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Psychology is the study of people: how they think, act, react and interact. Psychologists scientifically study all kinds of behaviour and the thoughts, feelings and motivations underlying behaviour. Psychology examines questions such as: how do people act on a first date? How can we ease the effects of parental divorce on children? How can we make teams work efficiently? How can we help people to overcome depression or phobias?
Overview
Watch the School video to find out what it's like to be a Kent Psychology student.
By collecting information about what people do, think, perceive and feel, psychologists answer questions about human behaviour, cognition and development. This programme offers the full scope of a psychology degree but with an additional focus on Forensic Psychology.
Forensic Psychology applies psychological theory to understanding criminal behaviour, reducing offending, and understanding victim responses to offending behaviour. It also examines how psychology plays a role in the criminal justice system more generally.
On this programme, in addition to your focus on forensic psychology, you gain a broad background in practical applications, experimental and other methodologies, information technology and theory construction. At Stage 3, you are also able to choose optional modules that allow you to follow specialist interests. All your work will help you to demonstrate transferable skills valued by employers.
Think Kent video series
Sexual offending is a topic that many people simply don’t want to think about. Perhaps due to this, many people hold myths about sexual offending. One common myth is that child molesters are always paedophiles. In this video Dr Caoilte Ó Ciardha examines different approaches that can measure age appropriate-sexual interests in male participants. He discusses these approaches and their potential in the measurement and understanding of paedophilic sexual interest.
Independent rankings
Psychology at Kent was ranked 12th in The Complete University Guide 2017. In the National Student Survey 2016, 93% of Psychology students were satisfied with the overall quality of their course.
For graduate prospects, Psychology at Kent was ranked 2nd in The Guardian University Guide 2017. Kent was 4th in the UK for the percentage of Psychology students who found professional jobs after graduation in 2015 (DLHE).
Course structure
The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
Psychology with Forensic Psychology is a three-year programme.
In Stage 1 you take four compulsory modules: SP300 Psychology Statistics and Practical; SP301 Introduction to Biological and General Psychology, SP302 Introduction to Social and Developmental Psychology, and SP306 Introduction to Forensic Psychology. You also take one optional module from across the University which can be related or unrelated to forensic psychology ie criminology, forensic science, languages, politics or business psychology.
In Stage 2 you take seven compulsory modules in Psychology and keep a Forensic Psychology Reflective Log (Stage 2). There is a further double module in Study Skills.
In Stage 3 you take three compulsory modules: SP633 Applying Psychology, SP637 Forensic Psychology: Theoretical and Applied Perspectives, and SP581 the Project in Legal, Criminological or Forensic Psychology. You also keep a Forensic Psychology Reflective Log (Stage 3) and take three optional psychology modules, allowing you to follow specialist interests and benefit from staff research expertise.
Teaching and assessment
Modules are taught by weekly lectures, workshops, small group seminars and project supervision. The Psychology Statistics and Practical modules include laboratory practical sessions, statistics classes, computing classes and lectures in statistics and methodology.
Most modules are assessed by examination and coursework in equal measure. Both Stage 2 and 3 marks and, where appropriate, the marks for your year abroad or placement count towards your final degree result.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- attract and meet the needs of those contemplating a career in the psychological professions, as well as those motivated by an intellectual interest in psychology, and forensic psychology
- attract candidates from a variety of educational backgrounds
- provide an understanding of the principal perspectives (for example, social, cognitive, developmental and biological) in psychology with emphasis on forensic psychology
- introduce students to a range of theoretical and methodological approaches
- cover the foundations of psychology, as defined by the British Psychological Society and the QAA Subject Benchmark
- enable students to study chosen areas of psychology in depth, including forensic psychology
- provide teaching which is informed by current research and scholarship and engages with work at the frontiers of knowledge
- enable students to manage their own learning and carry out independent research
- develop critical, analytical and problem-solving skills that can be applied within non-applied psychological and extra-psychological settings
- develop skills appropriate for graduate employment, both in the psychology professions and other fields.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- psychology statistics, practical experimentation and research
- cognitive and social development
- how interpersonal and group behaviour affects individuals
- how cognition and cognitive neuropsychology plays a role in human behaviour and experience
- personality and individual differences, and the impact they have on individuals and groups
- philosophical and theoretical issues in psychology
- the relationship between psychology and allied disciplines
- different frameworks in psychology, and an ability to demonstrate different levels of description and explanation
- scope of forensic psychology including relationships between the criminal justice system and the field of psychology.
Intellectual skills
You develop intellectual skills in:
- critical reflection
- oral discussion
- written analysis and interpretation
- critical evaluation and exposition of ideas
- development of writing and reading skills
- personal planning and project management skills
- self-reflection and development, responding to feedback from different sources (for example staff and peers, information technology)
- clarity in thinking, critical thinking, problem identification.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in:
- conducting an empirical study, under supervision
- the design and conduct of psychological research
- evaluating and selecting frameworks and methodologies for exploring issues in psychology
- using the major analytic techniques employed by psychologists
- using the inferential method of science (deductive methods, single case methods, semiotics)
- reasoning statistically, and using a range of statistical methods with confidence
- the use of psychology-oriented software applications (for example, database programmes, experiment generators, statistical packages)
- disseminating psychological information to appropriate bodies.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in:
- communication – how to organise information clearly; respond to written sources; present information orally; adapt style for different audiences; use images as a communication tool
- numeracy – how to make sense of statistical materials; integrate numerical and non-numerical information; understand the limits and potentialities of arguments based on quantitative information
- information technology – how to produce written documents; undertake online research; communicate using email; process information using databases
- working with others – how to define and review the work of others; work co-operatively on group tasks and projects; understand how groups function
- improving own learning – how to explore personal strengths and weaknesses; time management; review your working environment (especially the student-staff relationship); develop specialist learning skills (for example by taking a foreign language); develop autonomy in learning
- problem solving – how to identify and define problems; explore alternative solutions and discriminate between them.
Careers
Graduate destinations
Our graduates have gone on to work in:
- government administration
- social welfare
- the Home Office
- the probation service
- teaching
- special needs work
- NHS and health charities
- social work
- public relations
- marketing
- publishing.
Many continue their studies at postgraduate level to qualify as a:
- clinical psychologist
- educational psychologist
- forensic psychologist
- neuropsychologist
- occupational psychologist.
Help finding a job
The University has a friendly Careers and Employability Service, which can give you advice on how to:
- apply for jobs
- write a good CV
- perform well in interviews.
Work experience
The School of Psychology has valuable links with educational establishments, hospitals and prisons in the area, offering you the possibility of both visits and work placements. We also offer a Research Experience Scheme that gives you a taste of working within a research environment.
Career-enhancing skills
Studying for a degree is not just about mastering your subject area. Employers also look for a range of key transferable skills, which you develop as part of your degree.
These include:
- computing skills
- writing and presentation skills
- analytical and problem-solving skills
- the ability to respond to challenges.
You can also gain extra skills by signing up for our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language or volunteering.
Professional recognition
The programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society as conferring eligibility for Graduate Membership with Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (provided you graduate with at least second class honours and pass your final-year research project).
This is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist, which is important if you want to work within the NHS or a local education authority.
Independent rankings
For graduate prospects, Psychology at Kent was ranked 2nd in The Guardian University Guide 2017. Kent was 4th in the UK for the percentage of Psychology students who found professional jobs after graduation in 2015 (DLHE).
According to Which? University (2017), the average starting salary for graduates of this degree is £18,000.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact us for further advice.
It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
New GCSE grades
If you’ve taken exams under the new GCSE grading system, please see our conversion table to convert your GCSE grades.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | AAA excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking |
| GCSE | Mathematics grade C |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University will not necessarily make conditional offers to all Access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If we make you an offer, you will need to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | The University will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF; OCR) on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 17 points at HL with Mathematics 4 at HL or SL |
International students
The University welcomes applications from international students. Our international recruitment team can guide you on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country.
If you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes.
Meet our staff in your country
For more advise about applying to Kent, you can meet our staff at a range of international events.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of 'pre-sessional' courses in English for Academic Purposes. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2017/18 tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
UK/EU fee paying students
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
In accordance with changes announced by the UK Government, we are increasing our 2017/18 regulated full-time tuition fees for new and returning UK/EU fee paying undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses will also rise from £4,500 to £4,625. This was subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. This fee will ensure the continued provision of high-quality education.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
General additional costs
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Funding
University funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
Government funding
You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.
The Government has confirmed that EU students applying for university places in the 2017 to 2018 academic year will still have access to student funding support for the duration of their course.
Scholarships
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
The scholarship is also extended to those who achieve AAB at A level (or specified equivalents) where one of the subjects is either Mathematics or a Modern Foreign Language. Please review the eligibility criteria.