Psychology

Are you interested in what makes people tick? Do you want to understand why people do the things they do? What happens when it goes wrong? Psychology affects all of us, yet is a hidden discipline of our functionality as individuals and groups and our behaviour.

As the study of mental processes and behaviour, Psychology is interested in what makes people tick, why they do the things they do and what happens when it goes wrong?

Psychology covers a wide range of theoretical and applied disciplines; in our degree you will study how we think, perceive, develop and change. Importantly you will also learn how to “do” Psychology and will receive rigorous training in the methods that are used to study human behaviour and the mind.

Our Psychology department provides a supportive and stimulating environment for undergraduate students. All of our degrees are accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) guaranteeing an internationally recognised high standard of education.

A Psychology degree can be applied to wide ranging careers. In clinical settings you can determine child protection and support, in adults you can support towards better thinking and quality of life, winning in sport or criminal profiling

The Different Degrees
Psychology at Aberdeen is offered as a BSc or a MA degree. The Psychology element of either programme is exactly the same and they are both equally valued as Psychology degrees. MA students have typically done arts and humanities subjects at school. In the first 2 years within the MA you will be able to take any arts course (e.g., sociology, philosophy, languages) and any science courses that you have the pre-requisites for (many of the science courses require you to have e.g. biology at higher/A-Level). BSc students typically have school qualifications in science subjects and take subjects like maths, biology and chemistry alongside psychology in the first 2 years.

Course Modules

View all modules on the programme page to find out more about what you will be studying and when. University of Aberdeen modules are designed to give you breadth and depth to your degree. The range of modules you study will allow you to become proficient in all subjects which are directly relevant to your degree giving you greater career options.

The use of various forms of assessment and learning environments facilitates the development of generic transferable skills enhancing student employability.

Students are assessed by any combination of three assessment methods: coursework such as essays and reports completed throughout the course; practical assessments of the skills and competencies they learn on the course; and written examinations at the end of each course. The exact mix of these methods differs between subject areas, years of study and individual courses.

Honours projects are typically assessed on the basis of a written dissertation.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• British Psychological Society