Psychology

Are you fascinated by human behaviour and the mind? On our BSc Psychology course you’ll examine what drives behaviour – from brain physiology to epigenetic interactions, acquiring and developing cognitive skills, social influences and individual differences in personality and motivation. You’ll graduate ready to change lives.

This psychology degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and gives eligibility for the graduate basis for chartered membership (GBC) with the BPS.

How You Learn

Key Themes

Everything we do here focuses on the science of thoughts, feelings, and behaviour, how the brain works, the processes of the mind, and how these develop over time.

We’ll support you to gain foundational knowledge, skills and independence, before you develop your own ideas and professional practice. You’ll acquire crucial key skills – from competence in research design to methods of enquiry, hypothesis testing and quantitative and qualitative analysis. You’ll also learn how to apply knowledge in local, national and global settings.

In your final year, you can study contemporary themes such as trauma, neurodiversity, emotions and personality from a variety of perspectives on the BSc Psychology (general) route. Alternatively, there’s the flexibility to specialise in one of three routes – BSc Psychology (forensic), BSc Psychology (clinical, counselling and psychotherapy), or BSc Psychology (developmental).

Applied Learning

Work Placements

You’ll have the opportunity to arrange a year-long work placement in between your second and third years. This gives you valuable work experience to prepare you for your future career and allows you to graduate with an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV.

Alternatively, you can undertake a shorter, semester-long work placement in your second year.

Organisations currently offering placements include St Anne's Mental Health Service, The Hesley Group autism care provider, Sheffield Children's Hospital (NHS), the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Drug and alcohol service (RDASH), Sheffield MENCAP, the City Hearts human trafficking support service and Cavendish Cancer Care.

You also have the opportunity to take a placement abroad, currently in Germany and South Africa.

Study Abroad

You can study abroad for one semester in your second year at one of our partner universities. Examples of our current partner institutions include Georgia Southern University in the US, Trent University and Carleton University in Canada, Queensland University of Technology, LaTrobe University and Deakin University in Australia, University of Jyvaskyla in Finland, Tallinn University in Estonia, the University of Warsaw in Poland, and Aahus University in Denmark.

Networking Opportunities

Sessions are delivered by visiting guests such as educational psychologists, police officers, prison officers, forensic psychologists, health psychologists, and speech and language therapists.

You can also gain professional connections at careers and employability events, and take part in our award winning psychology student society.