Psychology (with Specialist Pathways) BSc (Hons)

Are you intrigued by the human mind and behaviour? Our Psychology degree offers a deep dive into the complexities of human thought, emotions and actions. Whether you're interested in understanding mental health, social psychology or cognitive processes, our course provides a solid foundation. With a focus on both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, you'll be well-prepared for a rewarding career in psychology.

The University of Chester's Psychology degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). As such, our course ensures you can achieve the Graduate Basis for Chartership of this professional body. Our dedicated teaching team provides personalised guidance and support, helping you develop essential skills like critical thinking, research methods and effective communication. We also offer flexible pathways to explore areas of psychology that interest you, such as developmental psychology, and clinical and health psychology.

Our course provides ample opportunities for personal and professional growth; you can join our student-led Psychology society for social and academic events and explore study abroad options to broaden your horizons and pursue areas of study of your choice. Through our specialist psychology career programme, you can develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in your chosen field, whether it's as a professional psychologist or in another related field, such as positions in marketing, banking or management.

A specialist pathway is your opportunity to further tailor your studies to become an expert in your chosen field. Our pathways provide you with specific modules and opportunities to enable you to tailor your studies towards areas you are passionate about, and to have that reflected in your degree title, e.g., BSc Developmental Psychology.

When applying for this course with a specialist pathway, you will do so via UCAS. It is important to search for and submit your application for Psychology BSc (Hons). Your chosen pathway will be confirmed post-application and this will be the award that you complete your studies in, i.e., Developmental Psychology BSc (Hons) or Clinical and Health Psychology BSc (Hons). If you choose to study this course without a pathway, your award on completion will be Psychology BSc (Hons).

The BSc Psychology course contains core modules at each level.

At Level 4, students are introduced to research methods and the core areas of psychology (biological, cognitive, developmental, social, and individual differences). 

At Level 5, students build on research methods and expand on their learning around social psychology and individual differences. There is also the opportunity to engage in an experiential learning module, which allows students to integrate ideas from multiple perspectives in psychology and apply their knowledge ethically and professionally to real-world problems. 

At Level 6, students will have the opportunity to complete a large-scale dissertation where they will be able to demonstrate a range of research skills, including designing and planning, considering and resolving ethical issues, and analysis and dissemination of findings. They will also be able to learn in-depth knowledge on specific areas in psychology, such as psychopathology, health psychology and developmental disorders.

There are several optional modules which may run across all levels of the course depending on availability of staff expertise. Topics may include cyberpsychology, forensic psychology, organisational psychology and animal psychology. 

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If, during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

Job Prospects

Many of our graduates go on to postgraduate studies in psychology (e.g., cognitive neuroscience, forensic and sport psychology) or have secured a graduate role in industries such as marketing, banking and project management due to their sought-after transferable skills, such as communication, team working, analysis, and creative and critical thinking.

Careers Service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service, which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course, and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.