Psychology

What can I expect in first year?

Level-1 is an introductory year taught over two courses (1A and 1B). We have designed the courses to make them suitable for those of you wishing to study psychology in depth, as well as those who simply wish to try it for a year out of interest. We use continuous assessment to some extent and have an excellent pass rate.

Courses in Level-1 currently include:

•    Introduction – scope of psychology

•    Biology – brain, learning and motivation

•    Experimental design and statistics

•    Cognitive neuroscience

•    Memory, language and thinking

•    Perception and visual cognition

•    Abnormal psychology

•    Human development

•    Individual differences

•    Social I – biology and social cognition

•    Social cognition and social interaction.

Apart from attending lectures, you will also have a tutorial each week, and there is a practical element involving a series of experiments that are mostly carried out within a suite of dedicated computer spaces in our well-equipped labs. There are always assistants on hand to help out with these projects.

What can I expect in second year?

Level-2 is also taught over two courses (2A and 2B) and is designed to add new areas of learning as well as taking the topics of Level-1 to a greater depth. It is still suitable, however, for those of you who intend to take psychology no further. There is no single text, but each lecturer will recommend appropriate reading material.

Current courses include:

•    Applying psychology

•    Cognitive psychology

•    Developmental psychology

•    Individual differences

•    Experimental design

•    Perception and visual cognition

•    Psychobiology

•    Social psychology.

Once again, there are regular tutorials and a practical course where experiments are carried out and reported on.

What happens next?

If you successfully meet our criteria for success in the courses in first and second years, you may progress to Honours (years three and four). Level-3 is the first part of a two-year Honours programme that provides a strong background to important areas within psychology and allows us to build on our research strengths. The first part of your final degree exams will be taken at the end of this year.

The current courses are:

•    Cognition

•    Concepts and historical issues in psychology

•    Human development

•    Perception and visual cognition

•    Individual differences

•    Professional skills (employability)

•    Social

•    Statistics

•    Physiological psychology.

In small groups you will take tutorials and complete substantial research projects. As individuals you will complete two critical reviews of research literature. Early in the session there is also a residential reading party, which provides an excellent opportunity to meet your fellow students in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere while undertaking interesting activities.

In fourth year your level of choice increases markedly. You will choose from a large list of in-depth, advanced undergraduate strands in psychology.  You will also complete a critical review of research literature in an area of your choosing, and a major piece of research. This research may be lab-based (eg using one of our eye- trackers or specialised computer software) or carried out in the ‘real world’ of organisations, schools or hospitals. The second part of your final degree exams will be taken at the end of this year.

 

Photo Credit: JD Howell