Psychology BSc (Hons) (with Foundation Year)

The Foundation Year is a great opportunity if you have the ability and enthusiasm to study for a degree, but do not yet have the qualifications required to enter directly onto our degree programmes. A significant part of the Foundation Year focuses upon core skills such as academic writing at HE level, becoming an independent learner, structuring academic work, critical thinking, time management and note taking.

Successful completion of the Foundation Year will enable you to progress into the first year (Level C) of your chosen honours degree. Further details can be found here.

In your first year, you’ll study a set of 30‑credit modules that introduce you to the core areas of psychology. Everyone takes Psychology, Self and Society and Psychological Research Methods. If you’re studying single honours Psychology, you’ll also take Psychology in Context and Cross‑Cultural Psychology. These modules give you the foundations you need for the rest of your degree and help you understand how psychology works in real life.

Psychology, Self and Society

This module helps you understand how psychology became a scientific discipline and the big debates that shaped it. You’ll explore key theories in social psychology, personality and individual differences, and connect them to real issues affecting society today — including racism, populism, and environmental pressures. It’s a great introduction to how psychology helps us understand people, communities, and the world around us.

Psychological Research Methods

Here, you’ll learn the essential skills needed to study psychology scientifically. You’ll explore how research is designed, how data is collected, and how psychologists analyse evidence. You will also develop and conduct your own research study to use these principles in practice. These skills are crucial and form the backbone of psychological training.

Single Honors Psychology students will also study:

Psychology in Context

This module introduces you to how humans think, reason, and make decisions. You’ll learn about cognitive biases, heuristics, and mental shortcuts, including how they shape things like filter bubbles online. This module shows you how psychology explains everyday thinking and behaviour. You’ll also explore experimental design and modern tools used in psychological research, including programming software and digital data collection methods, developing your research and IT skills.

Cross Cultural Psychology

In a globalised world, understanding cultural differences is essential. This module explores how psychology varies across cultures and how factors like language, communication, personality, identity, and wellbeing differ around the world. You’ll also examine topics such as migration, cultural identity, acculturation, and the refugee crisis. This module helps you understand people in diverse communities.

In your second year, we build on the principles developed in first year. Everyone will take the Cognitive & Developmental Psychology and Biological Psychology & Research Inquiry modules. If you’re studying single honours Psychology, you’ll also spend half your time focusing on more applied topics. All single honours students will take Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology. You will then be able to choose two optional modules from Occupational Psychology, Educational Psychology and the Applied Psychology Placement. These modules develop your knowledge and skills and understanding of several areas of psychology linked to the workplace. The options also allow you to develop knowledge in areas that are of interest to you.

Cognitive & Developmental Psychology

Take your understanding of the human mind to the next level as you explore how people think, learn, and develop throughout life. Building on the foundations from your first year, you’ll discover how cognitive psychology explains the way we perceive the world, form memories, focus our attention, and use language every day.

You’ll also investigate how biological, social, emotional, and cognitive influences shape human development from childhood through to adulthood. By connecting psychological theory with real-life behaviour, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of what makes us who we are and how our experiences influence the way we think, feel, and act. If you’re curious about human behaviour and want to understand the science behind it, this module offers fascinating insights that you can apply far beyond the classroom.

Biological Psychology & Research Inquiry

Discover how the brain shapes the way we think, feel, and behave as you explore the fascinating world of biological psychology and neuroscience. You’ll investigate topics including brain plasticity, cutting-edge neuroscience techniques, the science behind addiction and the brain’s reward system, and how stress and emotions influence both mental and physical health.

Alongside these exciting areas of psychology, you’ll develop the practical research skills that psychologists use to investigate real-world questions. You’ll gain experience with quantitative and qualitative research methods, including ANOVA, regression analysis, interviews, participant observation, Thematic Analysis, and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). These highly transferable analytical and research skills are valued across psychology, healthcare, education, business, and research careers, giving you the confidence to tackle complex questions and make evidence-based decisions in your future profession.

Single Honors Psychology students will also study:

Clinical Psychology

Explore how psychologists help people overcome some of life’s biggest challenges. In this module, you’ll examine how a range of psychological disorders develop, the factors that influence their progression, and the impact they can have on individuals, families, and communities. You’ll also learn how clinical psychologists assess, diagnose, and support people using evidence-based approaches designed to reduce distress, improve wellbeing, and enhance quality of life.

By connecting psychological theory with real-world clinical practice, you’ll gain valuable insight into one of the most rewarding areas of psychology. Whether you’re considering a career in clinical psychology, counselling, psychotherapy, mental health services, or wider healthcare professions, this module provides an excellent foundation for understanding the science and practice of supporting mental wellbeing.

Health Psychology

How can psychology help people live happier, healthier lives? This module explores the powerful links between the mind, behaviour, and physical health. In this module, you’ll investigate how stress, coping strategies, and everyday lifestyle choices influence long-term wellbeing, using psychological theories and research to understand why people make the health decisions they do.

You’ll apply your knowledge to real-world challenges, including workplace stress, ergonomics, sleep, shift work, and the psychological impact of ageing. By connecting theory with practical issues affecting individuals and society, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of how psychology can improve health and wellbeing across different settings. With strong links to Liverpool’s thriving health and social care sector, this module provides an excellent foundation for careers in public health, occupational health, wellbeing services, health promotion, and a wide range of healthcare professions.

Single Honours Psychology students will also choose two from the following three modules:

Occupational Psychology

Discover how psychology shapes the modern workplace and learn what drives people to perform, collaborate, and succeed. In this module, you’ll explore the psychology behind teamwork, leadership, organisational culture, motivation, and workplace wellbeing, gaining valuable insight into how businesses create productive and positive working environments.

You’ll examine how psychological principles can improve employee performance, reduce work-related stress, and support healthier, more engaged teams. By applying theory to real-world organisations, you’ll develop practical knowledge that is highly valued across a wide range of industries. Whether you’re interested in human resources, leadership, management, organisational development, or business psychology, this module equips you with the skills and understanding to help organisations and their people thrive. With strong links to employers across Liverpool and the wider UK, you’ll see how psychology can make a real impact in today's workplace

Educational Psychology

Discover how psychology can transform the way people learn and unlock their potential in education. In this module, you’ll explore the cognitive, social, and emotional factors that influence learning, achievement, and development, while evaluating evidence-based approaches used to support learners in schools, colleges, and other educational settings.

You’ll examine how educational psychology helps tackle important challenges such as improving student wellbeing, reducing barriers to learning, and promoting inclusion, while exploring its role in shaping local and national education policy. Whether you’re aiming for a career in teaching, educational psychology, learning support, youth work, or wider education and child development roles, this module provides a strong foundation for making a positive impact on young people's lives.

Applied Psychology Placement

Put your psychology knowledge into practice with a placement that gives you valuable real-world experience. Working alongside professionals, you’ll see how psychological theories and research are applied to improve wellbeing, solve complex problems, and make a meaningful difference to individuals, organisations, and communities.

This is your opportunity to develop practical skills, build confidence in a professional environment, and enhance your CV with hands-on experience that employers value. Along the way, you’ll strengthen your communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills while making valuable industry connections across Liverpool’s thriving psychology, healthcare, education, business, and community sectors. Whether you’re planning to enter employment after graduation or continue your studies, this placement will help you stand out and prepare for your future career.

In the third year, everyone takes Social & Applied Psychology, completes a Research Project (Dissertation) and can choose a Specialist Option. For those studying single honours Psychology, you will also take Psychological Interventions and Future Challenges in Psychology, along with two Advanced Option modules (one per semester). This lets you choose the topics of most interest to you in your final year.

Dissertation (Final Year Project)

Your dissertation is your chance to show everything you’ve learned across your psychology degree. Working closely with a supervisor, you’ll design and carry out your own research project from start to finish.

Your dissertation is your chance to show everything you’ve learned across your psychology degree. Working closely with a supervisor, you’ll design and carry out your own research project from start to finish.

You will also complete the relevant studies in your other discipline.

Social & Applied Psychology

This module explores how motivation, emotion, and social processes shape human behaviour. You’ll build on earlier learning (like Psychology, Self and Society) and examine topics such as attitudes, self‑concept, aggression, social cognition, environmental influences, motivation, goal setting, growth mindsets, and emotional intelligence.

You’ll also look at how communities, culture, and social environments affect wellbeing and behaviour. The focus is on understanding complex psychological processes and how they apply to real‑world situations, from everyday interactions to large-scale social issues.

Specialist Options in Psychology

You’ll choose one 12‑week Specialist Option to explore a topic in depth. Each option revisits core areas of psychology and shows how theory and evidence apply to real-world challenges. These options will help you tailor your degree to your interests and future career goals. Current options include:

• Cognition & Wellbeing - How emotion and thinking interact, especially under pressure.
• Forensic Psychology - Crime causation, profiling, eyewitness reliability, and how psychology supports the legal system.
• Perception & Action in Training & Rehabilitation - How perception and movement work together to improve sensorimotor performance.
• Psychology of Addiction - Why people develop addictions, how they’re diagnosed, treated, and understood.
• Psychology of Aesthetics & the Arts - How psychological research explains human preferences, creativity, and aesthetic experience.

Single Honors Psychology students will also study:

Psychological Interventions

In this module, you’ll learn how to design effective psychological interventions that support wellbeing and positive behaviour. You’ll choose an applied area you’re passionate about, for example clinical, educational, health, forensic, or sport, and work through the full process of identifying a problem, applying theory, designing activities, and evaluating outcomes.

You’ll gain a strong understanding of how psychologists create evidence-based solutions that genuinely help people, making this module ideal for anyone interested in applied practice.

Future Challenges in Psychology

This module looks ahead to how psychology will evolve in response to major global changes. You’ll explore how issues like ageing populations, climate change, globalisation, and rapid technological development affect identity, wellbeing, and behaviour. You’ll revisit key themes from earlier years and examine how psychological science must adapt to meet future needs.

Advanced Psychology Option 1 (Semester 1)

You’ll choose one applied option to deepen your knowledge and sharpen your critical thinking. These modules encourage you to explore how psychology interacts with culture, values, and diversity. Current choices include:

• Applied Developmental Psychology - Extends Year 2 learning and focuses on skills that improve life chances across different settings.
• Human Memory - A detailed look at how memory works and how it changes in different contexts.
• Perception & Action in Training & Rehabilitation - How perception and movement work together to improve sensorimotor performance.
• Psychology of Peace & Conflict - Explores how psychologists understand war, peace, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding.

Advanced Psychology Option 2 (Semester 2)

You’ll choose a second applied option to further tailor your degree. Current choices include:

• Cognitive Neuroscience - Links earlier modules to explore the brain basis of normal and abnormal cognitive functions.
• Counselling Theory & Practice - Teaches core counselling skills and introduces person-centred and behavioural approaches to therapy.
• Identity, Self & Society - Examines how identities are formed, maintained, and shaped by social environments.