C800: Psychology. Essentials. Undergraduate BSc Durham City ( International Baccalaureate.

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1 C800: Psychology Undergraduate BSc 2016 Essentials UCAS code Degree Mode of study Duration Location A-Level International Baccalaureate Department(s) Website C800 BSc Full Time 3 years Durham City ( AAA 37 psychology.admissions@durham.ac.uk Telephone +44 (0) Alternative qualifications Page 1

2 Course Content Description Durham s Psychology Department is a department with excellence in both research and teaching. This research strength extends across the wide variety of academic interests of the Department s staff, from child health and development, perception, cognitive and behavioural neuroscience to the evolutionary basis of behaviour. The wide range and quality of the research interests of the staff in the Department allows us to offer a broad range of final-year option courses on both our degree courses. Our breadth of research strength means that you are guaranteed to be taught by some of the leading figures in their field of research. We offer two psychology degrees, Psychology and Psychology (Applied), with both courses demonstrating extensive depth and breadth in the field of psychology. Our applied research facilities related to neurorehabilitation, education, social, health and developmental psychology are based in Durham University s Queen s Campus and so this is where we offer our Psychology (Applied) degree course, while our Psychology course is based on the Mountjoy Site in Durham, which houses facilities for studying perception, developmental psychology, cognition and behavioural neuroscience, amongst others. Students on each degree course are encouraged to get involved in experiments being carried out by their lecturers, thus gaining a deeper and more hands-on understanding of the issues they are learning about in their degrees, adding to their contextual experience. Psychology is essentially concerned with understanding human nature and it is closely related to a wide range of other disciplines, including biology, anthropology, philosophy and education. You will get the chance to study people in terms of their internal mental processes, the biological mechanisms that underlie their behaviour, and the social and developmental context in which they act. Year 1 In the first year, you will take three core modules in Psychology: Introduction to Psychology 1: Cognitive & Biological Psychology Introduction to Psychology 2: Developmental, Social & Abnormal Psychology Introduction to Psychological Research (double module). The compulsory Psychology modules count for four of your six modules (two single modules, plus the double module), so in addition you may choose: Classic Papers: A Tutorial Introduction to Psychological Science, or Classic Papers in Applied Psychology: A Tutorial Introduction to Psychological Science, plus a module from another University department; or two modules from another University department (including modules from the University s Centre for Foreign Language Study). For modules taken from another University department you must meet their entry requirements and must be able to timetable your additional subjects to fit in with your compulsory modules. Page 2

3 Year 2 In the second year, you will build upon your first year and complete six modules in Psychology: Year 3 Topics in Cognitive Psychology Social & Developmental Psychology Biological Psychology and Perception Individual Differences & Abnormal Psychology Research Methods in Psychology Statistics for Psychology In your final year, you may choose to take four modules in Psychology or two or three Psychology modules plus one or two from the Psychology (Applied) Year Three modules on offer or even one from another department (including Modern Foreign Languages). The final-year Psychology modules are on specialist topics and include lectures, workshops, practical work and continuous assessment. All Department of Psychology final-year modules have an end of year examination. In addition to your chosen four modules, you will carry out and write up your own Research Project (Psychology Dissertation), supervised by a member of staff. The range of possible topics is very wide and research can take place in settings such as schools or hospitals, as well as in research laboratories in the Department of Psychology. The Dissertation is a double module. The list of final-year Psychology option modules may vary from year, but has included in the past: Neuropsychology of Memory Developmental Psychology Child Health Psychology Social Psychology The Evolution of Human Behaviour Brain and Cognition Emotion & Social Cognition The Visual Brain Learning and Animal Cognition Modules from the University s Centre for Foreign Language Study. Page 3

4 Admissions Process Subject requirements, level and grade In addition to satisfying the University s general entry requirements, please note: Grade B in Mathematics at GCSE or equivalent is required We do not include General Studies or Critical Thinking as part of our offer If Psychology has been studied at A Level (or equivalent), then this will form part of the offer (see our website for further details) We welcome applications from individuals with other qualifications equivalent to our standard entry requirements and from mature students with non-standard qualifications or who may have had a break in their study. We will be reviewing our entry requirements for 2016 entry in the summer of 2015 and will publish finalised entry requirements for 2016 entry on the University s website and at UCAS from September 2015 If you do not satisfy our general entry requirements, the Foundation Centre offers multidisciplinary degrees to prepare you for a range of specified degree courses. Please consult the University website for required evidence of English language proficiency. We accept applications for deferred entry. English Language requirements Please check requirements for your subject and level of study ( How to apply Information relevant to your country Page 4

5 Fees and Funding Full Time Fees EU Student 9, Home Student 9, Island Student 9, International non-eu Student 20, Note: Fees are subject to review and change in-line with inflation. Please also check costs for colleges and accommodation ( Scholarships and funding Page 5

6 Career Opportunities Psychology The Psychology department comprises members of academic staff who use cutting edge techniques in order to become world leaders in their research field. The experience gained with us will therefore enable you to enter the workplace with knowledge and hands-on experience of how psychological issues are investigated and how this knowledge is applied to solve problems in the world. Of those students who studied Psychology that left in 2013: - 44% are in full time paid employment Of those in employment: - 65% are graduate level employment - Median salary 19,000 Of those students in further study: - 100% are in graduate level study, in areas including: Conversion course/speech & Language Therapy PhD/Psychology Masters/Psychology PGCE/Primary PGCE/Secondary Conversion course/law Page 6

7 (These statistics are based on the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey of 2012/13 graduates. The DLHE survey asks leavers from higher education what they are doing six months after graduation. Full definitions for the DLHE Record can be found here: I had an excellent experience as an undergraduate on the Psychology (Applied) course. My experience at Queen's Campus has been second to none, I found the course intersting and enjoying the three years I spent there. The excellent research-led teaching, combined with the wide range of final year options, is what - in my opinion - makes this degree in Psychology far superior to others. The third year modules allowed me to get to grips with more practical aspects of Psychology and guided my decision of what to do after graduating. Of those students who studied Psychology (Applied) at Queen's Campus, who left in 2013: - 41% are in full time paid employment Of those in employment: - 52% are graduate level employment - Median salary 15,500 Of those students in further study: - 100% are in graduate level study, in areas including: Conversion course/speech & Language Therapy PhD/Psychology Masters/Psychology PGCE/Primary PGCE/Secondary Page 7

8 Conversion course/law (These statistics are based on the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey of 2012/13 graduates. The DLHE survey asks leavers from higher education what they are doing six months after graduation. Full definitions for the DLHE Record can be found here: Employment development opportunities The Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre ( works closely with the Psychology Department to ensure that students receive information, advice and vacancies relevant to their needs. A Careers Adviser delivers talks focused on ensuring that students receive the most relevant and up to date advice about professions that are of interest to students in the department. This includes inviting professionals such as Educational, Counselling, Clinical and Forensic Psychologists onto campus to talk to students about their work. A wide range of work is carried out in conjunction with the Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre to develop students' employability skills, including presentations/workshops on CVs, applications, assessment centres, interviews, commercial awareness, leadership, etc. A wide range of recruiters of Durham Psychology graduates attend careers fairs and run presentations on campus, from career areas including: Psychology, Teaching, Accountancy, Law, HR, Retail, Management Consultancy, Marketing Advertising, PR, Banking, IT, to name a few. Work experience Our department encourages you to gain experimental expereince during your time with us. To that end you can get involved via a participant pool scheme for which you can gain credit and also take part in our research assistant scheme. In this scheme you have the opportunity to join a research group in the department to see first-hand how ideas turn into experiments, how those experiments are run and what the results mean. We also encourage our students to find related vacation experience either within the department through a summer bursary (external funding) or by working with one of our employability partners. Professional recognition Our degrees are accreditied by the British Psychological Society as conferring eligibility for the *Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, which is the first step in your career as a psychologist. (*minimum of a second class honours degree required) Neuro Partners are a company who specialise in care and support for people with Neurological Conditions and Brain Injury. We have over 250 employees across the North of England and although everyone works towards the same standards across the company, each individual brings their own knowledge ambition and expertise. Durham University produces high calibre Psychology graduates who boast all of the key skills we require when recruiting for Assistant Psychologists and Support Workers to work within our Service. Page 8

9 Open days and visits Pre-application open day Pre-application open days are the best way to discover all you need to know about Durham University. With representatives from all relevant academic and support service departments, and opportunities to explore college options, the open days provide our prospective undergraduates with the full experience of Durham University. Please see the following page for further details and information on how to book a place: Campus Tours Overseas Visit Schedule Page 9

10 Department Information Psychology Overview Psychology aims to understand and improve how people perceive, think, act, react and interact. It examines all aspects of behaviour by investigating the processes underpinning the thoughts, feelings and motivations behind our actions. Durham is the leading university to offer degrees in Psychology and in Applied Psychology with both courses demonstrating extensive depth and breadth in the field of psychology. You will receive genuine research-led education and, as well as undertaking your course-based studies, we invite students to actively participate in our research environment through seminars, conferences, research assistantship schemes and access to our clinical and experimental facilities. Our degrees are accredited as conferring eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and represent the first step in qualifying as a professional psychologist; however, they also provide you with an excellent variety of skills and abilities which are transferable to a diverse array of professions. Ranking 94% of our Psychology students said they thought staff were good at explaining things in the National Student Survey 2014 (sector-wide average 92%). 6th in the Complete University Guide th in The Times and Sunday Times University Guide Facilities Our extensive suite of research tools allows us to take advantage of such techniques as functional brain imaging (fmri), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), event-related potentials (ERPs) visuomotor performance, eye tracking and biophysiological recording. Along with this we have extensive Child and Baby Laboratories as well as a wide variety of laboratory space. We have excellent facilities across both the Queen s and Durham Campuses, with suites of teaching laboratories which are well-stocked with networked IT equipment. All facilities across both campuses are conveniently located close to other departments, the University Libraries and the Computer Centre. We use IT systems such as and web-based databases and discussion boards as a matter of routine and all first-year students are introduced to these systems. You will also have access to the campus computer network. Page 10

11 We are a friendly community of staff, students and research workers in purpose-built modern buildings. Students across both degrees have their own common rooms which allow them to spend time and socialise with other members of their course. The Department also has a study library, which contains the main course text books, copies of papers referred to in lectures and seminars and copies of third year student projects and MSc and PhD theses. We also encourage our students on both Single Honours degrees to mingle, by providing cross-campus events, and encouraging students to attend all departmental events and seminars across both campuses. Website This document was downloaded on Wednesday, 28th September 2016 at 12:23pm from The information relating to this course was last updated on Wednesday, 27th January 2016 at 11:56am Page 11