Artificial Intelligence in Psychology
Artificial intelligence in psychology is a discipline that sits at the convergence of two rapidly evolving fields, asking how understanding of human cognition can inform the development of artificial cognitive systems, and conversely how artificial systems can serve as models for understanding psychological phenomena. The relationship is genuinely bidirectional: cognitive scientists have used computational models of mind to make psychological theories more precise, while AI researchers have drawn on psychology to design systems that learn, reason, and adapt in ways that resemble human intelligence.
At Derby you will study this three-year full-time programme, with a foundation year available for students who need additional preparation before the main degree begins. A year abroad is also available within the programme. You will develop an understanding of how natural cognition can be illuminated by artificial cognition, exploring both the psychological foundations of behaviour, attention, memory, learning, emotion, and decision-making, and the computational and programming dimensions of AI technology.
The programme asks you to think across both fields, developing the ability to apply psychological understanding to the complex programming of AI systems and to evaluate AI systems through the lens of psychological science.
Graduates of artificial intelligence in psychology are well placed for careers in technology companies developing AI applications in healthcare, education, human-computer interaction, and accessibility; in research institutions studying cognitive science and AI; in UX research and design, where psychological insight into how people interact with AI systems is increasingly valuable; and in clinical and applied psychology settings where AI tools are becoming part of professional practice. Postgraduate study in cognitive science, AI, data science, psychology, or human-computer interaction is a natural next step for those who wish to develop advanced expertise in either direction.