Psychology affects everything we do. You’re curious about people’s thoughts, feelings and behaviour – and that’s what sits at the heart of our BPS accredited Psychology degree.
We’ll encourage you to keep asking questions, to develop the scientific, analytical and research skills you need to become a psychologist. Together, we’ll explore the different facets of psychology including applied, social and clinical psychology, cognitive neuroscience and biological psychology.
By studying BSc (Hons) Psychology at ARU, you’ll immerse yourself in the science of mind and behaviour – and take the first step towards a career as a chartered psychologist.
British Psychological Society
Achieve a second-class honours degree or above, and you’ll be eligible for graduate chartered membership of the British Psychological Society. It’s your first step towards becoming a chartered psychologist.
Find out more about studying Psychology at ARU in this short video
Bring the world of work to life through Live Briefs; designed and developed with regional employers to give you exposure to ‘real world’ problem-solving
Explore world-leading research with 98% of our Psychology research being recognised as internationally significant (REF 2023)
We offer support with the cost of living, and Psychology courses deliver compressed teaching across three days of the week, freeing your time for work experience
In your final year, tailor your degree by choosing from a range of optional modules
Being able to learn multiple different fields in psychology has taught me there is so much more to explore, which is so exciting.
Lily Bayford, BSc (Hons) Psychology student
By completing our BSc (Hons) Psychology degree, you’ll be eligible for graduate chartered membership of the British Psychological Society. It’s your first step towards becoming a chartered psychologist.
After graduation, you can continue your professional training and find a career that’s perfect for you. You might choose to specialise as a forensic, clinical, health or occupational psychologist. The choice is yours.
Psychology is a broad field and there are many areas you could specialise in.
As a graduate chartered member of the British Psychological Society, you could undertake further training to become a counselling or clinical psychologist, or specialise in areas like health, educational or forensic psychology.
Psychologists have skills that are sought after in other industries too, including the ability to understand social behaviour and analyse data. For example, some of our graduates have applied their knowledge to:
We’re here to help you develop your CV and find that all-important role after graduation. Our Employability Service offers tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, help to complete job applications, and much more. You’ll have 24/7 access to an online Careers Centre too, which is packed with useful resources.
The support continues after you graduate, with lifelong access to our Alumni Career Centre.
With engaging real-world application and interactive in-class live polls via students’ smartphones, psychology comes alive in our classrooms.
Annelie Harvey, Associate Professor
Our course features a range of optional modules so you can focus on areas of particular interest or fascination to you, giving you the freedom to explore your own interests in more depth. These range from clinical psychology to psychological therapies.
You’ll gain a sound understanding of the main principals of psychology and learn about the ideas that underpin modern psychology; these include key areas such as perception, learning, memory, language, and mental health. You’ll develop your knowledge of diagnostic criteria and the importance of understanding and treating the individual.
We focus on strengthening your research skills too, looking at statistics, data collection and analysis – all valuable preparation for your final-year Research Project, and your future career.
Student experience
Psychology graduate Georgina reflects on their university journey and offers advice for future students.
“My time at ARU was more than just lectures and assignments. As a Student Ambassador for Psychology, I had the opportunity to share my passion with prospective students at open days, applicant days, and university events" says Zoe. Read Zoe's story.
Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.
Year 1
Becoming a Researcher (30 credits)
Self and Society (30 credits)
Mind and Behaviour (30 credits)
Clinical and Health Psychology (15 credits)
Into ARU
The Psychology of Everyday Life (15 credits) *
Anglia Language Programme (15 credits) *
Year 2
Research in Action: Statistical Thinking (15 credits)
Social Psychology: Development and Difference (30 credits)
Ruskin Module (15 credits)
Research in Action: Qualitative Methods and Psychology in Practice (15 credits)
Diagnosis and Formulation in Mental Health (15 credits)
Brain, Body and Mind (30 credits)
Year 3
Psychology Project (30 credits)
Professional Skills in Clinical Settings (15 credits) *
Sex, Sexuality and Gender (15 credits) *
Stress and Stress Management (15 credits) *
Culture and Health (15 credits) *
Cognitive Neuroscience (15 credits) *
Educational Psychology (15 credits) *
Psychological Assessment (15 credits) *
Psychology in the Workplace (15 credits) *
Forensic Psychology (15 credits) *
Consumer Psychology (15 credits) *
Atypical Development (15 credits) *
Psychological Therapies (15 credits) *
Lifespan Development (15 credits) *
Groups in Conflict: Social Psychological Issues (15 credits) *
You can choose to take an optional placement year as part of this course. Placements typically happen in Year 3, and your course will take four years overall. Find out more about placement years.
Placement year
Work Placement - Psychology and Sport Sciences (120 credits)
A foundation year prepares you for the rest of your course, and focuses on general skills such as researching and referencing, numeracy and ICT, and communication. We'll also start to look at some more subject-specific topics.
Your placement year is a chance to put everything you’ve learnt in Years 1 and 2 into practice. Spend typically 9-12 months working for an organisation, developing your skills and gaining valuable work experience. Our Placements Team is here to help you secure a placement.
Throughout the course, we’ll use a range of assessment methods to measure your progress. You’ll complete exams (both written and practical), essays, research reports, oral presentations, lab reports and a dissertation on a subject of your choice.
At ARU, you’ll learn from expert tutors who are actively engaged in research work in their specialist field.
At ARU you’ll use psychology labs in our state-of-the-art Science Centre. There are dedicated labs for EEG, perception, biomarker analysis, neuroscience and more.
Our labs house commercial software packages and specialist psychological equipment such as:
PowerLab devices for monitoring emotional and physiological response
a portable Nexus device, for recording similar activity outside the lab
Use virtual reality headsets, eye trackers, driving simulators and more.
Monitor physiological and brain activity in our specialist labs and analyse biomarkers such as cortisol and testosterone in saliva and hair samples.
Entry requirements
Important additional notes
Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.
Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course; please email [email protected] for further information. Applicants to undergraduate courses can also check our information about undergraduate entry qualifications.
You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.
We don't accept AS level qualifications on their own for entry to our undergraduate degree courses. However for some degree courses a small number of tariff points from AS levels are accepted as long as they're combined with tariff points from A levels or other equivalent level 3 qualifications in other subjects.
Main
5 GCSEs at grade D, or grade 3, or above and evidence of two years post-GCSE study at Level 3.
If you have achieved at least grade E in one A level, or equivalent, you are exempt from the two years post-GCSE study requirement, but you still must meet the GCSE requirements.
Applicants who do not meet the two years post GCSE study at level 3 may be considered based on their satisfactory employment history, which must be a minimum of two years full time employment supported by employer evidence and deemed appropriate by the University for meeting the course of study applied for.
If English is not your first language you will be expected to demonstrate a certificated level of proficiency of at least IELTS 5.5 (Academic level) or equivalent English Language qualification, as recognised by Anglia Ruskin University.
Important additional notes
Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.
Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course; please email [email protected] for further information. Applicants to undergraduate courses can also check our information about undergraduate entry qualifications.
You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.
We don't accept AS level qualifications on their own for entry to our undergraduate degree courses. However for some degree courses a small number of tariff points from AS levels are accepted as long as they're combined with tariff points from A levels or other equivalent level 3 qualifications in other subjects.
Important additional notes
Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.
Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course; please email [email protected] for further information. Applicants to undergraduate courses can also check our information about undergraduate entry qualifications.
You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.
We don't accept AS level qualifications on their own for entry to our undergraduate degree courses. However for some degree courses a small number of tariff points from AS levels are accepted as long as they're combined with tariff points from A levels or other equivalent level 3 qualifications in other subjects.
International students
We welcome applications from international and EU students, and accept a range of international qualifications.
This course includes an optional placement year. The placement year fee is:
£1,500 (2025-26)
£1,700 (2026-27)
You will be responsible for covering the cost of travelling to your placement during your placement year. This cost could vary significantly depending on where your placement is located, where you live during your course and how you travel.
Living at university
We understand that affordability is an important issue when you’re thinking about studying at university.
The overall cost of university can vary depending on where you’re studying and which course you’re taking.
Costs may also be lower if you're living at home. However, some of the main costs you’ll want to think about include:
accommodation
bills
internet, mobile phone and calls
travel
food and drink
socialising and going out
study materials.
Most full-time UK students can apply for a Maintenance Loan to help cover living costs. More about maintenance loans.
Our Money Advice Service is on hand if you’d like to chat about living costs, budgets and managing your money. You can also find out more about student finance at one of our Open Days.
We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries, which provide extra financial support while you’re at university.
If you're eligible for a scholarship, you'll generally receive it automatically – there's no need to apply.
Our campus employment bureau, ARU Temps, can help you find part-time work that fits around your studies. It's a great chance to enhance your CV and boost your income while you study.
Our degrees are accredited by the British Psychological Society and delivered in our world-class Science Centre with dedicated Psychology labs
Dr Flavia Cardini
Dr Eimear Lee
