroscience Behavioural Neuroscience Physiological Psychology Psychopharmacology Comparative Psychology

Also Read: Bachelor of Science in Human Behaviour

Types of Courses Offered

Biopsychology can be studied in various degrees and course types. But some of the most common ones are mentioned below. 

Level of Course	Duration	Degrees
Undergraduate	3 years	Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Psychology
Postgraduate	2 years	Master of Science (MSc) in Psychology; and  Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Psychology
Doctorate	2 years	Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology

Eligibility Criteria 

The courses have their set criteria at different levels. Taking it into larger consideration, we have mentioned the eligibility criteria below. 

Course Level	Eligibility Criteria
Undergraduate	The students should have completed their education at 10+2 level in a relevant science stream with a minimum aggregate of 55% from a recognised board.
Postgraduate	The students should have completed a valid undergraduate degree in BSc psychology as a major from a recognised university with a minimum aggregate of 55%.
Doctoral	The student should have completed their MSc in Psychology from a recognised university with a minimum aggregate of 60%.

Also Read: MSc Neuroscience 

Application Process 

The application process for biopsychology depends on the university and degree course you are applying for. For the same, follow the sectional steps below. 

1. Start with research. Work on deciding the course and university that meets your preferences and comes under your budget the most. 
2. Check all the details associated with the degree and the university, including the course fee, the duration, the eligibility criteria, particular specifications, the timeline of the application process, the deadlines, and more. 
3. Moving forward, cross-check whether the universities require entrance examination results or are only merit-based. In the case of India, there might be entrances that you have to clear to pursue applied psychology, while universities abroad could have their set criteria. 
4. Collect all the documents that are required for admission and get ready to fill out the application form. 
5. In the case of abroad universities, you also have to submit a statement of purpose/a motivation form; letters of recommendation; and English language proficiency scores. 
6. Finally, submit your application form and application fee to finalise your application process. 
7. Await results. 

Documents Required 

The basic documents required for applying for an applied psychology degree abroad are listed below. 

• Official academic transcripts
• Scanned copy of the passport
• CV/ Resume
• Letter of Recommendation
• English language proficiency test scores
• Statement of Purpose

Top Global Universities for Biopsychology

Biopsychology is a branch of psychology itself. Therefore, the universities mentioned below are the top-ranked universities in this field. 

Name of University	QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Psychology
Harvard University, USA	1
University of Oxford, UK	2
University of Cambridge, UK	3
Stanford University, USA	4
UCL, UK	5
Yale University, USA	6
Columbia University, USA	7
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, USA	8
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA	9
University of Amsterdam, Netherlands	10

Top Indian Universities for Biopsychology

In India, some of the best universities/colleges to pursue biopsychology are mentioned below. 

Name of College	Location
Sikkim University	Gangtok, Sikkim
Sarojini Naidu College for Women	West Bengal
Amity University	Bombay
University of Calicut	Kerala
University of Madras	Chennai

Subjects of Studying Biopsychology

To study biopsychology, there are some core and elective subjects. They are listed below for your reference. 

Core Subjects	Elective Subjects
Psychopathology Developmental Psychology Counselling Psychology Community Psychology Organisational Behaviour Statistics in Psychology Foundations of Human Behavior Human Resource Development	Health Psychology Cognitive Psychology Psychological Analysis Career Psychology Forensic Psychology Psychology of Late Adulthood Sports Psychology

Also Read: Best Psychology Books

Skills Required for Biopsychology

Every field requires a certain skill set for students to ace its study. Let’s learn some of the main skills required for biopsychology. 

1. Analytical Skills 
2. Interpersonal skills 
3. Communication skills 
4. Pragmatic skills 
5. Problem-solving skills 
6. Leadership skills 
7. Observation skills 
8. Research Skills 
9. Logical Skills 
10. Critical thinking skills 

Also Read: Psychology Scholarships

Career Prospects 

For students who have completed their education in studying biopsychology, there are many job profiles available for them upon graduation. Some of the prominent jobs in this field are mentioned below, along with their salaries. 

Jobs and Salary 

Listed below are the jobs and their respective salaries in this field of Biopsychology:

Job Profile	Salary
Neuropsychologist	INR 5 lakh
Neuroscientist	INR 15 lakh
Behavioural Neuroscientist	INR 11 lakh
Neurologist	INR 12 lakh
Neurorehabilitation manager	INR 22 lakh

Top Recruiting Areas

Some of the leading recruiting areas hiring biopsychologists are as follows.

1. Hospitals 
2. Clinics
3. Treatment Facilities 
4. Pharmaceutical corporations
5. Research labs 
6. Health organisations 
7. Research departments in research educational institutes

FAQs

Concluding this blog, we hope you were able to understand some of the better insights into Biopsychology. For more related information, stay tuned to Leverage Edu. And to apply to this field to study abroad, you can contact Leverage Edu experts and counsellors at 1800572000 to book a free consultation today!