Psychology BSc(Hons)

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Course structure

Modules generally involve weekly lectures followed by seminars or practical sessions. These run alongside structured learning activities and independent study.

You will study all the major branches of psychology: developmental, cognitive, social and biological.

Year 1 introduces you to psychology and its key areas such as developmental, applied, wellbeing and society. You will learn the foundations of research, which you will later apply to your own research project.

Year 2 covers the BPS curriculum in more depth. You will also have the option to take a community placement, putting theory in to practice and making key contacts in the sector.

In your final year, you will conduct research on an area of personal interest for your empirical dissertation and you will be able to choose from a number of options informed by your future career ambitions.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up-to-date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you will be told about any new developments through Student View.

Year 1

In your first year, you will be introduced to various aspects of psychology.

Modules

• Psychology and Society

  This module will introduce you to the social history of psychology, and seeks to embed psychology within the social and historical contexts of its development, critically exploring how these contexts have shaped the aims, methods and outcomes of psychological theory and research.

  The module will introduce you to key issues, debates and approaches in psychology, as well as help you to develop essential skills for higher education study, including reflexive learning, critical analysis, team working and independent study.

• Introduction to Applied Psychology

  You will be introduced to the basic approaches and theories within psychology and consider issues of application in the field.

• Psychological Investigations – Foundations

  The module introduces you to quantitative and qualitative research skills and methods used in psychology. You'll develop expertise in study design, data collection and analysis, as well as critical thinking and communicating complex information.

• Psychology Investigations – Practical Applications

  Building on Psychology Investigation – Foundations, this module enables you to further develop your range of quantitative and qualitative research skills and methods used in psychology.

• Developmental Psychology

  The module will introduce you to key theories and topics in child development and lifespan development. You'll examine issues from infancy through middle-childhood to adulthood to explore how people develop through time. The module provides an historical, biological, social and cultural context for studying child development, and life-span development to help you frame the theoretical perspectives presented.

• The Psychology of Wellbeing

  This module will introduce you to the notion of psychological well-being and you'll consider research that highlights the social and psychological factors that can lead to happy and fulfilling lives. This domain is often associated with ‘positive psychology’ but in this module you will be developing a critical stance that goes beyond this perspective accommodating social, cultural, environmental and political determinants of wellbeing, life satisfaction and quality of life.

Year 2

You will build upon the skills and knowledge you have acquired in your first year. You can choose to take a community placement which runs throughout the year, giving you a sustained period of work with a community organisation to help increase your employability while you study. There’s also the opportunity for international study through our exchange programme.

Core modules

• Social Psychology and Individual Differences
• Brain, Behaviour and Cognition
• Psychological Investigations: Becoming an Independent Researcher

Options*

• Psychology of Forensic Security
• Psychology, Mental Health and Distress
• Community Engagement: Theory Into Practice (placement)
• Topics for Contemporary Debate
• Childhood, Psychology and Society

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Final year

In your final year of your psychology degree course you will complete a dissertation project that will reflect your particular interest in the subject. To help you produce the best dissertation possible, you will have additional access to the lab facilities and support from our technicians.

You will also choose option modules that will allow you to further specialise in the areas that interest you the most.

Modules

• Psychology Dissertation (the psychology dissertation must be taken and passed to be eligible for graduate basis of chartered membership of the BPS)

Options*

• Forensic Psychology
• Mood and Anxiety Disorders in Childhood
• Cyberpsychology 
• Ecopsychology and Ecotherapy
• Community Wellbeing and Social Justice
• Critical Addiction Studies 
• Developing a Therapeutic Relationship 
• Sexualities
• Psychology of Poverty

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Lab facilities

Mithras House is home to all our School of Humanities and Social Science courses. It has a series of ‘labs’, which may be used for teaching on your course or in your independent research work.

VR and eye tracking lab
This lab is used for psychological research, specifically:

• eye-tracking research – eye-tracking (using an eye-tracking nano bar and eye-tracking glasses) is used to study visual attentional patterns across areas including CCTV observation and analysis, marketing and advertising research, and police and offender perceptions

• virtual reality research – VR allows participants to immerse themselves in virtual environments, so that researchers can study typically impractical situations. Research areas include the effects of virtual interactions, phobias, wellbeing, mediation, and city architecture

• measuring physiological responses within participants in response to external stimuli – equipment includes an electroencephalography (EEG) headset and Electrodermal Activity (EDA) equipment.

Stats lab
A specialist workspace with computing equipment for statistical analysis and projects involving video and audio editing software. The lab is accessible as a study space to students on psychology courses. 

It is also available to students studying courses involving video and audio recording and editing, such as politics degrees and our creative writing programmes. The stats lab contains eight soundproof booths for recording or transcribing interviews undertaken as part of dissertation research. 

Life lab
A comfortable space with lounge furniture intended for qualitative research with larger groups. Due to its relaxed layout and naturalistic environment, the space is suited to research using focus groups, research using observation-based methods and child research.

The space is also used for teaching on some social science courses, as well as for dissertation research for projects.

City lab
A space designed for collaborative student learning. It is used by students and staff involved in the university’s Global Challenges programme, our collective mission to contribute towards tackling the pressing issues facing our world.

Design lab
A space housing our extensive collection of historic dress and textiles, which are used in some teaching on our History of Art and Design courses. It has the space and equipment to work on textile projects. Displays created by students on these programmes are on view in the social spaces of the building.

Placement

In your second year the Community Engagement option module offers the opportunity to engage with a local not-for-profit organisation and gain valuable hands-on experience. It is a great opportunity to develop your vocational skills and gain practical work experience while contributing to the wider community.

You will spend around 50 hours volunteering with an organisation, often working with vulnerable people, in sometimes challenging situations. This will be supported and underpinned by organisational training, tutor support and by in-class teaching covering theories of community engagement, organisational structure and culture, and reflective learning.

We will help you find a placement that is right for you from the range of local organisations who choose to work with our students.

Previous students have had placements with organisations including:

• CCHF All About Kids
• Centre for Ecotherapy
• Connect
• Samaritans
• MS Society
• Fresh Start
• Alzheimer's Society
• Sussex Prisoners’ Families
• Age UK
• YMCA
• MindOut
• Trust for Developing Communities
• Healthwatch Brighton & Hove.

During the placement you could be carrying out a piece of consultancy or gaining practical experience in a specific context relating to an area of possible future work.

Making an active contribution to the local community during your course will not only help you to better society but will also improve your knowledge and look great on your CV.

You'll learn from external speakers drawn from the wider community who visit to give guest lectures. You will also produce a portfolio where you will reflect on your experiences and learning, with reference to practice examples and reflective theory. It also includes CV design and building, working on applications and interviews, developing reflective learning skills and time management.

Meet the team

Course fees

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2024–25.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

• Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international undergraduate and postgraduate students
• Student finance and budgeting while studying
• About the university’s fees by checking our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

Campus where this course is taught

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