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Why choose the School of Psychology


This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Elements of the course, including assessment, have been developed working with psychology-related professionals from organisations such as the NHS; disaster recovery services; and digital application development.

Take this course with a fee-free placement year where you gain valuable experience in the field.

About the course

This course provides you with the experience, knowledge and skills to follow a wide range of careers where you can make a real difference to people’s lives. You explore the core areas of psychology, learning how it applies to everyday life, then choose from optional units in areas such as atypical child development; health psychology; counselling; criminal behaviour; and mental health. You also have the opportunity to gain workplace experience or to take a placement year.

Course accreditation

This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). Graduating from a BPS-accredited degree with a 2nd-class Honours or above makes you eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the Society. It also enables you to enrol for Stage 1 postgraduate training. 

Facilities and specialist equipment

You have access to specialist, industry-standard psychology laboratories and computing environments including:  
  • Cognitive neuropsychology lab  
  • Virtual reality lab 
  • Research cubicles  
  • Driving simulator 
  • Eyetrackers 
  • Physiological data-acquisition system   
  • EEG  
  • Podcasting equipment 
  • Data-analysis software 
  • Experiment and survey-building software 

Industry links

Elements of the course, including assessment, have been developed working with psychology-related professionals from organisations such as the NHS; disaster recovery services; and digital application development. This ensures our teaching and your learning aligns with employer requirements.

Student experience

Benefit from friendly, approachable staff, small class sizes and easy access to academic support
Get to know your peers and academics well by taking part in the School’s many social events, which run throughout the academic year. 
Experience a wide variety of teaching methods including workshops; problem solving; virtual reality simulations; computer-based activities; and guided learning. 
Complete assessments designed to be authentic, reflecting workplace practice; you can choose how you present your work – for example, as a podcast, presentation or webpage.   
Take up field-trip opportunities including visits to relevant charities working with head injuries, pregnancy loss, neurodiversity and gendered violence. 
Develop your professional research skills working on cutting-edge research projects with our academic staff through our Research Assistant Scheme. 
Our research addresses real-life, day-to-day issues including reading development; cognitive function in long COVID; and prevention of gender-based violence. 
Present your supervised research to your peers and psychology professionals as part of our annual Student Research Conference
 
Hear from a variety of guest speakers who share their experience and expertise at special events and masterclasses run by the School of Psychology. 

Psychology Subject Spotlight

Take a look at our subject spotlight on Psychology! Dr. Joseph Adonu explores if love at first sight actually exists!

Watch all episodes to find out

with Professional Practice Year

This course has the option to be taken over four years which includes a year placement in industry. Undertaking a year in industry has many benefits. You gain practical experience and build your CV, as well as being a great opportunity to sample a profession and network with potential future employers.

There is no tuition fee for the placement year enabling you to gain an extra year of experience for free.

*Only available to UK/EU students.

with Foundation Year

A Degree with a Foundation Year gives you guaranteed entry to an Undergraduate course.

Whether you’re returning to learning and require additional help and support to up-skill, or if you didn’t quite meet the grades to pursue an Undergraduate course, our Degrees with Foundation Year provide a fantastic entry route for you to work towards a degree level qualification.

With our guidance and support you’ll get up to speed within one year, and will be ready to seamlessly progress on to undergraduate study at Bedfordshire.

The Foundation Year provides an opportunity to build up your academic writing skills and numeracy, and will also cover a range of subject specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree.

This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will need to successfully complete the Foundation Year to progress on to the first year of your bachelor’s degree.

Why study a degree with a Foundation Year?

  • Broad-based yet enough depth to give you credible vocational skills
  • Coverage of a variety of areas typically delivered by an expert in this area
  • Gain an understanding of a subject before choosing which route you wish to specialise in
  • Great introduction to further study, and guaranteed progression on to one of our Undergraduate degrees

The degrees offering a Foundation Year provide excellent preparation for your future studies.

During your Foundation Year you will get the opportunity to talk to tutors about your degree study and future career aspirations, and receive guidance on the most appropriate Undergraduate course to help you achieve this; providing you meet the entry requirements and pass the Foundation Year.

 

Course Leader - Dr William Brown

As a Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and Killam Scholar, I completed my PhD at Dalhousie University in Canada.

In 2003 I received a NSERC postdoctoral fellowship to study genomic imprinting in the USA. In 2006 I founded the Centre for Culture and Evolutionary Psychology at Brunel University teaching evolutionary biology and research methods.

I have been at the University of Bedfordshire since 2011 and was appointed Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology in 2015.

Course Leader - Dr William Brown

As a Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and Killam Scholar, I completed my PhD at Dalhousie University in Canada.

In 2003 I received a NSERC postdoctoral fellowship to study genomic imprinting in the USA. In 2006 I founded the Centre for Culture and Evolutionary Psychology at Brunel University teaching evolutionary biology and research methods.

I have been at the University of Bedfordshire since 2011 and was appointed Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology in 2015.

What will you study?


Studying our Psychology BSc course will equip you with the knowledge and expertise in cognitive, social, developmental, biological and individual difference psychology that you can use to make a real difference in people’s lives. In core areas of study, you will build your understanding of the Foundations to Psychology that include the history and concepts surrounding cognitive and biological psychology. As a fundamental element to the study of psychology, you will also be given an Introduction to Psychological Research Methods and Data Analysis that will equip you with the skills to design, conduct, analyse and write an ethically sound research project. You will build on this further in our Methods of Research in Psychology unit that will expand on your knowledge of research methods to be able to assess personalities and develop methods of psychological assessment. Moreover, you will develop your knowledge of contemporary topics and theory in psychology in the context of everyday behaviours in our Psychology in Everyday Life unit.  

In areas of social psychology, you will explore key topics to understand how people change and develop biologically, cognitively and socially across their lifespan while considering cultural and social factors in our Social Processes and Lifespan Development unit. To build on your foundations, you will explore the various applied areas of psychology including health, clinical, counselling, educational and forensic psychology in our Psychology in Context unit. By combining areas of Biological and Cognitive Psychology, you will examine the human thought process, perception, language, memory and learning from both perspectives. You will also be able to explore the cultural effects on human psychology in our Culture and Individual Differences unit to understand the contemporary applications of psychological diversity and the links between cultural norms and behaviour. We also offer a range of optional units on this course. With a particular focus on children and young people, you can study the causes and treatment associated with exceptional children in our Atypical Child and Adolescent Development: Theories and Applications unit.  

Aside from this, you may also choose to explore the history of the science behind Cognitive Neuropsychology to understand memory and amnesia; or study concepts of Critical Social Psychology and consider how this can be applied to behaviours such as aggression and violence. If you are interested in practicing counselling, you can explore the concepts of counselling, psychotherapy, coaching and psychological therapies in our Introduction to Counselling unit. You may also learn to apply core coaching skills in psychology in our Coaching Psychology unit; or discover the applications of biological and social psychology in areas of health and disease in our Applied Health Psychology unit. More interestingly, you may choose to deepen your understanding of criminal behaviour in our Psychology and Criminal Behaviour unit that covers a range of compelling issues, theories and research in criminal and forensic psychology. If you are interested in areas of mental health, our Psychology of Mental Health unit will allow you to examine the clinical symptoms of the most common psychological disorders.  

In more specific areas, you can develop an understanding of Problem Solving behaviours in humans. You may also choose to explore how psychology contributes to the performance and wellbeing of organisations and employees in the workplace in our Occupational and Organisational Psychology unit. Finally, you will complete a Psychology Research Project that will allow you to explore a particular topic of interest to you that is relevant to your field of study while also demonstrating the knowledge and skills you have acquired throughout the course. To prepare you for your career, you will have the opportunity to undertake a Placement Year (Psychology) to develop your employability skills and gain relevant work experience. 

How will you be assessed?


Throughout your degree you will encounter a wide variety of types of assessment collectively designed to suit the variety of individual learning styles. The assessments include formative and summative assessments to provide feedback to help with your own development and to inform your completion of future assessments.

Careers


This degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society allowing you to follow a broad range of professional career paths in areas including clinical; educational; forensic; occupational; health; business and HR; research; training; and teaching.

In addition psychology graduates frequently go on to work in higher education as lecturers or to conduct research for a PhD.

Graduate Ellie-Jayne Myers says "Following my graduation from the University of Bedfordshire I was offered the position of Research Assistant with the NCCR on a two year project. In this role, I worked alongside Police in a project looking at the management and risk assessment of cyberstalking and harassment. The skills I learned through my time at the University were fundamental in obtaining this position."

Entry Requirements

112 UCAS tariff points including 96 from at least 3 A-levels or equivalentGCSE grade 4/Functional Skills Level 2 Maths

Entry Requirements

48 UCAS tariff points including 32 from at least 1 A-level or equivalent GCSE grade 4/Functional Skills Level 2 Maths.

Entry Requirements

112 UCAS tariff points including 96 from at least 3 A-levels or equivalentGCSE grade 4/Functional Skills Level 2 Maths

Fees for this course

UK 2024/25

The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance

Merit Scholarship

We offer a Merit Scholarship to UK students, worth £2,400* over three academic years, which is awarded to those who can demonstrate a high level of academic achievement, through scoring 120 UCAS tariff points or more.

Bedfordshire Bursary

If you aren’t eligible for the Merit Scholarship, this Bursary is there to help UK students with aspects of student living such as course costs. The Bursary will give you £1,000* over three academic years, or £1,300* if you are taking your course over four academic years (including those with a Foundation Year).

Full terms and conditions can be found here.

Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding please email admission@beds.ac.uk

International

The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2024/25 is £15,500 per year.

There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.

A full list of scholarships can be found here.

Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk

Fees for this course

UK 2024/25

The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance

Merit Scholarship

We offer a Merit Scholarship to UK students, worth £2,400* over three academic years, which is awarded to those who can demonstrate a high level of academic achievement, through scoring 120 UCAS tariff points or more.

Bedfordshire Bursary

If you aren’t eligible for the Merit Scholarship, this Bursary is there to help UK students with aspects of student living such as course costs. The Bursary will give you £1,000* over three academic years, or £1,300* if you are taking your course over four academic years (including those with a Foundation Year).

Full terms and conditions can be found here.

Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding please email admission@beds.ac.uk

International

The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2024/25 is £15,500 per year.

There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.

A full list of scholarships can be found here.

Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk

Fees for this course

UK 2024/25

The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance

Merit Scholarship

We offer a Merit Scholarship to UK students, worth £2,400* over three academic years, which is awarded to those who can demonstrate a high level of academic achievement, through scoring 120 UCAS tariff points or more.

Bedfordshire Bursary

If you aren’t eligible for the Merit Scholarship, this Bursary is there to help UK students with aspects of student living such as course costs. The Bursary will give you £1,000* over three academic years, or £1,300* if you are taking your course over four academic years (including those with a Foundation Year).

Full terms and conditions can be found here.

Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding please email admission@beds.ac.uk

International

The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2024/25 is £15,500 per year.

There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.

A full list of scholarships can be found here.

Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk

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