Psychology

Our accredited course covers the breadth of psychology. Study topics from social, health and clinical psychology, to cognitive and developmental psychology, neuroscience and psychological research methods.

Enrol in this British Psychological Society accredited course and gain the skills and knowledge to understand human behaviour and mental processes.

Your Psychology BSc at Sheffield covers five core areas, giving you a comprehensive understanding of the subject:

• Social and health psychology

• Neuroscience and clinical psychology

• Cognitive psychology

• Developmental psychology

• Research methods

Within these five areas you'll get the chance to explore important topics with real world relevance such as addictions, eating disorders and depression. You'll run your own experiments and learn from some of the UK’s top psychology researchers, too.

In the first year of your degree, you'll study fundamental psychology topics, including how memory works, how we interact with others and our environment, and the biology behind human behaviour. In second year, you go even deeper into these core subjects. For example, you’ll learn about eating disorders, how children learn, and why people struggle to follow through with their intentions.

Advanced research methods run through this course like a spine. By the end of year two you’ll know how to use professional statistical analysis software, and how to take ethical considerations into account when designing research projects.

In your final year, you’ll have a wide range of modules to choose from. Whether it's criminal psychology, the psychology of sleep, clinical psychology, or the psychology of eating behaviour and weight management, you can focus on what interests you the most.

You'll also complete an in-depth research project on a topic you've chosen, with access to state-of-the-art psychology research facilities and tools like EEG, eye tracking, or virtual reality. You could even choose to undertake a six-week part-time work placement, making a real contribution to a local community partner.

Why study this course?

• British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited course: BPS accreditation makes you eligible for graduate membership – the first step to becoming a chartered psychologist, and necessary for courses in clinical, health and occupational psychology.

• Gain practical experience: Complete a short part-time work placement and make a real contribution to the local community, or opt to spend a full year on placement.

• Top 20 in the UK for psychology: According to The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026.