Psychology undergraduate courses

Our courses

Our psychology courses are designed to be challenging, stimulating and relevant to the needs of today's society. You'll learn techniques that enable people to enjoy healthy lifestyles and facilitate their physical and mental health and wellbeing. You'll develop fresh perspectives and engage in research design and delivery, gathering, organising, analysing and interpreting data with our support and guidance. This will give you the opportunity to shed light on and develop solutions for real-world issues, providing information relevant for a range of person-centred services.

As part of your studies, you’ll look at the applications of psychology in a wide range of areas – from understanding the nature and causes of mental illness to investigating decision making in real life situations. The course offers optional modules, allowing you to tailor your degree to a career path or area of interest, such as:

• Health and development
• Research
• Biopsychology
• Behaviour
• Cognitive
• Social interactions

Our courses provide the opportunity to study with a placement year to help you translate theory into practice, and enhance your employability.

Senior lecturer in Psychology, Dr Ian Baker, began teaching while studying for his PhD in Psychology and has never looked back. Ian's research interests include fascinating themes such as parapsychology, paranormal belief and religious belief. He is committed to fostering students' enthusiasm for research too - whether that means inviting them to critique his own research papers, sparking debate on themes like the ethics of conducting ghost investigations, or supervising research internships.

What psychology research can you get involved in as a student?

Find out more about the range of research happening in the School of Psychology at the University of Derby.

Expert teaching

You'll benefit from working with lecturers who have a wealth of experience in their chosen profession, so you're getting industry-relevant teaching to help you shine in your chosen career. Many are also involved in research, bringing the latest theories into the classroom. Their wide-ranging work includes research into:

• Maternal health and the cognitive, motor and social development of new-borns, to help improve health care during childhood
• Different aspects of mental health and wellbeing on themes such as maths-induced anxiety, eating disorders, addiction and irrational thinking
• Compassion and mindfulness, delivering findings that can help tackle issues of self-esteem and foster sensitive support for others
• The psychological aspects of pain, anxiety and addiction, and the effects each can have on identity and relationships
• Emotional processing in relation to well-being, compassion and attentional biases and visual attention
• The positive benefits that can be derived from engagement with the natural environment

You’ll benefit from this research as your lecturers bring the latest thinking to your studies, and in some cases you will have opportunities to get involved in research projects yourself. 

"The pleasure in teaching psychology students is that they tend to be highly motivated and open to exploring ideas. A vital part of our role is to help them chart their future career direction as studying psychology opens so many doors to so many different sectors and professions - anywhere that an understanding of people is valued." Dr Ian Baker, Senior Lecturer in Psychology

Careers

Our Psychology graduates embark on careers in sectors such as scientific or clinical research, clinical psychology, mental health support and management, forensic psychology, teaching, probation service and police, and psychological research. Our courses prepare you for further training in psychology and provide an excellent platform to become a professional psychologist. You could also consider masters level or PhD study.

To boost your employment skills, you can access the University's Careers and Employment Service. The team can connect you with employers to help find opportunities for work placements, part-time jobs, and volunteering. Our careers consultants are also on hand to guide you through the career options for your degree, CV writing, or starting your own business - and we commit to helping you for three years after you graduate to find a job. 

"The enthusiasm and expertise of the teaching team was the most inspiring because of their ability to talk about their subject areas with ease and confidence - this gave me motivation and eased uncertainty. Their support and guidance throughout my degree was essential to my success and attaining my PhD Scholarship. The staff and the course have given me all the right tools to push myself to the limit, and prove to myself that anything is possible." - Ivana Babicova, BSc (Hons) Psychology graduate

Professional experience

Our Psychology courses offer an ‘Industrial Placement Year’ giving you the opportunity to enhance your practical skills by putting theory into practice, network in your industry and stand-out in the graduate job market. The placement year takes place in your third year, once completed, you would return to University to complete your final year of studies.