Psychology (Intercalated Programme) BSc

Year of entry

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Start date
September 2024
Delivery type
On campus
Duration
1 year full time

Course overview

BSc Pschology

Psychology is the scientific study of human behaviour and experience. The way people think and behave can have a huge impact on their state of health/illness. Understanding how and why individuals think and act as they do is fundamental to the practice of both medicine and dentistry. Although various aspects of behaviour are studied in other disciplines, a special feature of psychology is that it uses a wide range of empirical and statistical techniques for collecting and analysing information. Intercalating in Psychology will enable a much deeper understanding of human behaviour from an empirical perspective.

The School of Psychology is distinguished in both research and teaching and offers students a dynamic, challenging and inspiring learning environment. Many of our academics have strong links with the British Psychological Society and many collaborate with institutions world-wide in conducting cutting-edge research. Thus, Psychology at Leeds is always forward-moving, relevant and global.

Capitalising on our research excellence and expertise, the programme is delivered by leading researchers, knowledgeable in the latest advances in Psychology. We adopt an apprenticeship model, whereby students design and manage their own research which plugs into ongoing research in the School.
The programme is characterised by:

  • High-quality training in all aspects of research methods

  • Diverse modules taught by staff at the cutting edge of research in their field

  • Modules that fulfil the highest standards in terms of professional recognition

  • A modern, personalised learning environment that supports employability and career development

We've spoken to some of our international students to hear their reflections on their time spent studying with us. Watch our video below to hear about their experiences of our teaching and support, as well as their thoughts on settling in on campus and becoming part of our welcoming global community.

Course details

The degree offers you a rigorous training in all aspects of research practice. You will graduate with exceptional skills in practical as well as theoretical aspects of the discipline. Great emphasis is placed on research-led teaching. You will be given the opportunity to work closely with academics within their research groups, thus gaining an excellent experience of real-world, cutting edge research. We aim to inspire our students to achieve their full potential by delivering learning and teaching within a vibrant research environment.

You will study classic psychological work as well as contemporary research into the nature and determinants of human behaviour, from the neuronal level through to the level of society and culture. You will explore psychological processes underpinning everyday behaviour, such as social cognition, memory, language and appetite, as well as examining ways in which psychology can improve people’s wellbeing and health. You will learn how to conduct and evaluate high-quality psychological research and how to professionally communicate research outcomes.

Modules include developmental psychology, neuroscience, memory, language, perception, psychological disorders and social psychology. You will also conduct pieces of research under supervision, including one major project worth 20 credits.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Psychology (Intercalated Programme) BSc in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

Module Name Credits
Project: Intercalated Programme 20
Joint Honours/Intercalated Programme: Psychological Disorders 10
Joint Honours/Intercalated Programme: Advanced Social Psychology 10
Intercalated Programme: Advanced Developmental Psychology 10
Joint Honours/Intercalated Programme: Cognitive Neuroscience 10
Joint Hons/Intercalated Programme Individual Differences 10
Intercalated Programme: Research Skills 3 15
Intercalated programme: Research Skills 4 15
Joint Hons/Intercalated Programme: Perception, Action and Cognition 10
Joint Hons/Intercalated Programme: Memory and Language 10

Learning and teaching

The BSc Psychology (Intercalated) is a research oriented programme. All of the core modules are taught by experts in the field of research, and demonstrate how research in each of the fields has advanced our knowledge of human behaviour.

You will also take a Research Skills Module, and complete three "mini project" practicals, before conducting your main research projects. The research project module aims to give students experience of planning, researching and carrying out an empirical study, analyzing and interpreting its results, and writing a report. You will work under the supervision of a member of staff with expertise in the area of research (approximately 10 hours over the course of the year).

Modules are taught using a variety of teaching methods. The course combines a mix of lectures, tutorials, practical classes, seminars, workshops, presentations and online learning methods. The University has well-resourced libraries and on-line access to publications to support students in advancing their understanding.

Many opportunities exist in the School for you to engage with contemporary psychology, including attending seminars by guest speakers and by volunteering for short-term research posts. You will be assessed in a range of ways including designing, conducting and analysing research, as well as more traditional methods such as writing essays and completing examinations.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

The course is assessed by a variety of methods including mini-project/practical reports, essays, end of semester exams and culminates in a final research project. Read about the assessment of each module in the programme and module catalogue.

Students typically begin their project in November and submit a research report by the end of July. This report will be no more than 8,000 words in length and will form 100% of the module mark. Projects can be carried out in any area of psychology in which members of staff have expertise. Examples of past projects from each of our three main research areas are listed below:

Health and Social Psychology

  • The effects of a mere-measurement technique and conscientiousness on health-related behaviours

  • Fear of mortality and Intentions to Quit Smoking

  • Changing attitude and behaviour and Attitudes towards Overweight and Obese individuals

  • Combating the Stigma Surrounding Mental Health

Cognitive Psychology

  • Reclaim your brain: Memory training and recollection

  • The effect of healthy ageing on eye-hand coordination

  • Assessing the potential of falls in the elderly when carrying out a visuo-motor task

  • Meta-memory in children with ADHD

Biological Psychology

  • Examining the effect of exercise on appetite: The Relationship between Fat Free Mass and Energy Intake

  • Why do we eat in the absence of hunger?

  • Smoking Behaviour and Impulsivity: How are they related?

  • An investigation into how recreational drug use effects users impulsivity and anxiety.

Read about staff research interests and research at the School of Psychology on the School website.

Entry requirements

Other course specific tests:

This intercalated BSc is only open to students who have completed at least two years of undergraduate medical or dentistry training.

Undergraduate students from the University of Leeds and other universities are welcome to apply.

International Foundation Year

International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.

Fees

UK: £9,250 (per year)

International: £30,250 (per year)

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2023/24 and 2024/25
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students are set by the UK Government and will remain capped at £9,250 for 2023/24 and 2024/25. The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation only as a consequence of future changes in Government legislation and as permitted by law.

Tuition fees for international undergraduate students starting in 2023/24 and 2024/25
Tuition fees for international students for 2023/24 and 2024/25 are available on individual course pages.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

Applying

Read about applying for intercalation on the School of Medicine website.

Acceptance to the course is conditional upon successful completion of at least two years of the applicant’s medical or dentistry degree. Applicants should include a 500-word written statement outlining why they would like to study psychology and what they would bring to the course.

This course is taught by

School of Psychology

Contact us

School of Psychology Undergraduate Admissions

Email: psyc-admissions@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Career opportunities

Intercalated students who graduate from Leeds are highly attractive to employers given their impressive range of skills such as project and time management skills, negotiation skills and research design and analysis skills.

Find out more about careers from our unique careers guidance service