Program Overview

BSc Psychology with Professional Placement

The BSc Psychology with Professional Placement is a comprehensive course that provides students with a thorough grounding in key areas of psychology and allows them to choose modules that suit their specific interests. This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and enables students to choose to take further training to become a professional psychologist.

Overview

The course incorporates a year-long placement that will enable students to develop valuable professional skills. Students will gain practical experience and learn how to devise and run their own experiments. During the final year, students will carry out an original piece of research on a topic of their choice.

Structure

The course is divided into four years:

• Year 1: Introduction to the concepts required for BPS qualification, including cognition, neuroscience, development, perception, and research methods.
• Year 2: Covering these and other subjects in far greater depth.
• Year 3: Placement year, where students can gain experience of working with professional psychologists by spending a year working within an NHS clinic, research lab, or organisation.
• Year 4: Final year, where students can develop their knowledge by exploring the areas that interest them most.

Compulsory Modules

Year 1

• Applied and Professional Psychology
• Debates in Mental Health
• Introduction to Psychological Research
• Learning about Learning
• The Person and the Brain

Year 2

• Cognitive and Biological Psychology
• Development Across the Lifespan
• Professional and Clinical Practice
• Research Methods in Psychology
• Social Psychology and Individual Differences

Year 3

• Professional Placement

Year 4

• Project
• Communicating Current Psychology

Optional Modules

A range of optional modules are available, including:

• Introduction to Neuroscience Methods
• Language in the Brain
• Behaviour Change
• Scientific Computing for Psychologists
• Psychology of Health and Wellbeing
• Clinical Neuroscience
• Emotion and Motivation
• The Psychology of Pain and Ill Health
• Neurodegeneration: Theory and Practice
• Developmental Psychopathology
• Forensic Psychology: Applying Theory and Practice
• Computation and Modelling in Psychology
• Nutrition, Cognition and Mental Health
• Neurodevelopmental Differences
• Psychology of (In)Equity

Entry Requirements

• A Level: AAB (some preference is given to science A levels, including Psychology)
• International Baccalaureate: 34 points overall
• GCSE: Grade C (4) in Science
• Extended Project Qualification: Recognized as part of a formal offer
• BTEC Extended Diploma: DDD
• English language requirements: IELTS 6.5, with no component below 5.5

Fees

• New UK/Republic of Ireland students: Ł9,790 (2026 entry)
• New international students: Ł30,650 (2026/27)
• Placement year fees: 15% of the full course fee

Careers

As a graduate of this course, students will be qualified for further training to become a professional psychologist. The course provides a range of transferable skills, including analytical qualitative abilities, writing experience, presentation skills, and the ability to think and analyze scientifically. Graduates can go on to work for organizations such as the NHS, civil services, schools, or charities, or pursue careers in the private sector, research, teacher training, or postgraduate studies.