BSc(Hons) Psychology (with Foundation Year)

This module will introduce the scientific process and the fundamental quantitative and qualitative research designs used in psychology. You'll develop practical skills in collecting data in person, online and in laboratory settings, organising datasets, using filing and referencing systems, and writing research proposals and reports. The syllabus will typically include experiments, surveys, interviews, psychophysiological measurement and psychometrics. You'll also gain beginner-level experience of descriptive and inferential statistics using paper-based methods and statistical software, while exploring open science, data management and laboratory practice.

This module will help you understand the expectations of higher education and develop the academic skills needed for your chosen social science pathway. Indicative content will include researching, organising and presenting ideas for essays, reports and case studies, alongside academic style, referencing and avoiding plagiarism. You'll develop reading, note-making, summarising, analysis and evaluation skills, and learn how to locate reliable books and journal articles. Planning, time management, reflection, oral presentation, examination preparation, academic use of information technology and collaborative teamwork will build your confidence as an independent learner.

This module will introduce you to key issues and theoretical approaches spanning sociology and criminology. Indicative topics will include identity and culture in social life, digital media and online cultures, education, social exclusion and inequality. You'll examine crime, deviance and social problems in relation to class, gender and ethnicity, alongside social, cultural and legal understandings of crime. The module will also provide opportunities to explore the profiling of dangerous and risky offenders and criminal justice institutions, helping you develop your understanding of the social world through social science ideas and research.

This module will introduce you to psychological research, theorising and a range of perspectives within psychology. You'll explore selected topics in developmental, cognitive, social, humanistic and differential psychology, building a foundation for further study on your chosen psychology pathway. Collaborative activities will help you develop peer relationships and apply psychological ideas in group contexts. Alongside subject knowledge, you'll strengthen transferable learning skills including academic reading and writing, literature and information searching, use of presentation software, planning and time management, while gaining experience of communicating psychological understanding clearly.

This module will introduce foundational approaches to research design and analysis. You'll learn how to distinguish and use quantitative and qualitative methods, develop sound research questions and communicate findings clearly. Topics will include experimental variables, confounding factors, randomisation, counterbalancing, and between-subjects, within-subjects, matched-pairs and mixed designs. You'll also explore observation and questionnaire development, types of data and descriptive statistics. Using spreadsheet, statistical and graphics software, you'll learn to summarise data and present it effectively through tables, graphs and charts while considering good research practice.

In this module, you'll build a broad foundation across the core areas of psychology. You'll explore cognitive, biological, social and developmental psychology, alongside individual differences and the discipline's historical and conceptual foundations. Topics will typically include neuroscience, attention, perception, memory, intelligence, personality, attachment, language and cognitive development, motivation, emotion, social cognition, identity, group processes and mental health. You'll also consider the replication crisis and critical psychology, developing the critical thinking, communication, teamwork and independent learning skills needed for further psychological study.

This module will show how psychological knowledge can be applied to social, personal and organisational challenges. You'll explore how theories are integrated to research issues and develop interventions, while considering varied career paths available to psychology graduates. Examples may include health, clinical and counselling, forensic, occupational and organisational, sport and exercise, and educational psychology, both within and outside the HCPC regulatory framework. Alongside discovering professional possibilities, you'll strengthen critical thinking and develop a clearer understanding of how psychological perspectives can contribute across different settings.

This module will develop the critical thinking skills needed for successful study in psychology and for professional practice. You'll examine the importance of scientific method, learn to evaluate information critically and strengthen your ability to construct logical arguments. Activities will develop your reading, writing, referencing and research-summary skills, alongside ethical reflection, conceptual analysis, critique and responsible use of statistics. You'll also consider how knowledge is created and may contribute to irrationality, injustice or positive change, connecting academic thinking with wider institutions, society and real-world issues.

This module will explore the psychology of being and relating to others. You'll examine how interpersonal dynamics influence experience, identity and wellbeing, including contexts where connection may be challenged by mental distress, neurodiversity or the wellbeing needs of children and young people. Community psychology and reflective practice will help you consider how healthier, more inclusive relationships can support change. Through experiential activities, you'll develop teamwork, oral and non-verbal communication, presentation, reflective writing and critical thinking skills, while identifying strengths and areas for personal and professional development.

This work-based, community or civic learning module will help you apply discipline-informed knowledge in practical settings. You'll assess your strengths and development needs, plan activities and connect your experiences with psychological theories and concepts. Topics may include workplace health and safety, professional development, employability skills, career planning, applications, CVs and interview preparation. Through supervision and active learning, you'll strengthen teamwork, communication, problem-solving, commercial awareness and your ability to evidence personal attributes for future opportunities.

In this module, you'll take an integrated approach to social psychology, individual differences and developmental psychology. You'll explore social cognitive, social constructionist and critical perspectives on how identities and differences develop. Topics will typically include childhood and adolescent development, friendships, relationships, self and identity, personality, intelligence, creativity, attitudes, stereotypes, attribution, gender, crowds and group processes. Along the way, you'll strengthen information retrieval, communication and critical evaluation skills, learning to compare sources and consider different perspectives on psychological questions.

This module integrates cognitive, developmental and biological psychology to examine how the mind and brain change across the lifespan. You'll explore basic and higher-order cognitive processes alongside neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, considering a range of theories and explanations. Through the module, you'll develop scientific reasoning, critical evaluation and information-management skills, as well as greater independence in planning and project work. You'll learn to communicate psychological ideas clearly and weigh alternative perspectives when interpreting evidence about cognition, development and biological processes.

This module will develop your understanding of quantitative psychological research design and analysis. You'll typically examine experimental, quasi-experimental and correlational approaches, alongside data collection through questionnaires, observation, psychometrics, experiments and secondary sources. Analysis will include the importance of effect size and statistical power, with methods such as analysis of variance, correlation and regression. You may also be introduced to techniques including factor analysis and meta-analysis. Practical work will strengthen your ability to evaluate methods, identify bias and communicate quantitative findings.

In this module, you'll develop practical and critical skills in qualitative psychological research. You'll explore the strengths and limitations of qualitative approaches, different research designs and procedures, and methods for collecting rich data. These will typically include interactive approaches such as interviews and focus groups, alongside textual methods such as qualitative surveys. You'll learn to analyse material using approaches including thematic analysis, interpretative phenomenological analysis and discourse analysis, while strengthening your ability to judge research quality and communicate findings effectively.

This project module will support you to plan and investigate a psychology topic while connecting disciplinary methods with employment and practice. Supporting content may typically include literature searching, bibliography development, research methods and methodologies, ethical issues and dissemination. You'll learn how to identify and use relevant evidence, choose an appropriate approach and communicate your work effectively. The module may also create links with alumni, employers and other stakeholders, enabling projects, where relevant, to engage with real-world issues and contexts while strengthening your independence, research capability and employability awareness.