Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Psychology (with Professional Placement) (C810)

This course enables students to move on to a wide range of careers or pursue further training to become a professional psychologist. Students will be able to pick modules that suit their specific interests, including a range of modules from other subjects. Should they wish to study abroad, students can study at a partner institution for a term during their final year.

The first year of the course will introduce students to the concepts required for British Psychological Society (BPS) qualification, including cognition, neuroscience, development, personality and social psychology. Students will then cover these subjects in far greater depth during the second year. In the final year of the degree students can develop their knowledge by exploring the areas that interest them most. The vast majority of modules in this year are optional and are regularly revised in order to incorporate the latest developments in psychology. Recent modules have included subjects such as autistic spectrum conditions, behavioural economics, nutritional psychology, and cognitive behavioural theory and therapy.

Throughout the course students will gain practical experience, and learn how to devise and run their own experiments. During the final year students will carry out an original piece of research on a topic of their own choice. In the past these have included the effects of emotion on cognition, the effects of Huntingdon's Disease on quality of life, and using puppets to test children's IQ. Students may even have the opportunity to present their work at conferences, and a number of past projects have won awards from the BPS and British Neuroscience Association.

Students can gain experience of working with professional psychologists by spending a year working within an NHS clinic, research lab or organization. During this year students will work under an honorary Assistant Psychologist contract with the Berkshire Health Foundation Trust, and will be supported by an academic member of staff.