The University supported me throughout my placement – from helping build my CV and practising interview skills to visiting me at the unit to check everything was going well.
Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and mental life. It seeks to understand what makes us who we are, how our minds work 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.
Psychology is a rewarding and valuable degree, both for the subject areas it covers and the skills you learn while studying these subjects. For instance, advances in science, international conflicts and 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.
In the first two years of the programme, you 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 are able to select from a range of modules and undertake a six-month independent research project on a topic of your choosing.
As well as the specific subjects that you study, students of psychology also develop key transferable skills which are highly valued by employers. These include critical thinking, argument synthesis, scientific methods and practice, data analysis, report writing, presentation skills and teamwork.
Our School of Psychology is 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.
Year 1 focuses on helping you to develop foundation knowledge of psychology. Individual modules cover the core areas of psychology and introduce their related research methods in subject tutorials. Statistical and analytical techniques will be taught to prepare you to conduct your own research. Our academic tutorials help you to develop the skills required for success throughout the programme.
In Year 2, most of the areas addressed in Year 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 are also introduced to applied psychology and professional skills in preparation for your Professional Training placement year and your future professional career. Subject tutorials in support of research activity and critical thinking will continue throughout the year as a core part of the curriculum.
Our degree programme includes an optional Professional Training placement year. Professional placements give you the opportunity to spend part of your degree programme with an outside organisation, gaining invaluable work experience and enhancing employability.
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, Action on Addiction, CAMHS – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services for Surrey, SADAS (Southern Addictions Advisory Service), North Carolina State University, The Science Museum, London and the University of Kent.
Year 3 gives you the opportunity to extend your studies further into those areas of psychology that most interest you. You will choose five modules during the year which cover advanced and applied areas of psychology. You also undertake a six-month research project and submit a dissertation on a topic of interest to you, supervised by a member of staff.
Optional module topics include:
The skills you gain are highly valued in both academic and workplace settings. As a Psychology graduate from Surrey, you are skilled in applying your knowledge, and in your ability to learn quickly, work in teams, plan, analyse and present your work. This is an advantage in your future career or study choices.
Students graduating from our degree programmes are eligible for Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership – the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist. Students graduating from other degree programmes which are not accredited by the BPS are required to undertake further courses before being eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership. Individuals seeking a career as a professional psychologist are therefore advised to take an accredited programme.
The extensive professional and research activities of our staff enable you to choose from a range of different Professional Training placement settings to reflect your individual interests and needs. Opportunities exist 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, Action on Addiction, CAMHS – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services for Surrey, SADAS (Southern Addictions Advisory Service), North Carolina State University, The Science Museum, London and the University of Kent.
A range of teaching methods is employed on our programmes as appropriate for the individual modules. These methods range from lectures, seminars and workshops, through small group practicals and tutorials, to one-to-one dissertation supervision. In addition to lectures, tutorials are generally used to introduce you to the core areas of psychology
In the first year of the degree, you receive tutorials in groups of about ten students, 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. Tutorials in your first and second years will introduce you to the main research methods and techniques used within psychology, and workshops provide you with statistical key methods for analysing research data.
Teaching is delivered by staff who are experts in their particular field of psychology and takes place in a friendly and professional environment. Teaching, laboratory and IT facilities are up to date, well maintained and have wireless high-speed internet access.
In all years, methods of assessment include coursework and exams. You are required to pass all of the components in each year 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 learn how to study at university. Your final degree classification will be based upon your performance in Years 2 and 3. In determining the final degree grade, the marks from Year 3 assessments are double-weighted relative to those from Year 2.
The School of Psychology provides its students with their own 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 School 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.
Our Psychology degrees provide you with the basic requirement for eligibility for admission to psychology postgraduate training courses in specialist areas of the discipline, such as clinical, counselling, health, forensic, environmental, social, research methods or occupational psychology, all of which are offered as postgraduate degrees at Surrey.
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 employ psychology graduates for their specific psychological training and skills in areas such as personnel, research and development, survey and market research, 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 and has analytical skills. Recent graduates have also embarked on careers in law, accountancy, teaching, computer programming and general management. Virtually all graduates of the programme find satisfactory employment within six months of graduation.
Graduates over the last few years entered employment with organisations such as:
Come to one of our Open Days, when you can tour the campus, speak to students and academic staff, see our student accommodation and ask as many questions as you like. In the meantime, order a personal prospectus – tailored to only include the subjects that interest you.
GCSE Mathematics and English Language or English Literature grade B or above (or equivalent).
Offers are normally made in terms of grades. Suitable candidates will be invited to an Applicant Day. During the visit to the University the candidate can find out more about the programme and meet staff and students.
Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 6.5 or above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill (or equivalent).
We offer intensive English language pre-sessional courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.
| Award | Course Length | Professional Training | UCAS code | KIS code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BSc (Hons) | 3 years | C801 | View KIS data set | |
| BSc (Hons) | 4 years | C800 | View KIS data set |
We offer a range of bursaries, scholarships and other financial support.
See course information for students applying to start in September 2013.
Phone: +44 (0)1483 681 681
