Philosophy and Psychology

How are our minds related to our bodies? Do we really have free will? What can we truly know about the world around us, about other people or about ourselves?

These questions lie at the heart of philosophy – and if you seriously want to search for the answers, this is the course for you. Our Philosophy BA will challenge you to develop a strong set of critical, imaginative and informed reasoning skills. It will also deepen your understanding of the nature of the human mind, language, morality and politics, art, science and logic. We offer breadth and variety – from modules focused on individual philosophers, to others built around specific topics such as metaphysics, moral philosophy and environmental ethics.

You’ll be introduced to key philosophical issues in your first two years, before focusing in on the areas that interest you most. Along the way, you’ll benefit from the expert insights of your lecturers and tutors, whose own cutting-edge research feeds into course content and keeps you on the frontline of academic thinking.

Our Philosophy course has consistently achieved top marks for student satisfaction. It won the Outstanding Programme category at the RATE Awards 2025 (The Stirling Students' Union Recognising and Advancing Teaching Excellence awards). Your studies will play out in a supportive, vibrant environment with an extremely active Student Philosophy Society.

If you want to investigate the burning questions that shape humanity while gaining vital employability skills, choosing Philosophy at the University of Stirling is the perfect starting point.

Ever wondered why people think, feel, and behave the way they do? From the everyday choices we make to the big life-changing moments, psychology helps you uncover the science behind it all.

A Psychology degree at Stirling lets you explore how the mind works. You’ll develop the scientific, analytical, and people skills that employers want. With around 750,000 people working in psychology-related jobs in the UK (The British Psychological Society), you’ll be joining an exciting and in-demand field.

What you’ll study

Our undergraduate degree in psychology looks at the uses of psychological science. It addresses real-world problems, from catching criminals to improving health and wellbeing. You’ll explore:

• how the brain functions;

• how children develop;

• how people interact in social groups.

You’ll learn from a proactive and supportive team that’s passionate about helping students succeed. The British Psychological Society (BPS) recognises our innovative, student-led teaching. Our personalised support system ensures you feel part of a close-knit community from day one.

Get hands-on experience in our specialist psychology facilities

At Stirling, psychology isn’t just something you read about, you’ll do it. You’ll get hands-on experience designing and running experiments in our specialist labs.

We’re home to the only on-site Psychology Kindergarten in the UK. It provides an outstanding facility for child development research and teaching. You’ll also have access to our new Lifespan Lab, where researchers explore cognition, health, and wellbeing from infancy to old age.

You can get involved in projects using cutting-edge equipment for:

• Health monitoring

• Eye-tracking and face research

• EEG (electroencephalogram) research

• Vision research

A degree recognised by the British Psychological Society (BPS)

Both our BA Psychology and BSc Psychology courses are accredited by the BPS. That means you’ll graduate with eligibility for Graduate Basis for Registration if you achieve a second-class honours degree. This is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist.