Advice - Psychology at University
Introduction
Psychology is a booming subject at degree level and this means there is stiff competition for university
places. There are a variety of Psychology degrees to choose from; such as Social Psychology,
Developmental Psychology, Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, and Applied Psychology.
There is a long list on the UCAS site. You will need to research the various Psychology degrees and
courses to find out what you really want, and what suits you best. Then you need to consider the following
points:
Do you have the right skills/interests for the course?
The requisite skills for a Psychology degree are often listed in the University and Colleges Admissions
Service entry profiles (www.ucas.co.uk) or the Psychology department’s prospectus. First of all consider:
Are you a scientist?
It is important when embarking on a Psychology degree to recognise that it is a science at degree level. The
subject is often portrayed inaccurately by sources such as the media, which you will have probably
recognised on starting your first AS module, if not before. This often results in individuals hoping to study
sex, dreams, and madness, to name but a few popular subjects. These subjects will, undoubtedly feature in
many a course outline but they will disappoint those hoping for self-discovery. The likelihood is, that these
subjects will be covered from an evolutionary, physiological (body), or neuropsychological (brain)
perspective. To check whether you’re a scientific psychologist, ask yourself questions such as:
‘Am I interested in what happens in the brain and body during sleep or a psychotic episode, for example?’
‘Would I want to learn about the cause of anti-social behaviour in terms of genetic and environmental
influences?’
Finally, it is important to consider what Heffernan (2005) refers to as the multidimensional approach that
psychologists have chosen to take in studying human behaviour in recent years. The advent of
developments such as the completion of the human genome project and more sophisticated brain-imaging
techniques has offered psychologists new methods of investigation. This may result in twenty-first century
Psychology becoming more scientific than ever before. Major developments identified by Heffernan (2005)
that you might find yourself studying as you progress through your course are:
 Cognitive neuroscience: The study of cognitive processes from a
neuroscience perspective (brain and nervous system).
 Evolutionary psychology: Biological origins of psychological mechanisms.
How our modern day thoughts and behaviour may have been selected on a
genetic basis because they improve our chances of survival.
 Positive psychology: This area attempts to redress the balance in the areas
on which Psychology focuses. The subject tends to look at negative things
such as memory problems or mental illness. This area looks at how human
beings flourish; essentially what is right rather than wrong with people by
studying topics such as positive emotions and strengths of the human
character.
Do you have a genuine enthusiasm for Psychology?
Given the information in the previous section, once you have decided you are a scientist, it is essential that
you are excited by understanding what makes humans and animals behave the way they do. Three years is a
long time to study something that you think is just ‘ok’.
The media is flooded by the fruits of psychologists’ labours to a greater or lesser extent. Social
psychological research (minus any detectable ethical consideration) is everywhere in the form of reality
television. Developmental psychology takes the form of programmes solving children’s behavioural
problems, and forensic psychology features in many a crime programme. Interestingly, the focus in recent
times has turned to comparative psychology in the form of animal observations, such as chimpanzee
groups.
If you enjoy the analysis of behaviour in such programmes, it is likely you have the requisite interest for a
Psychology degree. This being the case, bearing in mind the science involved, you can be encouraged that
you would probably enjoy and be successful in learning what might be the function of dreaming or the
cause of schizophrenia, for example.
Do you like Maths?
Psychology is a research-based subject. There is a significant amount of data collection and statistical
analysis in most courses from the start, this is often done using a computer statistics package but it is not
unusual to have to do it long hand yourself. Moreover, the reason why lots of A-level and degree-level
courses ask for Mathematics is not just because of the actual numerical work, but because of the logic
needed for the design and interpretation of investigations and their findings.
Are you an independent thinker and worker?
Whatever your learning style, it will need to be independent. Your A-level teachers have probably made
links to television characters, films, or everyday phenomena to make your subject interesting and easier to
understand. At degree level, it is taken as a given that you have an interest and you will be expected to learn
cold, scientific facts as well as the interesting material.
Also consider whether you have the ability to construct an argument and back it up with evidence. Strong
thinking and writing skills are essential for success, along with creativity and imagination in seeing the
links between your own and others’ findings.
Do you have the right qualifications for the course?
It is possible to find out most qualification requirements for courses on the UCAS entry profiles or from
prospectuses. Some courses ask for UCAS points or exact A-level grades. It might also be worth finding
out if AS points count towards the total. Sometimes there are special AS or A-level subject requirements,
for example:
The University of Leeds has given offers of AAB at A2 Level to those students offering one, or ABB for
those offering two or more qualifications from Biology, Maths, Chemistry, Geography, Psychology, and
Physics. This excludes General Studies, Critical Thinking, and vocational A levels. There is also nearly
always a requirement for C grade in Maths or English, and some require higher, e.g., B grade in Maths is
required at the University of Leeds. This is often for the reasons explained in Section 1. The University of
Bristol offers AAA or AAB, and excludes A-level General Studies, also stating that a science A level is
preferred. This would include Psychology, Geography or Mathematics, as well as the other sciences. On the
other hand, Canterbury Christ Church University accepts 240 A-level points from at least two A levels,
with no exclusions.
What subjects are covered/what is the content?
Most courses are module based. The first year tends to cover the main areas of traditional Psychology:
social, research methodology, developmental, cognitive, individual differences, and physiological.
As you move further along the course into the second and third years, modules are more likely to reflect the
research interests of staff in the department. The subjects become more specific such as those referred to in
section 1 and may be centred more on applications of theory, e.g., language, perception, addiction, reading,
and dyslexia.
What form does the teaching take?
Lectures: Undergraduate lectures tend to be didactic, which means they involve minimal interaction or
debate; it is often a case of receiving a lecture in a room of up to 200 people. Lecturers will often provide
handouts or slides, however the onus is on the individual student to take notes and follow up references
given. There are many books and internet sites dedicated to effective note taking, should this fill you with
dread!
Seminars: These are small groups run by a member of the teaching or research staff. They can be much
more thought provoking and usually involve preparation for a discussion or an individual presentation on a
previously agreed topic. These sessions have the expectation that you would be involved in discussion
offering informed opinions.
There are also tutorial opportunities to ask lecturers questions relating to the course material on a more
individual basis.
A very beneficial way to prepare for this independent style of learning is to explore what your learning
style is. Many learning-style questionnaires exist to help you identify your preferred style. These can be
found in books and on internet sites (your teacher probably already has some). Of course, this does not help
if the presenting style doesn’t match yours, but you can at least develop techniques of recording,
transferring, and revising your material based on what you have learned about your own style.
What form does the assessment take?
Every course varies in the combination of different assessment methods and how much the results of each
year contribute to your final class of degree. Expect to be tasked with:
 Assessed and non-assessed essays.
 Reports of research practicals.
 Exams.
The breakdown of assessment is often in the prospectus, so consider how you perform best when choosing
a course.
How do I choose a suitable course?
 Courses are ranked in The Times newspaper every year according to their
teaching and research, and given an overall rating. This is an excellent place
to begin your search.
 Is it a Bachelor of Science (BSc) or a Bachelor of Arts (BA)? Sometimes this
will reflect how science based the course is. However, sometimes it is a little
arbitrary and there will be little difference between the content of either.
 Single or joint honours? A joint honours degree is a popular choice if
students are divided between two favourite subjects or career directions.
The important thing to consider is that if there are too few Psychology
modules or your combination doesn’t include research methodology, it could
close doors to further study until you have completed some form of
conversion course.
 Similarly, if you choose a specialised course such as forensic psychology, be
very sure that this is your chosen direction. If you have not made a firm
decision, choose a more general course that includes modules of your special
interest.
 Has the degree been accredited by the British Psychological Society? This
approval is not only the sign of a good course, but also offers you Graduate
Basis for Registration. This is necessary if you want to undertake further
study in clinical or occupational psychology, for example. It provides you
with the necessary qualification for being a graduate member of the society
and then a Chartered Psychologist after your training. If you choose a course
without accreditation you could find yourself needing to complete a
conversion course before starting the master’s course of your choice, for
example.
Reference:
Heffernan, T.M. (2005). A Student’s Guide to Studying Psychology. Hove, UK: Psychology Press.