Skip navigation
Psychology at University of Cumbria - UCAS

Course options

2024 - 20252025 - 2026
Apply

There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

University of Cumbria has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Open days

23Apr
London Open Evening 23rd April (for Sept 2025 intake only)
Undergraduate
7Jun
Brampton Road Open Day 7th June 2025
Undergraduate

Course summary

Are you fascinated by what makes people tick, the human mind and debating psychological ideas? On this psychology degree, we’ll guide you through a vast range of contexts and lifespans – from the biological basis of behaviour to questioning contemporary issues. This degree programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society, and is designed to give you the knowledge and expertise that allows you to kickstart a successful career. What’s more, our psychology courses are ranked 1st in the North West and 11th in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2023 Results). We're also 1st in the UK for students satisfied with course, teaching and feedback for psychology (Guardian University Guide 2023 Results). Course Overview Half of your degree course will be practical, focusing on research techniques, qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods, data handling and analysis skills, laboratory reports and communication skills. You’ll learn from industry-expert tutors through lectures and seminars. You’ll be encouraged to engage in career-enhancing voluntary work, giving you hands-on experience. You will be eligible to apply for Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society (BPS). The skills, knowledge and understanding you gain from the course will help you access a range of rewarding professions within psychology. You will be in the ideal position for a career in clinical, forensic or educational psychology, health education and promotion, counselling, social work, teaching, organisational behaviour, human resources, and prison or probation work. On this course you will:

  • Study psychology at the University of Cumbria, exploring and applying psychological literature to current issues, contexts and experiences.
  • Be taught and given high-quality support and guidance by our lecturing team, who are active in research and practices.
  • Learn valuable transferrable skills in research, which are highly sought after by employers.
  • Have the opportunity to choose topics and areas that you want to learn more about to tailor your learning experience.
  • Be able to shape your psychology degree experience to your interests and career goals, allowing us to help you to reach your ideal future career.
What you will learn On this degree, you will study five key themes within psychology:
  • The contextualised bio-psychosocial nature of human development and experience
  • Ethical decision making and professional values
  • Gathering and analysing evidence using robust, population relevant and ethical research techniques
  • The pivotal role of academic, professional and graduate skills
  • Experiential problem-based learning

Modules

Year one

  • Psychology in Action
Introduction to a range of theories and models from developmental, cognitive and biological psychology and their application to human contexts.
  • Introduction to Psychological Research Methods
Introduction to the nature of psychological enquiry and research skills. Exploring quantitative and qualitative research methods, philosophical underpinnings and practical applications.
  • Introduction to Data Analysis
Introduction to the processes involved in the analysis and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative data.
  • Perspectives in Psychology
Introduction to a range of perspectives and key debates in psychology that aid in the understanding of individual and social phenomena.
  • Professional and Academic Skills
Introduction to working with others in a professional setting, employability, and professional practice that includes listening skills and providing constructive feedback.
  • Introduction to Psychopathology
This module will provide a basis for diagnostic classification systems (e.g. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)), and give an overview of the various different forms of psychopathology. It will outline theoretical frameworks which form the basis for assessment and intervention. Year two
  • Research Methods and Statistics
Introduction to statistical techniques dealing with more than one independent variable at two or more levels, including within, between, and mixed participant designs.
  • Development, Brain and Cognition
Explore the potential impact a range of factors have on human development and behaviour.
  • Research Methods in Applied Psychology Settings
Introduction to a range of research designs used in psychology and applied psychology settings.
  • Work Experience
The module will give you an opportunity to link your academic study with work experience. This will allow you to enhance your employability and develop your reflective writing skills through writing a report reflecting on your work experience.
  • Negotiated Learning
This module permits you to independently undertake an agreed piece of work that is relevant to your own interests and/or career plans.
  • Social and Community Psychology
Study theories of social psychology with the goal of understanding the experiences and behaviours of people within their community. Year three
  • Critical Psychology
You will engage in a critical debate about the ideological basis of psychological knowledge, methods, and applications.
  • Individual Differences: Abilities, Personalities and measuring differences
Introduction to the nature of individual differences in human behaviour across a wide spectrum of human development. With a specific focus on ability, personality and the use of Psychological testing to assess difference.
  • Dissertation
You will pursue an investigation on a topic of your own interest.
  • Psychological Literacy and Careers
The module will give you an opportunity to apply your psychological knowledge and skills to applied psychology settings. It will invite you to engage in an in-depth exploration of a career within, or allied to, psychology.
  • Counselling and Coaching Psychology
This module includes the development of basic counselling and coaching skills to complement their developing employability skills and psychological literacy.

Assessment method

Assessments will support the development of skills, offer feedback and mark areas for improvement. Assessment styles include:

  • Written assignments
  • Unseen in-class tests
  • Presentations and reports
  • Innovative and employability-focused tasks such as case study analysis, problem-based activities and reflective logs
In your first year, several modules involve a portfolio assessment model which enables you to develop and evidence a range of skills critical to success in years 2 and 3. In each module, you have the opportunity to engage in summative and formative assessments. Summative assessment refers to work submitted for module and programme credit and is used to assess whether you have achieved the relevant learning outcomes in a module. Summative assessment is captured in the overall mark awarded for each module. Formative assessments occur in each of the modules to scaffold future summative assessments.

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

Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
70%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
80%
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

EU £9535 Year 1
England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
International £14900 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

Visit www.cumbria.ac.uk/studentfinance for more information about student fees and finance, and for details about our alumni discount.
Psychology at University of Cumbria - UCAS