Program Overview

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Philosophy and Ethics and Psychology

BA/BSc (Hons)

Undergraduate degree - combined honours

Overview

Combine professional skills and opportunities with subject knowledge in an innovative Philosophy and Ethics degree. Develop practical and professional skills and apply them to contemporary challenges, issues and debates. Explore the next stage in your career - our graduates have gone on to work with leading employers in a wide range of roles.

What you'll learn

• Introductions and foundations: develop your skills in philosophical thinking, and follow a broad curriculum which allows you to ask questions, challenge your own assumptions, interrogate evidence, data and opinions.
• Practical, applied, relevant: this year combines the academic study of Philosophy with the acquisition of professional skills and the application of your knowledge and understanding to a defined problem or idea.
• Achievement, consolidation, creativity: your final project in the third year brings all this together. You'll identify your own area of study, develop your proposal and put it into practice.

How will I be assessed?

• Assessment is mainly through coursework such as essays, projects, presentations, or online discussion.

How will I be taught?

• Our focus is on ‘doing philosophy’ and developing your confidence and capacity for philosophical analysis and debate. We’ll support you through lectures and seminar work, as well as individual tutorials and support.

Opportunities

• Fieldwork and visits are an integral part of the course. We visit religious communities, mosques, temples, gurdwaras and churches.
• Work placements, industry links and internships: we have excellent links with third sector organisations, working with environmental and educational charities, as well as others.

Careers

• Our graduates have careers in: the police service, health administration, education, social work, journalism.
• The ability to combine this course with another subject makes it ideal for individuals considering a career in teaching. Many graduates go on to train as teachers – the course is widely respected as a foundation for a career in education.

Professional placement year

• The Professional Placement Year (PPY) provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for, and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months.

Facilities and resources

• The Philosophy and Ethics course is based at our Newton Park campus, which combines outstanding modern facilities with a beautiful setting.
• The Library provides many core resources, both in print and online. We draw on a wide range of resources, and encourages the use – and creation – of different materials.

Fees

• 2025 entry:
  • UK full time: £9,535
  • UK part time: £4,768
  • International full time: £16,460

What we look for in potential students

• Our students come from a range of different backgrounds. We look for individuals with an enquiring mind and a willingness to explore new areas of thought and belief.

Typical offers

• A Level – grades BBB-BCC preferred.
• BTEC – Extended Diploma grades from Distinction Distinction Merit (DDM) to Distinction Merit Merit (DMM) accepted in any subject.
• T Levels – grade Merit preferred.
• International Baccalaureate – a minimum of 32 points are required.
• Access to HE courses – typical offers for applicants with Access to HE will be the Access to HE Diploma or Access to HE Certificate (60 credits, 45 of which must be Level 3, at Merit or higher).

English Language Requirements for International and EU Applicants

• IELTS 6.0 - for visa nationals, with a minimum score of IELTS 5.5 in each element.

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Psychology

BSc (Hons)

Undergraduate degree

Overview

Understand the mind and human behaviour from a range of perspectives and methodologies with our applied Psychology degree. Tailor your studies to your future aspirations with optional modules and interdisciplinary learning. Learn from passionate experts in biological, cognitive, developmental and social psychology.

What you'll learn

• Year one: explore the main areas of psychological science, the ways in which you can use psychology in your life, and controversial issues around race and gender.
• Year two: take on further depth and challenges as you advance your understanding of research design and analysis. You'll take a closer look at biological, cognitive, developmental and social psychology.
• Year three: embark upon your dissertation, working one-to-one with a member of staff on an original psychology research project. You'll also learn about creative enterprise with psychological science, completing a consultancy project of your own.

How will I be assessed?

• Assessment methods vary depending on your exact module choices and can include essays, debates, individual or group presentations, reflection pieces, and seen examinations.

How will I be taught?

• Modules are carefully designed to inspire and challenge you, encouraging you to think critically about Psychology. Most modules involve a mixture of lectures and follow-up seminars, workshops, and tutorials.

Opportunities

• Work placements and internships: our students have access to corporate-sponsored internship and placement opportunities. These offer experience in areas such as marketing, multimedia and product design, filming and editing, business management, HR, customer services, research and analysis, project management and events.
• Research Certificate Scheme: the scheme runs each semester and generally involves between one and four hours of work per week, collaborating with academic staff on projects across a range of topic areas.

Careers and employability

• Psychology degrees teach both scientific and people skills, leading to varied career paths for BSU graduates. BPS accreditation allows graduates to work towards becoming professional Psychologists, whilst other graduates chose to train in counselling and education, or have gone into management, sales and advertising, probation work and human resources.

Professional placement year

• The Professional Placement Year (PPY) provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for, and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months.

Facilities and resources

• Psychology is taught at our Newton Park campus. You'll have access to a wide range of excellent facilities including the Commons building, Newton Park library, Virtual Learning Environment, Academic Skills (ASk), specialist resources and subject librarian, English Language Unit (if English isn’t your first language).

Fees

• 2025 entry:
  • UK full time: £9,535
  • UK part time: £4,768
  • International full time: £16,460

What we look for in potential students

• You'll be fascinated by human behaviour and the workings of the mind, and curious enough to ask questions that will help drive our science forward. You'll have explored some areas in psychology and be excited to understand the other facets that make up the discipline.

Typical offers

• A Level - grades BBB-BCC preferred. If studying Psychology, then a Grade B or higher is required. If Psychology is not an option at your school or college, then another A Level subject will be accepted, but a keen interest in psychology will need to be described in your personal statement.
• BTEC – Extended Diploma grades from Distinction Distinction Merit (DDM) to Distinction Merit Merit (DMM) in a related subject. Applicants will need to show a keen interest in psychology in the personal statement.
• T Levels – grade Merit preferred in a relevant subject.
• International Baccalaureate - a minimum of 32 points are required. Applicants will need to show a keen interest in psychology in the personal statement.
• Access to HE courses – typical offers for applicants with Access to HE will be the Access to HE Diploma or Access to HE Certificate (60 credits, 45 of which must be Level 3, at Merit or higher). Applicants will need to show a keen interest in psychology in the personal statement.

English Language Requirements for International and EU Applicants

• IELTS 6.0 - for visa nationals, with a minimum score of IELTS 5.5 in each element.