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Teaching Excellence Framework 2023 - Gold Award

BSc (Hons) Psychology

Are you curious about people and their behaviour? Immerse yourself in this practical course - we believe you learn through doing so you'll do lots of practical research to help you understand theoretical concepts.

Two psychology students examine models of the brains

93% student satisfaction

National Student Survey (NSS) 2021

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Entry requirements

Three A-levels at grades BBC or above

Or BTEC triple grades DMM or above

Or Access 30-42 D/M with min 18D

Or T level M

And GCSE English Language at grade 4 or grade C or above

Applicants with other qualifications and/or experience will be considered on an individual basis.

We will accept 2 AS levels in lieu of one A level but must be accompanied by 2 A Levels or BTECs (General Studies is excluded).


UCAS points 112

UCAS code R1D4

UCAS institution code P63

Duration Three years full time or six years part time

Course Summary

In this British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited course you can immerse yourself in the study of people and their actions, emotions and thinking. This wide-ranging psychology course allows you to select the areas which interest you, including education, criminology, mental wellbeing, leadership, sports and exercise and more. 

Our BSc (Hons) Psychology addresses the main areas of psychology; developmental, cognitive, biological, social, individual differences and research methods. You'll also have plenty of opportunities to put this theory into practice, understanding how the theories apply to working with people, during placement and working with other students.

Alongside the core modules, you will be able to design your own unique pathway through the course, if you wish to, studying subjects such as sports and exercise psychology, education, criminology, mental well-being and leadership and management. In addition to the set modules, there is at least one module per year which invites you to negotiate the topics you want to study.

You'll be required to attend University three days per week. The days are fixed to be the same three days throughout the year which allows you to balance study with your other life commitments. You will be expected to undertake independent study outside of your timetabled sessions.

On our three year psychology programme, we get to do a range of different topics. So you look at things like child development, adolescence, but then also look at things like biological psychology. So looking at the internal workings of the brain and how that helps us processing things like Problem-Solving, your attention, your perception, But then we also look at how people are in themselves. So we look at topics like the self personality identity, but also how people kind of work in groups where people are particular leaders or they're perhaps more followers in groups. And what you'll find by doing our degree is we take you through the theory, but we have a real strong focus on how that then how we can interpret that and work with people. And so it's all about this kind of continual application when we're doing things like research methods We will often practise those skills you need. So we might do some interview skills, for instance, or like I've been working with the students this morning, we've been looking about how we sample for research, how do we identify the people that we want to interview? How do we kind of look and pull a focus group together, which pulls in all sorts of theories. So thinking about a focus group, we're using our social psychology theory example in how people, working groups, we're using our research skills for and asking those questions and making sure the quiet people have their space to talk. But also all those management skills around kind of coordination, your leadership skills. So it's kind of building give you a future workplace.

What made you choose it was that it was small university in the Southwest. And of course the course modules with the degree look really interesting. That's what mainly drove me and really was the fact that I was a small university and being some one that left home for the first time going somewhere big was quite daunting so I chose Marjon, one, because I wanted to go into the future and become a psychologist and two because it's a very friendly community. university for undergraduate psychology, we have like 50 hours a placement and we mainly had to look for a placement in second year where we could like choose the place ourselves. It was very useful though, because we could kind of like see the outside world really from, from, you know, being an assistant or just being working there alongside the person So it was it was really useful because we could pick up all those skills and we could use the skills that we learnt in class and to modules to, you know, to kind of put it into the placement world.

It was completely different to anything that I've done before. I was at that stage of my career, I was in property and I thought I need to do something else now, but it's going to be too late. Otherwise, when I look to the descriptions and when I went on the website for Marjon and everything and it was just that exploration really of why we're here. And that just drew me in. I love the idea, the fact that it's really small and that it is friendly, and you do get to know people in that respect. It's just been great. I find it it's very welcoming and again, it sounds trite, but all the lecturers and the tutors are so helpful. You know, you never feel that if you go to them with a problem or you just don't understand something, you don't think you're bothering them, you know, they really do want you to come to them. So I would always say, come here because I've been to two other universities and they were great, but you don't get that one to one that you do here.

Why this course at Marjon?

Dedicated psychology lab spaces on campus

Small groups for teaching and learning

93% student satisfaction (NSS, 2021)

Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)

Learn through doing - practical approach to understanding theoretical principles

Immerse yourself in the study of people and their actions, emotions and thinking

Modules for this course

Course Snapshot

In the first year we mostly covered the basics of psychology; learning about key theories and research methods. During the second year we got to specialise more in the areas we were interested in and we went out on placement. We looked at thinking, learning, memory and language but had more freedom in choosing essay titles. In our final year we chose some of our modules and looked more closely at neuroscience and adolescent mental health alongside our dissertation research.
Ella - Third year, BSc (Hons) Psychology

Please note: optional modules are marked with an *

1st Year

Immerse
Introductions to research, key topics, core perspective in psychology and some study skills on the side.
Psychology in Practice
Your time to be a psychology researcher. Participate in projects, run your own experiments, collect data and report.
People: Social Beings
The module answers questions such as how do people work in groups? What influences our group roles and behaviour? Is the Zimbardo study (of the roles people play in prisons) still relevant today?
Cognition and development
How do we think? How do we learn? How do we improve? This module looks at thinking and learning.
Health and Wellbeing
Investigate factors which impact on wellbeing including ill-health and stress and loss. You'll consider how illness & disability are displayed in the media and you'll design an information leaflet to support people with a mental health condition.
Understanding research: theory and method
An introduction to research methods. We'll focus on the big questions: What is research? What is positivism? How do I research? What about research ethics?

2nd Year

Research Practice in Psychology 1
A module to think about and do some quantitative research.
Developmental psychology
A module where we look at people in context, through a developmental lens from birth to end of life, and everything in between.
Our Social Selves
Leadership, social influences, group dynamics, styles, personality and identity all in one module!
Research Practice in Psychology 2
A module to think about and do some qualitative research.
Human cognition
The human mind is amazing, this module looks at aspects of cognition from attention and perception through to problem solving and decision making.
Industry experience: placement
Placement module, your time to take some placement experience and reflect on the psychological theories and practice at play.

3rd Year

Exploring contemporary perspectives in psychology*
You choose the topic and complete a critical lit review on an area of your choosing.
Courting controversy in childhood and adolescent development *
In this module we look at cross-cultural developmental research, think critically about modern questions in developmental psychology and consider the nature and lived experiences of atypical development.
Mental health and young people*
We discuss the nature of mental health and wellness during childhood and adolescence.
Community psychology*
A time to think about how we can use psychological theory to challenge social injustice, build resilient communities and empower the people within them.
Empirical project
Your time to shine! With support from the tutoring team, you'll design and write up your own piece of research and share it with your course mates at a final conference.
Neuroscience and Neuropsychology
Ever wondered about the biological causes of behaviour? or the cognitive underpinnings of problems relating to schizophrenia, brain injury or dementia? In this module you will understand the neuroscience and neuropsychology behind behaviours and acquired disorders.
Working with people
Time to put your social psychology knowledge to the test! You'll look at your own management and leadership styles and those of others. You'll work in a team and explore the social psychology of organisations.

Current students say...


Chantal Buxton

“I think this is a fantastic course and the psychology labs are a great place to study. I’ve developed on this course into a more confident person, and continue to grow in this relaxed and supportive environment.”


Kennidy Williams

“The idea of going to university was always scary but with a mix of lovely friends, amazing lecturers and insightful and interesting lecturers the fear was minimised and the excitement grew! I'm surprised at the amount of concepts I now know and understand, I can talk about different theories and I am able to see things from other perspectives.”


Eleanor Wadey

"We do a 50 hours placement that we pick ourselves. You can either do it all at once or spread it out over the year. You can find your own placement or get advice from lecturers."

This course is perfect if you’re curious about

Is intelligence genetic or influenced by the environment?

Does the media portrayal of teenagers contribute to anti-social behaviour?

Does exercise improve mental health?

Does over protective parenting influence parent-child attachment?

Medication or mindfulness? Which treatments reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia?

What is dyslexia? And what causes it?

Ask a student

See where our graduates are now


Katie Ledger

"University taught me to have confidence in my own ability. It allowed me to become a critical thinker which is extremely beneficial and I feel confident to challenge events that I disagree with. Learning about psychological theories has broadened my understanding of the potential causes of behaviour and enables me to appreciate how we are all different which has made me an understanding support worker. I love it when I have made a positive difference to someone."

Support Worker, Priory Group Adult Care.

What might you become?

This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) which is one of the pre-requisites to becoming a Chartered Psychologist. Further postgraduate experience is also required to become a Chartered Psychologist.

Your psychology degree will give you the transferrable skills that employers want, whether you are looking at private or public sector careers. You could continue to postgraduate study and/or a career as a psychologist or working in research or academia.

Students at work during a psychology class

Accreditation

BPS accredited

British Psychological Society (BPS)

BPS accreditation ensures an engaging experience and means that upon graduation, students will be eligible for Graduate Basis Chartered Membership of the BPS which is required of applicants to the postgraduate training programmes that lead to becoming a Chartered Psychologist.


How you’ll be taught and assessed?

How will you be taught?

With lectures each week, most teaching and learning is in smaller seminar groups and practical workshops, supported by online materials and tutorials. Alongside taught sessions, you'll look at case studies and project work. In line with BPS accreditation you will learn how to do research in labs and workshops.

How will you be assessed?

Our assessments are throughout the year and include essays, research lab reports, presentations and producing leaflets, posters and other materials. There is one exam in every year. Assessments are designed to offer you the ability to demonstrate your knowledge and provide you with skills for your career.

Hazel Bending

Dr Hazel Bending

Course leader

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Hazel is a chartered member of The British Psychological Society (BPS). Her research has focused on how students in Higher Education best learn; investigating how various techniques from using technology to reflective practice and wellbeing can enhance students’ experiences and skills.


Fees and funding

Fees UK students: £9,250 per annum


Fees for International students: £14,500 per annum


This fee covers your tuition and access to course-specific equipment and facilities, as well associated services including access to the library, study skills support, IT support, student support and wellbeing services and membership of the Student Union. There may be additional costs by course.

Additional costs:

Students need to fund a DBS check to attend some placements.

Funding available for this course

Our Student Funding Advisors offer confidential and impartial advice about your funding options.

Learn more

Lecturers

Dr Katheryn Edwards

Lecturer in Psychology

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Dr Katheryn Edwards is a BPS Chartered Psychologist and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Her PhD investigated a dual process account of human mind-reading. Katheryn teaches across a number of modules relating to cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, research methods and study skills.

Carina Robertson

Lecturer in Psychology

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Dr Jonathan Waddington

Lecturer

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Dr Rosanna Walters-Symons

Senior Lecturer

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Rosanna specialises in the psychology of sporting performance, examining the critical perceptual cognitive factors that enable elite performance. Her research fields are cognitive psychology, performance psychology and quantitative methods.


Frequently asked questions

Q1   Are there any exams?

Yes, though across the whole degree there are only two timed assessments, one in year 1 and one in year 2. Most of your assessments are pieces of coursework.

Q2   What does the timetable look like?

Our full-time students are in class for three days per week, and need to allow two days for directed study.

Q3   How big is the class?

Our classes are usually 15-25 students.  The lectures are larger, when all our psychology undergraduate students are taught together and this is around 60- 75 students.

Q4   Is the course accredited?

Yes, the course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Q5   Is there a placement?

Yes, there are 50 hours of placement during year two alongside the other modules.

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