PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Graduate Certificate in Psychology
Awarding body: University College London
Teaching institution: University College London Institute of Education
Details of accreditation by a professional/statutory body:
British Psychological Society
Name of the final award:
Graduate Certificate
Programme title:
Psychology
UKPASS code: P017282
Criteria for admission to the programme
Applicants are expected to have a UK BA or BSc Honours degree at 2:2 or better,
normally in a subject other than psychology; qualifications at an equivalent level will also
be accepted.
Applicants whose first language is a language other than English may be required to
provide evidence of their English language proficiency.
The UCL Institute of Education is committed to admitting and supporting participants
with disabilities and welcomes applications from them. Participants do not need to be
“registered disabled” to draw on these services, though in order to provide services in
the long-term we will need to ask for medical or other evidence, as appropriate.
We provide support for students with a range of conditions which have a long-term and
adverse effect on studying such as:
• sensory (visual / hearing / speech) impairments
• mental health issues
• mobility or dexterity impairments
• Asperger's Syndrome or other autistic spectrum disorders
• chronic medical conditions (e.g. diabetes, epilepsy, H.I.V.)
• specific learning difficulties (e.g. dyslexia, dyspraxia)
Disability and Wellbeing Support will also advise people who have a temporary mobility /
dexterity impairment / other difficulty as a result of an accident, injury, illness or surgery.
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We aim to treat every person as an individual, with needs which may differ from those of
other people with a superficially similar disability. We do not therefore have standard
procedures for participants with dyslexia, nor standard procedures for visually impaired
participants: each person's needs are considered individually.
Every person is treated as an individual, and we invite you to contact us as early as
possible so that we can consider your needs and tailor our support to meet them. This
applies to all students – home, EU and international.
Aims of the programme
To provide a broad grounding in psychology that will enable participants to develop
and/or advance their knowledge and skills in psychology in relation to their professional
and personal interests. The programme aims to:
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Provide participants with a broad, basic knowledge of theory and research in the
scientific study of psychology.
Develop the ability to describe and evaluate psychological theory and research.
Develop the ability to construct a coherent argument and support it with evidence
from research in psychology.
Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external and internal reference
points used to inform programme outcomes
In 2009, the Graduate Qualifications Accreditation Committee of the British
Psychological Society (BPS) approved the programme for Graduate Membership and
the Graduate Basis of Chartered Membership (previously known as the Graduate Basis
for Registration) with the BPS.
Programme outcomes: knowledge and understanding; skills and other attributes
a) Broad knowledge of basic, key issues in psychology
b) Ability to produce critical and informed arguments about core topics in
psychology, as specified by the British Psychological Society syllabus
c) Ability to describe and evaluate psychological research in terms of theoretical and
empirical contributions to the field
d) Understanding of basic concepts in research methods and statistics
e) Ability to construct a coherent argument supported by research in psychology
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved
and demonstrated
With regard to teaching methods, 53% of the programme is delivered in the form of
lectures, 33% via seminars, and 14% via mixed-method, lecture plus interactive, taskbased learning. Despite the Western / UK emphasis in programme content (noted
above), participants are encouraged, in seminars, to consider key issues with respect to
their own experience (personal, professional, and cultural).
Our teaching, learning and assessment outcomes are achieved by implementing the
following strategies:
a) Study skills training which takes into account the needs of students from a range
of different academic, cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
b) The programmes, guidance and online resources available from the Institute’s
Academic Writing Centre.
c) Written feedback on all assessed coursework.
d) All work is double-marked blind, with the moderation of an External Examiner.
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e) Introductory training in research methods and statistics to prepare participants
who progress to more advanced study at Master’s level.
A range of teaching methods (as specified above) is used, to allow participants both to
acquire subject information and discuss issues in a critical and informed manner.
All programme and module information is available to participants online via Moodle.
This facility allows participants to obtain key readings for each lecture and all teaching
materials in advance of sessions. It also provides a forum for participants to interact
online in a virtual learning environment.
Information about assessment regulations
Participants must successfully complete all elements of the programme, to achieve the
minimum credits required for the award. All coursework is assessed according to the
grade-related criteria for the programme level, found in the programme handbook.
All assignments are independently marked by two staff members, who meet to discuss
and reconcile the marks and comments for each individual. Assignments are graded
from A to D, with D being a failing grade. Participants are permitted to re-enter a failed
module on one further occasion, within 12 months of the original submission.
An external examiner is appointed by Senate and plays an important role in monitoring
the quality of the programme and evaluating the effectiveness of the teaching and
support provided for the programme participants and the reliability of the judgements
made in assessing them.
Further details about assessment regulations can be found at:
http://www.ioe.ac.uk/studentInformation/documents/About_Policies/Regulations_for_the
_Assessment_of_Students_-_Boards_of_Examiners.pdf
In each module participants are assessed by:
• One 2,500-word essay (50%)
• Examination questions (50%)
Questions for the essay are made available to participants well in advance.
Support for learning
Students taking the programme have diverse backgrounds and experiences of higher
education, and every care is taken to ensure that this diversity is acknowledged and
suitable support provided. This support includes:
 An induction day at the commencement of the programme informs participants of the
programme content, methods and expectations, and introduces them to Student
Support Services and the Academic Writing Centre.
 Programme and module handbooks offer full guidance and advice on studying, writing
and submitting both assignments and dissertations or reports.
 The programme leader is available to advise all participants on academic matters, and
to refer them to the range of support services available
 Formative feedback is provided on draft assignments/outlines to take forward to the
final submission
 Peer support and networking is facilitated in the group by the use of virtual learning
environment (VLE) and collaborative projects.
 Access to the full range of welfare and union facilities is afforded to all Institute
students
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Participants are all inducted on the use of the library and information services, and of
the VLE operating system.
Methods for evaluating and improving the programme
Mechanisms for review and evaluation of teaching, learning, assessment, the curriculum
and outcome standards include
• Module evaluation by students
• Termly meetings of the Programme Committee and Programme Team
• Annual programme review prepared by programme team and considered by
Teaching and Quality Committee
• Periodic programme review and revalidation
• Staff review and development
• Peer observation of teaching
• External examiner reports
Committees with responsibility for monitoring and evaluating quality and standards
• Programme Committee
• Board of Examiners
• Teaching and Quality Committee
• Validation and Partnership Panel
Mechanisms for gaining student feedback on the quality of teaching and the learning
experience
• Student module evaluation (sessional and programme)
• Student representation on programme committees
Indicators of quality and standards
a) The programme was re-accredited by the British Psychological Society in April 2009.
b) External Examiner’s appraisal of how standards compare with other universities
Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules, credits and awards
Participants taking the BPS-accredited conversion route detailed above must first
complete the Graduate Certificate in Psychology, which comprises the following two
modules at Level 6:
• Introduction to Psychology I: Cognition and Development (30 credits)
• Introduction to Psychology II: Individual, Social and Biological Psychology (30 credits)
Progression to the next part of the conversion programme is dependent on participants
attaining an average of Grade B or higher in each module. Participants attaining an
average of Grade C or higher in each module are eligible to be awarded the Graduate
Certificate in Psychology.
The theoretical and cultural perspective of this programme tends to be dominated by
topics and issues in Western psychology (in particular, the US and Europe). This follows
from the future professional and educational aims of our participants, who seek
qualifications in psychology that are recognised in a UK setting. To this end, our
programme is accredited by the BPS.
The UCL Institute of Education uses the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation
System (ECTS), as a guide to support periods of study undertaken abroad and to assist
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student mobility. Currently it is assumed that two UK credits equate to one ECTS.
Therefore a module of 30 credits would typically equate to 15 ECTS credits.
Mode of study
Part-time over two terms, commencing in the spring term.
Language of study
The UCL Institute of Education teaches and assesses participants through the medium
of the English language. Competence in English language is required of all applicants.
Programme regulations may indicate the level of competence required of each applicant
and may make its achievement a condition of admission.
Date at which the programme specification was written or revised.
ASQEU November 2014 (JA) updated ASQEU (JA) 27th July 2015
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