Psychology

Psychology is very popular at Aberystwyth University. With the development of a single honours degree a major contribution to the degree schemes has been provided to our student cohort.

First Year

When you opt for single honours psychology you will study for 120 credits each year of your three year degree. In your first year you will be introduced to the main concepts that inform psychology. These include social, developmental and individual differences psychologies together with biological and cognitive psychology and research methods. To help you understand how psychology is used in the real world you will also study an "Applications in Psychology" module. The University aims in provide an excellent and well rounded educational experience and to develop your academic skills further during the first year of your degree you have the opportunity to study for 40 credits in other departments chosen with guidance from your lecturers. Although we are happy to make suggestions this really is an opportunity to try something new, such as a language, a module in the world famous International Politics Department or in the innovative Theatre, Film and TV Department. You can even test your brain power studying "Chaos and Consciousness" in the Institute of Maths and Physics! Whatever you choose you will be developing important skills that will help you in your degree and in your future life after graduation.

Second year

The second year of the single honours degree is composed entirely of "core" modules. These are the essential aspects of the subject you need to understand as a psychology graduate. You will also revisit the subjects introduced in your first year, but this year you are studying at a higher level (honours) level and your ability to understand complex concepts will really be tested. Unlike many universities it is only during your second year at Aberystwyth that you start to use computer software to learn your statistics. Experience has shown us that getting to grips with statistics in the first year using formulae and calculators is a better way of developing real understanding - and our existing students agree. In your second year you are introduced to statistics software, however, you also learn why quantitative methods are not the only way to investigate psychology. This means that you will also be learning more advanced qualitative research methods building on the foundations of your first year.

Final Year

In your final year you have the chance to make choices about what you want to study. Modules are provided within the areas of research expertise of our staff. For example, you can study the psychology of language, or of ageing. You can learn more about social interactions both in the real world and the cyber environment or you could explore the complexities of psychology applied to health and illness. It may be that you have a particular interest in psychology not covered in the taught courses, if so with the support of an expert member of staff you can investigate that interest in the Dissertation module. In keeping with our aim to develop your skills as an individual you have the option of studying for 20 credits in another department dependent on certain pre-requisite subject requirements.

Regardless of your choice of modules your final year is your opportunity to use the research skills you have learnt over the previous two years as you design and conduct your final year project. For many students this is the most exciting part of their degree as they work with a dedicated supervisor who is a subject expert to investigate a research question of their choice. Choices of research subject are diverse and you will be supported throughout the process working towards a research project report and a high quality research poster both of which are aspects of your final year assessment.