Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behaviour, addressing questions that range from the neural mechanisms underlying perception and memory to the social forces that shape how people interact, make decisions, and understand themselves and others. It is a discipline of extraordinary breadth, encompassing cognitive, developmental, social, biological, clinical, and organisational perspectives, and it draws on both rigorous experimental methods and qualitative approaches to develop its understanding. Few subjects connect more directly to the challenges facing individuals and societies today.

At Leeds this three-year full-time programme engages you in the scientific process as well as the content of psychology. You will study core areas including cognition and memory, social psychology, developmental psychology, biological psychology, and research methods, while having the opportunity to pursue your own research interests in depth, working with academic experts who are active researchers in areas such as decision-making, mental health, technology and behaviour, and many others. The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and a work placement, giving you an unusually wide range of experiences during your studies and the opportunity to apply your developing psychological knowledge in real professional and international contexts.

Leeds emphasises that psychology has the potential for profound beneficial impact on people and societies, and the programme is designed to equip you to be part of that.

Psychology graduates work across a wide range of sectors. Those who wish to pursue a career as a practising psychologist typically continue to postgraduate professional training in clinical, educational, forensic, counselling, health, or occupational psychology. The British Psychological Society accreditation provides the Graduate Basis for Chartership needed for these routes.

The research skills, analytical thinking, and understanding of human behaviour the degree develops are also highly valued in roles across healthcare, human resources, marketing and consumer research, education, social research, the civil service, and technology, making psychology one of the most versatile undergraduate qualifications available.