Psychology BSc (Hons)

You will learn through hands-on practical work, enabling you to develop laboratory skills, alongside traditional lectures and seminars. In Psychology we believe in innovative teaching and use social media, apps and podcasts along with the eLearning Portal (an online application where you can access information about your course and modules), electronic reading lists, lecture capture and online submission and feedback tools to support your learning.

Your study will be geared towards honing your research and analytical skills, developing your ability to learn independently and applying your knowledge in a real world setting through your work placement.

You will be assessed through written assignments, oral and poster presentations, and examinations, culminating in a final year research project, driven by your personal interests and career aspirations.

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You will learn from inspirational, approachable, research-focused staff who are passionate about their subject and who are at the forefront of developments in the field. With a teaching team spanning a range of nationalities, we have formed global networks and partnerships through research and teaching which you can draw from to enhance your learning.

Across the department we specialise in areas as diverse as sleep research; identity; trust and security in social media; human mating preferences and attractiveness; body image; and communications technology. Whatever your interests, our staff have the knowledge to support you in developing your own research skills and interests.

At Northumbria we value the importance of practical experience so we provide you with access to dedicated specialist and flexible teaching laboratories. Many of your teaching sessions in will be held in the labs, and led by research-active staff. You can also book the rooms for your own project work and individual study.

There is an extensive collection of psychological testing material to support your learning, including current editions of most of the widely used group and individual tests. You will also benefit from being immersed in an active research environment with access to Northumbria’s innovative research centres.

Research excellence is embedded within every stage of the course. Staff are actively engaged in a wide range of research with almost three-quarters of Northumbria’s psychology research being judged to have outstanding reach and significance for its impact, placing us top 20 in the UK (REF 2014).

Psychology research is centred around the theme of Psychology and Wellbeing and this is reflected in our research specialisms of Brain Performance and Nutrition, Communication Technologies, Sleep Research, Evolution Perception and Behaviour, Language and Cognition and Cognition across the Lifespan. State-of-the-art facilities and expert staff in each area allow you to learn from those at the cutting-edge of their subject. For your final year project you will be matched with an academic closely aligned to your area of specialism to ensure you have access to the most relevant knowledge and expertise.

With accreditation by the British Psychological Society (BPS) to provide Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), the BSc in Psychology has been developed specifically to make you job-ready on graduation. To this end we offer the opportunity to undertake a work-based placement, in areas such as mental health, brain injury and education.

A work placement is the ideal way to gain experience in your chosen career and will enable you to apply what you have learnt in the lecture theatre and lab in the real world. You will be able to work alongside, and learn from, professionals in the psychology field, building up vital networking contacts and developing key skills such as time management, communication, problem solving and self-management.

Northumbria’s Psychology BSc is designed to not only develop your understanding of the subject but also to enhance your transferable and critical thinking skills. You will graduate with practical experience and research skills, along with the confidence and independent learning ability that will stand you in good stead for a variety of careers.

With the opportunity to apply for Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS) you can take your first steps to becoming a Chartered Psychologist and follow a career path into clinical, forensic, educational, health, counselling psychology or you may choose to go into education and further study.

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