51Âþ»­

Undergraduate courses/Psychology courses/Psychology

Key facts

Entry requirements

112 or DMM

Full entry requirements

UCAS code

C800

Institution code

D26

Duration

3 yrs full-time

Three years full-time

Fees

2025/26 UK tuition fees:
£9,250

2024/25 international tuition:
£16,250

Additional costs

See all the key facts

Entry requirements

112 or DMM

Full entry requirements

UCAS code

C800

Institution code

D26

Duration

3 yrs full-time

Three years full-time

Fees

2025/26 UK tuition fees:
£9,250

2024/25 international tuition:
£16,250

Additional costs

See all the key facts

Studying a psychology degree will equip you with a range of skills that are transferable and desired by employers

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and how it shapes and influences our behaviour. On this course, we explore human behaviour using sound scientific methodology – observation, measurement, and testing – to understand how and why people function in the way they do.

You’ll study core areas including biological, cognitive, developmental and social psychology, and you’ll cover personality and intelligence, research methods, and historical perspectives. You’ll have the option to complete a work experience placement where you’ll see academic theory applied in practice. We offer excellent facilities including dedicated computer laboratories with the latest analysis software, individual research cubicles, interview rooms, and an observation suite, all supported by our psychology technicians.

Studying a psychology degree will equip you with a range of skills that are transferable and desired by employers including critical thinking, analysing data, communicating ideas (written, oral and visual), numerical reasoning skills, computer literacy, effective team work, project management, and being self-directed in meeting deadlines. These are the kinds of skills that make psychology graduates attractive for employers, and competitive in the job market.

Gaining a professionally accredited psychology degree is an essential first step to a career as a psychologist or to move on to postgraduate study. An accredited psychology degree allows you to access further training for specialist psychology careers such as clinical psychology, health psychology, educational psychology and forensic psychology.

Psychology graduates are valued across a range of fields and thrive in careers where an understanding of societal issues is key – in healthcare, criminal justice, education, social work, market research, social research, UX research, policy making, advertising and human resources. Graduates are also able to access graduate training schemes across various industries such as financial services, civil services etc.

Block teaching designed around you

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive and nurturing community. That’s why most students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You’ll benefit from regular assessments – rather than lots of exams at the end of the year – and a simple timetable that allows you to engage with your subject and enjoy other aspects of university life such as sports, societies, meeting friends and discovering your new city. By studying with the same peers and tutor for each block, you’ll build friendships and a sense of belonging. Read more about block teaching.

Our next Open Day is on
Saturday 16 November

Join us in 15 days and 4 hours.

Book now
Student ambassador waiting to welcome guests with a sign that reads here to help.

What you will study

In the first and second years, the focus is upon providing a good foundation in what the British Psychological Society (BPS) recognises as the core areas of Psychology.  All modules in the first and second years are compulsory.

Professional Skills for Psychologists

Focuses on important academic and professional skills to help you transition to higher education studies and beyond.

Core Areas and Research Methods 1

Provides a concise overview of the core paradigms in psychology, namely biological, cognitive and developmental psychology, while embedding quantitative research methods.

Applied Psychology

This module will introduce you to the main areas of applied psychology from UK, European and international perspectives.

Core Areas and Research Methods 2

Provides a concise overview of the core paradigms in psychology, namely social, personality and intelligence, and international perspectives, while embedding qualitative research methods.

Mind brain and Behaviour

Builds on the core areas of the BPS guidelines to give you in-depth coverage of topics in biological and cognitive psychology. Practical sessions will enable you to develop your knowledge of more advanced research designs and quantitative research skills.

Psychology and Mental Health

Explores how we define, classify and explain psychological problems.

Psychology Across the Lifespan

Applies the lifespan perspective to studying human development, emphasising the importance of all developmental stages and the interconnectivity between domains of change.

Psychology of Social Problems

Applies psychological theory and research to topics that cover current important debates and issues, directly informed by local, national and global priorities - such as 51Âþ»­’s commitment to decolonization and net zero, and the United Nations’ Sustainable Developmental Goals.

Personality and Social Psychology

Builds on the core areas of the BPS guidelines to give you in-depth coverage of topics in social psychology and personality and intelligence, supporting you in developing a research project on one of these topics.

In the final your you will have three mandatory modules and four optional modules to choose from.

Our extensive range of final year options allow you to tailor your study to specific career pathways. The range of modules available are subject to change and are dependent on student numbers enrolled and could be withdrawn without prior notice due to limited numbers.

Psychology Project

Gives you the opportunity to design and conduct an empirical study showing originality and expertise in methodological and data handling techniques.

Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology

This module will support you in learning to contrast perspectives within significant conceptual debates in psychology, which are placed within their historical context.

Employability Skills and Psychology

You will undertake a period of work experience and consider how psychological theory can be applied in a work environment.

Criminological and Forensic Psychology (Optional)

Explores approaches to defining and measuring crime and how psychological theories can be applied to criminal behaviour.

Counselling Psychology (Optional)

Introduces the basic principles of counselling psychology and practice.

Cognitive Neuropsychology (Optional)

Provides an overview of modern cognitive neuropsychological approaches to dysfunction following head injury and how theory is applied to case histories.

Work Psychology (Optional)

Supports you in gaining a broad knowledge base in work psychology.

Psychology of Health and Illness (Optional)

Build on prior knowledge of social, differential and developmental psychology and apply this to the area of chronic illness.

Wellbeing and Positive Psychology (Optional)

Introduces the scientific study of optimal human functioning within areas such as happiness, wellbeing, personal strengths, positive emotions, optimism, hope and flow.

Psychology of Eating Behaviours (Optional)

Develops an understanding of human appetite and eating behaviours from a variety of biological and psychological perspectives.

Psychology and Education (Optional)

Gives an overview of various aspects of psychology as applied to education.

Cyberpsychology (Optional)

Covers all aspects of human interaction with technology, with a focus on the impact of cyberspace and the Internet on individual and group behaviour.

Perception (Optional)

Provides an overview of vision research and develops skills to critically evaluate current vision science literature.

Clinical Psychology: Theory and Practice (Optional)

Introduces the theory and practice of clinical psychology.

Introduction to Data Science for Psychologist (Optional)

Introduces basic skills in computer programming and computational data processing, which are essential employability skills in data science and related fields.

Data Science with R (Optional)

Introduces basic skills in computer programming and computational data processing using R, which are essential employability skills in data science and related fields.

Human Sexual and Reproductive Behaviours (Optional)

Provides you with an evidence base to understand certain sexual and reproductive health choices and how to reduce the harms associated with any high-risk behaviours.

Loss, Grief and Bereavement: Cultural, Social, and Therapeutic Perspectives (Optional)

Enables you to develop understanding of loss, grief and bereavement from theoretical, cultural, social and therapeutic perspectives.

Psychology of Addiction (Optional)

Provides you an opportunity aims to critically explore addiction to licit and illicit substances and is theoretically grounded within a neuropsychosocial approach.

Psychology of Human Rights, Activism and Social Justice (Optional)

Provides you an opportunity to explore perspectives on local, regional, national and  transnational activism, and protest and resistance; together with related issues such as prejudice, discrimination and  stigma.

Psychology and Culture: Global Issues and International Perspectives (Optional)

Provides you with up-to-date knowledge about cross-cultural theories and models as they relate to the study of human behaviour to consider how and why behaviour differs across cultures.

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

Structure

Our block teaching approach has been designed to be inclusive in order to make learning and teaching accessible to all. It has been designed using the Universal Design for Learning principles, which means there is a lot of variety in teaching, learning and assessment.

Teaching will be in the form of Lectures, Seminars, Workshops, and Tutorials.

Lectures are primarily presentation-based. Some lectures may have only 10-20 students whereas others may have up to 100-300 students. Seminars and workshops typically involve more interactive or practical exercises and demonstrations and commonly have around 10-20 students. Tutorials may be one-to-one or to small groups. In addition to timetabled teaching you are expected to engage in approximately 20-25 hours of self-directed study, including library research, group work and report or essay writing.

Assessment combines various methods including:

  • Essays
  • Written exams
  • Multiple choice exams
  • Presentations
  • Critical reviews

We also utilise more innovative methods such as portfolios, podcasts, blogs, and grant applications. In your final year you will also complete an 6,000-8,000 word dissertation.

Contact hours

Contact hours in a typical week will depend on your year of study and the optional modules chosen. However, typically you will have between 7-12 contact hours of teaching per week. As an example, within the second year of your studies you might typically have:

Personal tutorial/small group teaching: approx. 1-2 hours of tutorials per block, and as per request

Medium group teaching: approx. 4-5 hours of practical classes, workshops or seminars each week

Large group teaching: approx. 3-5 hours of lectures each week

Personal study: approx. 20-25 hours each week

Accreditation

This course confers eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society, provided the minimum standard of a second-class honours is achieved. This is the first step towards becoming a chartered psychologist.

BPS accreditation logo

BPS accredited

This course is accredited by the ).

Our facilities

The creative industries require imaginative graduates who can develop new ideas and products. Students use our sophisticated and contemporary workshops, labs and studios to experiment and test in the same way they will in industry.

Psychology lab

Our psychology students have access to dedicated lab space in our Portland and Hawthorn buildings.

Psychology lab

Hawthorn Building

The Hawthorn Building is home to students and staff from Health and Life Sciences courses and disciplines.

Hawthorn Building

Psychology in the spotlight

Open Days at 51Âþ»­
Join us on-campus, find your new home at 51Âþ»­ at our Open Day 16 November
Book Now

What makes us special

Block Learning

Block learning

With block teaching, you’ll learn in a focused format, where you study one subject at a time instead of several at once. As a result, you will receive faster feedback through more regular assessment, have a more simplified timetable, and have a better study-life balance. That means more time to engage with your 51Âþ»­ community and other rewarding aspects of university life.

51Âþ»­-global

51Âþ»­ Global

Through 51Âþ»­ Global, we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.

Students on this course have undertaken 51Âþ»­ Global trips to places such as Paris, where they explored the history of mental health and neuropsychology, and New York, which provided opportunities to consider inequality and segregation in the city. Students have travelled to Berlin to help support and assist refugees.

Where we could take you

Psychology placements

Placements to make you work-ready

As part of this course you will have the opportunity to complete a self-sourced work experience placement, which helps you apply your knowledge of academic theory to practical applications. Students are encouraged to source opportunities in line with their own career ambitions from different schemes and providers both inside and outside of the university.

Our Careers Team can help you secure a placement through activities such as mock interviews and practice aptitude tests, and you will be assigned a personal tutor to support you throughout your placement.

graduates-throwing-hats

Your future career

Graduates from this course gain a range of transferable skills desired by employers including critical thinking, communication skills, project management and data analysis, Graduates have gone on to work in a variety of roles across a range of well-respected industries including police services, teaching, social work, human resources, healthcare, research, and advertising.

Psychology graduate Kemi Agboke is now working as an Assistant Psychologist, conducting psychological assessments to help diagnose people with autism, dyslexia and ADHD.

Her role also allows Kemi to conduct research and work on topics that interest her, such as dream analysis, as well as day-to-day admin work to make life easier for the consultancy’s psychologists.

Many of our graduates progress into further postgraduate study, including courses such as Health Psychology MSc and Psychological Well-being MSc.

Take your next steps

4 students hanging out on campus in front of some high quality graffiti

Find out how to apply

An open day visitor and a member of staff at an open day.

Open Days - Book your place

Course specifications

Course title

Psychology

Award

BSc (Hons)

UCAS code

C800

Institution code

D26

Study level

Undergraduate

Study mode

Full-time

Start date

September

Duration

Three years full-time

Fees

2024/25 UK tuition fees:
£9,250

2025/26 international tuition:
£16,250

Additional costs

Entry requirements

GCSEs

  • Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English and Maths

Plus one of the following:

A levels

  • A minimum of 112 points from at least two A levels

T Levels

  • Merit

BTEC

  • BTEC National Diploma - Distinction/Merit/Merit
  • BTEC Extended Diploma - Distinction/Merit/Merit

Alternative qualifications include:

  • Pass in the QAA accredited Access to HE overall 112 UCAS tariff with at least 30 L3 credits at Merit.
  • English GCSE required as separate qualification. Equivalency not accepted within the Access qualification. We will normally require students to have had a break from full-time education before undertaking the Access course.
  • International Baccalaureate: 30+ points

Interview and portfolio

Interview required: No

Portfolio required: No

Personal statement selection criteria

  • Clear communication skills, including good grammar and spelling
  • Information relevant to the course applied for
  • Interest in the course demonstrated with explanation and evidence

English language requirements

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.5 overall is essential.

English language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

Additional costs

The core textbooks for all modules are available in the Kimberlin Library, and journal articles in your reading lists are also mostly available electronically from your my51Âþ»­ login. Some students like to purchase their own text books or print course documents and we suggest allowing approximately £200 per year for this.

All students are required to pay for their DBS check if required for your programme or placement.

In addition students will be required to pay for their travel costs to placements or project locations.

All students are provided the opportunity to participate in #51Âþ»­global trips. These trips are subsidised by the University, and the cost and subsidy varies by location.

Learn more about fees and funding information