Psychology and Sociology

Psychology and sociology together provide a remarkably comprehensive toolkit for understanding human beings, one that covers both individual minds and the social structures in which those minds are formed and function. Psychology is the scientific study of thought, perception, emotion, and behaviour, using experimental methods to understand how the mind works. Sociology examines the collective dimensions of human life, asking how institutions, inequalities, culture, and power shape the experience and life chances of individuals and groups.

Studied together, they allow you to move between individual and social levels of explanation, which is essential for understanding many of the most important questions in health, education, policy, and social justice.

At the University of Derby, this three-year full-time programme includes an integrated foundation year, giving you academic preparation before the main degree begins. You will be taught by staff who are engaged in influential research in areas including mental health and wellbeing, compassion, autism, and anxiety, which means the curriculum is shaped by live scholarly questions rather than purely textbook material. A sandwich placement year and work placement opportunities are built into the programme, giving you structured professional experience before you graduate.

The typical entry tariff of 104 points reflects the accessible character of the programme.

You will develop research skills across quantitative and qualitative methods, critical analytical thinking, and the ability to engage thoughtfully with questions about human wellbeing and social life.

Graduates pursue careers in social research, healthcare, social work, education, community development, human resources, marketing, policy, and the voluntary sector. Many continue to postgraduate training in clinical, counselling, educational, or forensic psychology, or in social policy and social work. The breadth of the combined degree opens a wide range of paths.