Program Overview

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BSc (Hons) Psychology

1st in the UK for student satisfaction (Guardian University Guide 2023)

Do you enjoy investigating and debating ideas? Explore human behaviour and develop valuable graduate skills with our Psychology degree, accredited by the British Psychological Society.

This programme provides an engaging exploration of human behaviour, cognition, advanced research methods, and hands-on experiential problem-based learning.

You will explore human experience across a range of contexts and lifespans, from understanding the biological basis of behaviour to questioning the impact of social media on child development. Part of your degree course will be practical, focusing on research techniques, qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods, data handling and analysis skills, laboratory reports, and communication skills.

Our software and equipment for collecting experimental data includes the Biopac data acquisition system, MindWave Neurosky headsets which are used to study and analyse brainwave patterns, and E-prime software for designing and running psychological experiments.

Lectures and seminars are taught by passionate academics, all of whom are researchers and practitioners, which allows you to benefit from their expertise and cutting-edge research. Our lecturers will get to know you individually to ensure you get the most out of your degree and feel supported throughout. You will also be encouraged to engage in career-enhancing voluntary work.

To help you reach your ideal future career, you will be able to shape your psychology degree to your own interests and ambitions. Your second year, for example, provides an opportunity to undertake an independent piece of work in an area of your choice.

Course Overview

This degree programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and is designed to give you the knowledge and expertise to kickstart a successful career in Psychology. Upon completion of the course, you will also be eligible to apply for Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) with the BPS. The skills, knowledge and understanding you gain from the course will therefore help you access a range of rewarding professions within the field of psychology.

You’ll learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, and workshops delivered by our expert academics, and be encouraged to engage in career-enhancing voluntary work, giving you valuable hands-on experience that will allow you to graduate as a confident and knowledgeable practitioner. You will also attend seminars with national and international speakers and engage with real world research projects throughout your degree.

The course offers work experience in a range of areas, including working with young people, in schools, as part of research teams, within different charities, and supporting ex-offenders. We also offer a variety of extracurricular opportunities, such as voluntary research assistant roles, which have led to student publications and conference presentations.

This course is designed to allow you to tailor your degree based on your interests. Our Negotiated Learning allows you to pursue a supervised independent project on any psychological topic of your choice. Current students have explored areas such as clinical and forensic psychology, as well as educational and occupational psychology.

You will therefore be in the ideal position to take the next steps towards a career in clinical, forensic or educational psychology, health education and promotion, counselling, social work, teaching, organisational behaviour, human resources, and prison or probation work.

What’s more, our psychology courses are ranked 1st in the North West and 11th in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2023 Results). We're also 1st in the UK for students satisfied with course, teaching and feedback for psychology (Guardian University Guide 2023 Results).

On this course you will...

• Study psychology at the University of Cumbria, exploring and applying psychological literature to current issues, contexts and experiences.
• Be taught and given high-quality support and guidance by our lecturing team, who are active in research and practices.
• Learn valuable transferrable skills in research, which are highly sought after by employers.
• Have the opportunity to choose topics and areas that you want to learn more about to tailor your learning experience.
• Be able to shape your psychology degree experience to your interests and career goals, allowing us to help you to reach your ideal future career.

Key Details

• Recruiting to: UK / RoI / Settled in UK, EU / EEA / International
• Course Location: Carlisle - Fusehill Street
• Institute: Institute of Health
• UCAS Code: C800
• Delivery Style: In-Person
• Course Duration: Full-time: 3 Years
• Study Options: Integrated Foundation Year
• Course Start Point: September
• Award: BSc (Hons)

Minimum entry requirements

• 104-128 UCAS Tariff points

Tuition fees

• £9,535 - UK
• £14,900 - International

What our students say

• After attending the University of Cumbria open day I knew this was where I wanted to go. I liked the location, size and student diversity.
• Lynda Kyle, Psychology
• After owning her own business for thirteen years, Lynda changed her path and chose to re-enter full-time education. She is now succeeding as an undergraduate Psychology student at the University of Cumbria.
• Discover Lynda's Story
• I feel part of the team, I feel I’m encouraged to be me, to share my thoughts and I feel I am really thriving in this environment.
• Felicity Griggs, Psychology
• Felicity chose to study Psychology as a mature student, find out how she found the experience and what her next steps are.
• Read Felicity's Story
• Studying Psychology is helping me to achieve my goal of becoming a Health Psychologist. Even though I still have a way to go, my passion for the profession is a great motivator, and I am enjoying being back in education with a clear aim.
• Adam Muncaster, Psychology with Integrated Foundation Year
• After struggling with his mental health upon leaving the military in 2016, Adam's University of Cumbria journey has seen him find his passion, grow in confidence and become a mental health advocate for others.
• Read Adam's Story

Related Courses

• BSc (Hons) - Psychology (with integrated foundation year)
• BSc (Hons) - Psychology with Counselling and Psychotherapy

Course Structure

What you will learn

On this degree, you will study five key themes within psychology:

• The contextualised bio-psychosocial nature of human development and experience
• Ethical decision making and professional values
• Gathering and analysing evidence using robust, population relevant and ethical research techniques
• The pivotal role of academic, professional and graduate skills
• Experiential problem-based learning

The following modules will take you through these themes, allowing you to investigate your independent interests in the curriculum.

Year one

In your first year, you will build knowledge in the foundations of psychology as a discipline and develop key skills through lectures, workshops and problem-based learning.

• Psychology in Action
• Introduction to a range of theories and models from developmental, cognitive and biological psychology and their application to human contexts.
• Introduction to Psychological Research Methods
• Introduction to the nature of psychological enquiry and research skills. Exploring quantitative and qualitative research methods, philosophical underpinnings and practical applications.
• Introduction to Data Analysis
• Introduction to the processes involved in the analysis and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative data.
• Perspectives in Psychology
• Introduction to a range of perspectives and key debates in psychology that aid in the understanding of individual and social phenomena.
• Professional and Academic Skills
• Introduction to working with others in a professional setting, employability, and professional practice that includes listening skills and providing constructive feedback.
• Introduction to Psychopathology
• This module will provide a basis for diagnostic classification systems (e.g. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)), and give an overview of the various different forms of psychopathology.

Year two

In the second year, you will develop a more in-depth understanding of research, theory, and practice, and develop research and practical skills.

• Research Methods and Statistics
• Introduction to statistical techniques dealing with more than one independent variable at two or more levels, including within, between, and mixed participant designs.
• Development, Brain and Cognition
• Explore the potential impact a range of factors have on human development and behaviour.
• Research Methods in Applied Psychology Settings
• Introduction to a range of research designs used in psychology and applied psychology settings.
• Work Experience
• The module will give you an opportunity to link your academic study with work experience. This will allow you to enhance your employability and develop your reflective writing skills through writing a report reflecting on your work experience.
• Negotiated Learning
• This module permits you to independently undertake an agreed piece of work that is relevant to your own interests and/or career plans.
• Social and Community Psychology
• Study theories of social psychology with the goal of understanding the experiences and behaviours of people within their community.

Year three

In your final year, you will undertake an independent research project that will allow you to explore a topic of interest and pursue your own research question.

• Critical Psychology
• You will engage in a critical debate about the ideological basis of psychological knowledge, methods, and applications.
• Individual Differences: Abilities, Personalities and measuring differences
• Introduction to the nature of individual differences in human behaviour across a wide spectrum of human development. With a specific focus on ability, personality and the use of Psychological testing to assess difference.
• Dissertation
• You will pursue an investigation on a topic of your own interest.
• Psychological Literacy and Careers
• The module will give you an opportunity to apply your psychological knowledge and skills to applied psychology settings. It will invite you to engage in an in-depth exploration of a career within, or allied to, psychology.
• Counselling and Coaching Psychology
• This module includes the development of basic counselling and coaching skills to complement their developing employability skills and psychological literacy.

Teaching & Assessment

How you will learn

The curriculum will involve you in activities that promote engagement with a range of challenges and opportunities that extend beyond the classroom. Some of the activities that support this include:

• Guest speaker sessions
• Liaising with professional bodies
• Staff-student research participation projects
• Evening seminars
• Psychology film clubs

We adopt a blended learning approach that involves a combination of face to face and online learning. We encourage you to collaborate remotely, share materials and discuss work outside of the classroom.

How you will be assessed

Assessments will support the development of skills, offer feedback and mark areas for improvement.

Assessment styles include:

• Written assignments
• Unseen in-class tests
• Presentations and reports
• Innovative and employability-focused tasks such as case study analysis, problem-based activities and reflective logs

In your first year, several modules involve a portfolio assessment model which enables you to develop and evidence a range of skills critical to success in years 2 and 3.

In each module, you have the opportunity to engage in summative and formative assessments. Summative assessment refers to work submitted for module and programme credit and is used to assess whether you have achieved the relevant learning outcomes in a module. Summative assessment is captured in the overall mark awarded for each module. Formative assessments occur in each of the modules to scaffold future summative assessments.

Entry Requirements

104-128 UCAS Tariff Points, You can find out more about the tariff and qualification options from the UCAS tariff table. Offers are tailored to the individual applicant and their circumstances and can be across the tariff range. Applicants who meet our contextual information criteria will be offered at the bottom of the range.

Qualifications

Entry Requirements

• A-levels: BBD-ABB
• T-levels: P (C+) – M. All subjects are accepted for entry to this course
• Access to HE: 27 Credits at Distinction & 18 at Merit
• CACHE Technical Level 3 and Level 3 Extended Diploma: B
• OCR Cambridge Technical & Edexcel/Pearson BTEC Level 3 (National) Extended Diploma: MMM – DDM
• Scottish Highers: BBBC - AAAB
• Irish LC Highers: B1, B2x3 – A1, B1x3
• Alternative routes: If don't think you'll meet the criteria for direct application to this course, check out our Integrated Foundation Year

Fair Admissions

When you apply, our Admissions specialists will review your whole application. We are looking for your potential to succeed so will assess your qualifications, any relevant work experience, your personal statement, and references.

Where you have received a conditional offer subject to achieving particular grades/UCAS tariff scores, and do not quite meet these scores, please try not to worry, where vacancies exist our Admissions specialists will review your whole application again and take account of any mitigating circumstances and reassess your suitability for the course.

Selection Criteria

As part of the application and selection process, we are looking for your commitment to this programme. In your personal statement, you should demonstrate your motivation for choosing this course and reflect upon any experience you have gained.

Contextual Admissions

Going to higher education can transform a person’s life. We use contextual admissions to make sure that we are accessible to everyone who has the potential to succeed. Qualifications and grades are important, but they are considered alongside other information that helps universities to identify potential and widen access to university level study. For some individuals, the disadvantages they have experienced in their life mean that they have not been able to demonstrate their full academic potential. Where a person lives and their personal circumstances can all affect their educational attainment.

We take this context into account and look for an applicant’s potential when making admission decisions. The University of Cumbria will make offers at the bottom of any UCAS Tariff range to applicants that live in postal code regions with the lowest participation in Higher Education (Polar 4 quintile 1 – you can check your postcode here), applicants that are estranged from their parents, are care leavers or have caring responsibilities or are in receipt of or received free school meals during their secondary education. Attendance at our Masterclasses and Summer Schools will also allow applicants to receive an offer lower within the tariff range. (T&Cs apply)

Contact for more information.

Language requirements

Please follow the link to check language requirements for this programme here.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

2025 - 2026

• £9,535 - UK
• £14,900 - International

:

• £9,250 - UK
• £13,575 - International

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

Additional Costs

There will be some additional costs. For example all students will need to purchase stationery and may wish to purchase some text books. Extra costs may also be applicable to cover field trips, membership fees etc. although such features are usually options within the course.

Books and Journals

The University library holds copies of core texts (including some as eBooks accessible online) and paper and/or e-versions of an extensive range of psychology journals. However, you may wish to purchase your own copies of books (new or second hand), in which case the following are recommended (although reviewed each year).

Stationery

Students should budget for stationery and consumables for your own personal use. This should include notebooks, pens and pencils for taking notes in class and/or in the field. Students should also budget for the purchase of USB pen drives, as well as occasional printing and photocopying costs incurred in the preparation or submission of coursework. Whilst you will choose how much you need, expect to pay around £30 - £40 per year for these items.

Field Trips

You may wish to attend a conference (optional not part of the course) the costs vary and depend on whether you go to a one day or several day event, the costs will vary depending on the venue and the cost of accommodation. With conference fees, travel and accommodation you will need to budget £250 and £750. You may have the opportunity to study alongside prisoners from a local prison, if you decide to take up this opportunity (if it is available to your year group) then you will need to consider travel costs. Students typically car share to keep the costs to a minimum, but you would need to budget for around £60-£100 to cover the 6-10 trips.

Other

British Psychological Society – student membership £26. You may wish to carry out an additional professional qualification offered to our students at around one third (£400-600) of the typical cost (£). We offer BPS accredited psychometric training courses for both ability and personality. These courses are separate from your degree but prepare you well for work as a psychologist.