Psychology at UEA
Find out more about studying Psychology at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreBSc (Hons) Social Psychology with a Placement Year
Course
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Key Details
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Science
- UCAS Course Code
- C820
- Course Length
- 4 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
Clearing entry requirements are subject to change, if you have your results confirmed, please contact us on 01603 294930 to secure your place. Visit Clearing to find out more.
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Why you should choose us
Course Overview
Social psychology is interested in how human psychology is influenced by society and by the people – real, implied and imagined – that surround us. You’ll explore a range of theoretical ideas and research evidence, learning to critically evaluate the latest psychological theories and develop ideas of your own.
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’ll be supported by your individual academic advisor, as well as having access to the University’s Learning Enhancement and Wellbeing Teams.
On this course, you’ll gain a strong grounding in key theories and research methods of social psychology. You’ll be able to study topics in areas such as forensic psychology, pro and antisocial behaviour, mental health, social groups and behavioural change. Throughout your degree, you’ll study a range of theoretical ideas and develop expert research skills. 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’ve learned by implementing an individual research project of your own, related to a social psychological topic. Past students have chosen areas such as substance and alcohol use, implicit cognition, conspiracy theories, stereotyping and prejudice, and perceptions of ex-offenders.
A degree in social psychology can lead to a wide variety of careers involving human behaviour and social interaction, including market research, human resources, health care and social services. It’s also an excellent choice if you plan to go on to postgraduate study in social psychology, forensic psychology, clinical psychology, or marketing and management. We also offer a range of career planning support, including a business training event and competitive paid placement and internship opportunities.
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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 working 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 cannot 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).
Study and Modules
Structure
In your first year, you'll study one 120 credit module. This will provide a firm foundation for developing your understanding of psychological theory and research with a focus on how this knowledge is applied within the ‘real world’. Teaching sessions are organised around themes and cover topics such as behaviour, social interaction, applications of psychology and understanding yourself. You'll also discover specific methods for the study of psychology, as you begin developing research skills and a critical perspective.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
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. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with 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. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
You'll be taught in a combination of smaller and larger groups. You'll be given the knowledge and skills to establish your own position on exciting and intriguing psychological matters. The modules you take are designed by the teaching team to provide coherent coverage of the psychological sciences.
Our programmes promote psychology as a science and are all underpinned by a research methods route which runs throughout the course. You’ll be guided on pathways across the discipline rather than transported to a destination.
The first-year compulsory module is taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, small group work, and workshops. You'll also spend time carrying out independent study, researching in UEA’s state-of-the-art library, and carrying out research projects in small groups.
Independent learning
This course will give you an excellent balance of independent thinking and study skills, encouraging you to develop into an expert researcher and critical thinker. You'll develop accuracy and precision in your written work, become confident in your organisation and time management skills, and learn to prioritise tasks to meet important deadlines. Throughout your degree, you'll be given guidance on your work and constructive feedback to help you improve.
Assessment
You'll be assessed across a range of assessments which can include essays, research reports, research proposals, projects and examinations. Assessments will include formative tasks and summative assessments. Whilst formative assessments are not given a mark, detailed feedback from the formative assessments will help you with the summative assessments.
In the first year, your assessments will include a range of formative and summative tasks.
Feedback
You'll receive detailed feedback from the formative tasks, which will help you improve your work before you submit your summative assessments. We strongly encourage you to carefully read your feedback to ensure that you fully understand the guidance and can ‘feed this forward’ into your next summative assessments.
Structure
You’ll continue studying compulsory modules designed to develop your understanding of different branches of psychology. These include an advanced module in research methods in which you'll consolidate your knowledge of research design, qualitative analysis and statistics.
Alongside this, you'll take a placement focused module to prepare you for the workplace and allow you to make the most of your placement year experience.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
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. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with 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. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
You'll explore compulsory modules, alongside a placement specific module, developing a combination of breadth and depth, core knowledge and creativity. You'll be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, small group work, and workshops. You'll also spend time carrying out independent study, researching in UEA’s state-of-the-art library, and carrying out research projects.
Assessment
In the second year, your assessments may include a range of tasks such as formative work, short-answer essays, summative reports, case study analysis, and examinations.
Structure
You'll spend your third year on a work placement or internship.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
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. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with 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. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
You'll spend your third year on a work placement or internship, gaining relevant experience and developing your skills and knowledge.
Assessment
During your placement year, you'll undertake two summative assessments (coursework based).
Structure
In your final year, you'll complete a substantial social research project, reflecting your intellectual interests and career aspirations. You'll be supported by a social supervisor with expertise in your area of research. They’ll help you use your research skills to plan and produce a project drawing on a specific form of data gathering and analysis. This could be focused on interviewing, survey work and/or experimental design, both within the laboratory and in applied contexts.
You'll also select a number of optional modules from a wide range of psychology subjects, giving you specialist knowledge or an integrative, cross-disciplinary perspective.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 40, Max Credits: 60)Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 20)Optional C Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 20)Important Information
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. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with 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. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
You'll choose from a wide range of optional psychology modules, giving you either specialist knowledge or an integrative, cross-disciplinary perspective. You'll be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops. You'll also spend time carrying out your individual research project, with support from your supervisor.
Assessment
In the final year, your assessments will include your research project (which is 33% of your final year mark), and assessments linked to your module choices (which could be, for example, a research proposal, a briefing paper, an essay, or an examination).
Employability
After the Course
Psychology graduates 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’re respected by employers – it will also put you at an advantage if you choose to progress onto postgraduate study in order to become a psychologist.
A BSc Social Psychology degree is ideal if you're interested in a career in market research, human resources, health care and social welfare or working in the third sector. It's also an excellent choice if you plan to go on to postgraduate study in social psychology, forensic psychology, clinical psychology, or other applied fields.
Careers
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.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- 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 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.
- 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
Not accepted
or
Obtain an overall Pass including a A in the core of the T Level and a Distinction in the Occupational Specialism. We accept: Health and Science pathways
- 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.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- 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 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.
A levels
AAB
BTEC
Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDD
Combinations of BTEC and A levels
Extended Diploma: DDD
Diploma: DDplus B at A level.
Extended Certificate: D plus ABat 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):
-
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 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.
-
- 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.
Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
View our information for Tuition Fees.
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 for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
You are 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: