BSc

Psychology

Key Facts

C80F

  • UCAS Tariff

  • Course duration

    4 years

Further details on entry requirements

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Accredited by the British Psychological Society, our BSc Psychology degree with integrated foundation year at Aberystwyth University will allow you to gain a scientific understanding of the processes from which learn, think, feel, and adapt to our social conditions. The integrated foundation year - designed for prospective students who do not have a sufficient or relevant academic background - is the perfect option to access this highly-sort scheme. In the Foundation Year, you will learn about key concepts for Psychology from an inter-disciplinary angle, giving you a unique experience and critical perspective to make the most of the full undergraduate degree. In addition, our BSc Psychology degree investigates human behaviour from infancy to old age and deals with the biological, social, and individual factors that affect human psychology. On this course, you will work and engage with lecturers who use their research to create an inspiring learning environment in which you can develop your own thinking in a safe and supportive department.

Course Overview

Following the foundation year, the syllabus of this course is identical to its sister course [Psychology, C800].

Why study Psychology at Aberystwyth University?

  • Student Satisfaction
  • At Aberystwyth, we work with you to help you become informed and curious thinkers. We use our teaching and research experience to inspire you and to give you the skills and confidence to do whatever you wish to do in the future. This is why, in 2017, the department was rated as “1st in Wales and 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction” (NSS 2017). 
  • Equipping you for life
  • All our degree schemes are designed with employability in mind and are accredited by the British Psychological Society – perfect for graduate-level careers or access to postgraduate training. “96% of our graduates are in work or further study within 6 months of graduation, 4% more than Psychology graduates nationally” (HESA 2018)
  • Friendly and Inclusive
  • It is important for you to study in a supportive, student-focused environment. Our staff work hard to provide the guidance and encouragement you will need, which is why we ranked 1st for “Academic Support” across the UK (NSS, 2017). 
  • Exceptional Resources
  • The department’s modern research facilities and outstanding student learning spaces are in addition to excellent central university facilities. These resources allow us to provide you with an innovative approach to learning and teaching and helped us rank “2nd in the UK for Learning Resources” (NSS 2017) 
  • Welsh Language
  • If you are a Welsh-speaker you have the opportunity to continue part of your studies in Welsh. You’ll find bilingual staff in Psychology who will support you in your work, and who can guide your university experience in Welsh. 
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.

Modules September start - 2023

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.

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Academic Skills Foundation 1 IC07620 20
Academic Skills Foundation 2 IC07720 20
Foundation - Dialogue GS00120 20
Foundation in Liberal Arts GS00220 20
Information in a Post-Truth World GS01120 20
Learning Experience GS00320 20

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Cognitive Psychology PS21820 20
Qualitative Research Methods PS21410 10
Quantitative Research Methods PS21310 10
Social Psychology PS20220 20

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Evolutionary Psychology PS21020 20
Forensic Psychology PS21220 20
Health Psychology PS20720 20
Issues in Clinical Psychology PS21720 20
Psychology in Practice PS20620 20
Psychology of Humour PS21620 20
The Psychology of Language PS20420 20

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

Careers

Careers 

A Psychology degree from Aberystwyth University will open up a variety of careers for you. Our BSc Psychology degree will enable graduates to pursue a career in the core psychological professions including clinical psychology, educational psychology, counselling psychology, health psychology, neuroscience, development psychology and applied behaviour to name a few. 

We have embedded employability throughout this course, and we have a large number of opportunities that enable students to develop the transferrable skills needed to build a CV for a potential career in a psychology or non-psychology setting.  

The Psychology department offers three variants of its joint and single honours degrees. Each can be a single three-year degree, or each can be taken with a year in industry (WF7F) or a year studying abroad (N1FW) with one of our partner universities in Europe or further afield. 

Graduates on our BSc Psychology degree have pursued careers in clinical and education psychology, healthcare, human resources and marketing and public relations. Your Psychology degree will equip you with the most transferable skills that employs seek, these skills include: effective research and data analysis; effective problem solving; ability to work independently and as part of team; ability to communicate effectively and concisely and information technology skills.  

Teaching & Learning

What will I learn? 

Psychology is a multifaceted discipline and the structure of our degree and how you are taught reflects this. Our ethos is to teach in a way which enables you to develop conceptual and theoretical knowledge that you can apply to solve problems in real world scenarios. To support you in this, your British Psychological Society accredited degree is built around essential core topics in psychology, which serve as the basis for the varied and specialised optional modules we offer in the second, third and final years. 

In the first foundation year, you will be introduced to core components of Psychology.

During your second year, you will: 

Begin to transform yourself into a psychologist, by developing core knowledge in areas such as social and individual behaviour, Brain and cognition and historical issues in psychology 

Start to develop a wide range of skills by using methods and techniques that will enable you to investigate psychological phenomena. 

In your third and final year, you will: 

Shape your degree by choosing from our distinctive range of optional modules. This will give you the opportunity to create your own personalised path through your degree 

Apply skills learnt throughout your degree by constructing your own research dissertation, built around your personal ideas and interests within a psychological context. 

How will I be taught? 

Your academic and intellectual development are at the heart of the Aberystwyth Psychology experience. Our staff are committed to a student-focused approach to teaching, making your learning needs a priority in both what we teach and how we teach you. When you join us, you will be assigned a personal tutor who will support you throughout your degree and is there to advise and guide you on a range of academic and personal matters. 

From traditional lectures to small group work, we deliver inspirational teaching through a wide variety of different formats. You will also get to apply your knowledge in lab-based workshops and practicals, where you will be able to benefit from our wide range of specialists research equipment and facilities. Your development will be assessed in a broad variety of ways including; traditional exams, essays, wikis, blogs, observations, and presentations. 

At Aberystwyth you can be confident that you will receive the best learning experience at the very forefront of the discipline. 

Typical Entry Requirements

UCAS Tariff

A Levels Available to those who are studying for, or who have completed Level 3 qualifications (eg, A-Levels or BTEC diploma) and to mature-aged candidates without formal qualifications who have suitable background education, experience and motivation.

GCSE requirements (minimum grade C/4):
English or Welsh and Mathematics

BTEC National Diploma:
Available to those who are studying for, or who have completed Level 3 qualifications (eg, A-Levels or BTEC diploma) and to mature-aged candidates without formal qualifications who have suitable background education, experience and motivation.

International Baccalaureate:
Available to those who are studying for, or who have completed Level 3 qualifications (eg, A-Levels or BTEC diploma) and to mature-aged candidates without formal qualifications who have suitable background education, experience and motivation.

European Baccalaureate:
Available to those who are studying for, or who have completed Level 3 qualifications (eg, A-Levels or BTEC diploma) and to mature-aged candidates without formal qualifications who have suitable background education, experience and motivation.

English Language Requirements:
See our Undergraduate English Language Requirements for this course. Pre-sessional English Programmes are also available for students who do not meet our English Language Requirements.

Country Specific Entry Requirements:
International students whose qualification is not listed on this page, can check our Country Specific Entry Requirements for further information.

The University welcomes undergraduate applications from students studying the Access to Higher Education Diploma or T-level qualifications, provided that relevant subject content and learning outcomes are met. We are not able to accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas or T-levels as a general qualification for every undergraduate degree course.
Our inclusive admissions policy values breadth as well as depth of study. Applicants are selected on their own individual merits and offers can vary. If you would like to check the eligibility of your qualifications before submitting an application, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for advice and guidance.

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