Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behaviour, asking how people think, feel, remember, decide and relate to others, and why those processes sometimes go wrong. It is a discipline that draws on biology, neuroscience, social science and philosophy, and it has applications in mental health, education, business, sport, law, health care and public policy. A psychology degree develops both a body of scientific knowledge and a set of research and analytical skills that are among the most versatile in higher education.

At Sheffield Hallam University this three-year full-time programme builds a thorough grounding in the core areas of psychology, covering topics including cognitive psychology, social psychology, developmental psychology, biological bases of behaviour, abnormal psychology and research methods. A foundation year is available for those who need additional preparation before the main degree. A sandwich year allows you to gain substantial professional experience before your final year, and work placement opportunities reinforce the connection between academic learning and professional practice throughout.

The programme is structured to provide the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society, which is an important requirement for those who want to progress to accredited postgraduate training in applied psychology such as clinical, educational, occupational, health or counselling psychology. Achieving GBC requires passing the empirical research project component and attaining at least a lower second class honours degree, and the Sheffield Hallam programme is designed to support students in reaching that threshold.

Graduates who do not pursue further professional training in psychology move into a wide range of careers in human resources, education, marketing, health and social care, criminal justice, research and management. The analytical, communication and research skills developed on this programme are valued across many professional contexts, and the combination of scientific rigour and applied understanding makes psychology graduates effective in a broad range of fields.