The BSc Psychology undergraduate degree, accredited by the British Psychological Society, adopts a psychological perspective which is enriched by interdisciplinary influences. This approach reflects the growing consensus that human behaviour is best understood as the interaction of nature and nurture, biology and culture, genes and environment. The identity of the programme parallels the emergence of psychology as a robust scientific enterprise, and an applied endeavour within the context of an increasingly psychologically literate public.
The programme has a central core of psychology, introducing a range of theoretical ideas and research evidence from fields such as developmental psychology, social psychology, cognitive psychology, biological psychology and the study of personality and individual differences. We encourage the bridging of conventional disciplinary boundaries to promote explanation of complex processes in contemporary life. We expect our students to develop their own psychological understanding by assimilating ideas from the diverse behavioural and social theories which structure the subject of psychology. We also encourage students to comprehend how psychological theories throw light on real world experience and activities, and explore how psychological scholarship and research can be used in practical situations.
Teaching methods are designed to provide an in-depth knowledge of Psychology, as well as developing the analytical, presentation, teamwork and communication skills sought by employers. The School employs a range of interesting and innovative teaching approaches and a careful balance of assessment methods including personal research projects and examination.
The academic year consists of two 12-week semesters. A typical BSc Psychology module has two lectures and about one seminar per week. While lectures are attended by all students, seminars are held in smaller groups where you can interact more directly with the tutor and address any problems which have arisen. We stress the role of personal tutors who will take an active interest in your development.
Career Opportunities
The School of Social Work and Psychology works closely with the University Careers Centre and, together with the School's Academic Careers Adviser, we will help students to choose their career path and develop their employability skills.
The BSc Psychology degree will be attractive to employers because it provides a psychological programme within the context of a broader social and applied knowledge base. Psychology graduates are employable because of their statistical numeracy and factual literacy - students will also acquire key transferable skills such as good communication, IT and research techniques. These are combined with proficiency in people-related analytical abilities and enhance your overall graduate skills profile.
The theoretical and research components lay strong foundations for postgraduate study, while elements relating to the understanding of cotemporary social issues mean that you are well prepared to pursue diverse occupational opportunities. As the course focuses on psychosocial knowledge that underpins many areas of everyday life and professional practice, our graduates can enter a range of careers in human resources, teaching, media, communications, marketing and management, health care, criminal justice, psychology and social welfare.
Dr. Victoria Scaife
Thank you for showing an interest in Psychology at the University of East Anglia. We run one undergraduate degree programme: BSc Psychology.
Accredited by the British Psychological Society, our Psychology degree is a unique programme which combines a strong core of psychology with social and applied perspectives on human behaviour. Emphasis is very much on "real world" psychology. The School of Psychology has consistently been highly ranked in the National Student Survey since it began, and in the most recent survey (2011) we are ranked a top three department. In addition, 95 per cent of our students have said that they found their course intellectually stimulating.
If you join us then you will benefit from the recognised excellence of an experienced teaching team who promote a supportive, academically rigorous and stimulating atmosphere.
All lecturers are active in research and scholarly activities and bring the creative enthusiasm associated with research into their teaching.
The School is a vibrant and exciting place within which to work and study. We encourage you to find out more by attending one of our open days, or by getting in touch with the admissions office who will be most happy to discuss your application with you.
Come and Visit Us
Our Open Days will give you the opportunity to experience the University of East Anglia's unique campus atmosphere.
You will have the chance to attend subject-specific talks and presentations about student life and finance. You will also be able to talk directly to academics, admissions staff and current students giving you a first-hand impression of life at the University of East Anglia - check out the accommodation, learning resources, student support, and our sport and entertainment facilities.
In addition to the above we offer a Personal Visit option, available on specific Friday afternoons throughout the year. Please contact the School of Psychology for further information about these.
If you are not able to visit us in person, check out our Virtual Open Day experience which we hope will help to provide you with an insight into life and study at the University of East Anglia.
Students who have been offered a place on our Psychology programme will be invited to attend one of our Visit Days.
Further Information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances with the Admissions Office prior to applying please do contact us:
THIS MODULE IS RESERVED FOR PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS The overall aim of the module is to provide you with an introduction to the knowledge base and research issues underpinning how psychologists understand both normative processes and how people are different. From developmental psychology the module covers a range of issues such as the contributions of nature and nurture. From personality psychology you will look at areas such as the measurement and major controversies of personality. In semester 2 the module provides you with an introduction to evolutionary, biological and cognitive psychology enabling you to develop an understanding on a range of subjects including the basics of evolutionary theory, the anatomy and physiology of the central nervous system, the computational metaphor of the mind and how this is used to comprehend processes such as memory and perception. Also within this module you will begin to develop effective study skills, such as searching for literature, research and essay writing.
THIS MODULE IS RESERVED FOR PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS In this module students are introduced to the principles of research methods in psychology. They will be expected to think about the meaning of research and the philosophical underpinnings of scientific method. Students will be provided with an introduction to the intellectual and practical process of scientific discovery. They will be taught how to use and evaluate some common research techniques and to produce properly organised research reports.
THIS MODULE IS RESERVED FOR PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS The module introduces students to the theories, approaches and research areas within social psychology and provides students with a broad perspective of major theoretical perspectives in sociology, to enable psychology to be studied as both a scientific and humanistic enterprise. Theories are used to provide students with a foundation for understanding people as individuals living within a social context.
Compulsory Study (100 credits)
Students must study the following modules for 100 credits:
THIS MODULE IS RESERVED FOR PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS The module runs across three core themes of psychology: Cognitive Psychology, Biological Psychology and Conceptual and Historical Issues. The Cognitive theme will offer you an indepth examination of aspects of cognitive psychology theory and application, develop academic skills regarding the implications of cognitive psychological findings and exploring the most up-to-date research in cognitive psychology. The Biological theme elaborates your knowledge of the anatomy, physiology and functions of the central nervous system in humans. It introduces established finding from neurology and neuroscience which offers ways of understanding the relationship between brain, behaviour and psychological processes. The Conceptual and Historical Issues (CHiPs) theme aims to introduce students to the history of psychology and the conceptual issues that have shaped the discipline. The theme will focus on key thinkers and consider their contribution to views on for example: the scientific status of psychology and its methods; reductionism and determinism and ethical issues in research and practice. Students will be encouraged to reflect on the extent to which, and processes by which, contemporary schools of thought have developed from the reframing of histrorical ideas.
THIS MODULE IS RESERVED FOR PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS The module runs across three core themes of psychology, Developmental Psychology, Individual Differences and Social Psychology. The Developmental Psychology theme will consider a range of concepts, issues and debates concerning social, emotional and cognitive development during infancy, childhood and adolescence. You will be encouraged to think ciritically about some key theoretical and methodological approaches. Recurrent themes include the influences of genes and environment; thought and language; typical and atypical development; social context and communication with children; and the relative roles of the individual and culture in development. The Individual Differences theme aims to develop understanding of the psychology of individual differences including psychological testing, abilities and personality. It offers a detailed critical examination of a selection of current issues within the psychology of personality and intelligence. In addition, it considers how different theoretical perspectives and methodologies can be brought to bear on selected specific issues, for example anxiety, shyness and individual differences in spatial ability. It will emphasize the close connections between theory (eg., personality traits), method (eg., factor analysis), casual bases (eg., biological processes) and real-world outcomes (eg., health). The Social Psychology theme will consolidate student knowledge of core areas of social psychological theory and research, namely: Social Perception (including person perception, attitudes, attribution), inter-group processes (including prejudice, inter-group conflict, social identification) small group processes (including norms, leadership, decision-making, productivity), social influence) including conformity, obedience, majority and minority influence, the bystander effect), close relationships (including interpersonal attraction, relationships). The theme will assist students in formulating a critical insight of the strengths and limitations of the key approaches within these core areas of social psychology, including practical applications. Encourage students to adopt a constructively critical approach and foster the development of defensible original thinking which is emergent from a thorough, accurate understanding of relevant literature. Finally the theme will nurture intellectual enthusiasm for the core areas of social psychological theory and research within a supportive learning environment.
This module builds upon the foundations of the first year Research Design and Analysis module in order to develop your understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methods. The module will enhance your understanding of statistical methods for drawing valid conclusions from numerical data through examination of (i) techniques for data screening and exploration; (ii) statistical significance, power and effect size (iii) parametric and nonparametric tests; (iv) analysis of variance models; (v) multiple regression. It aims to develop your skills and confidence in using SPSS for the analysis of data. The module also offers the opportunity to develop your skills in relation to qualitative research design and analysis. You will become familiar with the theoretical, philosophical and methodological dimensions of qualitative psychology, building interviewing skills and exploring meaning through the analytical processes of grounded theory, narrative and discourse analysis.
Free Choice Study (20 credits)
Students will select modules worth 20 credits from the course catalogue with the approval of their School
Compulsory Study (40 credits)
Students must study the following modules for 40 credits:
THIS MODULE IS RESERVED FOR PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS This module offers students the opportunity to demonstrate their independent research capabilities and competence through the development, design and performance of an empirical research project. Building from a foundation of the research methods modules in previous years, instruction on this module is mainly linked to supervision. Supervisors will offer guidance on the delineation of a researchable question, an awareness of ethics relating to your project; a comprehension of the appropriateness of the research design, managing the data collection process and the writing up of a report. The area of research, methodological approach and research context will be negotiated and agreed through supervision.
Option A Study (60 credits)
Students will select 60 credits from the following modules:
This module will build on knowledge gained in earlier developmental psychology modules to consider attachment and caregiving processes in adulthood. We will consider normative processes and individual differences in adult attachment and caregiving, and their role in behaviours and processes like emotion regulation, how we function in intimate relationships, and our psychological and physical health and wellbeing.
This module is designed to explore the relationship between psychology and culture by considering how psychological theories, concepts and research are linked to cultural experience and practices, including reflection on the relationship between psychology as a science and western cultural values. The module will describe the major characteristics of cultural psychology and initially consider how different cultures construct and understand behaviours and experience. Turning to contemporary psychology the module will explore how some forms of psychological knowledge are privileged over others, and how dominant discourses within psychology operate ideologically through forms of surveillance and self-regulation in everyday life. The module offers both a critique of the discipline and recognition of the power of theoretical positions and practical endeavours which offer insight into mind and behaviour.
This module will explore areas of current interest and debate in the psychology of criminal activity and in the relationship between psychology and the criminal justice system. Building on research covered in earlier modules such as cognitive and developmental psychology, we will consider areas such as the developmental precursors of offending, the accuracy of eyewitness testimony, offender profiling, characteristics of murderers, and the role of rehabilitation versus punishment of offenders.
THIS MODULE IS RESERVED FOR PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS What do we mean by 'abnormal' psychology, 'mental health difficulties' or 'psychological problems'? This module explores these terms and the difficulties we might face in formulating acceptable definitions which acknowledge historical and cultural differences. Throughout this module, we look at the experience of mental health issues from a number of different viewpoints, concentrating on critically evaluating theoretical explanations of, and evidence provided for, their origin, phenomenology and intervention.
This module explores how the mind and brain interrelate in terms of individual differences in feelings, cognition and behaviour. The module focuses on theoretical foundations, models of the mind and brain, the nature of experience, and neuropsychological models of personality especially as they relate to psychological disorder. In addition, the role of conscious and non-conscious processes in personality processes will be surveyed, helping to elucidate, among other things, how conscious awareness affects behaviour and why some maladaptive behaviours (e.g., smoking) may be so difficult to modify. This integrative approach recognises biological, cognitive, social and experiential aspects within the context of systematic differences between people. It also considers how the brain, in interaction with the environment, constructs the experience of our external and internal worlds, including our sense of the ‘self’ and perceptual ‘aberrations’– this subject matter has implications for venerable philosophical issues, such as the volition of behaviour (free-will), which is increasingly being taken out of the armchair and into the laboratory.
Assessing risk has always been of great importance as individuals attempt to avoid negative outcomes under conditions of uncertainty. More recently there has been an attempt to make this assessment objective as a foundation for government policies and public information. However, there is often a gap between expert objective opinion and individuals’ opinions, which can be problematic, for example when attempting to persuade people to reduce their carbon footprint or cut down on unhealthy behaviours. This module examines ongoing research which seeks to explain the phenomena and theories that underlie individual’s ability to gather and assess information about potential risks and their subsequent decisions. This includes defining risk, considering individual differences in risk perception and the influence of sources of risk information.
The overall aim of the module is to introduce students to a range of psychological perspectives on substance use. Basic psychopharmacology of substance use and effects of use will be examined. Levels and patterns of use will be examined along with pertinent methodological issues. Current UK government substance use policy will be outlined and definitional debates surrounding the use of terms such as use, misuse, abuse and addiction will be examined. The module will then explore the range of psychological perspectives on substance use (e.g. biological, social, integrated) before focusing upon substance use in specific populations (e.g. vulnerable young people, parents).
The aim of this module is to map out and explore the interconnections between the psychosocial factors that make and shape family structures, processes and relationships. Families are social groups as well as personal settings for the psychological development of individuals. The module begins by questioning 'What is a family?' It then considers critical dyadic and triadic relationships, demography, class/income, ethnicity, gender, age and ageing, time, kinship, work, popular culture and family policy.
This module will introduce students to current topics in the burgeoning field of social neuroscience. The rapid recent advances in human neuroscientific techniques has opened up a whole new line of enquiry for researchers from fields as diverse as pharmacology, social psychology, neurophysiology and brain imaging approaches. Topics to be covered from a social neuroscientific perspective include: face perception, action understanding, morality and human relationships.
This module explores the psychosocial context of childhood, drawing on historical, sociological, political and psychological perspectives. A particular theme is the state and the child, with special reference to children's rights. The module ends by considering some of the important current policy debates about children, for example, children and the media, vulnerable children, children and family change, parents' employment and child wellbeing.
Free Choice Study (20 credits)
Students will select modules worth 20 credits from the course catalogue with the approval of their School
Disclaimer
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules and regular (five-yearly) review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff or sabbatical leave. Where this is the case, the University will endeavour to inform students.
Entry Requirements
A Level:
AAB-ABB
International Baccalaureate:
33-32
Scottish Advanced Highers:
AAB-ABB
Irish Leaving Certificate:
AAAABB-AABBBB
Access Course:
Pass the Access to HE Diploma with Distinction in 45 credits at Level 3
European Baccalaureate:
80-75%
Entry Requirement
Candidates will be expected to have 3 A levels (see below for typical offer).
Candidates with equivalent qualifications to the A level requirement are encouraged to apply (eg International Baccalaureate; Access to Higher Education certificate). International candidates are also actively encouraged to access the University's International section of our website.
Students should hold GCSEs in English, Science and Mathematics at grade C or above.
The University will also take into account the employment experience of applicants where relevant and applications are actively encouraged from those who want to return to academic study.
Students for whom English is a Foreign language
We welcome applications from students from all academic backgrounds. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading). Recognised English Language qualifications include:
IELTS: 6.5 overall (minimum 6.0 in all components)
TOEFL: Internet-based score of 88 overall (minimum 18 in the Listening and Writing components; 19 in the Reading component; and 21 in the Speaking component)
PTE: 62 overall with minimum 55 in all components
If you do not meet the University's entry requirements, our INTO Language Learning Centre offers a range of university preparation courses to help you develop the high level of academic and English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study.
Intakes
The course begins in September each year.
Assessment
Key factors used to assess an application include:
Past and future achievement in examinations
Academic interest in the subject
Personal interests and extra-curricular activities
The reference
All applications are considered on their own individual merits.
Fees and Funding
University Fees and Financial Support: International Students
The University of East Anglia will be charging International students £11,700 for all full-time School of Social Work and Psychology undergraduate programmes which start in 2012.
The University offers around £1 million of Scholarships each year to support International students in their studies. Scholarships are normally awarded to students on the basis of academic merit and are usually for the duration of the period of study.
UCAS Apply is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time Undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom. It is made up of different sections that you need to complete. Your application does not have to be completed all at once. The system allows you to leave a section partially completed so you can return to it later and add to or edit any information you have entered. Once your application is complete, it must be sent to UCAS so that they can process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The UCAS code name and number for the University of East Anglia is EANGL E14.
Further Information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances with the Admissions Office prior to applying please contact us:
Undergraduate Admissions Office (Social Work and Psychology) Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515 Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
Career Opportunities
Come and Visit Us