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Psychology at UEA
Find out more about studying Psychology at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreBSc (Hons) Cognitive Psychology with a Placement Year
Key details
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Science
- UCAS Course Code
- C830
- Typical Offer
- AAB
- Contextual Offer
- BBB
- Course Length
- 4 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
Other Start Dates
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Other Start Dates
14th
UEA is ranked 14th overall for research quality in Psychology, Psychiatry, and Neuroscience
Times Higher Education REF 2021 Analysis100%
Of graduates go on to work and/or study within 15 months after the course
Graduate Outcome Survey 2020Course Overview
Cognitive Psychology is the study of the mental processes that inform human behaviour, such as attention, language, memory, perception. On this programme you’ll master key theories and research methods of this fascinating field.
You’ll benefit from research-led teaching in a balance of small and larger groups. UEA’s School of Psychology has been ranked 14th overall for research quality in Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience in the Times Higher Education REF 2021 Analysis. Throughout your time here you will be supported by your individual academic advisor, as well as having access to the University’s Learning Enhancement and Wellbeing Teams.
You’ll study topics such as the brain and cognition, psychology of risk, the visual world, psychology of language, and clinical neuropsychology. You’ll be able to choose from a range of psychology modules and have the chance to experience topics you may not have come across before. If you discover a new passion or interest during your first year, you’ll have the option to change to a different Psychology pathway, ensuring you are on the right degree for you. In your third year, you'll have the opportunity to get hands-on experience, build contacts, and explore potential roles and career routes by spending a year on a work-based placement.
In your final year, you’ll enjoy access to our state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, including a fully immersive virtual reality suite, eye-tracking and motion-tracking equipment. You’ll also have the opportunity to demonstrate all you have learned by implementing an individual research project of your own related to cognitive psychology. Past students have researched areas such as autism, face perception, visual perception and attention, and brain activity in relation to social and non-social stimuli.
You’ll gain expertise in human behaviour in a wide range of settings and contexts, and understand how we process information and develop a range of key skills valued by employers, including handling large data sets. We offer a range of career planning support, including a business training event, and competitive paid placement and internship opportunities. Our graduates pursue a range of careers, including human resources, data management, teaching, media, research, communications, marketing and management, healthcare and criminal justice, as well as going on to postgraduate study.
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Placement Year
On this course, you'll spend at least six months of your third year in a full-time placement, gaining invaluable work experience and employability skills in a relevant area of your choice. Your placement is the perfect opportunity to get a taste of one of the many professions that use psychological insight. We always try our best to match your career goals and interests with your placement, but because it depends on what’s available at our placement partners, we can’t guarantee specific roles.
Accreditations
This course is accredited against the requirements for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS).
Careers
Career Pathways
Example of careers that you could enter include:
- Psychology
- Legal and criminal justice
- Social work and health care
- Human resources and management
- Education, research and consultancy
- Marketing and advertising
Discover more on our Careers webpages.
After the Course
As a Psychology graduate, you can pursue a range of careers in a variety of sectors. The theoretical and research components of your degree will also provide you with a strong foundation for going on to postgraduate study, if you wish.
Throughout your degree, you’ll meet and work with respected psychologists in a variety of settings. You’ll also benefit from a range of additional training opportunities running in parallel with your degree programme. These are carefully designed to help maximise what you have to offer future employers. They include paid placement and internship opportunities, a business training event, and a range of career planning support mechanisms.
All our degree courses are accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). This not only means they are respected by employers – it will also put you at an advantage if you choose to progress onto postgraduate study.
The BSc Cognitive Psychology with Placement Year degree is ideal if you are interested in a career in rehabilitation, data management or research. This degree is also a great choice if you want to go on to postgraduate study in cognitive psychology, neuroscience, clinical psychology, business or computer science.
Entry Requirements
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade C or grade 4.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies(opens in a new window) page.
- Contextual Offers
UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes(opens in a new window).
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
A levels
AAB
Contextual offer: BBB
BTEC
Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDD
Contextual offer: DDM
Combinations of BTEC and A levels
Extended Diploma: DDD
Diploma: DD plus B at A level.
Contextual Offer: DD plus C at A level.
Extended Certificate: D plus AB at A level.
Contextual Offer: D plus BB at A level.
BTEC in Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration are all excluded from our BTEC offers
Access to HE Diploma
Pass Access to HE Diploma with Distinction in 36 credits at Level 3 and Merit in 9 credits at Level 3
T levels
Obtain an overall Pass including an A in the core of the T Level and a Distinction in the Occupational Specialism. We accept: Health and Science
- Further Examples of Typical Entry Requirements
International Baccalaureate
33 points overall
Irish Leaving Certificate
4 subjects at H2, 2 subjects at H3
Scottish Highers
AAAAA
Scottish Advanced Highers
BBC A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable
- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade C or grade 4.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies(opens in a new window) page.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
We accept many international qualifications for entry to this course. For specific details about your country, view our information for International Students(opens in a new window).
A levels
AAB
BTEC
Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDD
Combinations of BTEC and A levels
Extended Diploma: DDD
Diploma: DD plus B at A level.
Extended Certificate: D plus AB at A level.
BTEC in Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration are all excluded from our BTEC offers
International Baccalaureate
33 points overall
- INTO UEA
If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, INTO UEA offers progression on to this undergraduate degree upon successful completion of a preparation programme. Depending on your interests, and your qualifications you can take a variety of routes to this degree.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study.
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- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
View our information for Tuition Fees(opens in a new window).
Scholarships and Bursaries
We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships(opens in a new window) for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
You’re eligible for reduced fees during your placement year. Further details are available on our Tuition Fees website.
Extra costs, related to items such as your travel and accommodation, will vary depending on location.
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of other course-related costs.
How to Apply
Apply for this course through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS), using UCAS Hub.
UCAS Hub is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.
Your application does not have to be completed all at once. Register or sign in to UCAS to get started.
Once you submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.
View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information: