uel.ac.uk/psychology

Undergraduate programmes

School of Psychology

Welcome from the Dean

Our services and facilities Supporting our students

Spotlight: Our community

Our programmes

Work experience opportunities

Taking care of your future

Spotlight: Psychology at work

FAQs

How to apply

3

4

5

8

10

20

22

26

28

32

Contents

1

WelcomeWelcome to the School of Psychology. I am delighted that you are interested in learning more about undergraduate study within our diverse and exciting School - one of the largest Psychology Schools in the UK.

We recently celebrated 50 years of Psychology teaching, over which time we have built a proven track record and international reputation for high quality research, teaching and consultancy.

We offer a suite of rigorous, stimulating undergraduate programmes that explore diverse areas of psychology and counselling. Our students benefit from a highly experienced and dedicated team, who provide advice and guidance as well as academic expertise. We were proud to be top-ranked in London for Psychology Student Satisfaction in 2011.

We enjoy watching how our students change when they are with us, but also seeing how they progress after they leave us to make successful lives and careers. We are top-ranked in the UK for psychology graduate starting salaries. Our programmes provide opportunities to work in social care, business development, education services, police work, the development of economic strategies, health and wellbeing, and more.

I hope you enjoy finding out more about our School and its undergraduate programmes, and look forward to welcoming you to our School community in the future.

Professor Mark N O DaviesDean of the School of Psychology

32

Supporting our students

We know that you need more than excellent physical facilities when you study with us. Our School prides itself on its friendly and supportive culture, which provides the ideal environment to learn and develop.

Comprehensive programme support

This includes:

- an induction programme upon joining the School and at the start of each year that follows, to introduce you to the next level of your programme

- study skills support at Level 1, covering IT skills, library use, report and essay writing, the ethics of study and research, and working in groups. Research methodology teaching is supplemented by online interactive programme materials and discussion groups

- final year support including help with your career choice, job applications and preparation of CVs

- an annual Spring Fair, where you can find out about your options for your next year of study, and receive guidance and advice about your future career or volunteering opportunities

- specialist support (for example for students with disabilities or those needing counselling or learning support) through the university’s Student Services.

Our services and facilities

Our excellent teaching and research facilities are located in the centre of the historic Stratford campus and provide state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment for the many disciplines and research areas we cover in the School.

Laboratories include:

• aninfancylab•aneuroimaginglab•aneye-trackerlab•aqualitativeresearchmethodslab•arecreationaldrugsandpsychophysiologylab•avirtualrealitylab.

We also have a suite of counselling rooms, equipped with DVD video recording facilities, to develop

counselling skills or conduct interviews for research purposes, and private rooms for

your studies and research.

54

A School Helpdesk Our Helpdesk team assists you with routine enquiries, provides equipment for loan, and offers full technical support with computing, recoding, and other electronic equipment.

An established personal tutoring systemAn allocated tutor provides you with individual support and guidance throughout your studies. All our lecturers have advertised ‘office hours’ where you can stop by their office without an appointment to ask questions or just have a chat. Additional help is also available from year-group tutors and programme/module leaders.

Supporting our students

9

A mentoring schemeOur mentoring scheme involves student volunteers in their second and third years acting as mentors to first-year students. We run ‘peer-assisted learning’ (PAL) sessions for our research methods module, which students have found very useful. Students also form informal study groups to support each other in their learning.

The Psychology Society (PsycSoc)This group, organised entirely by students for students, arranges regular social events and activities, creating an active and vibrant student community.

“The School shows a remarkable flexibility of practice and willingness to respond to students’ needs. Student support and guidance are an outstanding strength of the provision.”

The National Quality Assurance Agency

76

What sort of events have there been?

We had a ‘Speed Friending’ event at the start of the first semester held at the Student Union, which provided an ice-breaker at the start of the year when everyone felt a bit nervous. We also held a ‘Question Time’, which was really successful. It’s run for two years in a row now and you get to see lecturers talk on areas outside of core programme material.

What was your favourite event and why?

Definitely the Question Time event. You get a different perspective on things and we, the students, are the ones asking the questions, so it enables us to voice our opinions. I also enjoyed the Halloween film night, where we showed a film that was psychologically related to Halloween. Anna Stone, one of the lecturers, did a talk before about ghosts and why we might believe in the paranormal.

How has the school community helped your overall student experience?

It’s helped greatly; it provides something to look forward to during the week, a chance to enjoy discussing psychology. The activities offer a great chance to talk to lecturers informally and meet students from across programmes.

What our students say

Undergraduate student, Neal Parmar, talks about what it’s like to be part of the School of Psychology community.

Tell us about the community feel at the School.

Well, the Psychology Society - PsychSoc for short - is run by a group of students and really encourages us to develop and share our experiences outside of our official programmes. We have just started up weekly social nights for students to meet up and chat informally about our studies and also have sporadic events throughout the semester.

Spotlight: Our community

98

Programme structures

When studied full-time, our programmes usually take three years to complete, with two semesters in each year of study. In each semester, a full-time student usually studies and is assessed in three modules, each carrying a 20-credit value. At Level 3, there is a double, 40-credit research project module, which runs for the entire year.

You have a minimum of 12 hours’ contact time per week with academic staff, which includes lectures, seminars, tutorials, and individual supervision. The majority of our lecturers are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy, meaning that they have a recognised teaching qualification for teaching in higher education.

Learning is supplemented through online interactive materials, reading tasks, group exercises, peer study groups and preparation for assignments.

Assessment

You are assessed through a combination of coursework (including essays, journals, logs and reports, practical skills assessments and presentations), exams and a final-year project. You receive individual feedback on your coursework, designed to enhance your learning and improve performance on subsequent assessments.

The majority of assessment at Level 1 is by coursework, to provide you with maximum formative feedback. At Levels 2 and 3, the balance of coursework and examination depends on your option choice, but at Level 3, an empirical research coursework project comprises a substantial proportion of your final mark.

Psychology programmes

Our BSc psychology degrees are:

• BSc(Hons)Psychology• BSc(Hons)CriticalPsychology• BSc(Hons)DevelopmentalPsychology• BSc(Hons)ForensicPsychology• BSc(Hons)Psychology

Extended Degree.

All of our BSc psychology degrees are accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) as conferring the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership; an essential prerequisite for professional training.

The programmes share the same core modules at Level 1 and 2. The Critical, Developmental and Forensic programmes have specialist core modules at Levels 2 and 3. There is an exceptionally vast range of option modules, covering a broad spectrum of psychology topics, for students to choose from at Levels 2 and 3.

Our programmes are distinctive in their applied approach to psychology and benefit from a strong professional emphasis.

Our programmes

1110

We offer the UK’s first BSc Critical Psychology degree programme to be accredited by the British Psychological Society, which draws on the work of UEL’s nationally renowned Critical Psychology Research Group.

Central to critical psychology is an emphasis on social justice and human welfare, both at the level of the individual and at the level of society.

In addition to the core psychology modules, you explore Advanced Qualitative Research and an Introduction to Critical Psychology, and complete a final-year dissertation focusing on areas within Critical Psychology.

You cover substantive topics in psychology and consider their application to contexts such as health, work, education, crime and therapy. You also scrutinise the methods used to study behaviour and examine the main research methodologies employed in psychology, considering the social, moral and political implications of such research and psychological practices.

BSc (Hons) Critical Psychology UCAS code C810

In addition to the core areas of psychology (biological foundations, cognitive psychology, social psychology, developmental psychology, individual differences, emotion and motivation, conceptual and historical issues in psychology, and research methods), we offer a range of option modules at Levels 2 and 3 to enable you to specialise – one of the widest range of any Psychology department in the UK.

These include:

Addictive BehavioursAdvanced Qualitative ResearchAnimal Behaviour Brain Damage, Behaviour and the MindChild Psychology in ActionCounselling PsychologyCritical Community PsychologyCritical Social PsychologyDevelopment and Difficulties in the Early YearsDevelopment through the LifespanDrugs and Behaviour

Evolutionary PsychologyForensic PsychologyHealth PsychologyIntroduction to Critical PsychologyMethod and Design Issues in PsychologyOccupational PsychologyPositive PsychologyPsychological Perspectives on Power, Politics and Political ViolencePsychological Perspectives on Work ExperiencePsychology and DifferencePsychology and RelationshipsPsychology in the Justice SystemPsychology of Choice Psychology of Criminal ConductPsychology of Mental HealthPsychology of Personal DevelopmentPsychology of Physical IllnessScience, Pseudoscience and Paranormal Belief

BSc (Hons) Psychology UCAS code C800

1312

BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychology UCAS code C816Forensic Psychology is the application of psychological knowledge to the criminal justice system and criminal behaviour.

This programme introduces you to the underlying skills that forensic psychologists use in assessing, interviewing and case formulation, together with related theories and research evidence. It also examines the contextual aspects of forensic psychology and the applications of psychological theory to the understanding of offending behaviour and criminal conduct.

In addition to the core psychology modules, you explore Psychology in the Justice System and Psychology of Criminal Conduct, and complete a final-year dissertation focusing on an area within Forensic Psychology.

We offer one of the few degree programmes in the UK that enables you to specialise in developmental psychology at undergraduate level.

Developmental psychologists study how social, emotional and cognitive processes change and develop in infants, children and adults. On the basis of research evidence, they propose explanations for developmental outcomes, biological basis of behaviour, individual differences, and the influence of the social context on behaviour. Research findings in developmental psychology are used to advance our understanding and knowledge of how to support children in a variety of applied settings including education, health, the legal system and therapy.

In addition to the core psychology modules you explore Child Psychology in Action, Development and Difficulties in the Early

Years and Development through the Lifespan, and complete a final-year dissertation focusing on an area within Developmental

Psychology.

9

BSc (Hons) Developmental Psychology UCAS code C823

1514

BSc (Hons) Psychology Extended DegreeUCAS code C801

If you have spent some time out of the education environment and are now looking to return to higher education, or are a school leaver who would prefer to study for four years in order to start your degree at a suitable entry point for your current level of education, this is the programme for you.

The Extended Degree begins at Level 0, which is one year in duration and involves instruction and guidance in study skills essential for degree level study. Level 0 modules must be passed at 40 per cent average or above in order to continue on to the three-year BSc (Hons) programme.

From day one of your Extended Degree, you have full access to the psychological community and academic experience at UEL, giving you extensive study skills and personal development support.

Our two BSc counselling degrees are:

• BSc(Hons)Counselling• BSc(Hons)CounsellingandMentoring.

Our recently introduced undergraduate programmes offer you the opportunity to study counselling and mentoring and explore coaching in practice through case studies and placements.

Our School of Psychology has a long and well-established tradition of counsellor training. Our programmes offer a unique combination of expertise in psychological concepts, counselling principles and coaching theory, and provide you with the knowledge, skills and professional training leading to professional recognition in the field of psychotherapy.

Our teaching staff value the need to blend theoretical knowledge with illustrations from ongoing, field-based professional practice. We enable you to develop your own synthesis within an integrative framework.

All students initially apply for and enrol on the BSc (Hons) Counselling and Mentoring, then, after the common first year of study, may choose to continue with this programme or apply to transfer onto the BSc (Hons) Counselling. This transfer is dependent on assessment results at the end of Level 1 and a successful interview, and is at the discretion of the programme leader.

Counselling programmes

1716

UCAS code BX92Counselling and Mentoring encompasses a broad set of skills, approaches and techniques aimed at helping individuals, groups and organisations. This includes helping with problem solving, problem management, working through or resolving past issues, or working towards developmental aims and goals for the future (such as improving performance and meeting career and personal aspirations). Related activities such as coaching and consultancy draw from a similar set of core skills and processes.

The first year of the programme explores Biological and Cognitive Bases of Behaviour; Core Skills and Processes; Individuals, Development and Social Behaviour; Personal Development and Skills; and Social Context of Helping.

At Level 2, core modules focus on cognitive-behavioural and solution-focused approaches, ethical and professional issues, and research in Counselling and Mentoring. You also choose one module from a list of available options within the School.

At Level 3, core modules cover Integration and Professional Development, Organisations and Change. You also complete a Counselling and Mentoring dissertation and undertake a Placement Experience module. This involves work-based learning at an organisation or agency where counselling and mentoring skills (or related activities) can be observed and practised, through which you can develop your understanding of the context in which these roles are undertaken. You are responsible for finding and organising your own placement, but will be able to make use of our established links with local counselling agencies and other organisations involved in coaching and mentoring.

BSc (Hons) Counselling UCAS Code B941This is a professional counsellor training programme, which reflects contemporary developments in counselling as the profession prepares for statutory regulation. The programme is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge required for practice as an integrative counsellor.

Counselling encompasses a broad set of skills, approaches and techniques that are essentially aimed at helping an individual with problem solving, problem management, working through or resolving past issues, or working towards developmental aims and goals for the future. The key feature of counselling is the therapeutic relationship between counsellor and client, characterised by empathy, acceptance, and genuineness.

The first year of the programme is common with the BSc (Hons) Counselling and Mentoring. You explore Biological and Cognitive Bases of Behaviour; Core Skills and Processes; Individuals, Development and Social Behaviour; Personal Development and Skills; and Social Context of Helping.

At Level 2, core modules focus on cognitive-behavioural and solution-focused approaches, ethical and professional issues, and research in Counselling and Mentoring. You also have a core module on Psychology of Mental Health, and choose one module from a list of available options within the School.

At Level 3, core modules cover Integration and Professional Development, Existential and Insight-oriented approaches, and completion of a Counselling and Mentoring Dissertation.

The Counselling Practice and Development modules at Levels 2 and 3 provide support for your supervised counselling practice placements. Placements comprise 150 hours of client work plus 50 hours of other work-based learning. You are responsible for finding and organising your own placement, but will be able to make use of our established links with local counselling agencies and other organisations involved in coaching and mentoring.

BSc (Hons) Counselling and Mentoring

1918

UEL’s School of Psychology is recognised within the profession for offering excellent teaching and research, giving you a very competitive position in the job market. There are many opportunities for you to gain some important work experience whilst undertaking your undergraduate degree, whether you are on a psychology or counselling programme. For example, all students can apply for summer research internships, providing a great opportunity to work closely with a researcher from the School on a specified research project.

Psychology

As an undergraduate student on any of our psychology programmes you have the option to undertake the Psychological Perspectives of Work Experience module at Level 2. This allows you to consider and apply the skills and knowledge you develop in the degree programme firsthand through a professional placement.

Additionally, if you are a student on the BSc Developmental Psychology degree you will take part in a work placement in the Child Psychology in Action module, also at Level 2, allowing you to develop your knowledge of how psychological theories and research are used to understand children’s development.

Counselling

If you are a student on the BSc Counselling degree, as part of the Level 2 and 3 core modules of Counselling Practice and Development, you will establish an appropriate work placement and start working with clients within explicit therapeutic contracts.

Work experience opportunities

2120

Psychology

A degree in psychology is the first step towards becoming a professional psychologist within the fields of clinical, educational, occupational, counselling, health or forensic psychology. It also provides a route into a wide range of other professional areas, including social welfare, sport and leisure, education and human resource management.

Our psychology programmes provide you with a comprehensive and critical understanding of the core principles of psychology, and maximize your transferable skills and employability. This is achieved through our extensive academic and skills curriculum, the applied nature of our modules and being taught by our experienced staff who are renowned for their publication records, many of whom are practitioners themselves.

Taking care of your future Graduates with a psychology degree find employment in the public sector and in business, such as:

• Childandadolescentservices• Clinicalpsychology• Disabilityservices• Education• Educationalguidance• Employmentandtraining• Forensicservice• Healthandhumanservices• Managementandmarketing• Organisationalpsychology• Rehabilitationservices• Socialservicesandcommunitywelfare• Sportpsychology• Thedefenceforces.

Graduates with a degree in the developmental psychology programme would be well suited for work in education, social welfare, speech and language therapy, counselling, coaching and mentoring.

A degree in forensic psychology is relevant for posts within a wide range of organisations such as the Police, the probation and prison services, youth offending teams, and drug referral and treatment agencies. It also puts you in a good position to apply for specialised postgraduate training needed to become a practising forensic psychologist.

22 23

Taking care of your future

Counselling

The BSc Counselling and Mentoring degree equips you with a range of transferable knowledge and skills relevant to working with people in a supportive, problem-solving, or developmental capacity, including:

• selfawareness• understandingpeople• listeningandcommunicatingatahighlevel• formingrelationships• problemmanagement• workingingroups• facilitatingchange.

These skills are highly valued by employers in a variety of sectors. Graduates go on to work in health and social care, education, training, management and leadership, or progress on to postgraduate professional training.

The BSc Counselling degree is a professional training programme for those who wish to practise as a counsellor. The programme has been designed to meet the requirements of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

2-subject (Combined Honours) DegreesYou can combine Psychology or Counselling and Mentoring with other subjects from across Schools, in either a Major or Minor combination. Popular combinations include:

• PsychologywithCriminology• PsychologywithEarlyChildhood

Studies• PsychologywithHumanBiology• CounsellingandMentoringwith

Education Studies.

If you study Psychology as your Major subject, your degree will be recognised as conferring the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership with the British Psychological Society.

See uel.ac.uk/combined for all possible combinations.

Please note that it is not possible to combine the BSc Critical Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Forensic Psychology or Counselling with another subject as part of a 2-subject degree.

24 25

Undergraduate School of Psychology student, Brandon Squires, shares his thoughts on the Work Experience module:

Tell us about your work placement: where was it, and for how long?My work placement was with the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC). Every Friday I would provide support to people over the telephone; I stayed on as a volunteer even after the module ended as I found it so valuable on both a professional and personal level.

What did you enjoy most about your placement?It was really useful to work in an environment where I could apply the skills and knowledge I had acquired through the Psychology programme firsthand. The work was intense and rewarding but also gave me confidence that I was capable of putting theory into practice.

How has it helped your studies or future career?I recently applied for a new post at NAPAC and from over 40 applications, I got the job. The application process pushed me to analyse the skills I’d developed on my programme and put me in good stead for the hour and a half interview.

Would you recommend the module to other students and if so, why?Of all the modules I studied, I consider the work placement module to be essential. The firsthand experience I gained enabled me to grow in confidence and ability. So yes, I would definitely recommend it.

Spotlight: Psychology at work

2726

FAQs:

Do I need an A-Level in Psychology to join one of the School of Psychology’s undergraduate programmes?No. Our Level 1 modules assume no prior knowledge of psychology.

How much of my work will be coursework or exam based?The proportion of exams and coursework varies from module to module, depending on the nature of the material being studied. Please see the Assessment section on page 10 for more details.

Will I be able to do a work placement whilst studying for my degree?Yes, this is possible for all students. We have a work experience module, or for some programmes a work placement is part of the core assessed work.

Will I be able to obtain university accommodation during my studies and where is it based?You can apply for a place in the student village at our Docklands campus as soon as you firmly accept an offer from UEL.

How many contact hours will I have in a teaching week?You will have a minimum of 12 hours’ contact time per week (lectures, seminars, tutorials and one-to-one supervision). In addition, you can see lecturers during their office hours, access additional online learning materials, and complete individual or group work, such as reading, completion of exercises and preparation for assignments.

2928

FAQs:

Can I come and look around the School of Psychology?Yes, we hold Open Days and various events throughout the year. Please see uel.ac.uk for more details

What provision is made for students with disabilities?The Disability and Dyslexia and Access Centre is located with Student Services at both the Stratford and Docklands campuses. We can help with applying for Disabled Students Allowance, provide information and guidance and, depending on your needs, arrange for support to be put in place.

Please see uel.ac.uk/studentservices for further information.

3130

To apply to study an undergraduate programme starting in September you should apply through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) www.ucas.com

If you are applying for a part-time undergraduate programme or a programme starting in February, you should apply directly to UEL. You can apply online or download an application form at uel.ac.uk/apply

At UEL we consider applications from students with a wide range of backgrounds, qualifications and experience. Both the UCAS system and our online application system will enable you to submit your application from anywhere with internet access.

How to apply

3332

Find out more

For further information on the School of Psychology and its full list of programmes, including specific entry requirements, please visit uel.ac.uk/psychology

Tel: +44 (0)20 8223 3333 Email: study@uel.ac.uk

School of PsychologyThe University of East LondonStratford CampusWater LaneLondonE15 4LZ