Psychology

Our BSc(Hons) Psychology degree course allows you to understand and analyse human behaviour, thought and emotions, from many different psychological perspectives. The course focuses upon the major issues and methods of enquiry in current psychology and considers the applications of psychology to problems of modern life in work, education, physical and mental health, and crime.

The course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist. You also have the opportunity to gain Graduate Basis for Chartered (GBC) Membership, which is considered as the starting point to your career in psychology obtaining GBC.

You will have the opportunity to enhance your employability through volunteering opportunities and research placements, as well as through the courses focus on analysing human behaviour from many psychological perspectives.

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical or laboratory workshops, computer assisted learning, independent and group work.

The course provides you with useful experience, especially if you are intending to work in a range of career areas both inside and outside of psychology, such as educational psychology, clinical psychology, teaching and research. Our graduates are employed in education, the health service, the police force, human resources management, marketing, the civil service, broadcasting, social work and many other professions. Upon completion of this course, you can continue your studies in Psychology at postgraduate level and then obtain ‘chartered’ status as a counselling, clinical, educational, occupational, health or forensic psychologist.

By studying at the University of Northampton, you can be sure that:

• You will experience student life at the University’s £330 million Waterside Campus. Come along to an Open Day and find out more.

• At UON we guarantee a room in our Halls of Residence for all new full-time, first year students who apply and accept their room offer by June 2025 - and we won't ask for a deposit for September 2025*.

• Students enrolling on this course at Northampton will be provided with their own brand new laptop** to keep at no additional cost. All sports clubs and societies are free to join at Northampton and every essential course text book is available via the library, meaning you won’t have to purchase copies. For more information on this visit our website (northampton.ac.uk/benefits).

• Our expert academics teach in small groups supported with one to one assistance. Our academics and students form a tight bond, providing individualised support and guidance whilst challenging students academically.

• Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd.

The Northampton Employment Promise

• In fact, we’re so confident in our careers and employability support that if you achieve at least a 2:2 degree and complete either our Employability Plus Gold programme or achieve a Changemaker Gold Certificate during your time studying with us, but still haven’t secured full-time employment 12 months after graduating, we will secure a three – six month paid internship for you or support you into postgraduate study.

✱ eligibility criteria apply. See northampton.ac.uk/student-life/accommodation/ for more information
✱✱ eligibility criteria and terms and conditions apply. See northampton.ac.uk/benefits for more information

STAGE 1
• Psychology in Practice (compulsory)
• Introduction to Psychology (compulsory)
• Investigating Psychology (compulsory)
• Becoming a Psychologist (compulsory)
• Positive Psychology (compulsory)
• Psychology for Life (compulsory)

STAGE 2
• Independent Practical Work (Compulsory)
• Research Methods and Statistics (Compulsory)
• The Human Animal (Designated)
• The Psychology of Well Being (Designated)
• The Psychology of Learning and Teaching in Educational Settings (Designated)
• Biological and Cognitive Psychology: Mechanisms of the mind (Compulsory)
• Development and Society (Compulsory)
• Personality & the Fundamentals of Psychology (Compulsory)

Optional Placement Year
• The FHES Placement Year Experience (designated)
Students must have successfully completed 100 credits at Level 5 in order to undertake placement.

STAGE 3
• Psychology Dissertation (designated)
• Psychology Library Based Dissertation (designated)
• The Psychology of Mental Health (designated)
• Parapsychology and Anomalous Experiences (designated)
• The Psychology of Health (designated)
• Forensic Psychology (designated)
• Applying Positive Psychology (designated)
• Educational Psychology (designated)
• Understanding the Social World (designated)
• Psychology of Spirituality, Religion and Wellbeing (designated)
• Neuroscience of Mind (designated)
• Lifespan Development (designated)
• The Psychology of Work and Organisations (designated)

*Module information is quoted for 2024/25 entry. Please note that modules run subject to student numbers and staff availability, any changes will be communicated to applicants accordingly.

A variety of assessment strategies are used at each level to ascertain your level of competence in a range of academic and transferable skills. These strategies include essays, practical reports, multiple-choice tests, oral presentations, time-constrained essays, seen and unseen examinations, critical reviews, group project work, patchwork blogs, audio-visual presentations, and reflective reports, for example.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• British Psychological Society