Program Overview

Why choose this course

• Learn from nurturing lecturers who are active researchers in behavioural, clinical, cognitive, developmental, personality and social psychology, whose work is used by governments, health professionals and industry.
• Take advantage of one of the only psychology degrees in the UK with a Professional Training placement, where you’ll gain valuable work experience in a variety of industries, including healthcare, education, human resources and marketing.
• Conduct your own experiments in our brain imaging suites, extended reality (XR) labs and other state-of-the-art psychology facilities.
• Select from a wide choice of British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited final-year modules where you will explore topics like neurodevelopmental disorders, mental health, forensic psychology, brain injury, sustainable behaviour and more.
• Build your research skills throughout the course, as you learn about research methods related to core psychology subjects such as neuropsychology and cognitive psychology – a unique learning approach that has been commended by the BPS.

What you will study

In your first year, you’ll study core areas of psychology and research methods, to develop your foundations of psychological literacy. This will be supported by small-group skills tutorials. Our first year uses a 'supported transition' approach, so you are specifically taught how to learn effectively at university alongside the course material.

In your second year, you’ll learn about contemporary issues that impact every area of psychology. You’ll also complete a module that supports your professional skills development, covering placements, job preparation and career options available in the psychology field.

In your final year, you’ll study an advanced critical thinking module and select four optional modules, to specialise and delve deeper into your areas of interest. You’ll also receive supervision from a staff member to conduct your own scientific research project, critically evaluating protocols, data and literature.

Psychology placements
You can choose to work for a range of employers, including:

• Hospitals and clinics
• Schools
• Social survey companies
• Personnel and occupational guidance groups
• University research centres.

Students have previously worked for:

• Broadmoor Hospital
• Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birbeck University of London
• Home Office
• Metropolitan Police
• National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy
• National Crime Agency
• Social Communication Disorders Clinic, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
• Volkswagen
• Wellbeing Service, Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.

We also have an extensive number of partner institutions that offer placements exclusively to Surrey students, giving you access to research laboratories across the world. Explore your options via our search tool and find out more about our current partner universities and organisations.