Overview

Psychology is the scientific study of human behaviour. It will help you understand yourself and others.

Gain work experience through our work-based learning module, which will help you decide on your future career in psychology.
Our BPS-accredited programme is essential if you want to specialise in psychology after graduation.
This course could lead to a master's in health psychology, sports psychology, neuropsychology, or neuroscience.

Learn more about studying psychology

Find out why people study psychology
Read about Tania's journey as a psychology student

Course options

Select year

Degree

UCAS code: C800 112 UCAS points

BSc (Hons) Psychology, home applicant, full time
- This course is in Clearing
Apply through Clearing
BSc (Hons) Psychology, home applicant, part time
- Home Applicant
- Part time
- pro-rata full time fee
Apply direct
BSc (Hons) Psychology, international applicant, full time
- International Applicant
- Full time, 3 years
- Pound 14820 per year
Apply direct
BSc (Hons) Psychology Distance Learning
BSc (Hons) Psychology (Distance Learning)

Degree with foundation year

UCAS code: C801 64 UCAS points

BSc (Hons) Psychology, home applicant, full time
- This course is in Clearing
Apply through Clearing
BSc (Hons) Psychology, international applicant, full time
- International Applicant
- Full time, 4 years
- Pound 14820 per year
Apply direct

What makes this course different

Our world leading research

92% of research is world-leading, internationally excellent, or internationally recognised (REF, 2021).

Highly rated by our students

91% of students surveyed on this course responded positively to questions on “The Teaching on my Course” in the 2024 National Student Survey.

(National Student Survey 2024, Results published 10 July 2024)

Employability focused

Psychology graduates bring valuable skills and knowledge to the workplace. In your second year, gain practical experience through a core placement module, and showcase your transferable skills.

Accreditation

Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)

This accreditation is a mark of quality that students and employers understand and value. Studying a BPS-accredited course will allow you to gain graduate or chartered membership of the Society and help you stand out in your psychology career.

BPS accreditation

Course modules

Select year

In the psychology foundation year, you will study three core modules and choose one option module. The options available are Topics in Counselling and Topics in Psychology. Topics in Counselling equips you with basic counselling skills and offers eligibility for an interview to join the BSc Counselling degree accredited by the BACP. Topics in Psychology covers key issues in psychology, serving as a starting point for level 4 in our undergraduate psychology programmes. Upon successful completion of the Psychology Foundation Year, those with 120 credits can progress to BSc (Hons) Psychology or one of our specialist pathways.

This module aims to build your knowledge of theories and interventions in various areas of personal development. This knowledge will enhance your reflective abilities, autonomous thinking, interpersonal skills and help you to build a connection with the discipline of psychology. The module is aimed at providing you with effective tools for personal development that can be used throughout all stages of academic study, professional development and in your future careers in psychology.

This module introduces contemporary issues in psychology grounded in the real world. The aim of the module is to ensure you gain exposure to how psychology, its applications and key theories, play a part in our everyday lives. The module will assist you in critically and creatively examining real-world topics through the eyes of psychologists, by exploring the topic area cross-culturally, outlining key theories, findings, practical issues, ethics and research methods. You will become more psychologically aware, and ready for Level 4 of a psychology degree. It is intended that the topics will provide insight for you on possible future pathways in a psychology career.

This module aims to introduce you to the research process in psychology. This is a fundamental skill to carry you through your psychology degree. You will learn about different research methods used by psychologists, both quantitative and qualitative. As part of this process, you will conduct a small-scale research project, learning how to present your findings and consider the strengths and limitations of the study. This will include developing an awareness of ethical issues involved in psychological research. This hands-on experience can prepare you for your future psychology career.

The module aims to introduce you to key debates and research findings in psychology by describing, discussing and analysing examples of influential studies. These studies will be drawn from different areas of psychology, for example, social, biological and developmental psychology and illustrate varied approaches in psychology, for example, experimental, observational and critical. Through this psychology module, you will become familiar with psychology terminology and research techniques and will learn about how research findings are evaluated, applied and built upon in future studies.

By the end of this counselling module, you will have received an overview of the main tenets of counselling theory, research and practice in the UK. You will have gained an understanding of the various attitudes and core qualities relevant to counselling and allied helping professions, and you will have begun to understand the importance of ethics and ethical issues in counselling.

You will also have gained hands-on experience in the development and use of core skills such as attending, listening and communication empathy. During this process, you will gain a good grounding in the role of personal therapy as a means of personal and professional development.

Moreover, you will have experienced, first-hand, the privilege of working with peers in a process of developing personally and professionally through practical experience. A central theme in this pursuit is that of embracing reflective practice through giving and receiving feedback. This experience will greatly benefit and prepare you for your future career in psychology.

The principal aim of this module is to help you realise and develop the key academic and transferable skills you need to make a successful transition from further education to undergraduate-level studies in psychology. In the process of achieving this aim, this module will also lay the foundation for the further development of the skills during subsequent levels of undergraduate study and promote an awareness of their use in a wider professional context.

The module aims to support you in your transition to degree-level study of psychology, introducing you to new ways of thinking that have psychology at the core. You will learn about psychological principles that have value in everyday life and learning. You will be supported in the development of critical thinking skills, prized by graduate employers, distinguishing you from other psychology graduates in your future career. In addition, you will learn how to present psychological concepts to members of the general public and to use online presentation software to facilitate such work.

The main aim of this module is to provide an introduction to the core fields of Social and Biological Psychology and Individual Differences. It will give you a foundation for understanding and evaluating these approaches within the discipline of psychology and an understanding of historical, social and cultural influences. You will also develop a knowledge of relevant key concepts and theories, providing a grounding for level 5 study of applied topics in these fields.

In this cognitive and developmental psychology module, we explore the mechanisms that process information about the world (such as perception, memory, and attention) and by which we develop our responses to it (e.g., by thinking, communicating, and shaping behaviour by our learning). In doing so, this module introduces core topics in cognitive psychology (which seeks to scientifically model how the mind functions) and developmental psychology (which seeks to understand change through the lifespan).

The aim of this Psychology in Applied Contexts module is to introduce you to the ways in which psychology is used in professional roles and graduate-level employment. Module content will include an introduction to the core professional division of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and, beyond this, to the diverse ways in which psychology is used within 'real-world' settings, including well-established and emerging career opportunities. The module will provide a foundation for understanding, reflecting on and developing graduate employability which will be built on at level 5 of our psychology degrees.

This module has three principal aims: (i) to develop a critical and historical awareness of theories of, and issues relating to, individual differences (ii) to instil an understanding of, and foster respect for, diversity; (iii) to encourage you to be insightful and reflective about your own and others' behaviour and mental processes.

An ongoing theme of the module will be to consider the implications of the knowledge imparted for real-life events and the development of professional practice. These aims are intended to help you develop into a psychologically literate citizen. These skills are invaluable for a successful career in psychology.

This module is an essential component of any comprehensive psychology degree programme.

The module aims to build on material delivered in the level 4 research method modules and provide preparation for the independent research project at level 6 of your psychology programme.

The module will:

present more advanced statistical methods used to analyse quantitative data from designs with one and more than one IV/factor;
ensure awareness of a range of experimental and non-experimental quantitative designs (including real-world research) and a range of qualitative designs;
consider issues of internal and external validity;
further consider epistemological and methodological issues, reflexivity, ethics and practicalities of conducting qualitative research; and
provide you with opportunities to gain further experience designing, executing and writing quantitive and qualitative research studies.

The module will build upon knowledge of the psychobiology and social psychological approaches that were introduced at Level 4. The aim of the module is to develop your knowledge and critical awareness of these major theoretical perspectives for understanding human behaviour. Current issues as well as historical debates in these two areas will be explored. Considerable focus will be placed on the real-world application and utility of theories falling within each approach.

The module is designed to further develop your awareness of the range of careers, work and volunteering opportunities open to psychology graduates and to support your engagement with personal and professional development strategies. Based on a short period of work experience, arranged by you and completed as part of the module's student learning time, you will be able to learn about organisations and make use of networking opportunities. You will have an opportunity to integrate psychological theory with practice and to clarify your interests and goals before embarking on your career in psychology.

This optional psychology module introduces you to the theoretical underpinnings of cognitive neuroscience and to the practical skills necessary to conduct research in cognitive neuroscience. In the first part of the module, you will be introduced to cognitive neuroscience literature that uses specific technologies (e.g., electrophysiology or eye-tracking). In the second part of the module, you will be asked to pick a certain technology and will be guided in groups to develop and analyse an experiment that uses that technology.

The main aims of this forensic psychology module are:

To introduce concepts and issues in forensic and criminological psychology.
To provide an overview of the historical, current and potential future relationships between psychology and the criminal justice system.
To provide a clear overview of how psychology has been used, and can further be used, to inform practical problems arising in the criminal justice system.

You will be introduced to the range of debates that have led to a move away from 'positivistic' psychology and towards what is now known as critical social psychology or, 'societal' psychology. The module will introduce a variety of critical approaches and explore the limitations and constraints of individualistic, reductionist and essentialist analyses of the individual and the social in psychology. The module will foster an awareness of the importance of the 'social locatedness' (historical, community, philosophical, etc.) of psychological knowledge and 'realities' and will explore subjectivity and identity, social relations, broader cultural formations (than traditionally allowed by positivistic social psychology) and collective sense-making across a range of theories, methods and topic areas.

In this module, we will explore the variations and obstacles that arise during different stages of development: infancy, childhood, and adolescence. Our goal is to deepen your understanding of theoretical explanations and important research findings related to developmental challenges and differences. This module builds upon and expands the fundamental concepts covered in earlier developmental psychology courses. Through this module, you will develop your ability to critically evaluate research on atypical development and understand its practical applications in the real world. The lectures in this module have consistently received positive feedback from students who find them stimulating and engaging.

Positive psychology coaching is a scientifically rooted approach to helping individuals, groups and communities to increase well-being, enhance and apply strengths, increase self-awareness, improve performance, achieve goals and flourish. This module will offer a comprehensive introduction to the science of positive psychology and coaching psychology. It will take you through the main theories and research in the field and its application in different contexts.

The module is designed to further develop students’ awareness of the main principles and practices of organisational psychology. Through a range of methods including lectures, workshops, presentations and small and large group work, you will explore and develop your skills, knowledge and attitudes towards a range of vital components of your working life. These will include insights into how you manage and develop others, including how to become an effective trainer and team developer, how organisations develop and thrive through stress and conflict situations, and how to develop your individual skills in managing, leading, supporting and enabling others, all vital elements of a successful and meaningful work life.

The aims of the module are to explore the effects of both recreational and dependent (illicit and non-illicit) psychoactive drugs on the brain and behaviour; to look at the type of addictive behaviours (both drug and non-drug) there are and the theories/models accounting for different addictive behaviours and potential treatments available for some of these addictive behaviours. It is important to have this knowledge so you can eventually interact and assist patients with a variety of different conditions.

The module describes and evaluates biopsychosocial approaches to health and illness. It examines social and psychological processes which contribute to the occurrence of various physical health outcomes and to the maintenance of health. It discusses the role of psychosocial processes in the experience and progression of health and illness. Specifically, it examines biopsychosocial precursors and consequences which are identifiable empirically in the aetiology and progression of a variety of health phenomena. Such precursors include the role of social support, social cognitions, individual differences in coping and personality, life change events and psycho-neuro-immunological, endocrine and other physiological processes. In summary, this module explores how psychological and social factors impact our health. Implications for the prevention of illness and promotion of health are considered. This will be crucial for your career in the field of psychology.

This module will provide you with an opportunity to examine and evaluate in-depth key and current methods and findings in developmental psychology. The aim is to investigate the main factors that shape development in a variety of domains (social, emotional, cognitive) and across ages, in a manner that will help you to develop the skills to critically analyse research in this area. The module will also allow you to consolidate and explore in more depth some of the concepts previously introduced at levels 4 and 5 of your psychology degree.

The aims of this psychology module are to assist you in developing; your skills and competencies in critical thinking and the evaluation of information; your ability to understand behaviours motivated by different values and different cultural perspectives; and your ability to understand the causes of beliefs which they do not themselves ascribe to.

You will explore the various factors (e.g., social, developmental, cognitive, cultural, and biopsychological) that contribute to unsubstantiated beliefs, look at various theories of religious belief, and explore the psychology of moral values and political affiliation.

The module aims to introduce you to the main areas of occupational and organisational psychology and provide a critical understanding of the various ways in which contemporary psychological knowledge is applied to the workplace behaviour of people and business management. This will help you in your future career. It elucidates multiple aspects of human performance at work and ways to optimise them, considering their individual, group and organisational contexts.

Positive education involves applying the science of well-being and positive psychology in educational settings. This module aims to provide you with contemporary knowledge and skills to implement positive education theory and practices in various contexts, which will be helpful for your future career. It encourages you to think about how positive psychology can enhance psychological well-being, consider the implications of positive psychology in education, and explore the practical application of research in positive education for the betterment of society. By completing this module, you gain the tools to integrate positive psychology into your educational practices and contribute to the progress of education and society.

This module provides critically evaluative knowledge and understanding of the application of environmental psychology to practical problems of sustainability and environmental behaviour. In doing so, it aims to enable you to critically evaluate the contribution of environmental psychological approaches to individual and group interactions with natural resources. You will critically explore the consequences of these approaches for current research and practical applications, including behaviour change, and communication. We shall learn about theories and models that attempt to understand behaviour change; in doing so, the module explores key questions in research, including how environmental psychology theory and practice relate, the role of individual and group conceptualisations of environmental problems, and it applies environmental psychology approaches to an understanding of how practices that respond to these problems can be developed. This will prepare you for jobs available with a psychology degree in sustainability-focused fields.

This module provides an induction to therapeutic psychology and practice, focusing on cognitive-behavioural, systemic, psychodynamic, and integrative approaches to therapy. It is suitable for students interested in careers in clinical, counselling, or coaching psychology, as well as those pursuing postgraduate training in counselling and psychotherapy. The module emphasises experiential learning, enhancing critical analysis, and reflection in working with mental health issues. Through case studies, you will apply psychological theories to case formulation, intervention, and the process of therapeutic change. While not intended for clinical practice, the module familiarises you with the inner workings of typical clinical activities and will ultimately be beneficial for your future psychology job.

NOTE: Modules are subject to change. For those studying part time courses the modules may vary.

Download course specification

Your future career

A psychology degree is versatile. You could become a psychologist, or apply your skills and knowledge in other fields. Employers value skills such as data management, analysis, report writing, and critical thinking. These put you ahead in the job market. Psychology students understand human behaviour, making them appealing candidates, especially for managerial roles.

Industry links

We have links with 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).

Graduate employers

You could work for the NHS as a psychologist or for other healthcare providers such as Bupa or Nuffield Health. You could work in a school or for the HM Prison and Probation Service.

Job roles

Roles you could go into include: psychologist; mental health practitioner; researcher; counsellor; and therapist.

Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.

Further study

Postgraduate psychology study and training are essential if you want to become a chartered psychologist and register as a practitioner with the Health & Care Professionals Council (HCPC). You can study clinical, counselling, occupational, or community psychology master's or PhDs at UEL.

Male student standing in front of books in the library

Our degrees in psychology will equip you with the tools and skills you need to investigate human behaviour and to adopt a critical analysis of what you discover. I very much hope you will join us in our search for behavioural insights and for solutions to the problems that face humanity, whether at the individual, group, national, international or global level."

Dr Richard Ralley

Head of Department of Psychological Sciences

How we support your career ambitions

We offer dedicated careers support, and further opportunities to thrive, such as volunteering and industry networking. Our courses are created in collaboration with employers and industry to ensure they accurately reflect the real-life practices of your future career and provide you with the essential skills needed. You can focus on building interpersonal skills through group work and benefit from our investment in the latest cutting-edge technologies and facilities.

Career Zone

This digital platform provides you with careers and employability resources, including:

Jobs board for internships, placements, graduate opportunities, flexible part-time work
Mentoring programmes for insight with industry experts
1-2-1 career coaching services
Careers workshops and employer events
Learning pathways to gain new skills and industry insight

Mental Wealth programme

Our Professional Fitness and Mental Wealth programme issues you with a Careers Passport to track the skills you've mastered. Some of these are externally validated by corporations like Amazon and Microsoft.

Our Mental Wealth programme

We are careers first

Our teaching methods and geographical location put us right up top:

Work-based projects
Networking and visits to leading organisations
Support in starting a new business
London on our doorstep

How you'll learn

Our cutting-edge Technology Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) approach revolutionises face-to-face learning, providing students with scheduled on-campus hours and additional learning opportunities. Our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) grants students access to course materials and resources beyond their regular study hours. We provide state-of-the-art technology and specialised spaces, equipping students with the skills needed for their future careers. With dedicated time for activities and personal development, our holistic approach to learning nurtures academic, personal, and professional growth. Students receive comprehensive career support through our on-campus and virtual Career Zones, personalised support services, and an exclusive online portal called Track My Future (TMF).

Guided independent study

When not attending timetabled lectures or workshops, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This will typically involve skills development through online study, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects and preparing coursework assignments and presentations. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, and specialist facilities, such as game labs, the library, the full Microsoft Office software, including MS Teams, and Moodle: our Virtual Learning Environment.

Academic support

We invest in key areas beyond your studies, providing career services, a modern library, and well-being support. These resources are available both on campus and online, some accessible 24/7. Our libraries offer a range of print and digital resources, study spaces, and dedicated librarians to assist you.

Dedicated personal tutor

Academic advisors, module leaders, and fellow students are available to support your academic queries. Academic tutors offer help with skills like writing and maths. IT Service Desks provide support for university IT systems. Our Student Support hubs cater to all your needs, including disability support.

Workload

Each year you will spend around 300 hours of timetabled learning and teaching activities. These may be lectures, workshops, seminars, and individual and group tutorials. Contact hours may vary depending on each module.

The approximate hours for this course are:

Year 1: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours
Year 2: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours
Year 3: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours

Your timetable

Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9.00am and 6.00pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.

Class sizes

The size of classes can vary depending on the nature of the module and activity. You may be attending a lecture on campus as one of 30 students to 100+ for a first-year core module or take part in seminars and collaborative work in a smaller group of 18-20 students. As an indication of class sizes, this course normally attracts 200-250 students a year.

How you'll be assessed

We assess your academic work through various methods like group work, exams, essays, presentations, case studies, professional development, and practical activities. Grades contribute to module marks, and assessment includes a combination of coursework and exams spread throughout the year.

No exams are scheduled in the first year. In the second year, the balance of coursework and exams depends on your chosen option modules. This year also includes a work-based learning module where you reflect on your experience and connect it to psychological research and theory. In the third year, your final research project coursework holds significant weight in assessment.

Feedback is provided within 15 working days, following UEL's assessment and feedback policy.

Campus and facilities

Our campus and the surrounding area

Our historic Stratford campus is located in one of the best-connected areas of London: close to Stratford's thriving town centre, the 2012 Olympic Park, and just 15 minutes from London's West End.

Stratford’s facilities include a state-of-the-art library and learning centre, the majestic great hall and specialist laboratories and computing services. The School of Education and Communities, and Centre for Clinical Education in Podiatry, Physiotherapy and Sports Science are housed in new buildings. There is also a campus restaurant and bookshop, and a Students' Union café-bar.

Westfield Stratford City - Europe's largest indoor shopping mall - is just one of Stratford's attractions, alongside many other shops, cafés, bars and restaurants. There are two multiscreen cinemas, a theatre, an arts centre and much more.

Water Lane, Stratford

Who teaches this course

This course is delivered by School of Psychology

The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.

What our students and staff say

In my third year, I would have been lost without my project supervisor. He was so supportive and helpful whilst I was completing my final year project."

Aime Leahy

BSc (Hons) Psychology

I love to help our psychology students understand and normalise emotional distress and relate it to events in their lives, and their social context, rather than think in terms of ‘disorders’ ‘chemical imbalances’ or ‘mental illnesses’. Educating them about the research relating adverse life events to mental health problems is important to me."

John Read

Professor of Clinical Psychology

Search

Psychology BSc (Hons)

Overview

Learn more about studying psychology

This course is in Clearing

TEST Course specific BANNER

Join us on Thursday

Course options

Degree

Accepted Qualifications

International Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, home applicant, full time

BSc (Hons) Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, home applicant, part time

BSc (Hons) Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, international applicant, full time

BSc (Hons) Psychology Distance Learning

Degree with foundation year

Accepted Qualifications

International Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, home applicant, full time

BSc (Hons) Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, international applicant, full time

Submitting your applicationPlease read and consider the entry and visa requirements for this course before you submit your application. For more information please visit our international student advice pages.

About our foundation years

What makes this course different

Our world leading research

Highly rated by our students

Employability focused

Accreditation

Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)

Course modules

Personal Development (Mental Wealth) Foundation Year only

Psychology in the Everyday Foundation Year only

Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology Foundation Year only

Key Studies in Psychology Foundation Year only

Introduction to Counselling Skills Foundation Year only

Introduction to Academic Practice Foundation Year only

Thinking Like a Psychologist (Mental Wealth) Core Module

Introduction to Biological and Social and Individual Differences Core Module

Introduction to Cognitive and Developmental Psychology Core Module

Psychology in Applied Contexts Core Module

Researching with Small Samples Core Module

Researching with Larger Samples Core Module

Individual Differences and Diversity Core Module

Psychological Research Methods Core Module

Topics in Cognitive and Developmental Psychology Core Module

Applications of Psychobiology and Social Psychology Core Module

Work-Based Learning in Psychology (Mental Wealth) Core Module

Research Skills in Cognitive Neuroscience Optional Module

Introduction to Forensic Psychology Optional Module

Psychology, Identity and Society Optional Module

Difficulties and Differences across Development Optional Module

Clinical and Community Psychology Optional Module

Introduction to Positive Psychology Coaching Optional Module

Psychology and the Environment Optional Module

Topics in Cyberpsychology Optional Module

The Psychology of Mental Health - Difficulties in Adulthood Optional Module

Applying Psychology in Organisations Optional Module

Psychology Research Project Core Module

Drugs and Addictive Behaviours Optional Module

Advanced Forensic Psychology Optional Module

Health Psychology Optional Module

Advanced Developmental Psychology Optional Module

Psychology of Choice Optional Module

Psychology of Belief Optional Module

Psychology of Emotion Optional Module

Occupational Psychology Optional Module

Applied Cyberpsychology Optional Module

Applied Evolutionary Psychology - Cognition, Culture, and Behaviour Change Optional Module

Positive Education Theory and Practice Optional Module

Psychological Approaches to Environmental Sustainability Optional Module

Therapeutic Psychology and Practice Optional Module

Download course specification

Your future career

Industry links

Graduate employers

Job roles

Submitting your application
Please read and consider the entry and visa requirements for this course before you submit your application. For more information please visit our international student advice pages.