Psychology
Psychology Subject
Hands-on training in research methods
If you already have a degree in another subject, but would like to move to psychology, the MSc in Psychology is a conversion course also conferring BPS GBC, meaning you can then access the postgraduate courses required for training to become a professional psychologist. You can further develop your studies with postgraduate degrees in our School (MSc and PhD in research).
Whichever course you choose, you will gain a thorough, critical understanding of the theory, research and intellectual history of psychology. You will gain hands-on training in research methods and conduct your own projects. Being a UEL psychology graduate will equip you with the qualifications and skills needed to enhance your employability both within and outside of psychology.
Undergraduate courses
- Psychology Foundation Pathways
- BSc (Hons) Clinical and Community Psychology
- BSc (Hons) Counselling
- BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychology
- BSc (Hons) Psychology
- BSc (Hons) Psychology with Child Development
- BSc (Hons) Psychology (Distance Learning)
Postgraduate courses
About us
We have been pioneering higher education teaching in psychology here in East London since 1962. We are rightly proud of our location and the diversity it brings in ideas, and community, our students and staff.
We offer courses and module combinations with curricula uniquely designed to reflect the lives of our students, and our local communities, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Our BSc (Hons) Psychology is accredited by the BPS for Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC), as are our BScs in Psychology with Child Development, Clinical and Community Psychology and Forensic Psychology.
Studying a BPS-accredited course will allow you to gain graduate or chartered membership (GBC), an important requirement for becoming a professional psychologist. We also offer Foundation Year courses to ensure your readiness to study for the full BSc.
Why choose us?
We have wide expertise in multiple fields of research and practice, focusing on 'real world' impact, and engaging with local communities on issues of global concern, e.g. child development, gambling and addiction, and mental health treatments. With this extensive knowledge, our psychology academics lead in teaching our students to become excellent thinkers, responsible citizens, accomplished consumers and producers of psychological knowledge in our diverse, modern societies.
Most of our psychology courses are accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). Accreditation offers a platform to achieve GBC (Graduate Basis for Chartership) with the BPS, enabling our psychgraduates to access further opportunities such as postgraduate study, professional training and employability.
Our close links with industry, in all its forms, offer psychology students learning opportunities to enhance their employability skills. Through dedicated time in academic lectures, we encourage students to evaluate not only how their learning can help them use psychology in everyday life but also successfully enter the world of work.
Careers
As well as being the essential foundation for the psychology professions, our psychology programmes pave the way to a broad range of career pathways. The learning, skills and confidence acquired by students on our programmes reflect the knowledge and competencies required by diverse professions and meet the expectations of the job market.
Many jobs and careers are options for you with a BSc Psychology degree. These include jobs within the Allied Psychology sector, such as Employment Specialist, Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, Social Prescribing Link Worker, Wellbeing Manager, Mental Health Social Worker, FE Psychology teacher, Research Assistant or Assistant Psychologist. Some of these may require further training that we can help you with.
A third of our psychology graduates become professional psychologists but many others go into different graduate careers - health and social welfare, sport and leisure, education, human resource management, consumer research and advertising, media, market research and community work. If you choose to continue your studies, your degree in psychology will be the first step towards becoming a professional psychologist, whether it is in the field of clinical, educational, counselling or forensic psychology.
Some of our industry partners are the NHS Trusts across the North Thames region, MIND, Terrence Higgins Trust, Centrepoint, Women's Aid, National Autistic Society, Young Gamblers and Gamers Education Trust (YGAM), and many others where our students gain experience alongside professionals.
At UEL, you'll have access to:
- Employability skills training such as interview techniques and CV writing.
- Career Assessment, giving you the opportunity to learn about yourself and Career Coach will help you to discover career suggestions based on your interests.
- UEL Skills Academy, where external professionals deliver sessions on the competencies most prized by graduate employers.
- Internships, placements and volunteering opportunities from our work placements team.
- Professional mentoring scheme, matching students with staff from major companies.
- Networking opportunities and annual careers fair.
- Support with setting up your own business.
Our location
Our location in one of Europe's largest regeneration areas and our extensive links to local employers will also give you access to fantastic internships and placements. From heavy industry to high-tech, health and social care to the arts, there are so many opportunities right on our doorstep.
Career Coach
Use our online Career Coach to find out the different career paths that your chosen subject area can lead you to.
Get information on specific careers, job roles, potential wages and available jobs in the sector.
Or take a quick quiz to find a career to match your personality type!
Accreditation
All of our psychology degrees are fully accredited by the British Psychological Society. This accreditation is a mark of quality that students and employers understand and value. Studying a BPS-accredited course will give you the opportunity to gain graduate or chartered membership of the Society.
![British Psychological Society logo](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1266x712/public/bps-image-pod-size-444-x-222.jpg.webp?itok=P5JDwrF3)
Our staff
Find out more about our staff by visiting our School of Psychology.
Our facilities
Psychology students can access a range of specialist facilities with their research project supervisor and are supported by a team of technicians. We have dedicated research facilities offering state-of-the-art neuroimaging, including EEG, tCS, fNIRS, eye-tracking and virtual reality systems. We also have extensive equipment for biophysical recording, a library of psychological assessments, and suites for data analysis and for video and audio recordings.
Our Baby Development Lab is led by Dr Sam Wass and works closely with local communities to understand how noisy environments impact early development. It includes facilities for dual EEG (i.e. to record live brain activity at the same time from children and adults), fNIRS, and screen-based and mobile eye-tracking systems. We also have miniaturised wearable microphones, cameras and biophysical recording equipment to allow us to record outside the lab, in 'real-world' settings. The lab has received funding from the Nuffield Foundation, the Economic and Social Research Council, Leverhulme Trust and the European Research Council.
The School of Psychology has recently purchased eight OWL cameras which allow us to 'live' broadcast 360-degree video of seminars, to provide an immersive experience for remote students.
Modern campus
Our modern campus includes seminar space, tutorial rooms and lecture theatres specifically designed for engaging in active learning. We encourage independent learning by providing student and staff access to specialised research and laboratory facilities, computer networks and databases, within both the School of Psychology and the University library, with specialist facilities for our professional courses. Students enjoy a full provision of library services, including a dedicated librarian for the School of Psychology.
![A smiling male and female sitting at a table in front of a laptop and two coffee cups looking at a notebook](/sites/default/files/styles/portrait_grid/public/occupational-and-organisational-psychology.jpg.webp?itok=3b25GMIF)
The University's contacts within the local NHS trusts offer a wide variety of work experience and opportunities for research. The programme leaders were innovative in their presentation of lectures and seminars. They gave a first-hand account of the profession and provided a good understanding of what to expect when working in the mental health field."
Eileen Ward
Clinical and Community Psychology, BSc (Hons)
What we're researching
We have strong relationships with our local organisations, with a specific focus on vulnerable communities, such as children living in difficult environments, individuals experiencing mental ill-health, refugees, and people vulnerable to addictive behaviour.
We provide opportunities for psychology students to gain valuable research experience through internships and placements. We have a growing PhD student community with many alumni going on to prestigious post-doctoral positions and lectureships.
Our research with local communities delivers an impact that is applied globally, leading to wide media coverage and securing major international and national grants (e.g. ERC, NIHR, and ESRC).