Psychology (with Placement Year)

Psychology is part of our everyday lives, from how we react to different environments through to the impact of social media on our wellbeing. Our single honours Psychology degree will give you a deeper understanding of the mind and why we behave the way we do. The focus will be on applying your knowledge in the real world.

You could soon be delving into key questions. How do we help someone who has mental health struggles? Why does nature often make us happier? What is the psychology behind social movements?

The course will cover a broad sweep of psychological disciplines, including clinical, developmental, health, cognitive and forensic psychology. It means you can discover your niche and then go on to specialise in this area. Ideal for shaping the in-depth research project you will complete in your final year.

Optional modules include doing a research assistantship, working on live research alongside one of our academic experts. You can also choose to undertake a placement year, where you will gain invaluable experience for future employment.

As a psychologist in training, you’ll receive lots of support and will become confident in analysing data and producing scientific reports.

The modules include contemporary issues, covering topics as diverse as conspiracy theories, cyber-bullying, and the psychology of leadership.

You’ll have access to our fantastic Science Centre facilities too, including cognitive research cubicles, psychophysiology equipment, simulation machines and observation suites.

The degree is accredited by the BPS (British Psychological Society), which means you can undertake postgraduate training to become a professional psychologist in a specialist field. But the transferable skills you learn could also lead to lots of other career opportunities.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: BSc (Hons) Psychology

Year One Core: Adventures in Psychology 1; Adventures in Psychology 2; Becoming a Researcher 1: Quantitative Methods; Becoming a Researcher 2: Qualitative Methods; Growing and Changing; Pathways in Psychology
Year Two Core: Developmental and Biological Psychology across the Lifespan; Exploring Difference: A Quantitative Approach; Psychology of Crime and Serious Offending; Theory and Application of Qualitative Research Methods; Contemporary issues in Psychology
Year Two Optional: People Behaving Badly: The Psychology of Social Issues; Psychological Interventions; Psychology of Social Perception; Psychology Research Assistantship
Year Three: Placement
Year Four Core: Applying Psychology in the Contemporary World; Personalised Psychology Portfolio; Psychology Project; Society and The Mind
Year Four Optional: Advanced Quantitative Research Methods; Behavioural Medicine; Children and Pictures; Health Psychology; Neuropsychological Disorders; Parapsychology and Anomalous Experiences; Psychology of Oppression and Empowerment

Your course will provide you with opportunities to test your understanding of your subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module normally includes practice or ‘formative’ assessments, for which you receive feedback from your tutor. Practice assessments are developmental and any grades you receive for them do not count towards your module mark. There is a formal or ‘summative’ assessment at the end of each module. This includes a range of coursework assessments, such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations, final year, independent project and written examinations. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.