Psychology

PSYCHOLOGYTheUniversity of LiverpoolEleanor RathboneBuildingBedford Street SouthLiverpool L69 7ZAT: +44 (0)151 794 2957

www.liverpool.ac.uk/psychology

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FINDOUTMOREwww.liverpool.ac.uk/study

Accommodation: www.liverpool.ac.uk/accommodationFees and finance: www.liverpool.ac.uk/moneyLife in Liverpool: www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/cityStudent support: www.liverpool.ac.uk/studentsupportUGenquiries and applications: T: +44 (0)151 794 5927

EB/RH JUN 2013

ContentsIntroduction toPsychology01Research incontext04Aninvestment inyour future06Programmedetails08Applicationsandadmissions 13

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Getting a degree in Psychology can be thefirst step towards a variety of careers. As wellas supplying the foundations for a career inpsychology, the experience and skills you willacquire are appreciated by potential employersin a wide range of professions.

WHYCHOOSE PSYCHOLOGYAT LIVERPOOLThe foundations for a bright career.Chooseeither of our Psychology degrees, and you laythe foundations for a promising career path.Students who satisfactorily complete eitherdegreemay be offered places on one of ourpostgraduate degrees with the solid careeropportunities that they can open up.

Work experienceopportunities.Studentsalso have the opportunity to undertake atwo-week assessedwork placement, offeringpractical experience in the field and an excellentopportunity to learn about careers relatedto Psychology.

Accreditedprogrammes.Our degrees arefully accredited by the British PsychologicalSociety (BPS), and so satisfy the statutoryrequirements for pursuing various careersand pathways to postgraduate study withinPsychology (including Clinical, Forensicand Educational Psychology).

PsychologyTheSchoolofPsychologyat theUniversityofLiverpoolisoneof thecountrys leading researchand teachingestablishmentsanduses itsexpertise tograduallyintroducestudents intoabroad, variedand fascinatingprogrammeofstudy. Throughyour timewithus, youwill acquire in-depthknowledgeof thedisciplineandasetofkeyskills thatwill beessential inawide rangeofemploymentsettingsand forhigherdegreesandpostgraduate research.

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Learning andTeaching > Psychologywww.liverpool.ac.uk/psychology

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HOWYOUAREASSESSEDThemodules in each year must be passedin order to progress to the next year of study.The final degree classification is calculatedfrom grades obtained in Years Two and Three.Theweighting between second and thirdyears is 30/70%. Assessedwork, includingessays, case studies, oral presentations,groupwork, and experimental reports,together with examination results contributeto the final degree classification.

STUDYABROADAs part of your Psychology degreeprogramme youmay have the opportunityto study abroad. Studying abroad has hugepersonal and academic benefits, as well asgiving you a head start in the graduate jobmarket. Psychology students can currentlyapply to study in Europe at the University ofPadova, Italy and at the following internationaleducational institutions: University of HongKong,MonashUniversity (Melbourne, Australia),McGill University (Montreal, Canada), and theUniversity of Illinois at Urbana Champaign(Chicago, U.S.A.). For more information visitwww.liverpool.ac.uk/goabroad

Research excellence. The School hassome of the worlds leading academic experts,research centres and laboratories, providingopportunity for learning about, participationand collaboration in world-class research.The School has a large number of staffbringing depth and breadth to its researchand teaching portfolio.

Exciting city location.We are based in theheart of one of Europesmost lively, vibrantandwelcoming cities. This has allowed usto build an extensive network of links withsecondary education, hospitals, police,Government and other organisations.

HOWYOU LEARNOur undergraduate programme is taughtusing a balancedmix of lectures, seminarsand tutorials and practical laboratory sessions.Students are encouraged to work in smallgroups from the beginning of the programmeand some of the practical work in the secondyear is done as teamwork. The third yearresearch project is done either individuallyor in groups of three at themost.

80%30%of research activity deemedworld-leading or internationallyexcellent, and a further 50%internationally recognised.

(RAE2008)

86.3%ofourgraduates are employed orin further studywithin sixmonthsof graduating (DLHE2010/11)


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ResearchincontextTheUniversityofLiverpool isa research-intensiveuniversity,andmanyofouracademicstaffare leadingresearchers in their fields.What thismeans for youasastudent is that your learningwill be informedby thevery latestdevelopments inPsychology.

An example of the cutting-edge research takingplace in the School and its real-world applicationis Dr EmmaBoylands work on themarketingof foods to children. Dr Boyland, who is amember of the International Association forthe Study of Obesitys STANMARK committee,is recognised as an expert in this field andher work has had a direct impact on thedevelopment ofWHOguidelines to nationalgovernments on introducing effective regulatoryframeworks andmonitoring their effectiveness.

Children in the UK spendmuch of theirleisure time usingmedia, particularly televisionand the internet, and this means that theyare exposed to widespread foodmarketingfor products high in fat, sugar and salt. Thismarketing, which often uses cartoon charactersand other techniques to grab and hold theirattention, has a powerful influence over theirfood choice decisions and increases theamount of unhealthy food they eat. Therefore,it has been recognised that foodmarketingcontributes to rising levels of overweightand obesity.

Liverpool is playing a leading role in undertakingon-going, systematicmonitoring of foodpromotion on UK television and demonstratingthe detrimental impact of this marketing onchildrens diets. In 2009 the UK governmentintroduced regulations to limit the advertisingof unhealthy foods to children on television,but their effectiveness is being questioned.

Dr Boyland said: Young people are stillexposed to extensivemarketing for unhealthyfoods. Many of the techniques that appealspecifically to children, such as the use ofpromotional characters, are not sufficientlyaddressed. Increasing use of the internet,particularly social media, brings new challengesfor researchers and policymakers alike.Innovative and robust research is crucialfor providing evidence-based policy optionsthat will help influential international healthorganisations like theWHO advise worldleaders on how to protect children from beingbombardedwithmessages promoting foodsthat are potentially damaging to their health.


PsychologyissomethingIvealwaysbeeninterestedin.TheForensicdepartmenthereisoneof thebest inthecountryandwhenIcametotheOpenDayI just fellinlovewithit. Ididntrealisehowgoodanetworkthisuniversityhas. Itsnot justthedegreeorthequalification, its thepeopleyoumeetandthenetwork thatyoubuildupsoyourprofessional careeralreadyhasabonusfromdoingthecoursehere.CHLOE BARRETT-PINKPSYCHOLOGYBSC (HONS)

See what Chloe had to say aboutstudying Psychology at Liverpoolwww.liverpool.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/video

06/07AninvestmentinyourfuturePsychologyopens thedoor tomanycareersinan increasingnumberofareas (TheTimes)

QUALIFYING YOU FOR LIFEAPsychology degree can equip you forany job in which youwill have contact withother people. It provides youwith a widerange of key academic and transferable skillssuch as an understanding of how tomanageprojects, work as a team, think analytically,write cogently and conduct effective research.A degree from the School is valuable inmanysectors such as public relations, personnel,advertising, marketing, retail, teaching,social work, finance, politics and sports.For example, Peter Erskine, who graduatedfrom the University in 1973with a degreein Psychology, chose a career in marketing.Hewent on to becomeChief Executiveof the telecommunications giant O2.

Importantly, our degrees are accredited bythe British Psychological Society as conferringeligibility for Graduate Basis for CharteredMembership, providing aminimum standardof qualification of SecondClass (Honours)is achieved.

A Psychology degree from the Universityof Liverpool can therefore be the necessarystepping stone towards becoming a professionalor Chartered Psychologist working as acounsellor or as a clinical, occupational oreducational psychologist and large numbersof our graduates have used it as the foundationfor further postgraduate research and practice.

WORKEXPERIENCEOPPORTUNITIESStudents have the opportunity to undertake atwo-week assessedwork placement, offeringpractical experience in the field and an excellentopportunity to learn about careers relatedto Psychology.

CAREER PROSPECTSAround 60%of our graduates are involved inhealth related, social, public service, commercial,retail or financial employment within six monthsfollowing graduation. About 25%of ourgraduates go on to postgraduate study andtraining manywithin other leading researchinstitutes as well as in the School itself.

POSTGRADUATEOPPORTUNITIESStudents who satisfactorily complete eitherundergraduate degreemay be offered placeson one of our postgraduate degrees with thesolid career opportunities that they can openup.Masters programmes include:

MSc in Investigative and Forensic PsychologyMSc in ResearchMethods in Psychology

RECENT EMPLOYERSCompanies employing our graduatesin recent years include:

NHSBusiness Services AuthorityMarks & SpencerCamelot Retail SalesUnileverDeloitte AuditTax &Corporate Finance Services


StudyingPsychologyattheUniversityof Liverpoolwasagreatexperiencewhichhasenabledmetoenterintoafulfillingandprofitablecareer.Thehighqualityof teaching,supervisionandsupportIreceivedasastudentinthePsychologySchoolfuelledmyinterest inpsychologyandappliedresearchandmyenthusiasmforacareerwhereIcouldputwhatIhadlearnedintopractice.Thewidescopeof thecourseatLiverpoolgavemeagoodunderstandingof thesubjectwhile thepracticalelementsprovidedmewithusefulandtransferableskills thatemployersreallyvalue. Icompletedapostgraduateprogrammeaftermydegreeandwasable togostraightintoacareerasanoccupationalpsychologistaftercompletingmystudies.CLAIREMILLETOCCUPATIONALPSYCHOLOGIST,ROBERTSONCOOPERLTD(BUSINESSPSYCHOLOGISTS)

Graduate

Profile

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Degrees at aGlance UCASCode Length (Years) Page

PsychologyBSc (Hons) C800 3 08

PsychologyBSc (Hons) (2+2programme C801 4 12with Foundation element)

Prog ammedetails


This subject can be taken as part of a Combined Honours degree.Seewww.liverpool.ac.uk/combined-honours for further details.

For additional details contact David Reese, Wirral Metropolitan CollegeE: [email protected] T: +44 (0)151 551 7777

Entrance RequirementsSeewww.liverpool.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses for current entrance requirements.

WHICHDEGREEPsychology at Liverpool offers twoPsychology degrees: BSc Psychology(C800) and BSc Psychology 2+2 (C801).The four-year degree that is run in collaborationwithWirral Metropolitan College (C801) feedsinto the C800 at Year Two. The C801 degreeis designed for students with non-standardqualifications who do not currently qualifyfor the C800 degree.

Psychology BSc (Hons)UCAS code: C800Programme length: 3 years

The University of Liverpool provides aworld-class degree in Psychology from oneof the worlds leading research led Universities.The undergraduate programme draws uponthe research excellence of the Faculty enablingus to provide a high quality curriculum acrossthe full range of fields within the discipline.

In addition to providing this comprehensiveoverview of the field, our undergraduateprogramme in Psychology also providesa unique opportunity for specialisationfrom the first to the final year of study.Students in their final year are encouragedto apply for entry to our range of taughtpostgraduate courses in Psychology(eg ourMSc Investigative Psychologywhich is accredited by the BPS ForensicDivision and therefore provides accessto a career as a Forensic Psychologist).

Students are able to select modules in such away that they can developmodule portfoliosrelevant to their chosen careers. If studentswish to work in a specialist field there are arange of optional modules taught by leadingPsychologist that allow students to developspecific expertise in the chosen disciplinearea. In the final year, module choices can betailored into pathways (eg Clinical, Forensic,Neuroscience, etc) and also work on a one-to-one basis with an individual member ofthe academic staff across both semesters todevelop an in depth research project which canbe on a topic relevant to the chosen specialism.

To support the demands of study at a leadinguniversity, a series of support mechanisms arealso in place. Throughout the first year, you willregularly work within a small peer group that isunder the supervision of an individual memberof the academic staff. These sessions developkey study skills directly relevant to supportingexcellence in their approach to learning andpersonal development within Higher Education.

In addition, our focus upon transferable skillsprovides a degree suitable for a diverse arrayof career choices. The degree is accredited bythe British Psychological Society and providesGraduate Basis for CharteredMembershipmaking it an excellent platform for postgraduatestudy. The curriculum allows students to followpathways of module choice enabling themto develop specialist knowledge in a rangeof subject areas (eg Clinical, Forensic, etc).

Entry to the undergraduate degree programmeis available to applicants with a wide array ofqualifications and backgrounds. Outstandingapplicantsmay be offered conditional placeson linked postgraduate courses provided by theUniversity of Liverpool allowing our graduatesto further enhance their career prospects.

PROGRAMMECONTENTEach year students are providedwith accessto eight modules across two Semesters, witha range of compulsory and optional modulesin Psychology. Our teaching programme isresearch-led in that modules are availablethat are delivered by leading researchersfrom a range of disciplines across the Facultyof Health and Life sciences. Thesemodulestherefore reflect the research expertise of thestaff and cover the broad area of Psychologyat a number of levels: from the study of brainmechanismswhich underlie behaviour throughto the analysis of human behaviour in socialcontexts. Included, are a wide and diverserange of topics which include coverage ofthe followingmain areas, social and abnormalpsychology, cognitive and developmentalpsychology, individual differences and cross-cultural psychology, biological and physiologicalpsychology, as well as a consideration of thehistorical and philosophical underpinningsof the discipline of psychology.

For current entrance requirements andfullmodule details, seewww.liverpool.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses

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We also offer support for making careerchoices. In the first year of study, this includesopportunities to consider potential careerpathways within and outside of the disciplineof Psychology, and reflect on those personalskills which will need developing andstrengthening over the next three years. Inthe second year, students in these groupswork together on a small research projectwith their personal tutor as preparation fortheir final year project. This tutorial system alsoprovides close support and contact in amannerthat allows the student to enhance their ownpersonal development but at the same timeoffers a close degree of pastoral care to copewith any difficulties that can emerge. All in allour focus upon research (eg data gatheringand critical analysis), transferable (egcommunication and team-working) and otherskills (using Information Technology) ensuresthat Psychology at the University of Liverpoolprovides a world-class degree that will equipyouwith a qualification that places you at thehead of the queue in accessing awhole rangeof postgraduate qualifications and professions.

Year OneStudents take eight modules that providean introduction to the principal topic areasand basicmethods of research in Psychology.Youwill be required to pass all modules (120CAT points) to progress into Year Two. Thecurriculum is delivered in a range of formatsand supported by online resources throughthe Universitys virtual interactive teachingenvironment (VITAL). In addition to lecturesthere are also class based practical sessionsand other types of small groupwork.

From the beginning of Year One amemberof the academic staff is appointed as thestudents Academic Advisor. Youwill haveregular fortnightly tutorials with them duringterm time covering general skills alongwithacademic topics linked to the curriculumand postgraduate careers.

In Year One youwill have your first opportunityto begin developing a specialist portfolio.Psychologymodules on offer include: Socialand Abnormal Psychology; Development,Personality and Intelligence; CognitivePsychology; Biological Psychology; Methods,Statistics and Computing; Professional Skillsin Psychology; International Psychology;Transferable Skills.

Year TwoYouwill take eight modules that revisit indepth the core topics of Psychology (egSocial Psychology, Behavioural Neuroscience,Developmental, etc). All modulesmust bepassed in order to progress to Year Threeand assessments contribute 30% to the overalldegree classification. Themajority of modulesare compulsory to ensure the students achievethe basic curriculum necessary for accreditationby the British Psychological Society.

Students evolving specialism is enhancedin Year Two through the Field Placementwhere you are encouraged to undertakea two-week placement in a professionalcontext relating to their evolving career choice.The Field Placement, which is assessed byan oral presentation to a group of peers,provides an invaluable opportunity to investigatepsychology-related careers. There are alsoa further twomodules (15 CATS points each)which are focused upon developing thestudents research skills to complete thetraining in psychological methods necessaryfor the third year research project. The secondof these research skills modules is a small groupproject under the supervision of the personaltutor and provides an opportunity to undertakea pilot study for the individual project in YearThree. During Year Two students also havethe opportunity to apply for internships withinsome of the Facultys research laboratories.

Year ThreeStudents take eight modules (120 CATSpoints) in areas relating to Psychology andassessments contribute the remaining 70%to the overall degree classification. Centralto the year is the Research Project (twoof the eight modules or 30 CAT points). Thisis a piece of empirical work designed as aplatform for students to display the applicationof their prior learning to a research topic thatcan be related to their chosen specialisation.The project can act as an important precursorto careers or postgraduate study. The topic ischosen in collaboration with amember of theacademic staff and students often work closelywith a research group of postgraduates andresearch assistants.

Given their close links to research expertisein the various Institutes data from projectsare sometimes published in scientificjournals providing additional contributionsto a graduates curriculum vitae. In addition,students are free to choose six optionalmodules (15 CATS points each) fromvarious pathways to complete theirchosen specialism portfolios. At this levelall modules are taught by amember of stafffrom the Research Institutes who are activelyresearching the area under discussion andare often world leaders in their respectivefields. This ensures that study in Year Threewill provide an unparalleled opportunity to takethe students to the cutting edge of research ona variety of topics. Also the high level of choiceavailable allows students to tailor their modulechoice toward their chosen careers or taughtprogramme of postgraduate study.

This subject can be taken as partof a Combined Honours degree. Seewww.liverpool.ac.uk/combined-honoursfor further details.


12/13 Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute

of Learning andTeaching > Psychologywww.liverpool.ac.uk/psychology

ApplicationsandadmissionsWewelcome applications from all over theworld, and its our aim tomake the processof applying as smooth as possible.

The information that follows is a brief guideto applying for programmes of study at theUniversity of Liverpool. For full details of ourapplications and admissions policy, pleasevisit our website atwww.liverpool.ac.uk/ug-admissions

MAKINGANAPPLICATIONTHROUGHUCASApplications for full-time undergraduatestudy aremade via UCAS, the Universities andColleges Admissions Service, using UCASsonline application system atwww.ucas.comThe University of Liverpool institution codeis LVRPL L41.

WHEN TOMAKE YOURAPPLICATIONFor up-to-date information please visitwww.ucas.com

ENTRANCEREQUIREMENTSFor full details on the programmeswe offerand detailed entrance requirements, visitwww.liverpool.ac.uk/study/undergraduate

We accept a wide range of other qualifications,eg EU and international qualifications. For moredetailed information on entrance requirementssee our online prospectuswww.liverpool.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses

For information on English language entryrequirements visitwww.liverpool.ac.uk/study/international/countries/english-language orcontact Student Recruitment and AdmissionsT: +44 (0)151 794 6730 E: [email protected]/help/undergraduate

MATURESTUDENTSWewelcome applications from candidateswho are not applying directly from schoolor college, or who have non-standardqualifications, or whowish work or lifeexperience to be taken into account as partof their application. For further informationseewww.liverpool.ac.uk/maturestudents

STUDENTSWITHDISABILITIESWegive equal consideration to all applicantsandwelcome applications from studentswith disabilities. Please contact the DisabilitySupport Team on T: +44 (0)151 794 5117to discuss your support needs before yousubmit your UCAS application.

DIVERSITY ANDEQUALITYThe University of Liverpool attaches thegreatest importance to its policies and activitiesto promote diversity and equality of opportunity.Full details on these policies can be found onlineatwww.liverpool.ac.uk/diversity-and-equality

DISCLAIMEREvery effort has beenmade to ensure thatinformation containedwithin this brochureis accurate at the time of going to press.However, thematters covered are subjectto change from time to time, both beforeand after a candidates admission.

PROGRAMMECONTENTStudies atWirral Metropolitan Collegeare based on six modules a year, withamix of introductions to Psychology aswell as complementary studies and IT skills.Psychologymodules undertaken over thefour years aim to provide an understandingof the principal methods and backgroundof Psychology (alongwith approaches tothe possible biological basis of consciousness)before developing your awareness ofpsychological application to real world issues.There is also a research project, where youllundertake an experiment or field observationbased on a research question.

Year ZeroIntroduction to PsychologyPhysiological PsychologyResearchMethods and StatisticsComplementary StudiesITGroup Practicals

Year OneHistory, Philosophy and EvolutionApproaches toMental HealthMethods, Statistics and ComputingTransferable SkillsSocial and Investigative Psychology

Year TwoAs for C800 Year Two (see pages 10 and 11for details).

Year ThreeAs for C800 Year Three (see page 11 for details).

ProgrammewithaFoundationYearPsychology BSc (Hons)(2+2 programmewithFoundation element)UCAS code: C801Programme length: 4 years (2+2)

Interested in studying for a BSc (Hons)Psychology degree, but feel that you havea non-standard academic background?Then here is a programme thats beendesigned for you. It is intended for studentsfrom a variety of vocational, academic andnon-academic backgrounds typically whomay have had a break in their education. C801is run in collaboration withWirral MetropolitanCollege and those on the programme benefitfrom facilities at both locations. Successfulcompletion of the first two years (Year Zeroand Year One) allows transfer to the secondyear of C800. Class sizes atWirral are limitedto enhance learning and group support.


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Psychology