Psychology is an exciting, dynamic field that is broadly concerned with the scientific study of mental life and human behaviour: how people think, feel and behave as individuals and how they interact in groups. Our BSc Psychology introduces you to the various scientific models and methods that help psychologists observe, interpret and explain human behaviour, from monitoring infants as they grow to brain scanning and studying social networks. It will give you a deep understanding of the key subject areas and specialisms within psychology, including biological, cognitive, developmental and social psychology.

This degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society and will thoroughly prepare you for a career as a professional psychologist, working, for instance, as a clinical, educational, organisational, forensic or sports psychologist. A key feature of this course is its pathways, which enable you to specialise in your final year, choosing from psychology, psychology with neuroscience, psychology with child development, or psychology in practice.

You will be taught by world-leading academics who are undertaking cutting-edge research in a globally recognised department. We are renowned for our research in neuroscience, cognition, developmental science - and the links between them. Our research informs real-world policy and practice and is at the forefront of breakthroughs in our understanding of conditions such as autism and ADHD. We also offer excellent research laboratories and facilities, for both general and specialist use.

This programme will teach you how to engage critically with psychological literature, identify problems and formulate research questions and hypotheses, find appropriate methods for collecting and analysing data, and draw conclusions and integrate findings. You will learn essential research skills and undertake a research project on a topic that interests you, under the guidance of one of our academic experts. You will also gain a range of transferable skills that are highly sought after across a wide range of careers. If you are interested in continuing your studies, then this programme will give you the foundational knowledge and research skills you need to successfully pursue postgraduate training or research.

The BSc Psychology is also available for part-time evening study over four years.

• The BSc programmes are accredited by the British Psychological Society and are the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist.
• This programme has multiple entry routes, pathways and exit awards, to match the diverse educational and career needs of all of our students. Students returning to study or who would like extra support can opt for routes that provide extra support and guidance.
• Birkbeck's Department of Psychological Sciences is strongly oriented towards research and contains the Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, the Institute for the Study of Children, Families and Social Issues, the Birkbeck-UCL Centre for Neuroimaging and the Centre for Cognition, Computation and Modelling. The Department is also a member of the Bloomsbury Centre for Genetic Epidemiology and Statistics.
• Psychological Sciences at Birkbeck were ranked fifth in the UK in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF) and we achieved 100% for a research environment conducive to research of world-leading quality.
• Psychology at Birkbeck is ranked third best in London, ninth in the UK and 85th globally in the 2019 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject.

You complete compulsory, core and option modules to a total of 360 credits, including a 30-credit project (BSc students) or extended essay (BA students) in your final year. Modules are taught at Level 4, Level 5 and Level 6.

A key feature of this programme is its pathways, which enable you to specialise in your final year. All students take the same modules in Years 1 and 2, giving you a solid foundation in generic and subject-specific knowledge and skills. You then select a pathway in Year 3, choosing from a wide range of specialist option modules to tailor your programme to your interests and career ambitions. You can follow pathways in Psychology, Psychology with Neuroscience, Psychology with Child Development, or Psychology in Practice.

Another distinctive feature of this course is that students who choose the Psychology or the Psychology in Practice pathway can choose to graduate with either a BSc or a BA.