Degree type: BSc (Hons)
UCAS Code: C800 BSc/Psy
Duration: 4 years (full-time)
How to Apply
Why choose this course?
Psychology, the scientific study of the mind, brain and behaviour, explores a wide range of mental processes including emotions, attitudes, growing up and ageing, remembering and learning.
The course covers normal behaviour and also abnormal behaviour, such as mood problems, drug use and crime, as well as mental or neurological disorders (e.g. depression, schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease), or developmental disorders (e.g. autism). You will learn how to design your own psychology experiments and analyse a variety of data. Why choose Abertay? Abertay was rated best modern university in Scotland for research in psychology in the UK Research Assessment Exercise 2008.
The course offers a comprehensive selection of topics on human behaviour. The core areas follow the curriculum set out by the British Psychological Society. They include:
Further specialist options are offered in third and fourth year, such as psychology in education and health, forensic psychology, animal psychology, sports psychology, evolutionary psychology, workplace psychology, psychology of language, face recognition, applied psychology, clinical psychology and psychopharmacology.
How you learn
You use a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, seminars and practicals, supported by electronic resources. The first two years cover introductory modules to psychology and sociology.
As your study skills and confidence increase you will find yourself independently researching material for coursework, teamwork and personal reflection. Typically, you will be in class for 12-15 hours per week, with approximately 20–25 hours independent study. You will develop an understanding of subjects and the practical relevance of psychology. In third and fourth year, you will study core modules and choose specialist options.
How you are assessed
Your degree incorporates a wide range of assessment styles over the course. As well as formal examinations using seen and unseen papers, you also have class tests, essays, laboratory reports, poster presentations and oral presentations. In your final honours year, you undertake a large research project that allows you to use the research skills you have perfected over the three years.
Higher ABB; A Level CC; ILC (H) ABB; BTEC Diploma MMM (Applied Science); BTEC Certificate DD (Applied Science)
UCAS Tariff 210+ points*
*See UCAS Tariff Guidance below
Essential subjects: English or a literate subject (e.g. History)
Advanced entry (year 2)
Advanced Higher or A Level: BCC (to include grade B in Psychology)
UCAS Tariff Guidance
Although there is no limit to the number of points that you can accumulate, for entry to Abertay you must have qualifications at an appropriate level (SCQF 6/NQF 3); you cannot count the same or similar qualifications twice; Standard Grades, Intermediate 2s, GCSEs and key/core skills cannot be counted; and D grades at SQA Higher and Advanced Higher are not counted.
Applicants who have taken either SQA Highers or A Levels must offer at least three Highers or two A Levels for degree entry (or two Highers or one A Level for DipHE entry). If you have studied a subject at two different levels, the most advanced will be taken into consideration; e.g. if you studied both Higher Biology and Advanced Higher Biology, then only the Advanced Higher will be counted.
Overseas/EU
All applicants are required to provide certified proof of competence in English Language and the University's minimum requirements are listed here
Mature
Applications from mature students are assessed on the same criteria used for school leavers, e.g. SQA Highers or GCE A Levels, where relevant school leaving qualifications exist. For those without standard entry qualifications, consideration is given to experience gained as well as professional qualifications and other forms of learning that could provide evidence of ability to benefit from a particular course.
The successful completion of approved access courses (such as those offered by Dundee College in association with the universities of Abertay, Dundee and St Andrews) provides significant evidence of ability to benefit from study at Abertay.
For further advice please use our Ask a Question section.
Your future
A British Psychological Society accredited psychology degree conferring eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartership is essential for becoming a professional psychologist (working, for example, in clinical, counselling, educational, forensic, health, occupational and sport psychology). Occupations for which a psychology degree will provide a good basis, often following additional postgraduate training, include primary or secondary school teacher, lecturer, social worker, personnel officer, market research executive, social researcher, psychotherapist, speech therapist, occupational therapist and drug rehabilitation worker. Psychology graduates have transferable skills, which are in high demand in the general graduate job market, such as numeracy, statistics and information technology skills, communication skills and analytical thinking.
Professional accreditation
The programme is accredited as conferring eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC), provided the minimum standard qualification of Second class Honours is achieved. This is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist.
| Fee Category | September 2012 Fees |
Scholarships & Bursaries |
| Scottish and other EU students |
The 2012 fee will be announced Apply to the Student Awards Agency |
Other forms of support |
| English, Welsh and Northern Irish students |
£7000 per year (max. amount payable You can apply for financial assistance, |
Bursaries & Scholarships |
| Overseas (non EU) students |
£9975 per year. Fees may be subject to annual increase. |
Overseas Scholarships |
Fees shown are payable annually, and may be subject to increase each year.
