Program Overview

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BA (Hons) / BSc (Hons) Psychology

Overview

Our innovative and award-winning psychology course will give you the edge and the skills for your career.

Key Facts

• Award: BA (Hons), BSc (Hons)
• Start Date: September 2025, January 2026
• Duration: 48 months (or 36 months following direct entry to Year 2)
• Mode of Study: Full-time, Part-time
• Delivery: On campus
• UCAS Code: C801 (BA), C800 (BSc)
• Study Abroad Opportunities: Available

Accreditations

• British Psychological Society

Top Reasons to Study with Us

• Ranked 2nd in Scotland for student satisfaction in Psychology (National Student Survey 2022)
• 100% of our research impact and environment, and 87% of our overall research in Psychology is classed as world leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)
• This course is fully accredited by the British Psychological Society

Professional Accreditation

The Psychology single honours and combined honours degree courses are accredited with the British Psychological Society. They confer eligibility for Graduate Basis for Registration, provided the minimum standard of a second-class honours is achieved. This is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist.

Prizes or Awards

• The Vicki Bruce Prize: A prize of £100 is awarded to the Psychology student with the best final year project.
• The British Psychological Society Undergraduate Award: This prize is awarded to the Psychology student with the highest overall grade. The prize is free membership of the BPS for one year, a copy of the Society’s Book of the Year and a certificate.
• The Ivana Markova Prize: A prize of £100 is awarded to a Psychology Final Year student for outstanding wider achievement.
• The Phyllis Lee Prize: A prize of £100 is awarded to the best combined Honours Psychology Final Year student.
• The Peter McEwen Prize: A prize of £100 is awarded to the best Single Honours Psychology Final Year student.
• The McCall/Whittaker Prize: A prize of £100 is awarded to the Psychology student for recognition of outstanding demonstration of Psychologically Literate Citizenship.
• Research Based Learning Prize for Outstanding Demonstration of Integrating Research into Learning: A prize of £200 is awarded by the Faculty.

Entry Requirements

Year 1 Entry – Four-year Honours

• SQA Highers: AABB
• GCE A-levels: BBB
• IB Diploma: 28 points
• BTEC (Level 3): DDM
• Widening Access Students: Widening access students may be eligible for an adjusted offer of entry.

Year 2 Entry – Three-year Honours

• SQA Advanced Highers: ABB
• GCE A-levels: ABB
• IB Diploma: 32 points
• Essential Subjects: To include Psychology

Other Scottish Qualifications

• Scottish HNC/HND: Year one minimum entry - Bs in graded units.
• Access Courses: University of Stirling access course - for mature students only. You must pass the course with 50% or above.

Other Qualifications

• English, Welsh and Northern Irish HNC/HND: Merits and Distinctions
• English, Welsh and Northern Irish Access Courses: Access to Higher Education - 60 credits, minimum 45 at QCF Level 3, pass at 60% or above.

International Entry Requirements

View the entry requirements for your country.

Advanced Entry

• Year 2 Entry: Entry into Year 2 may be possible depending on your HNC/HND course.
• Other Qualifications: Advanced entry may be possible depending on your qualifications.

Other Routes of Entry

If you don't currently meet our academic requirements, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need to progress onto some of our courses.

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

• IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
• IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.

Course Details

We focus on important societal problems, such as detection of criminals and improvement of health outcomes, so our degree is relevant to real-life issues. We cover topics as diverse as brain functioning, development and social behaviour, ensuring you develop a deep knowledge and understanding of mind and behaviour.

Modules

The module information below provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the academic year that starts in September 2025. Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.

Teaching

Our research-led teaching is at the core of your learning as our staff conduct world-leading research.

Fieldwork

Some students have the opportunity to undertake fieldwork as part of their final year project options. For example, students studying animal behaviour may visit the Blair Drummond Safari Park or Edinburgh Zoo (travel costs may be incurred).

Assessment

Modules on the course are assessed through a combination of coursework and examinations. Assessment types include essays, individual practical reports, group practical reports, oral presentations, poster presentations and popular science articles.

Classroom Hours

A typical 20 credit psychology module will involve between 30-50 hours of contact time (lectures, seminars, practicals etc). You might be expected to spend 40-50 hours working on assessments (essays, practical reports, exams), and around 100 hours studying independently.

Work Placement Opportunities

In Semester 8 you’ll have the opportunity to apply for a Psychology placement. Successful applicants undertake a 50-hour placement with a host organisation.

Fees and Funding

Fees and Costs

• Scottish Students: This fee is set by the Scottish Government and is subject to change.
• Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland: This tuition fee may be subject to change depending on guidance provided by the UK Government.
• International Students (including EU): Eligible students will automatically receive a scholarship worth between £8,000-£30,000 over the duration of your course.

Funding

See what funding opportunities and loans are available to help you with tuition and living costs.

• Students from Scotland: Find funding opportunities for Scottish students.
• Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland: Eligible students will automatically receive our Undergraduate Welcome Scholarship, Undergraduate Merit Scholarship, and our Honours Year Scholarship, which are worth between £1,000 and £9,250.
• International Students: Eligible international students will automatically receive a scholarship worth between £8,000-£30,000 over the duration of your course.

After You Graduate

Preparing You for the World of Work

The knowledge and skills you’ll get from our Psychology degree will offer you a wide and diverse choice of careers. Engagement with potential employers, work-related learning and the dissertation project in your final year will develop your professional skills.

Companies We Work With

We have links with many local businesses and organisations in both the public and private sectors who have provided placement opportunities for our students in areas such as education, social care, healthcare and counselling.

Discover Uni

Discover Uni provides official data on each university's undergraduate courses, including satisfaction scores from the National Student Survey, details of graduate jobs and salaries, and other key information for prospective students.

• 82% of students were satisfied overall with their course.
• 80% of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well.
• 95% in work or doing further study 15 months after the course.

What Our Students Said

• "The best thing about studying psychology here is that you can interact with the lecturers, you don't feel as though you are just another student." - David Hamilton
• "I chose Stirling because it gave me the opportunity to study exactly what I wanted, and to study English to prepare me for an international world. I would not have had this amazing chance at home." - Friederike Schubert
• "What I really like about my course is that we've got the flexibility to choose our own research. Stirling has given me the confidence and skills to get into my dream career." - Monica Dudley

Flexible Study

Are you interested in more than one of our courses? You might not have to choose between them. Here at Stirling, we believe in choice and offer more than 170 course combinations.

Psychology can be combined with any of the following courses:

• Biology
• Business Studies
• English Studies
• Film and Media
• Human Resource Management
• Marketing
• Mathematics
• Philosophy
• Politics
• Modern Languages
• Sociology

For a combined honours degree where the two subjects have different entry requirements, you will usually be asked to meet the higher entry requirement.

Related Courses

• BSc (Hons) Sport Psychology (UCAS Code: CC68)