| UCAS code | C802 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 years |
| Entry year | 2025 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Discipline | Psychology |
| Contact | Web: Enquire online |
| Typical offer | A-Level: AAA |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: ABB Prof. Placement: |
| UCAS code | C812 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 years |
| Entry year | 2025 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Discipline | Psychology |
| Contact | Web: Enquire online |
| Typical offer | A-Level: A*AA |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: ABB Prof. Placement: |
Overview
- A broad and flexible programme which allows you to explore your developing interests in more depth through a wide range of optional modules
- Specialist learning and research facilities include the Mood Disorders Centre, labs for studying animal learning, and equipment for measuring eye movement and brain activity.
- Explore some of the research fields in which we specialise, such as social and organisational psychology, psychopathology, human cognition, cognitive neuroscience and animal behaviour
- Learn from internationally-recognised academics and work alongside them in a research-rich environment
Top 100 in the world for Psychology
QS World University Rankings 2024
Top 10 in the UK for Psychology
8th in the Complete University Guide 2025 and joint 9th in the Guardian University Guide 2025
Unique partnership with the NHS for clinical training placements
Including access to the high-profile NHS Treatment Centre
4th in the UK for Psychology graduate prospects
The Complete University Guide 2025
Top 100 in the world for Psychology
QS World University Rankings 2024
Top 10 in the UK for Psychology
8th in the Complete University Guide 2025 and joint 9th in the Guardian University Guide 2025
Unique partnership with the NHS for clinical training placements
Including access to the high-profile NHS Treatment Centre
4th in the UK for Psychology graduate prospects
The Complete University Guide 2025
I love the variety this course has to offer. My favourite module in third year was the Psychology of Gender, which I found really interesting and completely different to anything I had done before.
The course provides an excellent grounding in many aspects of psychology and in the third year particularly there is lots of flexibility around modules, which allowed me to really tailor the degree to my interests.
The highlight of the course has been the opportunity to conduct my own research through the dissertation. Proposing my own research question, finding a way to test this and analysing the implications of my results was a truly unique opportunity.
I am looking into jobs in marketing, PR and advertising for when I’ve graduated and I am doing some work experience at a PR company this summer.
Isabelle
BSc Psychology
Accreditations
This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society. BPS accreditation confers eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, provided the minimum standard of a Lower Second Class Honours is achieved. This is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist.
Entry requirements (typical offer)
| Qualification | Typical offer | Required subjects |
|---|---|---|
| A-Level | AAA A*AA (with Professional Placement) |
A in a Science subject* A in a Science subject* |
| IB | 36/666 38/766 (with Professional Placement) |
HL6 in a Science subject* HL6 in a Science subject* (with Professional Placement) |
| BTEC | DDD D*DD (with Professional Placement) |
Applicants studying one of the following BTEC Extended Diplomas will be considered without GCE A-Level requirements: Applied Science; Health and Social Care; Sport and Exercise Science; Sport Science; Pharmaceutical Science. Applicants offering one of the above BTEC Extended Diplomas in lieu of the GCE A-Level Science will also be required to have a grade B or 5 in GCSE English Language and Mathematics. |
| GCSE | B or 5 and C or 4 |
Grade B or 5 in Mathematics and Grade C or 4 in English Language |
| Access to HE | 30 L3 credits at Distinction Grade and 15 L3 credits at Merit Grade | To include 15 L3 credits at Distinction Grade in an acceptable science subject area* |
| T-Level | T-Levels not accepted | N/A |
| Contextual Offer | A-Level: ABB Prof. Placement: |
Specific subject requirements must still be achieved where stated above. Find out more about contextual offers. |
| Other accepted qualifications | ||
| English language requirements |
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country. |
|
NB General Studies is not included in any offer.
Grades advertised on each programme webpage are the typical level at which our offers are made and provide information on any specific subjects an applicant will need to have studied in order to be considered for a place on the programme. However, if we receive a large number of applications for the programme we may not be able to make an offer to all those who are predicted to achieve/have achieved grades which are in line with our typical offer. For more information on how applications are assessed and when decisions are released, please see: After you apply
*Accepted science subjects: Biology/Human Biology; Chemistry; Computing; Design and Technology; Economics; Electronics; Environmental Science; Environmental Studies; Geography; Geology; Life and Health Sciences (Double Award only), Marine Science; Maths/Pure Maths/Further Maths; Nutrition and Food Science; Physical Education; Physics; Psychology; Science (applied); Sport Science; Statistics.
Course content
Our BSc Psychology programme is a stimulating, flexible and contemporary programme that provides you with an excellent foundation in key areas of psychology – developmental, cognitive, biological, social, clinical and personality – together with research methods and data analysis.
In your first year you will explore the core principles of psychology, before you build on your strengths and interests to carry out more specialist research and study in the second and third years.
In your final year, you will work on an extended research project that has the potential to result in truly novel discoveries: many final year projects have subsequently formed part of published research articles.
You will also benefit from Psychology’s diverse range of research collaborations with colleagues in other areas of the University, such as the Medical School, the Business School and the Law School.
The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
You’ll study a range of core areas, gaining a broad knowledge of psychology. Practical classes will give you training in quantitative, laboratory-based, experimental methodology in psychology. The first year also includes optional modules such as Classic Studies in Psychology, Introduction to Behaviour and Evolution and Workplace Learning.
90 credits of compulsory modules, 30 credits of optional modules
a Additionally the written Statistics examination component of PSY1205 must also be passed at 40%.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSY1202 | Introduction to Biological Psychology | 15 |
| PSY1203 | Introduction to Social Psychology | 15 |
| PSY1204 | Introduction to Clinical Psychology | 15 |
| PSY1205 | Introduction to Statistics [See note a above] | 15 |
| PSY1206 | Introduction to Research Methods | 15 |
| PSY1207 | Cognition, Emotion and Development | 15 |
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSY S1 BSc-MSci-BA Psy-App Psy opt 2021/2 | ||
| PSY1105 | Introduction to Behaviour and Evolution | 15 |
| PSY1126 | Classic Studies in Psychology | 15 |
| PSY1208 | Workplace Learning | 15 |
You will gain more detailed knowledge and critical understanding of psychology and this will help you decide what you would like to focus on in your final year. There’s a much greater emphasis on original practical work in the second year and you’ll start to design and carry out your own investigations. Practicals are in areas of cognitive psychology, animal behaviour, social psychology, research interview design and qualitative methods.
90 credits of compulsory modules, 30 credits of optional modules (in stage 2 you must take one practical module per term. You are required to take either one social or one cognitive practical. You cannot take two cognitive practicals, two animal behaviour practicals or more than one social practical.)
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSY2203 | Social Psychology II | 15 |
| PSY2205 | Personality and Individual Differences | 15 |
| PSY2206 | Methods and Statistics in Psychology II | 15 |
| PSY2303 | Cognition and Emotion | 15 |
| PSY2304 | Biological Basis of Behaviour | 15 |
| PSY2306 | Development Psychology and Psychopathology | 15 |
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSY S2 BSc-MSci Psy-App Psy opt 2021/2 | ||
| PSY2209 | Cognition Practical I | 15 |
| PSY2210 | Social Practical I | 15 |
| PSY2212 | Cognition Practical II | 15 |
| PSY2213 | Social Practical II | 15 |
| PSY2214 | Observations and Experiments in Animal Behaviour | 15 |
| PSY2216 | Qualitative Methods and Interview Skills | 15 |
| PSY2217 | Wild Behaviour | 15 |
| PSY2218 | Social Practical III | 15 |
Find out more about placement and study abroad options under Course variants.
with Study Abroad
120 credits of compulsory modules
For your year abroad you will agree a suite of modules in your host institution with the College Study Abroad Coordinator. Details of individual modules that may be taken whilst abroad can be found by accessing the partner institution’s factfile at http://www.exeter.ac.uk/international/abroad/where/ and navigating to the “Course Requirements” section of that factfile where a link to the modules on offer in the partner institution is displayed.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSY3404 | One Year Study Abroad | 120 |
with Professional Placement
120 credits of compulsory modules.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSY3406 | Professional Placement | 120 |
In the final year, the majority of your learning is based on small seminar groups. Optional seminar modules draw on the research expertise of academic staff from four general subject areas: cognitive psychology; neuroscience and neuropsychology; comparative psychology; clinical and child psychology.
75 credits of compulsory modules, 45 credits of optional modules
b You must choose three 15-credit seminar modules in the series starting PSY3410. Seminars are arranged into three groups: Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3. The groupings may vary slightly from one year to the next and so prospective students should contact Psychology before making any firm decisions. You must take one seminar from each group and the three seminars cannot all be taken in the same term.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSY3401 | Psychology Research Project | 45 |
| PSY3402 | Methods and Statistics in Psychology III | 15 |
| PSY3403 | Contemporary Issues in Psychology | 15 |
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSY SF BSc-BA Psy S3 MSci Psy App - Group 1 2021/2 [See note b above] | ||
| PSY3411 | Psychology and Law | 15 |
| PSY3412 | The Psychology of Gender | 15 |
| PSY3416 | Work and Organisational Psychology | 15 |
| PSY3432 | The Moral Mind | 15 |
| PSY3443 | The Social Psychology of Ageing and Ageism | 15 |
| PSY3424 | Applied Social Psychology: Health, Environment and Society | 15 |
| PSY3439 | Social Exclusion and Inclusion in Childhood and Adolescence | 15 |
| PSY3447 | Solitude and Social Withdrawal across the Lifespan | 15 |
| PSY3452 | Social and Affective Neuroscience | 15 |
| PSY3458 | The Psychology of Inequality, Conflict and Social Change | 15 |
| LAW3169 | Equality and Diversity at Work | 15 |
| PSY3464 | The Psychology of Human-Animal Intergroup Relations | 15 |
| PSY3463 | Violence against Women and Girls: Causes, Consequences and Interventions | 15 |
| PSY SF BSc-BA Psy S3 MSci App Psy - Group 2 2021/2 [See note b above] | ||
| PSY3417 | The Associative Mind | 15 |
| PSY3418 | Processes of Human Memory | 15 |
| PSY3419 | Studying Cognition and Emotion with Brain Imaging | 15 |
| PSY3420 | Brain Plasticity and Language Learning across the Lifespan | 15 |
| PSY3427 | Compulsive Behaviour | 15 |
| PSY3431 | Comparative Approaches in the Study of Brain and Behaviour | 15 |
| PSY3437 | The Psychology of Addiction | 15 |
| PSY3444 | Foundations of Human Behaviour | 15 |
| PSY3445 | Mechanisms of Face Recognition | 15 |
| PSY3436 | Neuropsychology of Ageing and Dementia | 15 |
| PSY3449 | The Evolution of Social Behaviour | 15 |
| PSY3450 | Philosophy of Mind | 15 |
| PSY3461 | Neuroscience of Cognition and Behaviour | 15 |
| PSY SF BSc-BA Psy S3 MSci App Psy - Group 3 2021/2 [See note b above] | ||
| PSY3411 | Psychology and Law | 15 |
| PSY3425 | Cognitive Behavioural Approaches to Mood Disorders | 15 |
| PSY3426 | Parental Psychiatric Disorders and Children's Development | 15 |
| PSY3446 | Prevention Science in Developmental Psychopathology | 15 |
| PSY3448 | Sleep and Psychology | 15 |
| PSY3451 | Clinical Neuroscience: Brains, Drugs and Psychiatry | 15 |
| PSY3454 | Lifecourse Influences on Behaviour and Cognition | 15 |
| PSY3455 | Environmental Psychology | 15 |
| PSY3456 | Cognitive Biases in Emotion and Psychopathology | 15 |
| PSY3457 | The Psychology of Play | 15 |
| PSY3460 | Health Neuroscience | 15 |
| PSY3462 | Women's Reproductive Mental Health | 15 |
| NEU3003 | Psychology Applied to Health | 15 |
Course variants
Why study abroad?
Students who have studied abroad demonstrate initiative, independence, motivation and, depending on where they stay, may also have gained a working knowledge of another language – all qualities employers are looking for.
Where can I study abroad?
If you choose BSc Psychology with Study Abroad you will spend the third year of your degree studying at one of our partner universities in Canada or Europe for example. You can find a complete list of International Exchange partner universities on the Study Abroad website.
What will I study whilst I am abroad?
Whilst overseas, you will complete predominantly psychology-related modules that supplement the academic content of the Psychology modules offered at Exeter.
For your year abroad you will agree a suite of modules in your host institution with the Study Abroad Coordinator. Details of individual modules that may be taken whilst abroad can be found in the partner institution's factfile.
Does it count towards my degree?
Yes: all assessments during the year abroad are undertaken at the host university and count towards your final degree.
Upon return to the University of Exeter, you will then complete the final year of your degree in a fourth year.
How does it affect my tuition?
If you spend a full academic year studying abroad you will pay a reduced fee of 15 per cent of the maximum fee for that year. More about fees and funding.
How do I apply?
There is no need to apply directly to this programme: apply via UCAS for BSc Psychology, and you can transfer onto the four-year programme with Study Abroad once you are at Exeter. To be eligible for a Study Abroad place, we would expect you to successfully complete your Year 1 and Year 2 studies with an average mark of at least 60% in each year.
Further information
For further information on where you can go and all the issues surrounding study abroad, see the Study Abroad website.
UCAS code: C812
This programme offers the opportunity to take a professional placement year (through a competitive entry process).
Why choose a professional placement year?
In your professional placement year you will learn to apply the knowledge learnt during your first and second years, improve personal and transferable skills, make new contacts and enhance your employability. Work placements allow you to gain experience of a professional workplace prior to graduating and develop your career focus, and are extremely valued by employers.
Where can I do my placement?
On this four-year variant of the BSc Psychology degree you will spend your third year on a self-organised work placement with an organisation relevant to your degree, which we support you to secure.
What support is available during my placement?
You will be supported through your professional placement by a programme director who will provide high-quality advice to ensure you get the most from your placement.
Does it count towards my degree?
The professional placement year counts towards your degree through the completion of your placement and associated coursework. It contributes to your final degree classification, and the words ‘with Professional Placement’ will appear in your degree title.
During your first, second and final years of study, you will follow the same programme of study as the BSc Psychology (see Course content).
How does it affect my tuition fee?
If you spend a full year on a work placement, you will pay a reduced fee. Find out more in the fees section.
How do I apply?
You can apply to BSc Psychology with Professional Placement directly through UCAS using the code above.
How are the placements organised?
You are responsible for organising your own placement; however, we have established collaborations with local, national and international organisations that you can consider when applying for placement positions.
Fees
Tuition fees for 2025 entry
UK students: £9,535 per year
International students: £30,900 per year
Year abroad and professional placement
If you choose the four-year version of this degree programme and spend a full academic year studying abroad, you will pay a reduced fee of 15 per cent of the maximum fee for that year. If you spend a full year on a work placement (in the UK or abroad) you will pay a reduced fee of 20 per cent of the maximum fee for that year.
Scholarships
The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students, such as our Global Excellence Scholarships*. Financial support is also available for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, lower income households and other under-represented groups to help them access, succeed and progress through higher education.
* Terms and conditions apply. See online for details.
I did receive a Global Excellence Scholarship which helped support me as an international student by covering some of my student fees. As a Global Excellence Scholar, I also felt an added motivation to perform at my very highest throughout my experience at Exeter.
What I like most about my course is the broad selection of topics that my lectures cover, from animal behaviour to cognitive therapy to mental health issues. I also like the various events the Psychology department hosts, my favourite being therapy dog playtime in the Washington Singer building!
Cali
BSc Psychology
Learning and teaching
How will I learn?
- Lectures
- Small group academic tutorials
- Seminar discussions in groups of 20-35
- Support with statistics and biological psychology through our helpdesks
- Practical work in the field and laboratory
- Large group practicals in the first year, replaced by small group practical work in the second year
- Final year extended research project
- Participating in research
There are 10-12 contact hours per week in the first and second years. This reduces in the third year as you focus on your research project, but you are expected to spend a minimum of 20 hours a week in independent study.
Throughout your studies you will participate in research, for example, as part of the first year Introduction to Research Methods module. Engaging in research as a participant offers you a valuable insight and provides an alternative perspective that you can draw upon in your future work. In your second year practical modules, you will both participate in, and help design, psychological research projects.
Learn from experts
Our staff are internationally leading experts in the areas that they teach. You’ll benefit from direct access to this current knowledge through the variety of optional seminar modules that we offer in the final year in which students and the seminar leader discuss advanced topics in psychology. Insights from current clinical practice inform our undergraduate clinical teaching.
Find out more about our academic teaching staff on the Staff profiles pages. Here you can read about their areas of research, their publications and which modules they teach.
Assessment
Almost all modules are assessed by a combination of exams and coursework, or by coursework alone. Coursework comprises more than half of the overall marks which count towards your final degree. You will have to pass most of your first year modules in order to progress to the second year, although the marks do not count towards your final degree classification. Assessment in the second and final years counts towards your final degree award.
Academic support
Throughout your degree programme you will be supported by a Personal Tutor with whom you will meet regularly. Your Personal Tutor is there to help with any academic or personal problems that you may have.
Specific support with statistics is available through our Statistics Helpdesk. Open most weekday mornings during term time, the helpdesk is managed by postgraduate students who are on hand to answer queries and offer guidance and support.
Facilities
Our specialist facilities include:
- The Mood Disorders Centre – a partnership with the NHS
- Labs for studying animal learning, cognition and evolution
- Labs for interviewing brain-damaged and depressed patients
- Labs for studying cognitive and social psychology
- Equipment for measuring eye movement and brain activity.
Optional modules outside of this course
Each year, if you have optional modules available, you can take up to 30 credits in a subject outside of your course. This can increase your employability and widen your intellectual horizons.
Proficiency in a second subject
If you complete 60 credits of modules in one of the subjects below, you may have the words 'with proficiency in [e.g. Social Data Science]' added to your degree title when you graduate.
- A Foreign Language
- Data Science
- Entrepreneurship
- Innovation
- Law (Penryn Campus only)
- Leadership
- Management
- Social Data Science
Your future
As a graduate from BSc Psychology you will be exceptionally well-placed to pursue your interest in psychology working in sport, exercise and health settings.
You will also be prepared to pursue further training in psychology – for example if you wish to become a clinical, educational or occupational psychologist.
In addition, throughout the programme you will develop a variety of skills that will be attractive to potential employers in a range of sectors including education or business.
Employer-valued skills this course develops
- Statistics
- Empirical research methodology
- Ability to apply scientific methods
- Ethical awareness
- Communication
- Presentation
- Analytical problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Leadership and team working
Supporting your career in Psychology
Psychology students are able to access a huge range of opportunities when considering their future career options. A range of employability sessions are put on for our students, such as: career talks with visiting alumni and employers from a range of backgrounds, career conversation events with key employers and an annual ‘Your Future in Psychology’ event and a ‘Careers in Healthcare’ event hosted by a diverse range of organisations. Support is provided to access high-quality work placements through an optional Career Development module.
Careers services
We have a dedicated, award-winning Careers Service ensuring you have access to careers advisors, mentors and the tools you need to succeed in finding employment in your chosen field on graduation. We offer the Exeter Award and the Exeter Leaders Award which include employability-related workshops, skills events, volunteering and employment which will contribute to your career decision-making skills and success in the employment market.
The University of Exeter has an excellent reputation with graduate recruiters and our students and graduates compete very successfully in the employment market. Whatever path you wish to follow, we’re here to help and support you with all your career and employability needs.
Career paths
Recent Psychology graduates have secured initial jobs across a number of sectors including healthcare, commercial and education, with others choosing to undertake further specialist training.
Below are a few examples of initial jobs undertaken by graduates from our Psychology undergraduate programmes*.
Recent graduates are now working as:
- Therapy professionals
- Project support officers
- Teaching professionals
- Data analysts
- Marketing associate professionals
- Business and related research professionals
- Financial accounts managers
- Police officers
- Taxation experts
- Programmers and software development professionals
Recent graduates are now working for:
- Avon and Somerset Police
- BBC
- Hays Recruitment
- Ipsos MORI
- KPMG
- NHS
- The Francis Crick Institute
- Victim Support
- VitaMinds
- YouGov
Further study
Further study is a popular choice for a number of students following graduation from a Psychology undergraduate degree. Below are a few examples of further study undertaken by recent graduates of undergraduate programmes*.
- MA Conflict, Security and Development
- MSc Applied Data Science and Statistics
- MSc Cognitive Neuroscience
- MSc Developmental Psychology
- MSc Forensic Mental Health
- MSc Global Mental Health
- MSc Human Resource Management
- MSc Psychological Research Methods
- PGCE Secondary Psychology
- PhD in Psychological Medicine
*This information has been taken from aggregating the responses from full-time, first degree, UK domiciled students who completed 2017/18 and 2018/19 Graduate Outcomes surveys. Please note that, due to data protection, the job titles and organisations are listed independently and do not necessarily correspond.
