Psychology
BSc (Hons)
Key facts
UCAS code
C800
Start dates
September 2019 / September 2020
Location
Course length
Full time: 3 years
Part time: up to 6 years
Department
Department of Psychology, Health and Professional Development
Accreditation(s)
Accredited by the British Psychological Society
UCAS Tariff Points
120
Overview
Psychology is the scientific study of human behaviour and experience. On our Psychology course you will explore topics from the highly practical to the deeply philosophical. You'll use methods from high-tech and hands-on to theoretical and introspective.
You will:
- study everyday and clinically diagnosable behaviours
- gain an in-depth understanding of the complex interactions between brain, behaviour and experience.
You will become equipped with interpersonal, practical, and analytical skills. These are indispensable for any career, within or outside of psychology.
Our teaching is inspired by our staff’s excellent research. 95% of our research is of internationally recognised standard (Research Excellence Framework 2014). You can contribute to cutting-edge professional research by helping staff with their research projects.
Our students go on to have great careers. They earn more on average than psychology graduates from other universities (Department for Education report 2018).
How to apply
Typical offers
UCAS Tariff Points: 120
A Level: BBB
IB Points: 31
BTEC: DDM
Other typical offers include:
- AB at A-level and BB at AS-level
- vocational A-levels at equivalent grades.
For combined honours, normally the offer will lie between the offers quoted for each subject.
Other academic qualifications that fulfil the entry requirements include:
- a recognised foundation or access course
- European Baccalaureate.
Further EU qualifications are also accepted; for more details please contact the admissions office.
Wherever possible we make our conditional offers using the UCAS Tariff. This combination of A-level grades would be just one way of achieving the UCAS Tariff points for this course.
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
GCSE: 3 GCSEs at Grade 4 (C) to include English Language and Mathematics at Grade 5 (B)
- Applicants with a GCSE Mathematics grade C will also be considered if they have, or are predicted to achieve, a grade A or B in A-level Psychology.
- If you are over 21 years old and you do not have these qualifications, you should contact the admissions office to discuss your application.
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, we will need proof of your English language ability - IELTS (6.5 or above).
Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.
English requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
Pathways courses for international and EU students
If you do not meet the entry requirements for this degree, or if you would like more preparation before you start, you can take an international foundation course. Once you enrol, you will have a guaranteed pathway to this degree if you pass your foundation course with the required grades.
If you only need to meet the language requirements, you can take our pre-sessional English course. You will develop key language and study skills for academic success and you will not need to take an external language test to progress to your degree.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Credit transfer
Many of our courses consider applications for entry with credit for prior learning. Each application is individually assessed by our credit entry tutors.
If you would like more information about whether or not you may be eligible for the award of credit, for example from an HND, partly-completed degree or foundation degree, please contact our Admissions team.
We operate the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). All undergraduate single modules are equivalent to 7.5 ECTS credits and double modules to 15 ECTS credits. More about ECTS credits.
Application process
Full time Home / EU applicants
Apply through UCASPart time Home / EU applicants
Apply direct to the UniversityInternational applicants
Apply direct to the UniversityFull time applicants can also apply through UCAS
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Please note tuition fees for Home/EU students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students.
Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning home and EU students at the maximum permitted level.
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course, if any, are detailed below.
Additional costs
Many modules included a recommended textbook. All recommended textbooks can be found in the library, however many students find it easier to buy their own copy. Textbook costs will vary dependent on which modules you take, as well as whether you buy the books new or second-hand.
Learning and assessment
In Year 1 you will study seven basic modules that introduce you to current theories, methods and findings in experimental psychology.
Modules taken in Year 2 give you further skills in data collection and analysis. Optional modules allow you to study many different aspects of psychology.
In Year 3 you will apply the knowledge gained in the first two years. You will design and undertake your own research project.
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Learning and teaching
Our undergraduate modules include a range of teaching and learning formats.
These include:
- lectures
- seminars
- discussion sessions
- small group tutorial sessions
- independent work
- one-on-one tutorial supervision.
The very latest academic thinking will inspire your learning. Our staff are actively engaged in research projects from social to biological behaviour.
Many of your classes are practicals. You will use a variety of approaches and tools including e-learning. On the Honours project module you will undertake and write up an independent enquiry.
Our small group tutorial system supports your transition to university level study. It will also support you during your Honours project module during your third year.
- Lectures and seminars
- Placement
- Other learning activities (including group work, research, conferences etc.)
Year 1
- Lectures and seminars - 23%
- Placement - 0%
- Other learning activities (including group work, research, conferences etc.) - 77%
Year 2
- Lectures and seminars - 18%
- Placement - 0%
- Other learning activities (including group work, research, conferences etc.) - 82%
Year 3
- Lectures and seminars - 12%
- Placement - 0%
- Other learning activities (including group work, research, conferences etc.) - 88%
Learning and teaching percentages are indicative. There may be slight year-on-year variations.
Assessment
Assessment methods used on this course
Assessment is by coursework and examination. Coursework includes:
- essays
- portfolios
- individual and group presentations
- IT exercises
- in-class tests.
Some modules are assessed only by exams, while others are assessed only by coursework. We do this to:
- use a range of assessment methods spread evenly across modules to assess the entire course learning outcomes
- use formative (developmental) and summative (focussed on overall outcome) assessment methods to introduce variety and lighten student workloads
- achieve balance of workloads between modules
- provide you with transparent and detailed marking criteria, and ensure that assessment is seen as an important part of your learning experience.
- Written
- Coursework
- Practical
Year 1
- Written - 80%
- Coursework - 20%
- Practical - 0%
Year 2
- Written - 54%
- Coursework - 46%
- Practical - 0%
Year 3
- Written - 31%
- Coursework - 69%
- Practical - 0%
Assessment method percentages are indicative. There may be slight year-on-year variations.
Study Abroad
You may be able to go on a European or international study exchange while you are at Brookes. Most exchanges take place in the second year. Although we will help as much as we can with your plans, ultimately you are responsible for organising and funding this study abroad.
After you graduate
Career prospects
Many of our students take up careers in educational, occupational or clinical psychology, or in academic research after further training. However, as approximately 75% of psychology graduates choose to work in other related sectors, it’s important that a psychology degree prepares students for the wider world of work. The nature of our psychology degree is such that our graduates develop crucial skills, both academic and practical, that equips them for a variety of careers involving human/social areas. These include areas such as advertising, teaching, sales, consumer market research, public relations, media planning, human resources and recruitment, business development, health care and counselling to name just a few.
Careers talks take place in the department and throughout the University and our students are successful at finding gainful employment - five years after graduation Oxford Brookes graduates earn on average £1,416 more than other British psychology graduates (Department for Education report 2018).
The British Psychological Society has details of the many and varied careers that a degree in psychology can open up for you. There you will also find details on the route to becoming a chartered psychologist.
As a psychology student at Oxford Brookes you will gain expertise in your field, and also develop a set of skills to help you stand out from the crowd, including the ability to:
- be an independent worker and researcher
- use critical analysis and creative thinking
- keep in step with the latest developments
- use problem solving and numeracy skills
- become confident in presentation and public speaking - students who conduct the best projects regularly present their work at national and regional British Psychological Society conferences
- contribute to teamwork
- develop networking opportunities
- refine your writing abilities.
Further study
Many of our graduates choose to continue their studies at either master's or PhD level. Many students choose to stay in the department to continue their studies as we offer the opportunity to do so at both master's and doctoral levels.
Our Staff
Dr Nayeli Gonzalez-Gomez
My research focuses on understanding the roots of language acquisition, by exploring speech perception in infancy. I’m interested on infants’ capacity to learn phonological properties that occur in their native language, the mechanisms by which these native properties are acquired, and how prior knowledge about these properties supports later lexical acquisition, such as word segmentation and early word learning.
Read more about NayeliFree language courses
Free language courses are available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.
Programme Changes: On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website.
For more information, please visit our Changes to programmes page.