Practitioner and transferable skills

Teamwork assignments

Several units include teamwork activities, including assignments based upon teamwork such as group presentations and the joint development of other forms of communication.

Presentation skills assessed

There are many opportunities to develop your presentation skills throughout your degree. We will give you feedback designed to enhance your skills to a professional level and build your confidence.

Data and statistical skills assessed

Your data and statistical skills are assessed, with feedback on how to improve, throughout the first two years of your degree. You can gain further experience of statistical analysis through your psychology honours project.

Writing for different audiences

You will gain experience of writing for different audiences throughout your degree. While many assignments are written for an academic audience, you also have the opportunity to write for a lay audience.

You will gain experience writing reviews of research evidence – a vital skill to develop and can underpin your ability in future to present a business case within commercial settings. This will also be vital for funding applications should you choose to enter a research career.

Applied assignments (case studies) link theory with practice

You will complete assignments that are grounded both in theory and practice. For example, you may complete assignments focusing on recommendations for real-world practice.

Personal and professional development

Career services input to key units

Our Careers and Employability Service gives guest lectures on core units in all years of study in order to support the developing employability of students. The Psychology Department also liaises with the Careers and Employability Service in order to develop opportunities for student employability.

Learning outcomes linked to career options

Learning outcomes for many units are related to career options, particularly in applied units. A number of assignments encourage you to learn about the application of psychology to real-world problems, while others encourage reflection and career planning.

CV writing integral to research proposal assignment

You will produce a research proposal as assessed work for the final year psychology honours project. You will include a cover letter and CV as part of this research proposal and receive feedback from your project supervisor on how you present yourself to employers or project supervisors.

E-portfolio assignments and employability tutorials enhance reflective personal development and career path options

You will attend tutorials designed to promote employability by encouraging career planning and reflection upon skill development. Assignments throughout the degree also encourage reflection relating to employability. This culminates in the final year of study, where you produce an e-portfolio reflecting upon your development as a learner, and your journey in employability.

Portfolio experience

Dissertation project develops self-management

The psychology honours project gives you the opportunity to develop self-management skills through the development and conduct of an independent research project, with support from a project supervisor. The project is an excellent opportunity to learn from the experience of managing an extended piece of work.

Annual student conference

The academic year culminates in the undergraduate psychology conference. As a final year student, you will present your work via posters and may be selected to give an oral presentation. The conference follows the structure of professional research conferences, and each year employers attend to view students' work.

Sandwich year option

The undergraduate Psychology courses feature an optional placement year where you spend 12 months working in industry. This allows you to apply the knowledge gained as part of your studies in a real work environment and gain hands-on experience.

Junior Research Institute creates opportunities to develop practical experience of research

Our students have had considerable success in presenting their research at national or international conferences and some have published in leading journals. To help you engage in the research process we have set up a Junior Research Institute and all students take part in a final year conference where they have the opportunity to present their own research.

Professional recognition and endorsement

Practitioner academics

Practitioners are employed in the department to share their practice-based knowledge with students. This enhances your learning and provides an opportunity to find out more about particular career options. Practitioners are drawn from fields such as Counselling Psychology, Health Psychology, and Forensic Psychology.

Professional ethics and values

Professional ethics are a crucial part of learning in all psychology courses. While you are expected to follow the British Psychological Society code of ethics when conducting research, much of your learning will also highlight ethical issues. Units relating to psychological professions also highlight the ethical issues found within professional practice.

BPS accredited course

We offer a range of courses covering specific topics in psychology all of which are accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and confer the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership. Choose from our main Psychology BSc (Hons) degree or focus on applied areas such as health psychology, forensic psychology and counselling psychology.