Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behaviour, examining how people think, perceive, feel, learn and act through empirical research and careful theoretical reasoning. It draws on neuroscience, evolutionary biology, developmental science, cognitive science and social theory to address questions about what motivates behaviour, how memory and attention work, how development shapes who we become, and how social and cultural contexts influence individual experience. The discipline is both rigorous and wide-ranging, and studying it develops analytical skills, research competency and a deep understanding of why people do what they do.

At Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh you will study psychology over four years of full-time study, developing knowledge of the major areas of the discipline alongside the research skills and statistical competency that psychological science demands. You will study cognitive, social, developmental, biological and clinical dimensions of psychology, building both theoretical understanding and the practical ability to design, conduct and analyse psychological research. The four-year Scottish Honours structure allows you to develop significant depth across the discipline.

The typical tariff of 168 reflects a programme that expects strong analytical preparation and commitment to empirical scientific thinking.

Psychology graduates pursue a wide range of careers. Those who wish to practise as psychologists need postgraduate training in a specific area, whether clinical, health, educational, forensic or occupational psychology, and the British Psychological Society provides the professional framework for those routes. Many graduates enter careers in mental health support, human resources, marketing, user experience design, education, research and the public sector, where understanding human behaviour is directly valuable.

Others go on to postgraduate study in psychology, neuroscience, public health or related fields. Queen Margaret University's health and wellbeing focus gives the psychology programme a particular strength in applied and health-related contexts.