Psychology
Factfile
| Typical Entry Requirements | A level grades AAB-ABB (340-320 points) |
|---|---|
| Required Subjects | GCSE Mathematics and English Language grade B (or equivalent) is required. |
| English Language Requirements | An IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent for non-native-English-speaking applicants. |
| Other Suitable Qualifications | BTEC National Diploma - DDD-DDM European Baccalaureate - 78-76% A wide range of other qualifications will be considered on an individual basis such as HND, Irish Leaving Certificate, Scottish qualifications, Access Diplomas and Foundation courses. Vocational qualifications will only be accepted if accompanied by at least one academic A level. |
|---|---|
| Planned Intake | 120 |
| Selection Process | Selection is primarily on the basis of UCAS forms. Offers are normally made in terms of grades. We do not include General Studies in our offers. We invite suitable candidates to visit the University to find out more about the programme and meet staff and students. |
| Professional Recognition | Students graduating from our programme are eligible for Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and have the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership – the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist. Students graduating from degree programmes which are not accredited are required to undertake further courses and assessments before being allowed to complete further training leading to chartered status. Individuals seeking a career as a professional psychologist are therefore advised to take an accredited programme. |
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Should you choose to study Psychology at Surrey, you will be provided with a combination of opportunities that would be hard to match elsewhere. We offer you a degree that provides a thorough grounding in the theories, methods and practice of contemporary psychology.
Our programme lays particular emphasis on the application of psychology to real-world problems based on a combination of pure and applied research in areas such as health, clinical psychology, social interaction, industry, the environment, education, child development, perception and cognition. Our degree also considers issues related to professional practice in preparation for your professional training year.
Further information
Degree Programme
BSc (Hons) Degrees
| Degree | UCAS code | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| * Programme includes a professional training year | ||
| BSc (Hons) Psychology | C800 | 4* years |
Our Degree
Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and mental life. It seeks to understand what makes us as we are, and what constrains and influences what we do. It addresses issues such as how children learn, why we forget, what causes mental disorders, how brain and behaviour interact, and how we perceive the world.
In the first two years of your programme you will learn about the core areas of psychology, studying social, developmental and cognitive psychology, biological bases of psychology, individual differences, and the use of research methods and statistics in psychology. In your final year you will be able to select from a range of modules and will undertake a five-month independent research project on a topic of your choosing.
As well as the specific subjects that you will study, students of psychology also develop highly valued key transferable skills. These include critical thinking, analysis and synthesis, scientific methods and practice, data analysis, report writing, presentation skills and teamwork.
We provide excellent teaching, as verified by the Quality Assessment Agency, and use a variety of teaching styles and methods to promote your learning and understanding. You will be taught by lecturing staff who have an international reputation in their specialist fields. We work to provide a lively, friendly and supportive environment for our students and boast an excellent record for both graduate employment and for providing students with the basis for subsequent professional training in psychology and other areas.
Programme Overview
Psychology is a rewarding and valuable degree both for the subject areas it covers and the skills you learn while studying these subjects. Understanding what makes us as we are and what constrains and influences what we do is fundamental to human endeavour. For instance, advances in science, international conflicts, our enjoyment of the arts, are all shaped by factors such as our biology, the capacity of human thought, patterns of communication and social interaction, and the operation of our perceptual systems. Psychology seeks to explore these factors.
Qualified psychologists have a commitment both to research and to the practical application of knowledge. They work and conduct research in laboratories, schools, offices, industry, clinics, hospitals, prisons and many other settings in which people live and work.
Our Department has a reputation for being friendly, approachable and supportive, and provides a vibrant and enthusiastic environment for teaching and learning. It is no surprise that our graduates readily find interesting and rewarding employment in business, industry, the public sector and research when they graduate.
Level 1 focuses on helping you to develop a foundation knowledge of psychology. Individual modules cover the core areas of psychology, plus research methods and statistics. Our academic tutorials help students to develop the skills required for success on the programme.
At Level 2 most of the areas addressed in Level 1 are covered in greater depth. Study of these core areas provides the basis for accreditation of the degree by the British Psychological Society. You will also have an introduction to professional skills in preparation for your professional training year.
Level 3 gives you the opportunity to extend your studies further into those areas of psychology that interest you. Along with a module on Individual Differences, you will choose seven modules during semesters one and two which cover advanced and applied areas of psychology. You will also undertake a five-month research project and submit a dissertation report on a topic of interest to you, supervised by a member of staff.
The skills you will gain are highly valued in both academic and workplace settings. As a Psychology graduate from Surrey, you will be skilled in applying your knowledge, and in your ability to learn quickly, work in teams, plan, analyse and present your work. This will be an advantage in your future career or study choices.
Programme Structure
Level 1
- Biological Bases of Psychology 1
- Cognitive Psychology 1
- Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology
- Developmental Psychology 1
- Social Psychology 1
- Research Methods
- Statistics
Level 2
- Biological Bases of Psychology 2
- Cognitive Psychology 2
- Developmental Psychology 2
- Social Psychology 2
- Research Methods
- Statistics
- Professional Skills and Professional Training Year Preparation
Level P
- Professional training year
Level 3
- Psychology Dissertation
- Individual Differences
Optional module topics include:
- Inter-group Conflict
- Introduction to Clinical Psychology
- Emotions and Social Interaction
- Environmental Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Work and Organisational Psychology
- Psychology of Families
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Special Educational Needs
Professional Training
Our degree programme includes a professional training year during the third year. Professional placements give you the opportunity to spend part of your degree programme with an outside organisation gaining invaluable work experience, and enhances employability.
The extensive professional and research activities of departmental staff enable you to choose from a range of different work settings to reflect your individual interests and needs. Settings may be found throughout the UK and include hospitals and clinics, schools, social survey companies, personnel and occupational guidance services, industry and commerce.
Institutions and companies that have participated in the scheme include: the Home Office, the Institute of Psychiatry, BMG Records, IBM, the Metropolitan Police, HMP Holloway, Royal Marsden Hospital, the Guildford Pupil Referral Unit, More House School, the National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy and Action on Addiction.
Ten reasons to study Psychology at Surrey
- A four-year degree programme that gives you a thorough grounding in modern psychology with an opportunity to specialise in the final year
- Undertake a supervised professional training year, with opportunities in professional areas of psychology
- An outstanding graduate employment record
- Accredited by the British Psychological Society as providing the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership
- Lecturing staff with an international reputation in their specialist area, ensuring that programme content is at the forefront of the discipline
- 85 per cent of research rated internationally recognised, internationally excellent or world-leading in latest Research Assessment Exercise
- First-rate computing and laboratory facilities
- A reputation for being lively, friendly and supportive
Top for Jobs
Graduates over the last few years entered employment with organisations such as:
- Institute of Psychiatry – Research Assistant
- Royal Hospital for Neurodisability – Rehabilitation Assistant
- United Kingdom Young Autism Project – Tutor
- Great Ormond Street Hospital – Assistant Psychologist
- Marks & Spencer – Human Resources Adviser
- Metropolitan Police Service – Technical Author
- Which? – Business Research Assistant
- Broadmoor Hospital – Therapy Assistant
Career Opportunities
Our Psychology degree provides you with the basic requirement for admission to psychology postgraduate training courses in specialist areas of the discipline such as clinical, educational or occupational psychology. Some graduates continue their interest in psychology by registering for a research degree (PhD, MPhil) in a specialist area of interest, leading to a career as an academic research psychologist. Many organisations will employ Psychology graduates for their specific training and skills in areas such as personnel, research and development, survey and market research departments, and career guidance.
In addition, many employers are anxious to recruit Psychology graduates because the broad curriculum produces a well-rounded individual, who communicates well, has analytical skills and is numerate. Recent graduates have embarked on careers in research, law, accountancy, teaching, computer programming and general management. Virtually all graduates of the programme find satisfactory employment within six months of graduation.
Teaching
A range of teaching methods are employed on our programme as appropriate for the individual modules. These range from lectures, seminars and workshops, through small group practicals and tutorials, to one-to-one dissertation supervision. In addition to lectures and seminars, tutorials are generally used to introduce you to the core areas of psychology.
In the first year of the programme, students receive tutorials in groups of about ten, which gives you the opportunity to develop your skills such as searching for and analysing research, writing essays and laboratory reports, and preparing for exams. Laboratory classes in your first and second years will introduce you to the main research methods and techniques used within psychology, and to methods (statistical and qualitative) for analysing research data.
Teaching is delivered by staff who are experts in their particular field of psychology. Teaching takes place in a friendly and professional environment. Teaching, laboratory and IT facilities are up-to-date and well maintained.
Facilities
The Department provides computing laboratories with a large number of Windows-based workstations and PCs. In addition, students have 24-hour access to the University’s computing facilities. The Department also has a range of dedicated laboratories for conducting a wide variety of psychological research, including infant observation facilities, laboratories for perception and psychophysiological research, a suite of small project rooms, an extensive library of psychometric and clinical tests, and the use of an MRI brain scanner.
Assessment
At all levels, methods of assessment include coursework and exams. You will be required to pass all of the components at each level in order to proceed to the next one. Because the first year does not count towards the final degree classification, this gives you the opportunity to resolve any problems before they affect your degree grade. Your final degree classification will be based upon your performance at Levels 2 and 3. In determining the final degree grade, the marks from Level 3 assessments are double-weighted relative to those from Level 2.
Contact Details
T: 0800 980 3200 or +44 (0)1483 681681
What our students say
Graduate Profile: Claire Pearce
BSc Psychology
I chose to come to Surrey because it was one of the only universities in the country that did placements, and compared to other universities, it came out top on graduate recruitment and ranking in the top psychology departments.
The whole University is really friendly and has a nice feel to it, including the accommodation which was much nicer than a lot of universities that I had seen.
I enjoyed the freedom that we were given; we got help with essays in the first year, with tutorials, but then left to get on with it ourselves, which is great for your autonomy. However, there is also a lot of support if you need it. Through the course I developed a lot of skills that were useful in my placement, for example, research and interpersonal skills developed through having to work in groups to complete research projects.
I have not yet decided whether I am going to apply to complete the Forensic Psychology Masters course at Surrey yet, but I will either do that, hoping to train to become a forensic psychologist, or I will find a job in a related field, either with the police, or with the National Crime and Operations Facility.
Graduate Profile: Martin Kettley
BSc Psychology
I chose Surrey predominantly due to the placement year that is offered. I felt that it was the most effective way to further understand my subject and put myself ahead in terms of employment after graduation. Furthermore, Surrey consistently places very highly in the university rankings, especially for psychology.
Every lecturer on the course was very friendly and approachable; they were usually easy to find and were more than happy to discuss any work that you may be struggling with or would just like some more information on. The workload is enough that it stretches you and keeps you busy but not so much that you feel overwhelmed.
The single most important skill I feel I developed at Surrey was my confidence. Through starting from scratch with new friends, to asking questions in lectures and going on placement, I feel this really helped me as an individual.
As for the campus, without doubt my favourite aspect was the lake. I can think of no better place to spend a summer’s afternoon, be it relaxing with friends, drafting an essay or revising for exams. That said the rest of the campus is equally great; it is relatively compact, making navigation easy, whilst not so crowded that it makes you feel oppressed.
I'm now planning to take a year off to travel around Asia. Once I am back home I intend to get relevant experience through working in various places before pursuing my clinical psychology training.
