Psychology is the study of people and their minds. It is most commonly the study of discipline, an applied science which seeks to understand individuals and groups - their behavior, thoughts, actions, interactions and reactions.
Psychology degrees are either a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts. The first year of an undergraduate degree covers the core elements: exploring mental health, childhood and development, plus the required scientific fundamentals. Specialisation occurs in the following years, covering topics like cognitive processes, neuroscience and the psychology of certain groups, such as trauma victims, the elderly and criminals. The final year requires students to choose their own field of study, carry out original research, collect data and summarise their findings.
Most psychology degrees last three to four years and some make a relevant work placement a requirement to pass the course. Placements could be in a range of establishments, for example in hospitals, prisons and rehabilitation centres. This is an important part of a course, so if a university doesn’t offer placement as an option, it is worth pursuing work experience in the university breaks or part-time.
The study of psychology is achieved through a variety of methods; practical sessions, lectures in the relevant theories and the learning of professional software programmes. Assessment is just as diverse in practice, from timed examinations to essays to lab reports to final project dissertations.
Graduates with a degree in Psychology have a wide array of career possibilities before them. While becoming a psychologist is the default career path, many graduates go on to pursue careers in research, education, health care and therapy, and psychotherapy.
If you’re considering pursuing a degree in psychology, then let us help you find the best university for you. U-Multirank’s ‘For students’ track offers personalised university comparisons, so you can find the university that best matches you. U-Multirank’s subject rankings provide the feedback of more than 100,000 current students studying at the respective universities, offering a unique student perspective to the rankings via our Teaching & Learning dimension. Create your own personalised rankings today, and compare universities according to what matters most to you. To start, make sure to select psychology as your subject of interest and we’ll help guide you through the rest.