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Psychology (BSC HONS) C800

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BSc|Undergraduate

Psychology

Entry year
Academic Year 2024/25
Entry requirements
ABB/AAB
Duration
3 years (Full Time)
UCAS code
C800
Apply via UCAS
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Applications for 2023 entry are still open for some programmes. View courses

Psychology is a core science which studies mind and behaviour. Psychology has a significant impact on all aspects of public life and is at the forefront of helping solve some of the biggest challenges faced in society today in areas of mental health, education, social inequalities, and conflict resolution.

Our degree programme which is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) focuses on the scientific inquiry of topics from seven key areas in Psychology, to build understanding and critical insight throughout your degree programme. These areas are:

1. Biological Psychology – Biological basis of behaviour: neuroscience, genetics, animal behaviour
2. Cognitive Psychology – Mental processes underlying thinking, memory, language and learning
3. Conceptual & Historical Issues – Considers where the discipline has come from, where it’s going, and the big unanswered questions of Psychology
4. Developmental Psychology – How we grow and develop, from conception to old age
5. Individual Differences – How we differ from one another in terms of traits, abilities and motivations
6. Research Methods – How we collect and analyse data to further understanding of the mind and behaviour
7. Social Psychology – How we perceive ourselves and others, interact as groups and the influences of culture and society

Psychology also has enormous potential to contribute to a wide range of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), both as a stand- alone discipline and in collaboration with other disciplines. Goals that connect to our existing research in obvious ways include Good Health and Wellbeing, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Reduced Inequalities, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, but Psychology also has a role to play in any goals that require behaviour change, such as those related to environmental sustainability. Students will learn about the contribution of Psychology to these SDGs through course content embedded throughout the undergraduate curriculum.

Psychology Degree highlights

Our programme is delivered by a diverse group of research leaders and educational experts with a commitment to both student support and delivering an interactive educational experience. No previous experience of studying Psychology is necessary.

Professional Accreditations

  • Successful completion of an accredited undergraduate programme confers eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society (BPS).

    We invest in our students by providing free Student Membership of the BPS throughout their undergraduate degree programme. As such a graduate of Queen's will automatically become a Graduate Member of the BPS with GBC providing the final year thesis module is passed and at least a 2.2 degree classification is achieved. This allows the use of the title MBPsS after your name for as long as you remain a member of the BPS.
    https://www.bps.org.uk/

Career Development

  • We offer a year-long paid professional placement or alternatively a placement module in the final year. We support our students to find a placement that works for them through our dedicated Placement and Employability support team who, complementing the wider University careers team, are on hand before, during and after placements. Recent students have secured placements with IBM, PWC, Civil Service, NI Statistics and Research Agency, a range of local schools, Simon Community among many others.

    We prioritize student employability with our innovative Psychology At Work programme. This offers a range of work-based experiences and skills opportunities of varying duration so that every student no matter their background or personal circumstances has the opportunity to participate. Through this, we support our students to make informed choices for their future career.

    As part of Psychology At Work, we support students to engage in ongoing personal and professional reflection to enable them to identify and plan to obtain the professional skills they need to achieve their own goals. We provide training in CV writing and interview skills, as well as 1-1 career advice drop-in sessions and opportunities to participate in local workplace visits. You will also have the opportunity to complete numerous self-assessment questionnaires to help identify personal strengths and areas for development from your first year of studying on the programme. Our aim is to enable our students to go on to further study or wider graduate employment.
    https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/psy/PsychologyatWork/WorkPlacementswithPsychology/

World Class Facilities

  • We have invested to enhance facilities for students within the School to include a refurbished teaching and learning space where you will take weekly practical classes in your first two years. These state-of-the-art facilities, which are only available to Psychology students, are designed specifically to facilitate both individual and group work outside class times.

    Students can get involved in our research programmes from early on and as such will become familiar with many of our high-tech research facilities such as:

    Social interactions and emotion lab - with Virtual Reality (VR), avatar animation, physiological sensors, video and audio recording facilities for dual and multi-party social interactions and their simulation.
    Animal Behaviour lab
    Brain stimulation (TMS) lab
    Science in Motion lab located in the Queens Sport building – with VR and motion-capture technology
    Eye-tracking devices
    Child development observation lab

    We also have student centred spaces within our School which include a Student Common Room equipped with kitchen facilities, a Student Quiet Room for those who need to de-stress between classes, and a Nurturing Room. We also have a newly equipped Student Podcast Recording Studio located in our School to facilitate our student-led communications.

Internationally Renowned Experts

  • The School is proud of its strong ethos of teaching excellence with several staff recipients of university and national teaching awards.

    We are also at the forefront of ground breaking research which you’ll find embedded throughout our teaching. We advance research and public understanding of some of the key challenges facing individuals, groups and societies from a psychological perspective.

    Our research is grouped around a number of themes including Development and Cognition; Social Psychology; Health Welfare and Clinical Psychology; and Perception and Action. Within these we have a number of research centres focused on Animal Behaviour; Identity and Intergroup relations; Improving Health-related Quality of Life; and Stress, Trauma and Related Conditions. Our research has significant impact on informing policymakers, developing industry partnerships and ultimately touching on the lives of thousands of individuals.
    https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/psy/Research/

Student Experience

  • Our commitment to student experience begins before you join us on campus with a series of pre-induction welcome activities. These will provide you with important information about your course as well as an opportunity for you to meet your peers and smooth your transition into University life. You will later participate in a range of on-campus induction events, all aimed at building connections with your peers, academic staff, and the School more widely. During this time, you will meet a number of staff who will be important during your first year including your Year Head, Personal Tutor and Advisor of Studies.

    Our Psychology Connect programme of events is active throughout the year, connecting students across all levels of the programme and aims to help students to get to know one another and have some fun alongside studying. We hold social mixer events for each year group at the start of every year as well as events such as on-campus zoo day, staff-student Christmas quiz, student photography competition, Easter treasure hunt and a staff-student running club. We also facilitate a number of student-led social groups including 21+ (for those who have had a break in their studies before coming to University) and our international student group. We run a peer mentoring scheme where first years are assigned to second and third-year mentors and our student society PsychSoc is also very active.

    All of this is overseen by our Psychology Student Support Officer who is also available for help and support.

    The student voice is highly valued and will be an important part of ensuring you have the best student experience possible. We provide numerous opportunities and channels for students to express their views throughout the academic year and these help us build an even better student experience.
    https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/psy/Connect/
Victoria, Final Year Undergraduate

I left school with no formal qualifications and started my academic journey by going to SERC to help my children with homework.

During my time at QUB I have faced many challenges, the first year we were in lockdown and the staff and lecturers had a huge task of moving everything online for us to start our degree, even though it was difficult and we did not have the traditional new student experience, I still found the content fascinating and felt like I was able to connect with other people on my course through things like Christmas Quizzes and dare I say; the dreaded break out rooms.

During this time, I had a few health issues but the support of lecturers gave me the push to complete the year and I finished the year along with everyone else with a good grade. I was even offered the opportunity to complete a training course to become a mental health first aider within QUB.

I have always felt a part of the school community, even though I am older than most of the students. I have met some of the nicest, most thoughtful people.

I have been offered so many opportunities, such as Student Ambassador, Class Representative, and Mental Health First Aider. I spent the summer working for the School of Psychology, restructuring how Psychology courses appear to students on Canvas which is our online learning platform. From that, I was able to use my IT skills to get a job within the digital learning team at QUB as a student assistant to help tackle accessibility issues within Canvas. This has all helped me develop confidence and skills that I will take with me throughout my future career.

I took a placement module within my 3rd year, in which I went out and delivered psychological interventions to school children on issues like bullying, study skills, and resilience.

I am also volunteering within the children’s hospice, which I am finding so rewarding to use the psychological knowledge that I have learned during my time in QUB.

I am now applying for an MSc in Developmental Psychology and plan to have a career within it.

Most of all, I love that Psychology gives us the ability to make a difference in people’s lives in various contexts. It has been so fascinating to investigate the scientific reasoning behind the mind and behaviour.

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Course content

Course Structure

IntroductionOver the first two years of the programme, we cover a diverse syllabus, approved by our accrediting professional body, the British Psychological Society (BPS), which provides a solid foundation across the full range of Psychology’s core domains.

Throughout your time with us, you’ll develop the wide range of transferable skills which make our graduates so appealing to employers. Psychology offers an arguably unique grounding in both qualitative and quantitative research skills, meaning our graduates have high verbal and numerical competencies. You’ll have well-developed organisation and self-management skills and be confident communicators to both small and large groups of people, using a range of media. Equipped with team-working and leadership experiences, you’ll not only be able to problem solve with critical insight, but lead others to do so too. All this on top of your insights into the mind and behaviours of others, and yourself.
Stage 1In first year you'll get a gentle introduction to Psychological theories in each of the core domains and the application of Psychology in everyday life. We deliver this through a variety of engaging and interactive teaching methods including lectures, small-group tutorials and practical laboratory classes.

• Foundations in Psychology
• Introduction to Methods in Psychology
• Using Psychology in Everyday Life
Stage 2In second year you'll build a more detailed knowledge of the core domains whist developing critical and analytical thinking skills. Our subject specialists use a mixture of theoretical and practical teaching methods to hone the skills required to be a successful graduate.

• Core Psychology I
• Core Psychology II
• Psychological Methods

Professional Work Placement Year Option
At the end of second year, you’ll have the opportunity to enhance your employability and practice your psychological skills within the workplace, by taking a year-long professional work placement, working with one of our many graduate employer partners across the private, public and voluntary sectors.
Stage 3In final year you'll be able to tailor your Psychology degree according to your own individual interests by choosing from a selection of modules designed to explore current developments across the domains of Psychology; all delivered by our cutting-edge researchers. Note that final year modules change annually and modules listed are intended only to give an idea of the range of topics that might be available.

• Typical and Atypical Literacy Development
• Ageing: Mind, Brain and Behaviour
• Psychologists at work: Insights Into Graduate Employment
• Psychology of Gender
• Using Nudges to Change Behaviour
• An Introduction to Clinical Health Psychology
• Introduction to Political Psychology
• Depression and Anxiety
• Forensic Psychology and Crime
• Contemporary Issues in Mental Health and Addiction
• Introduction to Cultural Psychology
• International Collaboration: Psychology Towards Global Goals
• The Development of Mathematical Thinking and Learning
• Psychology Thesis

For students who don’t wish to take a year-long work placement before starting final year, we offer our ‘Psychologists at Work’ module which places students with one of our many employer-partners to work on a 6-8 week project applying psychology in the workplace.

You'll complete your degree in Psychology by submitting a research project thesis at the end of final year. This independent research is completed under the supervision of our expert academic staff, who will be with you every step of the way on your transition to becoming a graduate Psychologist.
What else will you do?You’ll also have opportunities to see psychology in action across your three years.

We have a Research Participation Scheme for first year students, where they gain experience by taking part in research projects being run within the School, while earning degree credit.

We also offer a number of paid research skills studentships where students have the opportunity to work with one of our academic teams over the year, developing their research skills while contributing to one of our many research projects.

As part of your studies, you’ll have the chance to take personality tests for yourself, see how they’re scored and learn how to interpret your results, gaining insight into who you are as an individual and how you tend to approach life, work and study situations.

Optional modules in final year may offer field trips. In previous years, our students have hosted visits from a local primary school, gaining practical experience of administering educationally relevant psychological assessments to young children.

People teaching you

Dr Aideen McParland
Lecturer (Education)

School of Psychology
Dr Aideen McParland is a Lecturer (Education) in the School of Psychology at Queen's University, Belfast. Aideen is a Registered Behaviour Technician (RBT), Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) and Associate Fellow (AFBPsS) with the British Psychological Society. In June 2019, Aideen became a professionally certified Entrepreneurial Educator with UCD Innovation Academy, a qualification reflecting her commitment to incorporating innovative pedagogies in University teaching. In April 2022, Aideen received the School of Psychology Teaching Excellence Award in recognition of her implementation of connected learning pedagogies during online teaching and learning. Aideen teaches Research Methods and Statistics on the undergraduate programme and Developmental Psychology on the MSc in Applied Developmental Psychology programme. Aideen also supervises student research projects at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level. Aideen is the Deputy Director of Undergraduate Education and Level 1 Year-Lead on the BSc Psychology degree programme and engages with key aspects of student experience enhancement in these roles. Aideen also continues to conduct pedagogical research aimed at understanding transitional experiences of students in Higher Education and promoting research-led teaching practices in the School.

Dr Matthew Rodger
Senior Lecturer

School of Psychology
Dr Matthew Rodger is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology. His research is about Perception and Action, with a focus on using rhythmic and interactive sounds to help with learning new coordination skills or for overcoming movement challenges for people with Parkinson’s disease or visual-impairments. He also researches music psychology, including how people learn to play instruments and how anxiety can affect musical performance. He teaches Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology, and Research Methods, as well as supervising students with their research projects. In 2015, he was awarded Queen’s Student Union’s Personal Tutor of the Year, for his efforts in guiding and supporting his final year thesis students both in their research projects, and in their career development and future goals.

Dr Paul Wilson
Director of Undergraduate Education

School of Psychology
Dr Paul Wilson is a Chartered Psychologist, Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS). He is also on the executive committees of the European Society of Psychology Teaching and Learning and the BPS Division of Academics, Researchers and Teachers of Psychology. He is a Qualified Psychological Test User for Occupational testing (Ability and Personality). Paul is a Senior Lecturer who specialises in teaching & learning. His areas of expertise are in Individual Differences, Research Methods, Psychometrics and Statistics. His pedagogical research interests include personal factors influencing attainment in higher education and the use of student response systems to increase student engagement and attainment. For the latter work, Paul won the School's Teaching Award in 2017.

Contact Teaching Times

Large Group Teaching8 (hours maximum)
8 hours of lectures each week
Small Group Teaching/Personal Tutorial1 (hours maximum)
1 hour of tutorials (or later, project supervision) every two weeks.
Medium Group Teaching2 (hours maximum)
2 hours of practical classes each week
Personal Study24 (hours maximum)
22-24 hours studying and revising in your own time each week, including some guided study using handouts, online activities, etc.

Learning and Teaching

As a student you’ll benefit from our high quality learning environment. You’ll always be taught by an expert in the subject matter, who is delivering research-led teaching informed by current developments in the field. By providing a range of learning experiences which enable our students to engage with subject experts, we can support your development of attributes and perspectives that will prepare you for life and work in a global society and be an independent, lifelong learner. There is much more to our Psychology degree than traditional lectures. The delivery of our curriculum is evidence-based for best practice and effective learning – we bring Psychology to our teaching as well as to our students.

  • Digital Learning
    Digital skills are becoming ever-more important for graduate employers, so we embed such skills across our degree. For example using mobile apps in lectures so students can text in answers and participate in group activities; weekly laboratory classes to develop competencies using statistical software packages; use of interactive web-based learning activities to explain statistical concepts; training in the use of IT programmes for creating presentations, reports and other media.
  • Guest Speakers
    We want to prepare and motivate our students for their life beyond University. As a student, you’ll see that our embedded employability strand invites guest speakers to come and talk to you about their career pathways and professional work. The invited speakers are a mix of practicing Psychologists working in the different professional areas of the discipline, and also high achieving psychology graduates who have embarked on careers outside of traditional Psychological practice.
  • Laboratory Practicals
    Psychologists need skills in measuring, analysing and describing behaviour as part of their professional practice. You’ll develop these practical skills in weekly laboratory practical classes throughout first and second year. Lab classes will develop your research methods and experimental design skills, providing you with training in analytical methods and statistics. You will collect data during the classes by participating in experiments/class activities, and practice analysing and describing the results you find. Laboratory practicals are designed to prepare you to undertake the assessed research projects in the second and final years of your degree.
  • Lectures
    Lectures provide you with foundational knowledge of core concepts and theories of each topic covered. In lectures, we will provide you with some suggested reading to start you off with self-directed study, encouraging you to study each topic in the detail required for assessments.
  • Practical Research Projects
    As a first year student, you’ll receive course credit for participation in Psychological research being carried out in the School, providing you with a participant’s perspective on research. As a second year, you’ll undertake a group research project under the supervision of your academic tutor, ending in a mini-conference where you’ll present your findings to other students and staff, developing your psychological and transferable skills in tandem. This will prepare you for undertaking your final-year thesis where you will undertake a research project under supervision of an academic staff member to showcase the skills and knowledge you have acquired over your degree programme.
  • Professional Practice Experience
    We also offer the opportunity to develop practical skills in the administration and interpretation of psychometric tests. For example, you’ll be given the opportunity to complete, score and interpret your results on a psychological test of personality. This will provide you with the opportunity to reflect on your own personality dispositions and understand how you as an individual tend to approach various work, life and academic situations. You’ll get insights into your own behaviour which will be useful when making decisions about your future career pathway, help you to improve your approach to studying and also identify personal development goals. This is in addition to the insight into psychological testing and the work of a Psychologist. These opportunities are also provided in some of our final year modules, where assessments involve the administration and interpretation of psychological tests.
  • Self-directed study
    This is an important aspect of a University education – the ability to build your own knowledge through independent study. We place great importance on developing and encouraging these attributes which graduate employers tell us are key to employment success.
  • Small-group Tutorials
    In the first two years of study, you’ll meet in small groups (of around 10-12 students) with your academic tutor to discuss critical aspects of psychology, develop scholarship and academic skills, and engage in personal-professional development planning. The sessions will also be used to regularly review your academic performance on a one-to-one basis with your tutor. As a final year student, you’ll do these development tutorials during your regular meetings with your thesis supervisor.

Assessment

Assessment isn’t just about measuring performance; it’s about helping and motivating you to achieve your full potential. That’s why we use a continuous assessment philosophy with a ‘little and often’ approach. The course is designed to help you to keep up with your studies on a weekly basis, to avoid stressful ‘cram for the exam’ situations.

  • We assess students in a variety of ways, with each assessment tied to the aims and objectives of the module. For example, we assess understanding and knowledge of Psychology through coursework essays, research reports, class tests and end of year examinations.
  • We also teach and assess the skills necessary to be a successful Psychologist and graduate, using methods including: reflective diaries, oral presentations, debates and practical research/psychometric testing projects.

Feedback

Feedback is key for professional development and success.

  • When you think of feedback, most people think about corrections on a piece of work after it has been marked. That’s called summative feedback, and while this type of feedback is important, there is much more to feedback than simply a mark and some corrections. Feedback is the key for professional development and success, so when we provide you with summative feedback, we won’t just tell you what was good and what wasn’t so good; we’ll also tell you HOW you can achieve more next time round by giving you specific action-points to work on.
  • The other, arguably more important, type of feedback we’ll give you is called formative feedback. This type of feedback is provided BEFORE you submit a piece of work for assessment. We want our students to achieve, and formative feedback is how we will guide you to achieving your best, before you take assessments. It comes in a variety of forms, e.g. coursework guidance documentation, revision classes, coursework help clinics, practice tests, online discussion posts between teaching staff and other students, and tutorial discussions to name but a few.
  • We also believe that feedback is most useful when you engage with it. That’s why we’ll teach you how to reflect on the feedback you encounter throughout your degree and apply the learning in your future assessments. Reflective practice is something you’ll be doing as a future Psychologist, so we will introduce it to you early in your studies so you can harness this approach to improve the quality of your work.

Facilities

Weekly lab classes in Year 1 and Year 2 take place in our state of the art teaching and learning space located in the David Keir Building. This facility is available exclusively to Psychology students and outside teaching times can be used for group work or private study. We also provide a Psychology student common room to help you connect with other students between classes as well as a student quiet room and nurturing room.

In addition we have a wide range of high-tech research facilities available for student projects including our Animal Behaviour Lab, Electrophysiology Lab, Social Interaction Lab, Eye Tracking Lab, Child Development Lab, Science in Motion lab located in the Queens Sport building, and much more.
https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/psy/Research/ResearchEnvironmentCulture/

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Modules

Modules

The information below is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study (2022/23). Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year.

  • Year 1

    Core Modules

    Using Psychology in Everyday Life (40 credits)
    Introduction to Methods in Psychology (40 credits)
    Foundations in Psychology (40 credits)
  • Year 2

    Core Modules

    Psychological Methods (40 credits)
    Core Psychology II (40 credits)
    Core Psychology I (40 credits)
  • Year 3

    Core Modules

    Psychology Thesis (40 credits)

    Optional Modules

    Contemporary Issues in Mental Health and Addiction (20 credits)
    Forensic Psychology and Crime (20 credits)
    Introduction to Cultural Psychology (20 credits)
    Depression and Anxiety (20 credits)
    International Collaboration: Psychology towards Global Goals (20 credits)
    The Development of Mathematical Thinking and Learning (20 credits)
    An Introduction to Clinical Health Psychology (20 credits)
    Psychologists at work: Insights Into Graduate Employment (20 credits)
    Ageing: Mind, Brain and Behaviour (20 credits)
    Psychology of Gender (20 credits)
    Using Nudges to Change Behaviour (20 credits)
    Typical and Atypical Literacy Development (20 credits)
    Introduction to Political Psychology (20 credits)

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Course content

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Entry Requirements

Entrance requirements

A level requirements
ABB to include an acceptable Science subject (See Acceptable Science Subjects below)
+ GCSE Mathematics grade B/6.
OR
AAB + GCSE Mathematics grade B/6.

A maximum of one BTEC/OCR Single Award or AQA Extended Certificate will be accepted as part of an applicant's portfolio of qualifications with a Distinction* being equated to grade A at A-Level and a Distinction being equated to a grade B at A-level.
Irish leaving certificate requirements
H3H3H3H3H3H3/H2H3H3H3H3 to include one acceptable Science subject (See Acceptable Science Subjects below), if not offered at Higher Level then Ordinary Level grade O3 in Mathematics is required.
OR
H2H3H3H3H3H3 if not offered at Higher Level then Ordinary Level grade O3 in Mathematics is required.
Access/Foundation Course
Successful completion of Access Course with an average of 70% to include two acceptable Level 3 Science modules (See Acceptable Science Subjects below) + GCSE Mathematics grade B/6 or a minimum of 70% in relevant Mathematics modules in Access course.
OR
Successful completion of Access Course with an average of 75% + GCSE Mathematics grade B/6 or a minimum of 70% in relevant Mathematics modules in Access course.
International Baccalaureate Diploma
33 points overall, including 6,5,5 at Higher Level to include an acceptable Science subject (See Acceptable Science Subjects below). If not offered at Higher Level/GCSE then Standard Level grade 5 in Mathematics would be accepted.
OR
34 points overall, including 6,6,5 at Higher Level. If not offered at Higher Level/GCSE then Standard Level grade 5 in Mathematics would be accepted.
BTEC Level 3 Extended/National Extended Diploma
QCF BTEC Extended Diploma (180 credits at Level 3), with overall grades D*D*D

RQF BTEC National Extended Diploma (1080 GLH at Level 3) with overall grades of D*D*D

+ GCSE Mathematics grade B/6.
Graduate
A minimum of a 2:2 Honours Degree, provided any subject requirement is also met + GCSE Mathematics grade B/6.
Note
All applicants must have GCSE English Language grade C/4 or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.



Acceptable Science Subjects:
Psychology, Biology / Human Biology, Chemistry, Computing Science, Digital Technology, Economics, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Life and Health Science, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics



Please note - all applications for BSc Psychology must be received by the UCAS equal consideration deadline. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered.

Selection Criteria

In addition, to the entrance requirements above, it is essential that you read our guidance below on 'How we choose our students' prior to submitting your UCAS application.

Applications are dealt with centrally by the Admissions and Access Service rather than by individual University Schools. Once your on-line form has been processed by UCAS and forwarded to Queen's, an acknowledgement is normally sent within two weeks of its receipt at the University.

Selection is on the basis of the information provided on your UCAS form. Decisions are made on an ongoing basis and will be notified to you via UCAS.

Demand for places differs from course to course and for Psychology, past performance at GCSE is taken into account when deciding whether or not to make conditional offers. Initially offers will be made to those with a minimum of 2 grade A/7 and 4 grade B/6 at GCSE. Applicants must have GCSE Mathematics grade B/6 and GCSE English Language grade C/4. This threshold may be lowered as the cycle progresses depending upon the number and quality of applications. The final threshold is not usually determined until late in the admissions cycle, so there may be a delay in processing applicants who do not meet the initial threshold. Please note that thresholds may change from year to year depending on the demand for places.

Offers are normally made on the basis of 3 A-levels. The offer for repeat applicants is set in terms of 3 A-levels and may be one grade higher than that asked from first time applicants. Grades may be held from the previous year.

Applicants offering two A-levels and one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent qualification), or one A-level and a BTEC Diploma/National Diploma (or equivalent qualification) will also be considered. Offers will be made in terms of the overall BTEC grade(s) awarded. Please note that a maximum of one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent) will be counted as part of an applicant’s portfolio of qualifications. The normal GCSE profile will be expected.

For applicants offering Irish Leaving Certificate, please note that performance at Junior Certificate is taken into account. Last year the initial Junior Certificate profile to qualify to be made an offer was 2A/Distinction and 4B/Higher Merit grades. The Selector also checks that any specific entry requirements in terms of Leaving Certificate subjects can be satisfied. This threshold may be lowered as the cycle progresses depending upon the number and quality of applications. The final threshold is not usually determined until late in the admissions cycle, so there may be a delay in processing applicants who do not meet the initial threshold.

For applicants offering a HNC, the current requirements are successful completion of the HNC with 2 Distinctions and remainder Merits. For those offering a Higher National Diploma, to be eligible for an offer, at least half of the units completed in the first year of the HND must be at Merit level and remainder Passes. Applicants must successfully complete the HND with 2 Distinctions and remainder Merits in all units assessed in the final year. Any consideration would be for stage 1 entry only. Some flexibility may be allowed in terms of GCSE profile.

The information provided in the personal statement section and the academic reference together with predicted grades are noted but, in the case of this degree, these are not the final deciding factors in whether or not a conditional offer can be made. However, they may be reconsidered in a tie break situation in August.

A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking would not normally be considered as part of a three A-level offer and, although they may be excluded where an applicant is taking 4 A-level subjects, the grade achieved could be taken into account if necessary in August/September.

Applicants are not normally asked to attend for interview, though there are some exceptions and specific information is provided with the relevant subject areas.

If you are made an offer then you may be invited to a Faculty/School Open Day, which is usually held in the second semester. This will allow you the opportunity to visit the University and to find out more about the degree programme of your choice and the facilities on offer. It also gives you a flavour of the academic and social life at Queen's.

If you cannot find the information you need here, please contact the University Admissions Service (admissions@qub.ac.uk), giving full details of your qualifications and educational background.

International Students

Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region. Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.

English Language Requirements

An IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each test component or an equivalent acceptable qualification, details of which are available at: http://go.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

  • Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
  • Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

International Students - Foundation and International Year One Programmes

INTO Queen's offers a range of academic and English language programmes to help prepare international students for undergraduate study at Queen's University. You will learn from experienced teachers in a dedicated international study centre on campus, and will have full access to the University's world-class facilities.

These programmes are designed for international students who do not meet the required academic and English language requirements for direct entry.

INTO - English Language Course(QSIS ELEMENT IS EMPTY)

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Careers

Career Prospects

Introduction
Psychology offers a unique understanding of the science of behaviour which can be applied to many varied professional or academic roles. You will develop transferable skills which are highly sought after by employers. Critical thinking is developed through both qualitative and quantitative research experience, as well as organisation and self-management skills.  Equipped with team-working and leadership experiences, you’ll not only be able to problem solve with analytical insight, but lead others to do so. Communication skills are strengthened through group projects and presentations, preparing you to use these skills in a professional capacity.

Our Psychology At Work initiatives are woven throughout the course to support you to reflect on your career aspirations, develop skills and experience and carve a pathway for career progression. We deliver events and information sessions in partnership with employers such as panels,  workshops, and workplace visits. We also signpost to relevant volunteering and placement opportunities to provide an insight into the various roles that a Psychology degree can lead on to.  

Employer surveys suggest that graduates who have spent time in a workplace whilst studying are at an advantage when it comes to applying for graduate employment, therefore you will have the opportunity to undertake one of two placement opportunities within the degree programme.

Firstly, we offer a professional placement year which is taken between the 2nd and final years of study and enables you to gain in-depth experience, working full-time, in a paid capacity for 40 weeks. Through the placement you will be supported to develop work-based skills and experience in a sector that you are interested in.

Or there is a shorter placement option in the autumn term of the 3rd year. This placement will enable you to gain experience and use your psychological knowledge to support the work of an organisation and make an impact on the approaches, practice and policy.

Students have said:
“Placement gave me the chance to build my own confidence and independence.”
‘’It really allowed me to begin to understand how psychological theories are transferred and used”
https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/psy/PsychologyatWork/WorkPlacementswithPsychology/

Employment after the Course
“Just about every job suitable for a general graduate will be done better by a psychology graduate.” Florance, Miell & Van Laar (2011)

There are a multitude of career options open to our graduates who utilise their Psychological skills and knowledge to springboard them into careers in Education, Social Work, Play Therapy, HR, Marketing, Media, IT, Healthcare or in developing their own business. Some of these roles will require a post-graduate qualification, and our Central Careers teams provide advice and guidance on these.

A smaller number go on to become a practicing Psychologist and for this you must gain a postgraduate qualification. Practitioner Psychology roles include:

• Clinical psychologist
• Educational psychologists
• Developmental psychologists
• Forensic psychologists
• Health psychologists
• Occupational / organisational psychologists
• Counselling psychologists
• Sport psychologists
• Academic psychologists

At Queen's, we offer professional doctorate degree programmes in Clinical Psychology and also in Educational, Child and Adolescent Psychology, in addition to a doctoral research (PhD) programme for academic psychology.
https://www.bps.org.uk/career-options-psychology

Employment Links
Our students go on placement with employers across the public, private and third sectors. Hopefully those listed below give an indication of the range of employers we have established links with in recent years and potential roles which include:

Private sector:
• Graham Construction – Staff wellbeing survey to inform a report including recommendations for new approaches
• Aperture – Measuring the impact of debt on mental health.
• Hughes Insurance – Customer satisfaction survey and loyalty analysis.
• MXB – Researching consumer insights into a global brand, specifically focusing on conscious consumerism and sustainability.

Public sector:
• Belfast City Council – Researching and developing a resource for staff working with people with disabilities.
• Education Authority – Researching best practice in school leader recruitment across other jurisdictions and making recommendations.
• Rathcoole Primary School – Researching and developing recommendations for implementation of a peer mentoring scheme.
• SPSS The Link Centre – Working with young people with ADHD to develop a resource for teachers to engage more effectively with other young people with ADHD.
• St. Brides Primary School – Development of a Lego group to support development of social communication for children with Autism.

Community and Voluntary sector:
• Child Brian Injury Trust – Analysis of the impact of counselling for children with acquired brain injuries.
• Conway Education Centre – Measuring the impact of their vocational training programmes for mature learners.
• Guide Dogs NI – Researching the lived experiences of women who are visually impaired to make recommendations for new service provision.
• Mindwise – Researching and making recommendations for a baseline engagement tool for clients.
• Upper Springfield Development Trust – Staff satisfaction survey to support the Investors in People review process.
https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/psy/PsychologyatWork/WorkPlacementswithPsychology/

Alumni Success
Gerard Anderson, Head of Brain Injury Services, Child Brain Injury Trust.
Psychology is not just a subject for aspiring clinical or educational psychologists, but also a subject that is used to develop leaders, build teams, create relationships and a subject that will enable you to develop emotional intelligence and critical thinking skills that others will remember you for.

Maeve Hinds, Mental Health Navigator.
With Psychology being such an all-encompassing subject, I believe it to be very important for the student to be proactive about discovering where they would like to go after they graduate; from the beginning of their time as an undergraduate. Queen’s Psychology degree offers a fantastic range of volunteer opportunities, inside and outside of the university as well as informative work placements.

Nick Ross, Broadcaster
Quite simply reading Psychology at Queen's transformed my thinking and my life.

I had applied on the presumption that I would gain some mystical insight into people's souls; instead I was introduced to science and discovered how it is not a set of disciplines like Physics or Biology but a systematic way of checking theories against facts. I realised how lazy it is to base ideas on anecdote and supposition and how misguided we can be by intuition. I learned how vulnerable humans are to misperceptions, misremembering and to social pressure.

Eventually I was distracted from my career path - I had been determined to become a clinical psychologist and hoped to work with children and adolescents. Instead I drifted into broadcasting, encouraged by my head of department, Professor Seth ("You can come back to Psychology whenever you like; you might never get a chance in radio or TV again"). I always maintained that when I grew up I would get a proper job and that I really would go back to be a psychologist for real. Instead, what I learned at Queen's has shaped my whole career, with a constant quest for evidence rather than mere opinion.
https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/psy/PsychologyatWork/SchoolofPsychologyAlumni/AlumniProfiles/

What employers say

GRAHAM-Bam Healthcare Partnership

We worked with a final year student from the School of Psychology on a project which was recognised as an Outstanding Innovative Initiative by the Considerate Constructor’s Scheme www.ccscheme.org.uk. This is a scheme set up to improve the image of construction, and Innovations are only awarded for initiatives new to the construction industry across UK which can be replicated to benefit the industry as a whole.

We approached the QUB School of Psychology to look at widening participation through non-traditional career pathways which could combine expertise of organisations on wellbeing initiatives for construction workers. We decided to carry out a study aimed at looking at the barriers to uptake of initiatives and key actions to address this and engage more site workers in wellbeing activities. This has been put into action by the GRAHAM-BAM Healthcare Partnership’s Replacement Acute Mental Healthcare Inpatient Facility (RAMHIF) site at Belfast City Hospital, taking on board a Queen’s University Psychology student to study the psychological impact of the site operatives who attended the Cancer Focus NI ‘Keeping Well Van’ on site. The objectives were to identify the expectations and reasons for attending the Keeping Well Van and to establish the barriers of the operatives who would not attend. Follow-up interviews and conducting interviews with GRAHAM senior management were also included in the study. The third year Psychology student was on site from September to December and given all the support required to complete the study. This was the first time a study of this kind has ever been done with the construction industry.

Additional Awards Gained

There are no specific additional course costs associated with this programme.

Prizes and Awards

We award prizes to the top three students in each year, for the best second year group project and for the best final year thesis. The British Psychological Society (BPS) awards a prize to the highest performing graduating student annually.

Degree Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Degree Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

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Fees and Funding

Tuition Fees

Northern Ireland (NI) 1 £4,710
Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 £4,710
England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 £9,250
EU Other 3 £23,100
International £23,100

1 EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.

2 EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.

3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.

All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study and will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Note that the tuition fees quoted above are for the 2023-24 academic year and are for indicative purposes only as the fees for 2024-25 have not yet been finalised. These fees will be subject to an inflationary increase. All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study and will be subject to an annual inflationary increase for each year of the course, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Tuition fee rates are calculated based on a student’s tuition fee status and generally increase annually by inflation. How tuition fees are determined is set out in the Student Finance Framework.

Additional course costs

All Students

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.

Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library.

If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. A programme may have up to 6 modules per year, each with a recommended text.  

Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.  

Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.

If a final year includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.

Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.

There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.

Psychology costs

There are no specific additional course costs associated with this programme.

How do I fund my study?

There are different tuition fee and student financial support arrangements for students from Northern Ireland, those from England, Scotland and Wales (Great Britain), and those from the rest of the European Union.

Information on funding options and financial assistance for undergraduate students is available at www.qub.ac.uk/Study/Undergraduate/Fees-and-scholarships/.

Scholarships

Each year, we offer a range of scholarships and prizes for new students. Information on scholarships available.

International Scholarships

Information on scholarships for international students, is available at www.qub.ac.uk/Study/international-students/international-scholarships/.

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How and when to Apply

How to Apply

Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Full information can be obtained from the UCAS website at: www.ucas.com/students.

When to Apply

UCAS will start processing applications for entry in autumn 2024 from 1 September 2023.

Advisory closing date: 31 January 2024 (18:00). This is the 'equal consideration' deadline for this course.

Applications from UK and EU (Republic of Ireland) students after this date are, in practice, considered by Queen’s for entry to this course throughout the remainder of the application cycle (30 June 2024) subject to the availability of places.

Applications from International and EU (Other) students are normally considered by Queen’s for entry to this course until 30 June 2024. If you apply for 2024 entry after this deadline, you will automatically be entered into Clearing.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as is consistent with having made a careful and considered choice of institutions and courses.

The Institution code name for Queen's is QBELF and the institution code is Q75.

Further information on applying to study at Queen's is available at: www.qub.ac.uk/Study/Undergraduate/How-to-apply/

Apply via UCAS

Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study. Queen's University Belfast Terms and Conditions.

Additional Information for International (non-EU) Students

  1. Applying through UCAS
    Most students make their applications through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) for full-time undergraduate degree programmes at Queen's. The UCAS application deadline for international students is 30 June 2024.
  2. Applying direct
    The Direct Entry Application form is to be used by international applicants who wish to apply directly, and only, to Queen's or who have been asked to provide information in advance of submitting a formal UCAS application. Find out more.
  3. Applying through agents and partners
    The University’s in-country representatives can assist you to submit a UCAS application or a direct application. Please consult the Agent List to find an agent in your country who will help you with your application to Queen’s University.

Download Undergraduate Prospectus

Keywords

BEHAVIOUR

BRAIN

MIND

PLACEMENT

PSYCHOLOGY

SCIENCE

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Course Vacancy Status

Below is the current vacancy status for this course. For further information please contact us.

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