Programme Structure

The BSc (Hons) Psychology is made up of the following modules and, upon completion, is equal to a total of 360 credits.

Level 4 Modules:

• Fundamentals of Effective Learning in Psychology (15 credits)*
• Introduction to Social Psychology (15 credits)*
• Personality and Intelligence (15 credits)*
• Introduction to Cognitive Psychology (15 credits)*
• The Psychology of Attitudes (15 credits)*
• Mental Health, Stress and Well-being (15 credits)*
• Introduction to Research Methods (30 credits)*

Level 5 Modules:

• Biological Psychology (15 credits)*
• Advanced Cognitive Psychology (15 credits)*
• Individual Differences, Emotions and Behaviour (15 credits)*
• Reasoning and Decision-Making (15 credits)*
• Quantitative Psychology (15 credits)*
• Psychological Development through the Lifespan (15 credits)*
• One optional module:
  • Forensic Psychology (15 credits)
  • Health Psychology (15 credits)
  • Educational Psychology (15 credits)

• Qualitative Research Methods (15 credits)*

Level 6 Modules:

• Critical Social Psychology (15 credits)*
• Developmental Science (15 credits)*
• Occupational Psychology (15 credits)*
• Psychology of Sport and Exercise (15 credits)*
• Investigative Psychology (15 credits)*
• Clinical and Counselling Psychology (15 credits)*
• Final Psychology Project (30 credits)*

* These modules are core and must be passed in order to achieve the award.

Teaching Methods

Studying online gives you the freedom to study when and where it suits you – at home, during your lunch hour or anywhere else you have internet access.

Our courses are delivered through a virtual learning environment (VLE) instead of a traditional campus. This means you will have access to your study materials 24/7, including:

• multimedia lecturecasts made up of written content, short videos, animation, audio recordings, infographics, short tests and mini-assignments
• discussion forums for you to chat about the course content with fellow students
• live Q&A sessions with your tutors
• a comprehensive eLibrary of textbooks and academic journals
• support from academic staff and your dedicated Student Support team

To ensure you receive the support you need from your tutor, we cap our class sizes at 20 students.

Rather than fretting about exams, you will be assessed exclusively through assignments. This can be by engaging in discussion forums throughout your modules, completing reflective journal entries, or by submitting longer written pieces.

We are committed to providing frequent and transparent feedback through the following ways:

• Our assessment criteria are designed to be simple and transparent.
• You will always be aware of your current provisional grade, right from the start of the programme.
• You will be able to view your marks clearly in your gradebook whenever you log onto the learning platform.
• There is a 7-day turnaround for marking and feedback of assessed work.
• You will have regular contact with your Student Support team, with whom you can discuss any concerns as soon as they arise.

Our BSc (Hons) Psychology has an indicative study duration of 4 years, which is a guide to how long your course will take to complete. The actual duration may be longer or shorter depending on your speed of study, study options chosen and module availability.

It’s possible to complete your studies faster than the indicative course duration by doubling up on modules at certain times; however, minimum study durations do apply.

Our academic year is organised into modules, typically with a one- or two-week break between modules and a structured three-week break for the Christmas period. Students will receive a course timetable during the application process.

All of our courses have regular start dates throughout the year.

On successful completion of your degree, you will be invited to attend a graduation ceremony at the University of Essex, Colchester Campus.

Provided you gain at least a Lower Second-Class (2:2) Honours degree overall, and pass your Final Psychology Project with a minimum mark of 40%, you will be eligible for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC). Following additional training at postgraduate level, you will be able to qualify as a Chartered Psychologist (C.Psychol). Find out more about BPS accreditation.

Following completion of this course your career options are wide-ranging. Within the psychology discipline you could specialise in clinical, educational, forensic, health or occupational psychology.  You could also pursue a career in related sectors such as counselling, civil service, research, healthcare, security, education and business.

We know that many people from non-traditional backgrounds would succeed on our courses! That’s why we offer two different entry routes, taking into account your prior work experience and relevant qualifications. You will also need to meet our English language requirements.

Additionally, you will need to pass your first assignment set within the first three weeks of the course in order to continue with your studies.

In order to satisfy the academic entry route requirements for our BSc (Hons) Psychology, you must have the following qualifications as a minimum:

• three A-levels or equivalent

Work experience entry route

In order to satisfy the work experience entry route requirements for our BSc (Hons) Psychology, you must meet the following criteria:

• GCSE Maths and English at grade C or above, or equivalent
• three years’ relevant work experience

As our courses are delivered in English, a high proficiency with English is required. If English is not your first language, your English ability should be equivalent to an IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0.

Don’t worry if you don’t hold an IELTS or equivalent qualification – we offer a free online English test to assess your proficiency.

You don’t need to prove your English ability if you are a national of, or have completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in, any of these countries.