Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behaviour. It asks why people think, feel and act the way they do, and it addresses that question through rigorous empirical research, drawing on neuroscience, cognitive science, developmental science, social psychology and clinical psychology. It is a discipline that combines the careful methodology of natural science with the complexity and nuance of human experience, training you to design and interpret studies, to evaluate evidence critically, and to apply findings to real problems in health, education, work and society.

This three-year full-time degree at Birmingham City University includes a sandwich year with a work placement, giving you extended professional experience before you graduate and a chance to apply your academic learning in a real-world setting. Throughout the programme you will study the core areas of psychology that form the foundation of the discipline: biological psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology and individual differences. You will develop strong quantitative skills in statistical analysis and research design, alongside qualitative methods and the ability to critically appraise psychological evidence.

The programme will also develop your professional and communication skills in preparation for graduate employment.

Psychology graduates are among the most employable of all social science graduates, because the skills the degree develops are genuinely transferable. Careers in mental health, clinical practice, education, human resources, market research, user experience, advertising, public policy and the civil service are all common destinations. Many graduates go on to postgraduate training in clinical psychology, educational psychology, counselling, forensic psychology or research, where the undergraduate degree provides the accredited foundation that training programmes require.