The BSc Psychology and Marketing degree at Aberystwyth University will help you explore the decision on what people buy; how marketing strategies can influence the relationship between the consumer and business; and how social media mediates a change in digital consumer behaviour. These and other themes are explored in the BSc Psychology and Marketing degree that will provide an in-depth understanding of the human psychology and how consumers think, feel and make decisions.
Why study Psychology and Marketing at Aberystwyth University?
The Department of Psychology has outstanding teaching and research facilities dedicated to your course. The laboratories and dedicated research spaces provide you with a diverse array of facilities and equipment with which to explore human behaviour. These resources allow you to develop your interests and engage creative problem-solving techniques as you progress towards your graduation.
The Psychology element is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) allowing two distinct career trajectories one in professional marketing, the other of professional Psychology. Aberystwyth Business School is a gateway centre for the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), which means that upon successful graduation, you will gain exemptions from levels four and six of the CIM qualifications. The outcome of this approach is to provide you with essential and expected graduates competences that differentiate you during your early career stages; choosing this degree combination helps ensure an effective transition from campus to career.
Our Staff
Department of Psychology’s teaching staff are all research active and all permanent staff are qualified to PhD level with most having either a PGCTHE or are fellows/senior fellow of the higher education academy. Over half of the staff also have the qualification CPsychol; an indicator of the BPS’ highest standard of psychological knowledge and expertise.
Students at the Aberystwyth Business School are taught by lecturers and other teaching staff who are active researchers and expert practitioners in their chosen subject area.
Over 75% of full time members of teaching staff are qualified to PhD level. Most are currently research active, meaning that students benefit from being taught ‘new’ knowledge in their chosen field of study as well as recognized literature. The School also employs part-time and full time staff devoted purely to teaching. Many part-time staff combine teaching duties with consultancy and business activities, ensuring that students have access not only to up to date research but the latest applied knowledge.
Modules
Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.
* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh
Employability
Your Psychology and Marketing degree will provide an excellent foundation for a professional career in Marketing. Aberystwyth Business School offers dedicated consultancy and employability modules where students complete industry objectives providing you with practical exposure to the iterative nature of opportunity development, and risk mitigation in commercial environments.
Many of our graduates have explored varied career aspirations; the key disciplines include Brand Management, Digital Marketing, Communications and Social Media management, Media planning and advertising, Corporate Marketing Communications, as well as Consumer Behaviour analysis and general management of the Marketing function.
Studying Marketing and Psychology will enable you to develop the following key skills:
To understand the decision-making influences of consumers and apply the taught theory to how marketing strategies can influence relationship between the consumer and business
To apply analytical and creative thinking skills for high level decision-making and problem solving
By improving your numeracy skills and the ability to research, interpret and use business and financial data for executive presentation
The ability to communicate clearly in a written and spoken form to facilitate successful team collaboration and independent work
To develop resilience skills which will assist with professional motivation and resilience which contribute to effective time-management and organisational skills.
Learning & Teaching
What will I learn?
In your first year, you’ll gain a solid foundation in key marketing concepts and techniques as well as the fundamentals of Psychology. You will also choose from a wide range of elective modules offered within Aberystwyth Business School and the Department of Psychology.
The second year further develops your competences in areas such as Marketing Research, Cognitive Psychology, Consumer Behaviour and the Psychology of brand management. You will complete a market research project with real clients allowing you to put theory into practice and strengthen your professional consulting abilities.
Final year students explore Psychology of Communication models and frameworks, Neurolinguistic programme techniques in digital marketing and the capstone application of various learning from all previous modules into a final project. Other areas of focus will include Strategic Marketing and Advanced Topics in Consumer Behaviour, and Advanced Social Psychology. You will also be able to choose from options such as The Psychology of Cooperation, Strategic Negotiation and Critical & Creative Communications.
How will I be taught?
Our students are taught through lectures, small-group seminars, and tutorials.
We assess our students through examinations, assessed essays, projects, reports, reflective diaries, portfolios, and presentations. The coursework will develop your capacity to research, analyse and present an argument clearly and coherently, while seminars will help you hone your persuasion, influence and presentations skills.
To ensure that you are performing consistently and to make the most of your university experience, you will be assigned a personal tutor. The role of the personal tutor is critical to your overall student experience while studying at Aberystwyth University and your chosen personal tutor will assist you with all matters relating to your academic and non-academic well-being and performance.
