Social Psychology - BSc (Hons)

This is an archived course for 2020 entry
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Psychology is the study of people – what they do, think, perceive and feel. It helps us to answer many important questions about society by applying scientific principles to human behaviour. Our Social Psychology degree trains you in experimental methodology and emphasises the practical value of psychology when applied to issues and problems of human social relationships.

Overview

Kent is a leading centre for social psychology – the study of human behaviour in a social environment – and we also have strengths in cognitive, forensic and developmental psychology. Passionate about research, our academics are world-leading experts and can inspire you to develop your own ideas and become an independent thinker.

Our degree programme

Our modules cover a wide range of topics such as child development, language, mental health, motivation, and forensic psychology. By drawing on aspects of biology, computing and philosophy, you gain a broad scientific and analytical background. You can also gain direct experience of research through the:

  • Research Participation Scheme (where you take part in a project as a participant)
  • Research Experience Scheme (where you gain hands-on experience of working on a project and a reference at the end)
  • Work Experience Scheme (where you volunteer with a local organisation – such as a school, college, prison or hospital – and collaborate on a project).

The lecturers have a friendly approach to teaching and you get a high level of academic support via lectures, seminars and one-to-one feedback.

Study resources

The School of Psychology is in a modern building with state-of-the-art teaching facilities and two computer rooms. Our specialised equipment includes:

  • eye-tracker technology
  • electroencephalography (EEG) equipment for monitoring brain function
  • brain stimulation laboratories
  • physiology laboratories
  • child-friendly testing spaces
  • a virtual reality laboratory
  • group dynamics laboratories
  • observation suites.

Extra activities

The Psychology Society is run by Kent students. Previous activities include talks by guest speakers and the chance for students to publish work in the Student Journal of Psychology.

The School of Psychology also puts on many events that you are welcome to attend. These may include:

  • research seminars led by leading psychologists
  • professional development workshops
  • informal staff presentations followed by open discussion.

Accreditation

British Psychological Society

Entry requirements

The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Typical requirements are listed below. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact us for further advice. 

Please note that meeting this typical offer/minimum requirement does not guarantee an offer being made.Please also see our general entry requirements.

New GCSE grades

If you’ve taken exams under the new GCSE grading system, please see our conversion table to convert your GCSE grades.

  • medal-empty

    A level

    AAB excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking

  • medal-empty GCSE

    Mathematics grade C

  • medal-empty 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.

  • medal-empty BTEC Nationals

    Distinction, Distinction, Distinction

  • medal-empty International Baccalaureate

    34 points overall or 17 points at HL with Mathematics 4 at HL or SL

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. 

However, please note that international fee-paying students cannot undertake a part-time programme due to visa restrictions.

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 advice 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. 

Course structure

Duration: 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time

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.

Fees

The 2020/21 annual tuition fees for this programme are:

  • Home/EU full-time TBC
  • International full-time TBC
  • Home/EU part-time TBC
  • International part-time TBC

For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.

Full-time tuition fees for Home and EU undergraduates are £9,250.

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.* 

Your fee status

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.

Additional costs

General additional costs

Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.

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. Our assessment methods are varied and will include, but are not limited to, examinations, written assignments and essays, group work and oral presentations.

Contact hours

For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours.  The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Programme aims

The programme aims to:

  • meet the needs of those contemplating a career in the psychological professions, as well as those motivated by an intellectual interest in psychology
  • attract candidates from a variety of educational backgrounds
  • provide an understanding of the principal perspective in psychology (for example, social, cognitive, and biological)
  • introduce students to a range of theoretical and methodological approaches
  • enable students to study chosen areas of psychology in depth
  • cover the foundations of psychology to provide entry into the British Psychological Society
  • 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:

  • general psychology
  • psychology statistics, practical experimentation and research
  • cognitive and social development
  • interpersonal and group behaviour
  • cognition and cognitive neuropsychology
  • personality and individual differences
  • philosophical and theoretical issues in psychology
  • the relationship between psychology and allied disciplines
  • different frameworks in psychology and levels of description and explanation.

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
  • time management and preparation
  • 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
  • employing the inferential method of science (deductive methods, single case methods, semiotics)
  • psychological statistical methods and their interpretation
  • 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; 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.

Independent rankings

Psychology at Kent scored 93% overall and was ranked 5th for research intensity and 7th for graduate prospects in The Complete University Guide 2021.

Of Psychology graduates who responded to the most recent national survey of graduate destinations, over 97% were in professional work or further study within six months (DLHE, 2017).

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.

Apply for Social Psychology - BSc (Hons)

This course page is for the 2020/21 academic year. Please visit the current online prospectus for a list of undergraduate courses we offer.

Contact us

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United Kingdom/EU enquiries

T: +44 (0)1227 768896

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International student enquiries

Enquire online

T: +44 (0)1227 823254
E: internationalstudent@kent.ac.uk

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School website

School of Psychology

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