Psychology

Many of our Psychology degrees have received the prestigious British Psychological Society (BPS) accreditation and grant eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, increasing your employability by giving you a qualification that employers understand and value.

Careers

Many of our courses deal with applying theory to real-life situations, ensuring that you receive an ideal balance of theory and practice. Subject areas include eye-witness testimonies, the origins of prejudice and stereotypes, decision making, and much more. You will develop skills which are highly desirable to potential future employers, including the ability to conduct research, manage projects, problem solving, critical analysis, communication, and teamwork. You will also get the chance to present work at prestigious conferences, attended by people from industry, giving you valuable experience within the psychology environment.

Q&A

Professor Chris Bridle

Head of School & Professor of Behavioural Science

How does Bedfordshire prepare students for real-world work?

By teaching research and analysis skills, communication, data- handling, computer literacy, team working, interpersonal skills, problem solving and critical reasoning. The combination of these skills with the study of human behaviour makes a University of Bedfordshire Psychology graduate attractive to an employer.

Did you know?

We have state-of-the-art equipment to aid your learning such as eye tracking software, a driving simulator, EEG recording equipment and a video editing suite.

Courses

Psychology BSc (Hons)

158 Psychology & Criminal Behaviour BSc (Hons) 159 Psychology & Criminal Behaviour (top-up) BSc (Hons) 160 Psychology, Counselling & Therapies BSc (Hons) 161

Related foundation degrees: Have You Also Considered...?

Criminology BA (Hons) Education with Psychology BA (Hons) Law with Psychology LLB (Hons)

195

165 94 109

For more information on any of the courses visit: beds.ac.uk/courses For up-to-date information on part-time study options see: beds.ac.uk/parttime

Psychology

Key facts

UCAS Course Code: C800 With Professional Practice Year: C808 With Foundation Year: C11F  September  Luton campus  3 years full-time (options available: part-time), alternatively 4 years with a Professional Practice (UK/EU) or Foundation Year  UK/EU/International students  UCAS Tariff 112-120 points. GCSE grade C/4 in mathematics – see website for more information

Psychology explains why we fall in love, how drugs affect behaviour, why we sleep, how rational we are and how others influence us. This British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited course covers major areas of psychology including social, developmental, cognitive and biological psychology as well as individual differences, and offers the opportunity to specialise in your areas of interest.

Key features

• Engaging curriculum which incorporates staff research expertise • Emphasis on the applied nature of psychology • Academics are members of the Research Centre for Applied Psychology, and collaborate with national charities to apply psychology to a range of

‘real-world’ contexts

Career opportunities

This degree is accredited by the BPS, allowing you to follow a professional career in psychology including clinical, educational, forensic, prison, occupational and health psychology, business and HR, research, training and teaching. In addition, psychology graduates frequently go on to work in higher education as lecturers, or to conduct research for a PhD.

Areas of study may include:

• Counselling and coaching psychology • Human diversity and difference • Social and critical psychology • Biological psychology and neuropsychology • Memory, thought and language • Problem solving and reasoning • Psychology of mental health • Psychology of language and vision • Cognitive and development psychology

Hannah Austin

Psychology BSc (Hons)

“I visited a lot of universities when I was at college, but Bedfordshire was by far my favourite. I really enjoy my course and have very supportive tutors who are always willing to help.”

Key facts

UCAS Course Code: CL83 With Professional Practice Year: CL88 With Foundation Year: C10F  September  Luton campus  3 years full-time (options available: part-time), alternatively 4 years with a Professional Practice (UK/EU) or Foundation Year  UK/EU/International students  UCAS Tariff 112-120 points. GCSE grade C/4 in mathematics see website for more information

Why do people offend? Can we predict the victim? One of the most fascinating applications of psychology is in examining and tackling criminal behaviour. After a broad introduction you will explore specific areas of criminal psychology. This British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited course covers the relationship between psychology and the criminal justice system, exploring police investigation, false confessions, expert witnesses, jury behaviour and the treatment of complex offenders. It also gives you the chance to work on research projects such as offender profiling and crime analysis, criminal thinking styles and lie detection.

Key features

• Gain a thorough understanding of the workings of the criminal justice system and the responses to behaviour labelled as criminal • Independent research project in final year

Career opportunities

The practical and specialised skills you acquire on the course, in conjunction with the qualifications, will help to qualify you for fascinating career opportunities in the police, prison service, social services and the mental health sector, among others.

Areas of study may include:

• Individual differences • Psychological theories of criminal behaviour • The criminal justice system • Assessment and treatment of offenders • Social theories of criminal behaviour • Developmental theories of criminal behaviour

BSc (Hons)

Key facts

UCAS Course Code: CL84  September  Milton Keynes campus  1 year full-time  UK/EU students  Relevant Foundation degree or HND – see website for more information

Build on previous foundation degree studies to complete an Honours degree, developing your skills and theoretical knowledge of psychology and aspects of criminal behaviour, considering human diversity and difference, social and critical psychology, developmental psychology and mental health and occupational psychology. Examine forensic psychology in practice and explore the assessment and treatment of offenders, including violent and sex offenders and offenders with personality disorders and mental illness. In the final stage you will have the opportunity to complete a library-based research project in your area of interest.

Key features

• Conduct an in-depth review of the literature of an area of psychology that you are interested in • You will be assessed through a range of practical assignments, group presentations, exams and essays

Career opportunities

Progress into the following areas: police work; public services (such as the Home Office, Ministry of Justice, health service); market research; business and personnel; education and charity work. There are also a range of postgraduate study opportunities open to you for career paths in, for example, counselling, police and charity work, business and personnel and teaching.

Areas of study may include:

• A typical child and adolescent development: theories and applications • Forensic psychology in practice • Psychology of mental health • Occupational and organisational psychology • Psychology and criminal behaviour Honours project

Key facts

UCAS Course Code: CB89 With Professional Practice Year: CB88 With Foundation Year: C9FY  September  Luton campus  3 years full-time (options available: part-time), alternatively 4 years with a Professional Practice (UK/EU) or Foundation Year  UK/EU/International students  UCAS Tariff 80-96 points. GCSE grade C/4 in mathematics – see website for more information

Counselling psychologists help people deal with issues like bereavement, domestic violence, sexual abuse, traumas and relationship issues. Prepare for professional training in counselling and clinical psychology with this British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited course, developing the skills needed to enter postgraduate study for a range of rewarding careers including psychotherapy and coaching.

Key features

• Study classic and contemporary theories of counselling and psychotherapy, including psychodynamic, person-centred and cognitive behavioural therapy • Gain a thorough understanding of core areas in psychology • You will be assessed through a range of report writing, group presentations, exams and essays

Career opportunities

This degree will allow you to train as a counsellor or therapist, or to follow a career in psychology. Career paths include clinical, educational, forensic, prison and occupational psychology, health psychology, HR, research, training, teaching and the NHS.

Areas of study may include:

• Counselling and coaching psychology • Diversity and difference • Social and interpersonal psychology • The psychology of wellbeing • Memory, thought and language • Mental health and neuropsychology • A typical child and adolescent development • Culture and individual differences