Psychology BSc (Hons)

You will study a broad curriculum in your first two years – learning about cognitive, behavioural and biological psychology – before having the opportunity to specialise in your final year.
 

We offer four pathways linked to the expertise of our staff, who are all research-active academics and practitioners. Continue with our BSc Psychology degree or specialise in:

 

• BSc Psychology with Counselling and Health Psychology

• BSc Psychology with Organisational Psychology and Behavioural Economics

• BSc Psychology with Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience

• BSc Psychology with Child Development.
   

This flexibility offers you the chance to start shaping your CV as your career aspirations take shape.

 

• Learn from internationally recognised research-active academics

• Study cutting-edge topics related to our research activity, in areas such as Cognitive Neuroscience, Autism, Child Development, Memory, and Counselling and Health Psychology

• Benefit from our three specialist research centres that provide a link between our research and professional practice and industry

• Develop your research skills in our specialised psychology research laboratories

• Boost your employability with an integrated professional training year, research assistant opportunities or volunteering.
   

Course content
 

This three-year BSc Psychology degree introduces you to increasingly challenging concepts, building your confidence in psychology and culminating in a research project in your final year.
 

Year 1
 

Study core modules that provide a thorough understanding of the key concepts of psychology, including biological and cognitive approaches, and develop your research skills.

 

• Professional and Academic Development for Psychologists (15 credits)

• Cognitive Approaches to mind and behaviour (15 credits)

• History and Theory of Psychology (15 credits)

• Biological approaches to mind and behaviour (15 credits)

• Lifespan Psychology (15 credits)

• Research Design and Analysis (Quantitative Methods) (15 credits)

• Research Design and Analysis (Laboratory Methods) (15 credits)

• Real world Applications of Psychology (15 credits)
   

Year 2
 

Deepen your understanding of cognitive psychology and explore personality and development. At the end of this year, choose whether to continue to follow our general programme or specialise.

 

• Research Methods in Psychology (15 credits)

• Statistical Methods in Psychology (15 credits)

• Cognitive Psychology (15 credits)

• Introduction to Clinical Psychology (15 credits)

• Biological Psychology (15 credits)

• Developmental Psychology (15 credits)

• Social Psychology (15 credits)

• Personality and Differential Psychology (15 credits)
   

Year 3
 

Develop professional expertise through elective modules to suit your chosen pathway. Electives are linked to the research expertise of our academic staff and practitioners. Conduct your own individual research project, exploring a topic of your choice in depth.

 

• Psychology Project (30 credits)

• Decision Making and Behavioural Economics (15 credits)

• Approaches to Autism (15 credits)

• Health Psychology and Behaviour Change (15 credits)

• Organisational Psychology (15 credits)

• Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (15 credits)

• How the Neurosciences inform Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy (15 credits)

• Memory and the law (15 credits)

• Introduction to Educational Psychology (15 credits)

• Introduction to Counselling Psychology (15 credits)

• Forensic Psychology (15 credits)

• Social Psychology for Behaviour Change (15 credits)

• Emotions (15 credits)

• Clinical Skills (15 credits)

• From Genes to Behaviour (15 credits)

• Critical Psychology: Opportunities for a Progressive Discipline (15 credits)

• Practicing Psychology Voluntary Experience (15 credits)

• Micro-Placement (15 credits)

• Industry Projects (15 credits)
   

Placement
 

You have the option to undertake a one-year work placement, usually between the second and third year of your degree. If you complete this option, the degree title awarded to you would become BSc Psychology with Integrated Professional Training.

UK
 

A-level:

AAB
 

Tariff:

136 UCAS tariff points
 

International Baccalaureate:

32 points with 5 or better in three Higher Level subjects
 

BTEC:

DDD
 

GCSE:

A minimum of grade 4 (C) in GCSE English Language and Mathematics in addition to other outlined requirements.
 

Mixed qualifications
 

Typically the only scenario where we make conditional offers expressed as UCAS tariff points is when an applicant presents mixed qualifications, most typically a combination of A Levels and a BTEC qualification.
 

In this instance, we may make a tariff point offer to present the applicant with more flexibility on equivalencies. In this case, please be aware that we may still ask for a specific score across certain qualifications and subjects. E.g. 'This offer is conditional on you achieving 128 tariff points. This must include A Level Mathematics at grade B.'
 

Subject exclusions
 

We do not accept General Studies and Critical Thinking. These subjects will not be included in any conditional offer we make.
 

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
 

We welcome applications from students who are completing relevant EPQ Projects. Whilst we recognise the value of these projects in preparing students for independent learning at university, the EPQ is unlikely to form part of any conditional offer we make.
 

The EPQ will also not lower the specifics of any conditional offer we choose to make. We will consider the EPQ as part of the holistic assessment of the application and it could be used to form part of our final decision at Confirmation stage.
 

AS levels
 

We recognise that there will be differences of opportunity varying by school and college. As not all students will have the opportunity to sit AS Level exams, it is unlikely we will include AS Level grades in any offer we choose to make. Where students have completed an AS Level subject, we will consider this as part of the holistic assessment of the application and it could be used to form part of our final decision at Confirmation stage.
 

University preparation programmes
 

If you do not qualify for direct entry, you may wish to take a foundation programme first. These programmes are designed to prepare students for entry to City's undergraduate courses.
 

Access to Higher Education
 

We welcome Access to Higher Education course applications from 'mature' students. These applicants will be considered on the basis of their own merits. Please be aware that Access students are often asked for further information to supplement their application, this is normally in the form of a questionnaire.
 

A typical offer for an Access applicant would be: Pass 60 credits, 45 Level 3 including at least 27 at distinction and the remaining 18 at merit. The Access qualification should be supplemented by at least a grade 4 (C) in Mathematics and English Language at GCSE.

 

English language requirements
 

If your first language is not English, we will require evidence of English language proficiency. Minimum requirements are:
 

IELTS:
 

6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
 

• PTE Academic: 59 overall with a minimum of 59 in each component

• Cambridge ESOL: CPE grade C or above

Fees for year 2022/23
 

UK
 

£9,250
 

Overseas/EU
 

£18,770
 

The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2022/ 23 academic year only. Fees for future years may be s

Career
 

This degree provides an excellent foundation for a wide range of professional careers.

 

Many of our graduates work in roles that use the data literacy, research skills and analytical ability they develop throughout the course.

 

Recent graduates have progressed to rewarding careers in:

 

• the NHS

• the Crown Prosecution service

• schools

• charities

• academia

• advertising and marketing

• HR

• government.
   

The degree is accredited by the BPS and comprises the first stage of qualifying as a Chartered Psychologist. It also provides the necessary first degree qualification for further education on BPS-accredited master’s and doctoral level courses.
 

You can also gain voluntary work experience during the summer breaks. Past examples of volunteer work involve training as a counsellor for victims of crime or working in the NHS with long-term and elderly patients, in mental health or in occupational health.