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“At the University of Bolton, we take great pride in providing a quality, supportive learning environment for our students.” Professor George E Holmes DL | President & Vice Chancellor
“...tutors are very supportive and you’re not just a student ID number, at this university you are an individual with a name.” Ellisse Vernon | BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing
Want to understand the human mind, behaviour and motivation? The University of Bolton's Psychology degree offers you the chance to learn in a supportive environment with excellent teaching and laboratory facilities. Our experienced and highly qualified staff will guide and support you, providing a focus on employability throughout your studies.
Key information
Award:
BSc (Hons)
Mode of Study:
Part-time
Duration:
4.5 years
Location:
University of Bolton
UCAS points:
112
Start date:
25/09/2023
Course Details
Bolton was one of the first institutions in the UK to offer a degree in this exciting subject, and studying in our well-respected, vibrant learning and research culture provides an excellent start to your career. While working towards the BSc (Hons) in Psychology here at the University of Bolton, you'll have the opportunity to develop an in-depth understanding of the subject in terms of the science and theories of psychology and their application in everyday life.
You'll explore a range of core modules that provide a strong grounding in study and research methods and a deep understanding of the science of psychology. You'll also be able to choose specialised option modules according to your areas of interest or that relate to a particular career path you wish to follow after graduation.
As a psychology graduate, you may use your qualification as the basis for a career as a professional psychologist or enter a wide range of other professions, including teaching, human resource management, the police, the armed forces and social work.
Highlights
Our Psychology courses are ranked top 10 in the UK and first in Greater Manchester for student satisfaction for the fourth year running, according to the Complete University Guide 2022.
Our work-based learning module offers valuable experience in a professional setting. Usually, this will be in the Greater Manchester area but may be in the wider North West region of England.
We place a strong emphasis on employability skills as well as academic success. Modules focusing on applied psychology and applied experience introduce these skills and a range of career options.
Throughout your degree, you'll also have support from your personal tutor, part of our team of helpful and approachable psychology staff who possess a diverse range of research interests.
We work hard to create a learning environment that offers innovative teaching and assessment methods and access to high-specification facilities such as our observation and psychophysiology laboratories, Neuroscan software and hardware, and Stim2 software.
You'll have the opportunity to achieve the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society.
Key Features
The BSc (Hons) in Psychology at Bolton is one of the most well-established psychology courses in the UK. It's accredited by the British Psychological Society, so it offers opportunities to progress to further professional qualifications and employment as a professional psychologist when you graduate at the required standard.
We'll guide you in exploring the theories and concepts of psychology that apply to a wide range of human behaviour, including the philosophical, historical and social issues that have influenced the study and practice of psychology.
You'll have the chance to examine the relevance of psychology across the spectrum of human activity, including criminal behaviour, the psychology of cyberspace, therapeutic practices, and group and individual behaviours.
We'll explain psychological research methods, including collecting and analysing data and encourage you to explore key skills such as accessing and evaluating information and effective communication skills.
Throughout the course, we'll encourage you to devise, implement and write up research projects focusing on psychological phenomena.
Personal supervision from staff throughout the course ensures you have the best possible opportunity to achieve your true potential. The course team is also committed to maximising your options for future graduate-level employability.
Professional recognition
Successful completion of the University of Bolton's BSc (Hons) Psychology degree course is approved as conferring eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS), provided the minimum standard of qualification of second class honours is achieved.
The BPS acts as the representative body for psychology and psychologists in the UK. The GBC provides a basis for progression to society-accredited postgraduate professional training in psychology for training to become a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol).
112 UCAS points. We accept a full range of qualifications that carry UCAS points, including A-levels, BTECs and T levels. Please see our guide to the UCAS Tariff for examples of how to achieve these points. For most courses, we are also able to consider non-tariffable qualifications.
Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3.
You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics.
You may be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
The University of Bolton's BSc (Hons) Psychology degree develops knowledge of human behaviour and research, statistics, and writing skills. It can provide a foundation for many careers. Psychology graduates excel in roles that involve working with a range of complex issues and have the skills to develop a strong understanding of new areas relatively quickly.
As a psychology graduate, you'll possess key employability skills such as high-order analysis, problem-solving, communication, interpersonal awareness, IT and data handling, teamwork, and research skills. You'll also have the ability to develop arguments supported by relevant evidence.
What can I do with this qualification?
Numerous career paths are available to psychology graduates with British Psychological Society (BPS) accreditation. The more traditional routes include clinical, forensic, occupational, educational, health, sport and exercise psychology, counselling, and teaching and research.
In addition, there are broader career options such as personnel management, research, sport and exercise, advice work, social work, law enforcement and healthcare. Many of our graduates have been successful in these fields of work.
Psychology graduates can also progress to graduate schemes which are long-term employment contracts, usually with a large corporate company offering advanced training packages.
Postgraduate training and study is a requirement to become a Chartered Psychologist. Due to course entry requirements, many psychology graduates spend a year or more getting work experience before embarking on postgraduate study. Postgraduate study is available in areas such as clinical, counselling, educational, occupational, sport and exercise, or forensic psychology.
Alternative career options
Although some psychology graduates become professional psychologists, many others use the qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. These alternative roles may be advisory, research-led, treatment-led or therapeutic. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate study. Possible careers include the following:
Probation work
Prison work
Careers advice
Social work
Counselling
Family mediation and support
Teaching and education
Nursing
Human resources
Police service
Market research
Play therapy
Advice work
Media and advertising
Communications
Sport and recreation
Brand consultancy
Course fees
Home students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Home fee of £6,000 for the academic year 2023/24.
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2022-2023 academic year:
EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status.
If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement.
Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the
normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in
March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
For 2022-2023 entry, the maximum government approved undergraduate tuition fee for UK students is £9,250 per year.
The University is able to charge this fee subject to an approved Access and Participation Plan for 2022-2023 and its current rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.
For details of how to apply for this course, please choose your status from the options below:
You may apply directly to the University using the University's online application form. Please select your chosen
start date from the list below:
You should have to hand:
Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates
Your certificates for the qualifications you are using to gain entry to the course –
you will need to enter the completion date and upload copies
Details of any employment history including name, address, dates and role
Personal statement – this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately
Details including e-mail addresses of two referees, at least one of which should be
someone who can provide an academic reference
Please make sure any documents you wish to upload in support of your application are in pdf or jpeg format.
Personal statements may be word documents.
Please ensure your data is correct at each stage of the application before you proceed to the next page.
If you use the back button at any time during the application, you should check the validity of the data
you have already input.
If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Admissions Team on 01204 903394
or admissions@bolton.ac.uk
International applications are not possible for this course
As an international student you are not allowed to study this course because of the
restrictions on your visa.
We offer a wide range of full-time courses in lots of different subjects, many of our courses start in
September and January. If you would like to see what courses are available please visit our
Course Search.
University of Bolton Group Partners
Bolton College
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For valued members of the University of Bolton Group and progressing students, we try to make our application
process as simple and as fast as possible.
By selecting the link for your chosen course from the list shown below, you will be taken directly to our
online application form. Please read the user guidance before completing this, and ensure you upload all
supporting documents such as certificates and your personal statement when you apply.
When you are asked to add a contact email address, please ensure you add your college/university email
account address as well as your personal address. If you do not add your college address as your contact
address, we will be unable to identify you as a partner and offer you the benefits of being part of our group.
If you are ready to apply directly, please select your chosen start date from the list below.
Before applying, please read the entry requirements section of this page.
If your course runs at multiple locations or has various start dates, please be sure to select
the correct application link from the list below.
Before beginning your application, you should have the following information to hand:
Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates
Your certificates for the qualifications you are using to gain entry to the course – you will need to enter the completion date and upload copies
Details of any employment history, including name, address, dates and role
Personal statement – this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately
Details including email addresses of two referees, at least one of which should be someone who can provide an academic reference
Please make sure any documents you wish to upload in support of your application are in pdf or jpeg format.
Personal statements may be word documents.
Please ensure your data is correct at each stage of the application before you proceed to the next page.
If you use the back button at any time during the application, you should check the validity of the data you have already inputted.
If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Undergraduate Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or
UGadmissions@bolton.ac.uk
We look forward to receiving your application and you continuing your academic journey with us!
Our teaching and learning strategy is student-centred. We use a blended approach, so you'll have face-to-face sessions, sometimes one-to-one, and participate in online learning. During the degree, you can expect a mix of seminars, lectures and tutorials, practical workshop demonstrations, critiques, study visits, self-directed study, IT and library sessions, and guided study. The University's e-learning portal Moodle will support your online learning. We'll also encourage you to use the internet for research.
Guest lectures and presentations by visiting speakers from relevant employment areas offer you the chance to develop your knowledge and understanding further.
The assessment strategy aims to help you organise and develop your learning and evaluate your achievement. Over the course of the degree, you can expect time-constrained exams and coursework, such as essays, reports, presentations, and portfolios. These contribute to your final marks and allow you to demonstrate that you've met the learning outcomes for the course. Much of your assessed work is submitted online via Moodle, with feedback also given through this route. You can also use Moodle to communicate with fellow students studying the same modules.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
Academic Language and Skills 5
Understanding the Person
Contemporary Issues in Psychology
Application of Psychology
Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology
Cognitive and Biopsychological Perspectives
Exploring Psychology
Cognitive Psychology
Biopsychology
Social and Critical Psychology
Research Methods in Psychology
Personality and Developmental Psychology
The Honours Project
Psychology of Loss and Trauma
The Therapeutic Process
Cyber Psychology and New Media
Social Neuroscience
Assessment in Psychology
Applied Experience
Psychology of Mental Health
Psychology of Sport and Exercise
Psychological Wellbeing in the Workplace
Young Life and the Mind
Assessment methods
Level
Assesment method
Level one
Coursework 66%, Written exams 33%
Level two
Coursework 50%, Written exams 50%
Level three
Coursework 100%
Learning activities
Level
Learning activity
Level one
Guided independent study 66%, Scheduled learning and teaching activities 34%
Level two
Guided independent study 74%, Scheduled learning and teaching activities 26%
Level three
Guided independent study 75%, Placement/study abroad 5%, Scheduled learning and teaching activities 20%
Disclaimer
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
