Psychology BSc (Hons) – 2024 entry

• Learn from nurturing lecturers who are active researchers in behavioural, clinical, cognitive, developmental, personality and social psychology, whose work is used by governments, health professionals and industry.
• Take advantage of one of the only psychology degrees in the UK with a Professional Training placement scheme, where you’ll gain valuable work experience in a variety of industries, including healthcare, education, human resources and marketing.
• Conduct your own experiments in our brain imaging suites, extended reality (XR) labs and other state-of-the-art psychology facilities.
• Select from a wide choice of British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited final-year modules where you will explore topics like neurodevelopmental disorders, mental health, brain injury, sustainable behaviour and more.

On this course, you’ll study the scientific evidence of behaviour, mental health and neuropsychological functioning, to understand what makes us who we are, how our minds work, and what influences our decisions and social relationships.

In your first year, you’ll study core areas of psychology and research methods, to develop your foundations of psychological literacy. This will be supported by small group skills tutorials. Our first year uses a "supported transition” approach, so you are specifically taught how to learn effectively at university alongside the psychological material.

In your second year, you’ll learn about contemporary issues that impact every area of psychology. You’ll also complete a module that supports your professional skills development, covering placements, job preparation and career options available in the psychology field.

In your final year, you’ll study an advanced critical thinking module and select four optional modules, to specialise and delve deeper into your areas of interest. You’ll also receive supervision from a staff member to conduct your own scientific research project, critically evaluating protocols, data and literature.

The academic year is divided into two semesters of 15 weeks each. Each semester consists of a period of teaching, revision/directed learning and assessment.

Modules listed are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that modules may be subject to teaching availability, student demand and/or class size caps.

The University operates a credit framework for all taught programmes based on a 15-credit tariff. Modules usually can be either 15, 30, 45 or 60, 75 and 120 credits, and additionally for some masters dissertations, 90 credits.

The structure of our programmes follow clear educational aims that are tailored to each programme. These are all outlined in the programme specifications which include further details such as the learning outcomes.

Timetables

Course timetables are normally available one month before the start of the semester. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week (Monday – Friday). Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities. View our Code of practice for the scheduling of teaching and assessment (PDF).

Your teaching will be delivered through a combination of:

• Lectures
• Laboratory-based practicals
• One-to-one supervision
• Online learning
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Workshops.

In your first- and second-year tutorials, we’ll introduce you to core research methods and techniques, and help you develop your academic skills, such as searching for and critically evaluating research, writing essays and research reports, and preparing for exams. Tutorials take place in groups of approximately 12 students and are led by the same tutor throughout the year.

In your workshops, you’ll investigate key statistical and qualitative methods for analysing research data.

Outside of these, you’ll be expected to carry out independent study, including coursework, essays and reading.

There may be occasions when the delivery of your teaching is supported by graduate teaching assistants. The University has a set of procedures that govern the use of postgraduate research students in this way.

We use a variety of methods to assess you, including:

• Essays
• Examinations
• Research reports
• Posters
• Presentations.

Contact hours can vary across our modules. Full details of the contact hours for each module are available from the University of Surrey's module catalogue. See the modules section for more information.