BSc (Hons) - Psychology

How you will learn

The curriculum will involve you in activities that promote engagement with a range of challenges and opportunities that extend beyond the classroom. Some of the activities that support this include:

• Guest speaker sessions
• Liaising with professional bodies
• Staff-student research participation projects
• Evening seminars
• Psychology film clubs

We adopt a blended learning approach that involves a combination of face to face and online learning. We encourage you to collaborate remotely, share materials and discuss work outside of the classroom.

Please note that UK based laws, policies and regulations do dominate some parts of the curriculum. However, our curriculum does include a comparison between cultures and geographical locations, drawing on theory, research, policy, and practice from across the globe.

How you will be assessed

Assessments will support the development of skills, offer feedback and mark areas for improvement.

Assessment styles include:

• Written assignments
• Unseen in-class tests
• Presentations and reports
• Innovative and employability-focused tasks such as case study analysis, problem-based activities and reflective logs

In your first year, several modules involve a portfolio assessment model which enables you to develop and evidence a range of skills critical to success in years 2 and 3.

In each module, you have the opportunity to engage in summative and formative assessments. Summative assessment refers to work submitted for module and programme credit and is used to assess whether you have achieved the relevant learning outcomes in a module. Summative assessment is captured in the overall mark awarded for each module. Formative assessments occur in each of the modules to scaffold future summative assessments.

Tuition Fees

2025 - 2026

• £9,535 - UK
• £14,900 - International

2024-2025:

• £9,250 - UK
• £13,575 - International

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

International Finance

At the University of Cumbria, we offer affordable tuition fees for international and EU students looking to study at one of our main four campuses. No matter your choice of course or career path, our International Team is here to support you.

Additional Costs

There will be some additional costs. For example all students will need to purchase stationery and may wish to purchase some text books. Extra costs may also be applicable to cover field trips, membership fees etc. although such features are usually options within the course.

Books are reviewed annually and are therefore subject to change, course welcome information will provide you with an indicative list for the year.

Books and Journals

The University library holds copies of core texts (including some as eBooks accessible online) and paper and/or e-versions of an extensive range of psychology journals. However, you may wish to purchase your own copies of books (new or second hand), in which case the following are recommended (although reviewed each year). A general introductory text to psychology will cover the main areas we teach in year one. For example, Kalat, J. (2017). Introduction to Psychology. (11th ed.). Alternatively, you may wish to read something specialised. For example, Oliver Sacks, The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat. Picador. or Sereny, G. (1995). The Case Of Mary Bell: A Portrait of a Child Who Murdered. There is not a prescribed reading list for the course and so book costs will vary to your preference. Unless a specific article is required from a journal the university does not subscribe to for a specialist research project then you should not need to purchase journal subscriptions.

Stationery

Students should budget for stationery and consumables for your own personal use. This should include notebooks, pens and pencils for taking notes in class and/or in the field. Students should also budget for the purchase of USB pen drives, as well as occasional printing and photocopying costs incurred in the preparation or submission of coursework. Whilst you will choose how much you need, expect to pay around £30 - £40 per year for these items.

Field Trips

You may wish to attend a conference (optional not part of the course) the costs vary and depend on whether you go to a one day or several day event, the costs will vary depending on the venue and the cost of accommodation. With conference fees, travel and accommodation you will need to budget £250 and £750. You may have the opportunity to study alongside prisoners from a local prison, if you decide to take up this opportunity (if it is available to your year group) then you will need to consider travel costs. Students typically car share to keep the costs to a minimum, but you would need to budget for around £60-£100 to cover the 6-10 trips.

Other

British Psychological Society – student membership £26. You may wish to carry out an additional professional qualification offered to our students at around one third (£400-600) of the typical cost (£1500-1800). We offer BPS accredited psychometric training courses for both ability and personality. These courses are separate from your degree but prepare you well for work as a psychologist.