Why choose the School of Psychology
This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
Elements of the course, including assessment, have been developed working with psychology-related professionals from organisations such as the NHS; disaster recovery services; and digital application development.
In the National Student Survey 2025, our psychology courses scored 80% and over for student satisfaction with teaching (80%), academic support (82%) and learning resources (87%).
About the course
This course provides you with the experience, knowledge and skills to follow a wide range of careers where you can make a real difference to people’s lives. You explore the core areas of psychology, learning how it applies to everyday life, then choose from optional units in areas such as atypical child development; health psychology; counselling; criminal behaviour; and mental health. You also have the opportunity to gain workplace experience or to take a placement year.
Course accreditation
This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). Graduating from a BPS-accredited degree with a 2nd-class Honours or above makes you eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the Society. It also enables you to enrol for Stage 1 postgraduate training.
Facilities and specialist equipment
- Cognitive neuropsychology lab
- Biological and cognitive psychology lab
- Virtual reality lab
- Research cubicles containing up-to-the-minute equipment and technology such as:
- Driving simulator
- Eye-tracking software
- Physiological data-acquisition system
- EEG recording equipment
- Podcasting equipment
- KAT Walk Mini 5 omnidirectional VR treadmills
- Data-analysis software
- Experiment and survey-building software
Industry links
Elements of the course, including assessment, have been developed working with psychology-related professionals from organisations such as the NHS; disaster recovery services; and digital application development. This ensures our teaching and your learning aligns with employer requirements.
Members of our academic team engage with local organisations such as Luton Borough Council, HM Probation Service and charities. They are also actively involved in entrepreneurship and business, bringing this experience into their teaching and integrating it into the curriculum.
Student experience
Psychology Subject Spotlight
Take a look at our subject spotlight on Psychology! Dr. Joseph Adonu explores if love at first sight actually exists!
with Professional Practice Year
This course has the option to be taken over four years which includes a year placement in industry. Undertaking a year in industry has many benefits. You gain practical experience and build your CV, as well as being a great opportunity to sample a profession and network with potential future employers.
There is no tuition fee for the placement year enabling you to gain an extra year of experience for free.
*Only available to UK/EU students.
with Foundation Year
A Degree with a Foundation Year gives you guaranteed entry to an Undergraduate course.
Whether you’re returning to learning and require additional help and support to up-skill, or if you didn’t quite meet the grades to pursue an Undergraduate course, our Degrees with Foundation Year provide a fantastic entry route for you to work towards a degree level qualification.
With our guidance and support you’ll get up to speed within one year, and will be ready to seamlessly progress on to undergraduate study at Bedfordshire.
The Foundation Year provides an opportunity to build up your academic writing skills and numeracy, and will also cover a range of subject specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree.
This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will need to successfully complete the Foundation Year to progress on to the first year of your bachelor’s degree.
Why study a degree with a Foundation Year?
- Broad-based yet enough depth to give you credible vocational skills
- Coverage of a variety of areas typically delivered by an expert in this area
- Gain an understanding of a subject before choosing which route you wish to specialise in
- Great introduction to further study, and guaranteed progression on to one of our Undergraduate degrees
The degrees offering a Foundation Year provide excellent preparation for your future studies.
During your Foundation Year you will get the opportunity to talk to tutors about your degree study and future career aspirations, and receive guidance on the most appropriate Undergraduate course to help you achieve this; providing you meet the entry requirements and pass the Foundation Year.
Course Leader - Dr Ashley Bennett
After completing my undergraduate degree in psychology and a post graduate diploma in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) I decided to read for my PhD. As a lecturer in the psychology department I primarily teach Research Methods, and statistics. I have a keen interest in experimental methodologies, particularly those which are clinical in nature.
Course Leader - Dr Ashley Bennett
After completing my undergraduate degree in psychology and a post graduate diploma in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) I decided to read for my PhD. As a lecturer in the psychology department I primarily teach Research Methods, and statistics. I have a keen interest in experimental methodologies, particularly those which are clinical in nature.
Course Leader - Dr Ashley Bennett
After completing my undergraduate degree in psychology and a post graduate diploma in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) I decided to read for my PhD. As a lecturer in the psychology department I primarily teach Research Methods, and statistics. I have a keen interest in experimental methodologies, particularly those which are clinical in nature.
What will you study?
To prepare for your final-year research project, we include units focused on building your research skills: Introduction to psychological research methods and data analysis (Year 1); and two units on Qualitative and quantitative methods of research in psychology (Year 2).
Your subject-specific units are:
Year 1
Foundations to psychology - Key areas including the history, cognitive and biological aspects of psychology. Psychology in everyday life - Understand social, developmental and mental health theories and observe them in everyday life, in yourself and others.
There are two optional units:
Psychology and criminal behaviour - Investigate offender types and criminal career paths. Introduction to counselling – Commonly presented psychological difficulties like anxiety and depression.
Year 2
Cognitive psychology – Investigate how we process information through experiments in areas such as face recognition and eye-witness testimony. Biological psychology - Focus on brain structure and behaviour, and its role in thinking, perception, language, memory and learning. Social processes and lifespan development - Explore developmental and social psychology, looking at how individuals change through their life. Psychology in context – Different chartered psychologist roles including clinical, educational, forensic and health.
Year 3
As well as completing your Psychology research project, there are two core units in your final year as well as optional units where you can follow a particular interest.
Core units:
Psychology of mental health – Therapeutic approaches to disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar and anxiety. Culture and individual differences – How cultural norms shape behaviour and psychological diversity.
Optional units:
Atypical child and adolescent development – For those interested in education, child health or welfare. Cognitive neuropsychology – Explore areas such as memory, amnesia and frontal lobe deficits using everyday examples. Critical social psychology – The role of social psychology in areas such as violence, relationships and personhood (self and identity). Problem solving – Different approaches to decision making.
How will you be assessed?
Throughout your degree you will encounter a wide variety of types of assessment collectively designed to suit the variety of individual learning styles. The assessments include formative and summative assessments to provide feedback to help with your own development and to inform your completion of future assessments. We use minimal exam-type assessments and have recently included various authentic assessments that allow you to demonstrate a large number of employment-related and transferable skills.
Careers
This degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society allowing you to follow a broad range of professional career paths in areas including clinical; educational; forensic; occupational; health; business and HR; research; training; and teaching.
In addition, psychology graduates frequently go on to work in higher education as lecturers or to conduct research for a PhD.
Graduate Ellie-Jayne Myers says: "Following my graduation from the University of Bedfordshire, I was offered the position of Research Assistant with the NCCR on a two-year project. In this role, I worked alongside police in a project looking at the management and risk assessment of cyberstalking and harassment. The skills I learned through my time at the University were fundamental in obtaining this position."
Entry Requirements
- 112 UCAS tariff points including 96 from at least 3 A-levels or equivalent
- GCSE grade 4/Functional Skills Level 2 Maths
Entry Requirements
- GCSE grade 4/Functional Skills Level 2 Maths
Entry Requirements
- 112 UCAS tariff points including 96 from at least 3 A-levels or equivalent
- GCSE grade 4/Functional Skills Level 2 Maths
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
Virtual Tour
