Psychology (Intercalated Programme)

The degree offers you a rigorous training in all aspects of research practice. You will graduate with exceptional skills in practical as well as theoretical aspects of the discipline. Great emphasis is placed on research-led teaching. You will be given the opportunity to work closely with academics within their research groups, thus gaining an excellent experience of real-world, cutting edge research. We aim to inspire our students to achieve their full potential by delivering learning and teaching within a vibrant research environment.

You will study classic psychological work as well as contemporary research into the nature and determinants of human behaviour, from the neuronal level through to the level of society and culture. You will explore psychological processes underpinning everyday behaviour, such as social cognition, memory, language and appetite, as well as examining ways in which psychology can improve people’s wellbeing and health. You will learn how to conduct and evaluate high-quality psychological research and how to professionally communicate research outcomes.

Modules include developmental psychology, neuroscience, memory, language, perception, psychological disorders and social psychology. You will also conduct pieces of research under supervision, including one major project worth 20 credits.

Course structure

These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

Modules Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Project: Intercalated Programme 20 credits
• Joint Honours/Intercalated Programme: Psychological Disorders 10 credits
• Joint Honours/Intercalated Programme: Advanced Social Psychology 10 credits
• Intercalated Programme: Advanced Developmental Psychology 10 credits
• Joint Honours/Intercalated Programme: Cognitive Neuroscience 10 credits
• Joint Hons/Intercalated Programme Individual Differences 10 credits
• Intercalated Programme: Research Skills 3 15 credits
• Intercalated programme: Research Skills 4 15 credits
• Joint Hons/Intercalated Programme: Perception, Action and Cognition 10 credits
• Joint Hons/Intercalated Programme: Memory and Language 10 credits

For more information on typical modules, read Psychology (Intercalated Programme) BSc in the course catalogue

Learning and teaching

The BSc Psychology (Intercalated) is a research oriented programme. All of the core modules are taught by experts in the field of research, and demonstrate how research in each of the fields has advanced our knowledge of human behaviour.

You will also take a Research Skills Module, and complete three "mini project" practicals, before conducting your main research projects. The research project module aims to give students experience of planning, researching and carrying out an empirical study, analyzing and interpreting its results, and writing a report. You will work under the supervision of a member of staff with expertise in the area of research (approximately 10 hours over the course of the year).

Modules are taught using a variety of teaching methods. The course combines a mix of lectures, tutorials, practical classes, seminars, workshops, presentations and online learning methods. The University has well-resourced libraries and on-line access to publications to support students in advancing their understanding.

Many opportunities exist in the School for you to engage with contemporary psychology, including attending seminars by guest speakers and by volunteering for short-term research posts. You will be assessed in a range of ways including designing, conducting and analysing research, as well as more traditional methods such as writing essays and completing examinations.

Assessment

The course is assessed by a variety of methods including mini-project/practical reports, essays, end of semester exams and culminates in a final research project. Read about the assessment of each module in the programme and module catalogue.

Students typically begin their project in November and submit a research report by the end of July. This report will be no more than 8,000 words in length and will form 100% of the module mark. Projects can be carried out in any area of psychology in which members of staff have expertise. Examples of past projects from each of our three main research areas are listed below:

Health and Social Psychology

• The effects of a mere-measurement technique and conscientiousness on health-related behaviours
• Fear of mortality and Intentions to Quit Smoking
• Changing attitude and behaviour and Attitudes towards Overweight and Obese individuals
• Combating the Stigma Surrounding Mental Health

Cognitive Psychology

• Reclaim your brain: Memory training and recollection
• The effect of healthy ageing on eye-hand coordination
• Assessing the potential of falls in the elderly when carrying out a visuo-motor task
• Meta-memory in children with ADHD

Biological Psychology

• Examining the effect of exercise on appetite: The Relationship between Fat Free Mass and Energy Intake
• Why do we eat in the absence of hunger?
• Smoking Behaviour and Impulsivity: How are they related?
• An investigation into how recreational drug use effects users impulsivity and anxiety.

Read about staff research interests and research at the School of Psychology on the School website.