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Psychology at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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Course summary

Our BSc (Hons) Psychology is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). The course will equip you with the transferable skills and analytical abilities that top employers are actively looking for in their graduates. Why QMU?

  • We offer a stimulating environment in which students can develop the intellectual and professional edge needed for working with 21st century society, and in which our staff work on outward-facing, innovative and cross-disciplinary research.
  • Our course is student-focused and research-informed. It offers students the opportunity to work closely with staff on current, real-world projects and collaborations.
  • Our class sizes are smaller compared with some universities, so you have closer and more personal support and guidance from our staff.
  • We came top amongst UK universities for 'overall student satisfaction in social sciences' in the National Student Survey 2021.
On this course you will:
  • Learn the valuable skills needed to think critically and scientifically and you will engage in empirical research throughout your degree.
  • Learn across six core areas of psychology (cognitive, biological, historical, developmental, social and individual differences)
  • Gain extensive practical training in research methods.
  • Learn to use scientific methods and evidence to understand, measure and modify behaviour.
  • Crucially, learn how to think, write and critique in a scientific way, giving you the core skills you need to follow a career in the field.
  • Enhance your broad psychological knowledge by specialising in your choice of dissertation topic and elective modules.
Why do humans think, feel and behave the way we do? As a psychology student you will find answers to some of the most fundamental and fascinating of questions. When you graduate with a 2:2 honours degree or better, you will be able to join the BPS as a graduate member, an essential step on the journey to becoming a professional psychologist.

Modules

Year One

  • Introduction to Psychology 1
  • Foundations of Psychology: Core Concepts and Practices
  • Introduction to Psychology 2
  • plus 60 credits from another topic
Optional modules may be in sociology, biological sciences or education. Please note that optional modules may vary year on year and may not always be available. Year Two
  • Social and Developmental Psychology
  • Exploring Research in Psychology
  • Biological and Cognitive Psychology
  • Individual Differences, Wellbeing and Ethical Practice
plus 20 credits from another topic. Optional modules may be in sociology, biological sciences or education. Please note that optional modules may vary year on year and may not always be available. Year Three
  • Social Psychology and Social Justice
  • Psychobiology in Context
  • Historical Perspectives in Psychology
  • The Skilled Researcher
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Cognitive Psychology
Year Four
  • Psychology for Contemporary Issues
  • 60 credits from dissertation research and a module on contemporary psychology.
  • plus three modules from a range of options.
Provision varies on a year-by-year basis but examples include: Memory: Origins and Structures/Cognitive Science of Belief/Evolutionary Psychology in the Modern World/Eyewitness Psychology/Happiness and Wellbeing/Psychology of Pain/Peer Relations in Childhood and Adolescence/Political Psychology The modules listed here are correct at time of posting (Feb 2024) but may differ slightly to those offered in 2025. Please check back here for any updates.

Assessment method

You will be taught in lectures, seminars, practical workshops and laboratories. Outside these timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning through self-study. You will be assessed by essays, case studies or group projects and written exams.

Professional bodies

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

  • British Psychological Society

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

  • Course does not award QTS

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
C800
Institution code:
Q25
Campus name:
Queen Margaret University
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

We can consider applications to level 2 with suitable qualifications. Agreed articulation routes from Scottish HNC and HND programmes can be found here: https://www.qmu.ac.uk/study-here/access-to-higher-education/college-leavers-and-mature-students/ HNC Social Sciences with an A in the graded unit allows entry to year two We can consider applications to level 3 or 4 on an individual basis. Years 3 and 4 are the years associated with getting the graduate membership to the BPS, so entry is not possible without the corresponding study and placement time on another Psychology course.

Entry requirements

Standard Qualification Requirements

We accept many different qualifications, but cannot list them all here. Please contact the Admissions Team for further information or advice if you are thinking of taking a course of study. We welcome applications from international and EU applicants and you can find information on specific entry requirements by country here: https://www.qmu.ac.uk/study-here/international-students/information-for-your-country/. We also welcome applications from mature students, or people holding qualifications such as Access courses or OU modules. The Scottish Wider Access Partnership (SWAP) offers a range of local Access courses and those that are accepted for entry are listed here: https://www.qmu.ac.uk/college-qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements

English language requirements

IELTS with an overall score equivalent to 6.0 and with no individual component less than 5.5.

QMU English Language Requirements

https://www.qmu.ac.uk/study-here/international-students/english-language-requirements/

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
45%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
75%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Scotland £1820 Year 1
England £9250 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 Year 1
Wales £9250 Year 1
Channel Islands £9250 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9250 Year 1
International £9250 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students from England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Republic of Ireland: full-time Rest of UK fees will be charged for the first three years of study. The fourth year is free.
Psychology at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh - UCAS