Sociology and Psychology with a Year Abroad

Studying a joint honours degree in Sociology and Psychology will give you expert scientific training in the relationship between the mind, brain, and behaviour while equipping you with the essential theoretical foundation to understand people's behaviour as social beings.

You will study the psychological and neuro-scientific processes that underpin activities such as thinking, reasoning, memory and language, learn about the effects of brain injury, and explore ways to improve health-related behaviour.

You will learn how to generate new knowledge and information using a variety of qualitative and quantitative social research tools, from large social surveys interpreted through statistics through to in-depth interviews with individuals and small groups.

As part of this programme, you will spend a year abroad between your second and final year, broadening your skills and experience. Our partner institutions span the globe, with opportunities varying each year. If you wish to receive more information, please get in touch with us on study@swansea.ac.uk

Throughout the course, you will develop excellent research, communication, critical analysis and presentation skills, as well as a high degree of numeracy and ICT ability.

Why Sociology and Psychology at Swansea?
Our School of Psychology has an outstanding reputation both in the UK and internationally. In the most recent research assessment, we were proud to maintain our research culture with a strong record of translating science into real-world consequences, with 100% of our impact rated as internationally excellent (REF2021).

Sociology at Swansea is ranked:

• Top 20 in the UK for Graduate Prospects (Complete University Guide 2025)

• Top 25 in the UK Overall (Complete University Guide 2025)

The course is validated by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and, providing you achieve at least a 2:2 in your degree, you will be eligible for Graduate Membership of the BPS and the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), the first step to becoming a Chartered Psychologist.

You will be taught by an academic team who are research active and widely published, giving you the benefit of the most current social science debates in the UK and internationally. Many of our academics write your textbooks.

Your Sociology and Psychology Experience
You will have the opportunity to take part in work placements to build on your skills and experience, and enhance your career prospects. These placements could include local authorities, businesses, healthcare settings, education settings and charities, depending on your interests and career goals.

In Year 1, you will typically study areas including: Sociology: The Classics; Cognition I: Basic Processes; Individual Differences and Clinical Psychology; Academic Success: Skills for learning, skills for life; Sociology: Contemporary Controversies; Social & Developmental Psychology; Biological Psychology; Foundations in Social Science Research; Academic Skills and Foundational Concepts in Statistics and Research Methods (Joint Honours); and Professional Development and Applications of Statistics and Research Methods (Joint Honours)

In year 2, you will typically study areas including: Social Problems I; Brain and Behaviour; Cognition II: Higher Level Processes; Education, Policy and Society; Contemporary Moral Controversies; Social Problems II: Media, Myths and Moral Panics; Research and Experimental Methods I; and Employability Skills.

As part of this programme, you will spend a year abroad between your second and final year, broadening your skills and experience. Our partner institutions span the globe, with opportunities varying each year. If you wish to receive more information, please get in touch with us on study@swansea.ac.uk

In year 4, you will typically study areas including: From Individuals to Society; Independent Research Project for Joint Honours; Risk in Modern Society; Global Sociology; Development Across the Lifespan; Bodies in Society; Contemporary Issues in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice; Evolutionary Perspectives on Psychology; Understanding Neurodiversity; Psychology of Building a Better World; Cognitive Neuroscience in Clinical and Forensic Settings; Learning, Psychopathology and Gambling........

You will develop excellent research, written, and critical analysis skills, as well as a high degree of numeracy and ICT ability. Our approach to teaching, which includes lectures, personal tutorials, academic seminars, workshops, and practical research classes, encourages effective team-working and high-quality oral communication skills. You will learn how to generate new knowledge and information using a variety of qualitative and quantitative social research tools, from large social surveys interpreted through statistics through to in-depth interviews with individuals and small groups. We are proud to provide an outstanding educational experience, using the most effective learning and teaching approaches, carefully tailored to suit the specific needs of your course. Apart from a small number of online-only courses, most of our courses consist of in-person, on-campus teaching, enabling full engagement with your lecturers and fellow students. Practical skills sessions, lab work seminars, and workshops predominantly take place in person, allowing for group working and demonstrations. We also operate virtual labs and Simulated Learning Environments which will facilitate greater access to training opportunities in the future. However, our approach also includes the use of some online learning to support and enhance traditional face-to-face teaching. Online learning may take place ‘live’ using software such as Zoom, allowing you to interact with the lecturer and other students and to ask questions. Lecture recordings also allow for more flexibility to revisit material, to revise for assessments and to enhance learning outside of the classroom. Some modules have extra resources in Canvas, such as videos, slides and quizzes enabling further flexible study. This course may offer some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.

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

• British Psychological Society