Psychological Sciences

Psychological sciences is the systematic study of human and animal mind and behaviour, drawing on neuroscience, cognitive science, social psychology, developmental psychology, clinical psychology and research methods to understand how people think, feel and act. Psychology seeks explanations at multiple levels, from the biological and neural through to the social and cultural, and it is a discipline that combines empirical rigour with engagement with some of the deepest questions about human experience. At the University of Portsmouth, this four-year full-time dual degree programme goes further than a standard psychology degree by combining academic depth with substantial professional and international experience.

The programme includes a sandwich placement year, a year abroad and a work placement, giving you a genuinely international and professionally grounded education. You will study the core areas of psychology, including cognitive psychology, biological psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, research methods and statistics, abnormal psychology and forensic or clinical applications. The dual degree structure means you study for two qualifications, deepening both your academic knowledge and your professional profile.

You will develop strong quantitative skills alongside the ability to design and critically evaluate psychological research.

Graduates from psychology degrees move into a wide range of careers. Clinical and counselling psychology, educational psychology, occupational psychology, mental health services, social work, human resources, marketing and research are among the most common pathways, though the analytical and communication skills developed make psychology graduates valued across many other sectors. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in clinical, counselling or other applied psychology specialisms, which is typically required for professional registration in clinical roles.

The combination of placement experience, international exposure and dual qualifications gives graduates from this programme a particularly strong start.