If you’re reading this, chances are you’re interested in psychology, research, academia, teaching, higher education, or maybe you’re just trying to figure out what your future in this field could look like.

One thing I realized very early on is that academia is incredibly gatekept. Students are mostly just expected to “figure things out” on their own without anyone properly explaining:

• how the academic route actually works

• what research looks like in real life

• what different positions mean

• how long everything takes

• how people get opportunities

• what skills actually matter

So I curated this blog to simplify things a little. This is not the only path in psychology. But if you’re interested in academia, research, teaching, or higher education, this roadmap will help you understand the system better. Let’s begin.

Academia, Ungatekept

- By Sasha

Stage 1: Undergraduate (BA/ BSc)

An undergrad is the foundational base stage and is of 3 to 4 years. This is where you learn the basic psychology theories, get an introduction to statistics and research methodology, understand the different branches of psychology and the basics of psychological testing.

What you SHOULD focus on during this stage:

• Build strong conceptual understanding

• Learn statistics early

• Start reading research papers

• Explore internships, not only clinical but also academic

• Learn APA formatting

• Learn how research actually works

Common Mistake: Thinking psychology is ONLY therapy.
Psychology is also:

• research and academia

• behavioral science

• UX research

• data analysis

• psychometrics

• neuroscience

• organizational psychology and MUCH more

Most students wait too long before learning statistics and research skills properly. The earlier you become comfortable with them,

the easier psychology becomes later.

Stage 2: Postgraduate (MA/ MSc)

This is where psychology becomes more specialized and academically intense. Depending on your specialization, you may focus on any of the following: clinical psychology, counseling psychology, cognitive psychology, social psychology, developmental psychology, industrial psychology, research psychology etc. A master's is where you conduct research, write a research, learn advanced stats, present papers and attend conferences, use software like SPSS, R, or Jamovi, and begin networking academically.

Skills that matter here:

• research and literature review writing

• academic reading

• statistics

• presentation skills

• critical thinking

Imposter syndrome becomes VERY common during postgrad.
Most students feel lost at some point.
That does not mean you are incapable.

Stage 3: UGC NET/JRF

The UGC-NET (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test) is a single exam that has three qualifying cut offs. Depending on your score, it decides your eligibility for enrolling in a PhD program, applying for assistant professor positions, and eligibility to get JRF(Junior Research Fellowship).

1. The lowest cut off is for PhD only. In 2025, the cutoff for PhD only for the unreserved category stood at 182 marks (out of 300). Many universities have their own exam as an entrance test for a PhD. A candidate can either attempt the university's private exam, or submit their NET score to directly get an interview (Example, Ashoka University).

2. Qualifying the NET also makes one eligible for Assistant Professorship. This essentially means you meet the academic eligibility criteria required for teaching positions in universities and colleges. While a PhD has increasingly become important and often expected in academia today, NET still remains a significant academic milestone and is considered an important credential in higher education spaces. In 2025, the cutoff for AP in UGC-NET stood at 206 marks.

3. JRF, or Junior Research Fellowship, is generally considered the more competitive qualification because it comes with research funding support. Students who qualify for JRF usually receive a monthly stipend that financially supports their research journey, especially during their PhD. For many aspiring researchers, this becomes incredibly valuable because it allows them to focus more seriously on research work, publications, conferences, and academic training without immediately worrying about financial instability. In 2025, the cutoff for JRF was 234 marks.

Later during the research journey, many scholars may transition into SRF (Senior Research Fellowship), which usually happens during advanced stages of research progression and continued funded work (post year 2 or 3 of PhD). In simple terms, you can think of JRF and SRF as stages within funded academic research training.

Currently, JRF provides a monthly stipend of ₹37,000 INR and SRF provides ₹42,000 INR monthly, plus 10,000 INR housing allowance.

One important thing students often misunderstand is that NET/JRF is not just “another exam.” It is deeply tied to the structure of Indian academia itself. It can influence:

• eligibility for faculty positions

• access to funded research opportunities

• competitiveness for PhD admissions

• academic credibility within research spaces

• long-term academic career progression

At the same time, it is also important to remember that not qualifying immediately does NOT mean someone is unintelligent or incapable of succeeding in academia. Many excellent researchers and academicians take multiple attempts, switch paths, pursue research through alternative routes, or build strong academic careers outside the conventional timeline. Academia is rarely linear, even though people often present it that way online.

One insider tip that students rarely hear enough is this: trying to blindly memorize everything usually backfires. The students who tend to perform better are often the ones who focus on understanding concepts deeply, practicing previous year papers consistently, and building long-term familiarity with the subject rather than cramming information at the last minute.

Stage 4: PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)

A PhD can range between 3 to 7 years. Contrary to the raging stereotype, it is NOT 'more studying'. A PhD trains you to become an independent researcher. You’ll usually:

• conduct original research

• publish papers

• attend conferences

• teach students (undergrads) as a graduate assistant

• work in labs as a research assistant

• write extensively

• specialize deeply in one topic and complete your thesis

Your PhD topic becomes a huge part of your academic identity.
Choose something you genuinely care about.

Skills That Matter:

• research methodology

• statistics

• academic writing

• resilience

• communication

• critical thinking

• literature review skills

A huge part of a PhD is learning how to tolerate uncertainty. Research rarely goes perfectly.
That’s normal.

Reality Check: Academia can look glamorous online.
In reality, PhDs often involve:

• failed analyses

• rejected papers

• long hours

• revisions

• confusion

• burnout

• persistence

And everyone struggles more than they admit.

Stage 5: Guest Faculty/ Post Doc

A postdoc is essentially a paid research job and an advanced research position pursued after completing a PhD. This stage is heavily research-focused and helps scholars strengthen their academic profile, publish more papers, build collaborations, and specialize further in a particular area of interest. Many researchers also use this phase to gain international exposure, work in labs, and prepare for long-term faculty positions.

Many early-career academicians begin teaching through guest faculty or visiting faculty positions. These are often temporary or contract-based teaching roles in colleges and universities that help researchers gain classroom experience and enter academic spaces professionally. This stage often helps build:

• teaching experience

• university exposure

• academic confidence

• professional networking

Stage 6: Assistant Professor

An Assistant Professor position is often one of the first major long-term academic roles in a university setting. At this stage, academics are expected to balance both teaching and research simultaneously. Contrary to popular belief, the role is not only about teaching classes. Research output, publications, conference participation, mentoring students, and academic contributions all become extremely important parts of the job.

Assistant Professors often:

• teach undergraduate/postgraduate courses

• supervise student projects and dissertations

• conduct and publish research

• attend conferences

• apply for grants and academic funding

• contribute to departmental work

In India, starting salaries for Assistant Professors can vary significantly depending on institution type (govt. or pvt.), university reputation, location, research profile, and experience. Very roughly, salaries may range from ₹50,000/month to ₹1.5 lakh+/month
(and sometimes higher in certain institutions or international/private settings).

Many academicians spend around 8–12 years in this stage before progressing to Associate Professor, although this timeline varies heavily depending on publications, teaching experience, institutional requirements, grants, networking, and overall research contribution. Academic progression is rarely based on time alone.

A strong publication record and academic networking matter far more than most students initially realize. In academia, visibility, collaborations, mentorships, and consistent research output genuinely shape long-term opportunities.

Stage 7: Associate Professor

The role of an Associate Professor is usually reached after several years of experience as an Assistant Professor along with strong academic and research contributions. By this stage, academicians are often expected to have an established research profile, consistent publications, teaching experience, and active involvement within the academic community.

Associate Professors often:

• teach advanced undergraduate/postgraduate courses

• supervise dissertations and research scholars

• lead research projects

• publish research extensively

• mentor junior faculty and students

• contribute to curriculum and departmental development

This stage usually reflects years of:

• research output

• publications

• conference participation

• teaching experience

• academic networking

• institutional contribution

Very roughly, salaries may range from ₹1 lakh/month to ₹2 lakh+/month (and potentially higher in senior private or international institutions). This salary range is flexible and depends on a multitude of factors like location, institution type (govt or pvt), experience etc.

Progression to this stage is usually not based only on years of experience. Many universities evaluate faculty through systems like API/CAS scores, publication records, research impact, grants, and overall academic contribution. In many cases, academicians may spend several years building publications, supervising research, and strengthening their academic profile before promotion.

Stage 8: Professor

Professor is one of the highest academic positions within a university system and usually reflects years, and often decades, of contribution to research, teaching, mentorship, and academia as a whole. By this stage, academicians are often recognized not only for teaching, but for their influence within their field of specialization.

Professors often:

• lead departments, labs, or research centers

• supervise PhD scholars and research teams

• publish extensively

• guide major research projects and grants

• mentor junior faculty and students

• contribute to policy, curriculum, and institutional development

• represent the university at conferences and academic forums

In India, salaries for Professors , salaries may start from several lakhs per month especially in senior leadership positions, reputed private universities, international academia, or consulting/research-intensive roles.

Reaching this stage usually requires years of:

• research publications

• teaching experience

• API score

• conference contributions

• funded projects/grants

• academic leadership

• institutional and research impact

You are not “behind.”
Most students are trying to navigate systems they were never properly taught to understand. Take things one step at a time. Build skills gradually. Stay curious. Ask questions.
And remember that uncertainty is part of the process.

About the Author

Sasha is the founder of StatPsyched. She deeply cares about making the field of academia more accessible for students worldwide. Read more about her here. If academia feels confusing, book a session with her and get the help you need!