Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behaviour, asking how and why people think, feel, perceive, and act as they do, and how these processes are shaped by biological, developmental, social, and cultural factors. It is a broad discipline that spans cognitive science, social psychology, developmental psychology, biological psychology, clinical psychology, and the psychology of individual differences, and its methods range from controlled laboratory experiments to large-scale surveys and qualitative case studies. Studying psychology develops analytical and research skills, the ability to evaluate evidence critically, and a nuanced understanding of human experience that is valuable in almost any professional context.

At the University of Liverpool, this three-year full-time programme provides a British Psychological Society-accredited grounding in the core areas of psychological knowledge and research methods, meeting the requirements for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, which is the foundation for careers as a chartered psychologist. The programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study psychology in another country, which broadens your understanding of the field and develops the independence and adaptability that employers value. Liverpool's psychology department has active research programmes, and the programme exposes you to cutting-edge work in areas such as cognitive neuroscience, health psychology, and social and developmental psychology.

Graduates of accredited psychology programmes who wish to practise as chartered psychologists must complete further study and supervised practice, whether in clinical, educational, forensic, occupational, sport, or another branch of applied psychology. Many psychology graduates, however, move directly into careers that value their understanding of human behaviour and their research skills, including human resources and organisational development, market research, health services management, social work, and education. Others move into research roles, data analysis, or postgraduate study in psychology or a related discipline such as neuroscience or psychiatry.