Course summary

A working knowledge of German and an advanced understanding of psychology will prepare you for a rewarding career. And, the chance to explore a new culture overseas will prepare you for life working in the UK and abroad. Through this programme, you will develop a detailed understanding of psychology, while gaining the skills and knowledge to engage with the discipline in preparation for a placement year overseas in a German speaking country. During the four years, you will be able to draw on expertise from two specialist departments: Languages and Cultures; and Psychology. This degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society and provides the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership with the Society. You will learn and develop a solid grasp of German language and culture, while studying the main themes of modern psychology: Brain and Behaviour: how neural disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease affect behaviour Cognitive Psychology: our reactions to colours, smells, speech and music Developmental Psychology: the ways in which infants perceive space, patterns, objects and events Social Psychology: how our thoughts, emotions and behaviours are shaped by the presence of others In the first year, you will gain an in depth overview of the main study themes through our Understanding Psychology module. You will explore the theories underpinning these areas, learn to evaluate scientific journals, and develop your ability to construct formal arguments. Running parallel to this, you will also undertake the Investigating Psychology module, which will equip you with important practical skills for conducting research in psychology, such as data analysis and report writing. In addition, you will take language classes, determined by your current level of ability. These are taught by native speakers and will ensure you have a solid grasp of the written and spoken language. During the second year of your degree, you will develop upon the key themes introduced in Year 1. You will study specialist modules on topics such as cognitive, developmental and social psychology; deepening your understanding and testing your knowledge. You will also benefit from specialist German modules, which will develop your foreign language oral and written communication skills further. In addition to these themes, Research Methods and Statistics modules will be covered this year. These will expand your knowledge of research methods, develop key skills and enable you to gain a detailed understanding of analysis and reporting. You will spend your third year at one of our partner institutions in a German speaking country, where you will practise and develop your language abilities, while continuing to enhance your psychology skills and knowledge. Returning to Lancaster for your fourth year, you will further develop your knowledge and understanding of the core aspects of modern psychology, taking modules in Brain and Behaviour; and Personality and Individual Differences. You will also carry out your own research project under the supervision of an experienced researcher. The optional modules available this year will allow you to expand your knowledge of German culture and continue to practise the language. Alongside your academic study, you will have the opportunity to gain voluntary work experience through our Psychology Employability Programme, allowing you to develop invaluable skills for either a career in psychology or a graduate programme. You can choose between working part-time in the community with charities and organisations that support vulnerable people, or working alongside staff in the Psychology Department on their ground-breaking research projects. Crucially, every placement will provide you with experience and skills that are valuable to both psychology careers and more general graduate level occupations, strengthening your CV and enhancing your employability for life after graduation.