Psychology
Award
BSc (Hons)
Duration & study mode
4 years full-time
School
Education & Social Sciences
Location
Paisley
Additional information
Ucas code
C800
Course starting dates
-
Paisley: September
Last updated: 04/09/2018
Overview
The BSc Psychology course at UWS will prepare you for a career as a Chartered Psychologist. The course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
The primary aim of the psychology degree is to develop your understanding of how and why people act in the way that they do.
On this course you will study the human mind and associated behaviour. As a student, you will:
- Study the mind, brain and behaviour;
- Be able to apply this knowledge to real world settings and problems;
- You will also develop key skills in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data. These, in turn, will contribute to an understanding of the research and investigation process.
Psychology graduates use their skills and knowledge to enter a wide variety of careers. Through study you will attain specific knowledge in psychology and gain a range of additional skills that employers value such as communication, numeracy, teamwork, computing, critical thinking and working independently.
Many psychology graduates enter industry or commerce sectors. The range of generic skills embedded in the psychology degree provides graduates with a wide variety of options including market research, personnel management, teaching, civil service, research, careers guidance and working in the charity/non-governmental organisation sector.
The BSc (Hons) Psychology degree is accredited by the BPS and provides the basis for Graduate Registration (i.e. Graduate Basis of Chartership (GBC) with the Society).
Entry Requirements
What qualifications do you need?
We welcome Scottish, UK and international students and consider all applicants on an individual basis.
Don’t worry if your qualifications are not listed here, we take a range of factors into account when assessing your application and are happy to consider other alternative combinations of qualifications and experience.
If you are applying with an EU or non-EU qualification, please check our Undergraduate Entry Requirements page which gives more information about country-specific entry requirements.
Year 1
- Scottish Highers: BBBB or ABBC (108 UCAS Tariff points)
- A levels: BCC (104 UCAS Tariff points)
- Irish Leaving Certificate: H3 H3 H3 H3
- International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: 27 points
- SQA HNC / BTEC Level 4 HNC: Science or Social Sciences or Social Studies or Social Care or Social Services or Counselling or Care & Admin Practice or Coaching & Developing Sport or Early Education & Childcare or Childhood Practice or Applied Sciences or Legal Services with Criminology & Police Studies
- SQA HND/Level 5 HND: Sport Therapy
- Scottish Wider Access Programme: Access to Humanities (BBB) plus Higher English or Access to Life Sciences (BBB) plus Higher English or Access to Primary Education (BBB) with B-level performance or Access to Medical Studies (BBB) or Access to Dietics (BBB) (must include numeracy and biology)
Year 2
- A levels: BBC including Psychology
- SQA HNC / BTEC Level 4 HNC: Social Sciences or Social Studies (for SQA HNCs, with Grade B in the Graded Unit)
English Language Requirements
English language requirements for most courses
For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. The qualifications below must have been gained within two years of the start of your course.
General English language requirements at UWS: International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)
- overall score 6.0
- no sub-test less than 5.5
Common equivalent English language qualifications
All stated English tests are acceptable for admission for both home/EU and international students for this programme:
- CAE (Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English): 176 overall; no sub-test less than 169
- CPE (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English): 176 overall; no sub-test less than 169
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English: ISEII with the minimum of a Pass in all sub-tests
- PTE Pearson Academic English: An overall score of 54 with no element below 51 (for programmes that require IELTS 6.0 with no element below 5.5). An overall score 61 with no element below 51 (for programmes that require IELTS 6.5 with no element below 6.0)
IELTS Score Exceptions (DBA, Certificate of Higher Education, PhD, etc.)
For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf), applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
- overall score of 6.5
- no sub-test less than 6.0
For Health, Nursing & Midwifery courses that lead to professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
- overall score of 7.0
- no sub-test less than 7.0
For our Certificate of Higher Education courses, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
- overall score of 5.0
- no sub-test less than 4.5
TOEFL IBT
TOEFL IBT*: 78; no sub-test less than:
- Reading: 17;
- Listening: 17;
- Speaking: 17;
- Writing: 17
* Please note that TOEFL is still acceptable for admission to this programme for both home/EU and international students.
For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use TOEFL to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level courses. We therefore still accept TOEFL tests taken in the last two years for admission to this programme.
West African Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE)
West African Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE) including acceptance of WAEC Scratchcard*
- C6 or above in English
*UWS will accept a WAEC scratchcard confirming that an applicant has achieved C6 or above as evidence of meeting English language requirement from Nigeria if the student graduated within the last 5 years. After 5 years applicants would be required to provide the WAEC Certificate.
Pre-sessional courses
Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language requirements have the option to study one of our preparatory and pre-sessional English courses. The UWS courses available are:
- 10 week pre-sessional - entry criteria UKVI IELTS 5.0 with no element below 4.5.
- 5 week pre-sessional - entry criteria UKVI IELTS 5.5 with no element below 5.5.
- English Language for University Study - entry criteria UKVI IELTS with score of 4.0 in all elements (10 month course), or 4.5 with no score below 4.0 (7 month course).
Course details
The BSc (Hons) Psychology at UWS will prepare your career as a Chartered Psychologist. The course carries accreditation by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and provides the basis for Graduate Registration with the BPS.
On this course you will study the human mind and associated behaviour. As a student, you will:
- Gain scientific insight into why people act in the way that they do;
- Study the mind, brain and behaviour;
- Be able to apply this knowledge to real world settings and problems;
- You will also develop key skills in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data.
These, in turn, will contribute to an understanding of the research and investigation process.
Year 1
- Introduction to key psychology topics and methods of investigation.
Year 2
- Develop skills in research design and data analysis;
- Explore key topics in developmental and biological psychology, and social and cognitive psychology.
Year 3
You will focus on the key areas of psychology for BPS accreditation:
- Developmental psychology
- Social psychology
- Biological psychology
- Cognitive psychology
- Personality and individual differences
Year 4
- Carry out a research dissertation on a psychology topic of your choice;
- Deepen your knowledge of applied psychology through specialist optional modules
Learn a Language (optional)
This course also gives you the option of taking a language module, which can count towards your degree. These modules cover multiple languages and range from absolute beginner to near-native speaker level. The cost of your language module is included in the tuition fees. Find out more
Teaching & Assessment
You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, and flipped-classrooms.
There will also be group work and independent learning through inquiry-based learning. This is often coordinated and guided by tutors. You will develop transferable skills such as:
- Research;
- Presentation;
- Communication;
- Working as part of a team.
Our BSc (Hons) Psychology course uses a variety of assessment methods, including:
- Written examinations in a small number of modules from Year 2 onwards;
- Coursework including essays, critical review exercises, practical reports, poster and oral presentations, laboratory exercises and digital assessments.
We place greater emphasis on continuous assessment in the early stages of the course. We then introduce you to the necessary skills to underpin the later levels of the degree.
Course Structure
Find out more about the structure, learning outcomes, compulsory and optional modules in this course.
Career prospects
Our BSc (Hons) Psychology is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and provides the basis for Graduate Registration (Graduate Basis of Chartership (GBC).
BPS accreditation enables you to pursue a career in psychology once you have specialised through further postgraduate study.
Jobs
Psychology graduates also use their skills and knowledge to enter a wide variety of alternative careers. As well as specific knowledge in psychology you will also gain a range of skills that employers value such as:
- Communication
- Numeracy
- Teamwork
- Computing
- Critical thinking
- Independent thinking
As alternatives to psychology careers, many psychology graduates enter industry or commerce sectors in roles such as:
- Market researchers
- Personnel managers
- Teachers
- Civil servants
- Researchers
- Careers advisors
- Charity/non-governmental organisation sector workers
Check the British Psychological Society website for further information on psychology and careers options.
Further study
A wide range of postgraduate courses/study options exist including:
- Educational Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Health Psychology
- Occupational Psychology
- Counselling Psychology
Undergraduate Tuition Fees
Scottish campuses non-lab-based 2019/20
Scottish & EU
£1,820 cost per year of study (paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS*)
English, Northern Irish & Welsh
£9,250 Cost per year of study for four years but not more than £27,750
Channel Islands & Isle of Man
£9,250 Cost per year of study for four years but not more than £27,750
International (Non-EU)
£12,000 per year of study
Undergraduate fees for this course 2020/21
Scottish & EU
£1,820 cost per year of study (paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS*)
English, Northern Irish & Welsh
£9,250 Cost per year of study for four years but not more than £27,750
Channel Islands & Isle of Man
£9,250 Cost per year of study for four years but not more than £27,750
International (Non-EU)
£13,000 per year of study
Additional Costs & Sources of Funding
The cost of attending university is an investment in your future career.
In addition to tuition fees and living expenses, some courses involve extra costs like study materials, field trips, equipment and uniforms.
Fortunately, there is a great deal of financial support available to help students meet the cost of their study. This ranges from:
- statutory government loans to pay for tuition fees
- scholarships for Scottish, EU and International (non-EU) students
- bursaries to help towards living expenses
The sections below provide details of additional costs that your course may involve along with any financial support that may be available.
You can also find additional information in our Undergraduate Money, Fees & Funding section.
Additional Costs
Students on certain degrees will incur some additional costs not covered by their tuition fees. These could be for things like specialist equipment, study materials, work placements, graduation, membership of relevant organisations or costs related to carrying out fieldwork.
For students on course with an element of fieldwork, there may also be extra costs for travel and accommodation.
Please contact the course leader for details of the additional costs associated with this course.
Tuition Fees* & Living Cost Support
Tuition Fees & Additional Costs
Tuition fees are calculated based on where you are from and what you are studying. Some courses also involve additional costs, such as mandatory field trips, equipment or studying abroad.
Find out how much it will cost you to study at UWS as an undergraduate student.
Funding for Scottish Students
Scottish students studying at undergraduate level at UWS are entitled to various funds and support towards tuition fees and living costs.
Funding for English, Welsh & Northern Irish Students
English, Welsh and Northern Irish students studying at undergraduate level at UWS are entitled to various funds and support towards tuition fees and living costs.
Funding for EU Students
EU students studying at undergraduate level of UWS may be eligible for SAAS funding, as well as support to meet the costs of childcare and various sources of additional funding.
Funding for International Students
There are several scholarship and incentive schemes available to international students studying at undergraduate level at UWS, as well as support to meet the costs of childcare and various sources of additional funding.
Other Financial Support
Discretionary & Childcare Funds
UWS administer a range of discretionary and childcare funds. These are designed to support students who are experiencing financial difficulty or struggling to meet the costs of childcare.
Benefits & Tax Credits
Becoming a student can have an impact on your entitlement to certain benefits. It may mean you are no longer eligible to claim a benefit you have been receiving, or your new income from student funding may affect the amount you are able to receive.
Additional Financial Support
If there isn’t a statutory source of funding for you or your course, or you are in need of additional financial support, you may wish to consider more alternative sources of funding such as trust funds and scholarships.
Money & Debt Advice
Choosing to become a student can have a big impact on your budget and you may need to reassess your spending to account for a reduced income. We’ve put together some guidance to help you manage your money and make the right financial choices for you and your family.
How to apply
Full-time (domestic & EU/EEA)
All UK and EU applicants for undergraduate study, not applying through an agent or partner, should apply through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service)
The on-time application deadline for 2020/21 entry is 15 January 2020, 18:00 (UK time). For some courses it may still be possible to apply beyond this period, subject to suitable vacancies remaining. The final deadline for late applications via UCAS is 30 June 2020, 18:00 (UK time). Beyond this deadline, you may be able to apply via ‘UCAS Clearing’ if the course you are interested in has remaining places.
Please refer to our Undergraduate Application Guide for domestic & EU/EEA to find more information on when and how to apply to study at UWS.
Full-time (non-EU/non-EEA), Part-time & Online (all students), Erasmus & International Exchange
Students from non-EU/non-EEA countries can apply directly to UWS via our dedicated online application system. The latest we can process your application is 6 weeks before the course start date to allow for visa processing times. For more information on when and how to apply to study at UWS please refer to our International Undergraduate Application Guide.
For part-time & online study, you should apply directly to the University through our online application system, not through UCAS. Please select the part-time mode of study when submitting your application. Before you begin your application, it is important to read the part-time application step-by-step guide for a smooth process.
To come to UWS as a visiting student on a study abroad or exchange programme, you must apply entirely through our online system.
An ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students applying for this course.
Get in touch
Do you have a question about applying for this course? Get in touch. We are here to help!
- ask@uws.ac.uk
- 0800 027 1000 (UK)
- +44 (0) 141 849 4101 (out-with UK)
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