Everything you need to know...
-
What is the fee?
Home: £9,250 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
International/EU: £16,655 per year (£1,200 for placement year) -
How long will I study?
4/5 Years
-
Where will I study?
-
What are the entry requirements?
-
What is the UCAS code?
A103
-
When do I start?
September 2024
-
Placement year available?
Yes
Where will I study?
Course summary
- Dive into psychology and discover what makes us human.
- Develop your research skills and learn about life-changing initiatives.
- Specialise in forensic or developmental psychology, or clinical, counselling and psychotherapy.
- Test theories and boundaries with state-of-the-art equipment and research facilities.
- Collaborate with leading researchers, placement organisations and fellow students.
- Prepare for the degree with an extra foundation year at the start.
Are you fascinated by human behaviour and the mind? On our BSc Psychology course you’ll examine what drives behaviour – from brain physiology to epigenetic interactions, acquiring and developing cognitive skills, social influences and individual differences in personality and motivation. You’ll graduate ready to change lives.
This psychology degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and gives eligibility for the graduate basis for chartered membership (GBC) with the BPS.
If you don't meet the entry requirements for our BSc (Hons) course, or you’d like extra preparation before starting degree-level study, we recommend you join this foundation year course.
Come to an open day
Find out more at our undergraduate open days. Book now for your place.
How you learn
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
On this course you’ll benefit from and contribute to research-led learning. You’re taught by experts whose projects and life-changing research you can assist. Along the way you’ll develop your own research skills while getting involved in an array of student and staff-led research – everything from knife crime to smart water. You and your research can make a real impact on society as a whole.
You can also take on applied work projects, putting your skills and knowledge into practice with real-world briefs set by employers and external clients.
You are taught by academics who are experts in forensic psychology, developmental psychology, counselling and psychotherapy, neuroscience, and health psychology. Their recent research spans virtual reality, dental anxiety in children, and the effects of the COVID lockdown rules on society.
You learn through:
- Seminars
- Workshops
- Lab classes
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Work placements
- Field trips
- Supervision
Key Themes
Everything we do here focuses on the science of thoughts, feelings, and behaviour, how the brain works, the processes of the mind, and how these develop over time.
We’ll support you to gain foundational knowledge, skills and independence, before you develop your own ideas and professional practice. You’ll acquire crucial key skills – from competence in research design to methods of enquiry, hypothesis testing and quantitative and qualitative analysis. You’ll also learn how to apply knowledge in local, national and global settings.
In your final year, you can study contemporary themes such as trauma, neurodiversity, emotions and personality from a variety of perspectives on the BSc Psychology (general) route. Alternatively, there’s the flexibility to specialise in one of three routes – BSc Psychology (forensic), BSc Psychology (clinical, counselling and psychotherapy), or BSc Psychology (developmental).
Specialist Routes and Modules
In place of the Final Year elective modules listed in the Course Modules section below (general course route), you will select elective modules related to your specialist route (see below).
BSc Psychology (Forensic)
Are you interested in a forensic career? This route involves the study of criminal behaviour, factors that can influence witnesses and victims, or how psychology can be used to improve the investigation of crimes.
- Offenders & Offending – 40 credits (Coursework)
- Witnesses & Victims – 20 credits (Coursework)
BSc Psychology (Clinical, Counselling and Psychotherapy)
Do you aspire to help others in a therapeutic setting? This route provides a focus on the diagnostic process but also the skills underlying a myriad of therapeutic interventions for good mental health.
- Theory, Practice & Professional Issues in Counselling & Psychotherapy – 40 credits (Coursework)
- Clinical Psychology – 20 credits (Coursework)
BSc Psychology (Developmental)
Do you wish to work with children, young people and adults in education and support? This route will give you an understanding of the factors that can influence our development, and the role that adjustments and interventions can play.
- Atypical Child Development – 40 credits (Coursework)
- Psychology & Education – 20 credits (Coursework)
Course Support
You will be supported in your learning journey towards highly-skilled, graduate-level employment through a number of key areas. These include:
- Access to our unique student support triangle to help with your personal, academic and career development.
- Access to our Skills Centre with one-to-ones, webinars, and online resources.
- First-class facilities with state-of-the-art equipment.
Course leaders and tutors
Applied learning
Work Placements
You’ll have the opportunity to arrange a year-long work placement in between your second and third years. This gives you valuable work experience to prepare you for your future career and allows you to graduate with an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV.
Alternatively, you can undertake a shorter, semester-long work placement in your second year.
Organisations currently offering placements include St Anne's Mental Health Service, The Hesley Group autism care provider, Sheffield Children's Hospital (NHS), the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Drug and alcohol service (RDASH), Sheffield MENCAP, the City Hearts human trafficking support service and Cavendish Cancer Care.
You also have the opportunity to take a placement abroad, currently in Germany and South Africa.
Study Abroad
You can study abroad for one semester in your second year at one of our partner universities. Examples of our current partner institutions include Georgia Southern University in the US, Trent University and Carleton University in Canada, Queensland University of Technology, LaTrobe University and Deakin University in Australia, University of Jyvaskyla in Finland, Tallinn University in Estonia, the University of Warsaw in Poland, and Aahus University in Denmark.
Networking Opportunities
Sessions are delivered by visiting guests such as educational psychologists, police officers, prison officers, forensic psychologists, health psychologists, and speech and language therapists.
You can also gain professional connections at careers and employability events, and take part in our award winning psychology student society.
Future careers
This psychology degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and gives eligibility for the graduate basis for chartered membership (GBC) with the BPS. GBC is an entry requirement for all BPS-accredited postgraduate training courses in psychology – to become a clinical, forensic, educational, occupational, health or counselling psychologist.
Applicants for GBC need to have passed the empirical research project module, and to have attained an undergraduate honours degree at a minimum lower second-class honours level.
This course prepares you to complete professional training in:
- Clinical psychology
- Educational psychology
- Occupational psychology
- Health psychology
- Forensic psychology
- Counselling psychology
- Sports psychology
It also prepares you for a career in:
- Teaching
- Local government
- Civil service
- Industry and commerce
- Education
- Careers and counselling
- Legal and advice work
- Social work
- Social research
- Personnel and human resources
- Marketing and advertising
- Management
The skills you’ll develop during your degree will enable you to successfully transition into a much more comprehensive range of potential career paths.
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreLearn more about your department
Psychology Facilities Tour
Take a look around Sheffield Hallam University's psychology facilities with student Angelica.
Equipment and facilities
The university is investing £250 million in new facilities over the next five years. This means students have access to new, innovative, and flexible spaces to study and relax in, making their student experience even better.
You’ll benefit from our award-winning Centre for Behavioural Science and Applied Psychology. Here we apply contemporary psychological theory and behavioural science to issues of wellbeing, health, social inclusion, cognition and behaviour change.
You’ll also have the opportunity to experience our specialist research facilities, such as:
- An observation suite
- An eye-tracking laboratory
- A BioPac psychophysics laboratory
- A low-level vision laboratory
- A food laboratory
- Electroencephalography (EEG) equipment
- Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS)
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 64
This must include at least 32 points from one A level or equivalent BTEC National qualifications excluding general studies For example:
- CC at A Level
- MPP in BTEC Extended Diploma.
- Pass overall from a T level qualification with D or E from core
- A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels and EPQ.
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
GCSE
- English Language at grade C or 4 or equivalent
- Maths at grade C or 4 or equivalent
• Access to HE Diploma from a QAA recognised Access to HE course. Normally we require 15 credits at level 2 and 45 at level 3. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Contemporary Issues In Social Science 1
Contemporary Issues In Social Science 2
Year 2
Compulsory modules
Fundamentals In Psychology 1
Fundamentals In Psychology 2
Psychological Research And Design
Psychology Practicals And Statistics
Year 3
Compulsory modules
Processes In Psychology
Psychology In Context
Research Methods Training
Elective modules
Applying Psychology
Work Placement (Psychology)
Year 4
Optional modules
Placement Year
Final year
Compulsory modules
Inclusive And Ethical Practice In Psychology
Psychology Research Project
Elective modules
Health Psychology
Human Sexual Behaviour
Neurodiversity
Personality & Psychopathology: Theory, Assessment And Practice
Positive Psychology
Psychology Of Emotion
Social And Affective Neuroscience (San)
The Psychology Of Animals
The Psychology Of Trauma
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2024/25 is £9,250 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and are therefore subject to changes in government policy. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2024/25 is £16,655 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
Additional costs for Psychology courses (PDF, 250.4KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
Come to an open day
Find out more at our undergraduate open days. Book now for your place.
