Study psychology in the UK

Discover the insights you need to succeed

If you’re fascinated by the way people think and behave, you’ll get the best possible window into human psychology in the UK. From the conscious decisions we make every day, to the ways we learn, remember, socialise and dream – some of the best brains in the field are conducting research and sharing their discoveries right here.

Psychological theories inform and guide every imaginable aspect of life, from web design to education, healthcare and HR. When it comes to finding exciting and relevant subject areas for your career, there’s nothing that quite matches psychology for breadth and impact on every area of human activity.

Immerse yourself in world-class thinking

The UK was one of the key locations in which modern psychological ideas took root, and we’ve been at the forefront of research and ideas since the 1870s. As well as having some of the oldest university departments in the world, the famous British Psychological Society was formed at University College London in 1901, helping to spearhead and guide what is now a huge field in the UK.

Today we have three of the best psychology departments in the world – the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford and the University College London. There are plenty more world-class courses up and down the country, though with almost 1,000 courses offering a psychological component, available at around 140 universities. So you’ll be able to find amazing expertise and ground-breaking research into everything from mental health to neuroscience and perception, with access to state-of-the-art testing labs to help you follow your own ideas.

What to expect

Flexible, modular courses

With arts and science-based psychology degrees available at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, you can specialise your learning and focus on the fields that fascinate you for the best possible career path.

Some of the specialist modules you’ll cover include:

• Child psychology
• Clinical psychology
• Developmental psychology
• Educational psychology
• Experimental psychology
• Forensic psychology
• Social psychology
• Sport psychology
• Criminal psychology
• Cognitive psychology
• Neurology

Undertake your own research

As well as a deep immersion in the theory, you’ll get to work on your own ideas and experiments too. From observing live subjects and conducting your own psychological tests in custom-designed labs and suites, you’ll have access to the latest computation and modelling techniques for the best possible understanding of the ways our brains and minds interact. You’ll also get a rigorous understanding of how to use statistics to analyse your data and interpret your results.

Get the skills you need to excel

You’ll be able to develop a wide range of exceptional transferable skills, from analysis and statistics to research and presentation. The qualities and skills that employers are specifically searching for, and that you can apply to professional challenges anywhere in the world.

Amazing careers start here

From medical and therapeutic applications to industrial and sporting sectors, you’ll be learning how to uncover insights and apply them to the real world from experts in the field. So wherever you want to study, you’ll have the skills and the analytical mindset you need to succeed.

With a wide range of postgraduate opportunities – including integrated masters qualifications – you’ll be able to prepare yourself for the career you want. Popular careers for psychology graduates include:

• Clinical psychologist
• Counselling psychologist
• Educational psychologist
• Forensic psychologist
• Further education teacher
• Health psychologist
• High intensity therapist
• Occupational psychologist
• Primary care graduate mental health worker
• Psychological wellbeing practitioner
• Sport and exercise psychologist