We are one of the largest and most active psychology departments in Britain with an excellent reputation for teaching and research, gaining 23 out of 24 in the QAA Quality Assessment Review of teaching. Recently we have been ranked in the top three departments by research in the UK in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise.

At Birmingham you will study many different aspects of Psychology from child development to psychopharmacology, social psychology to neuroscience. Our School of Psychology is one of the largest in the UK, with approximately 650 undergraduate students, 250 postgraduates and 90+ research and teaching staff whose interests include all areas of contemporary psychology.

As a psychology student at Birmingham, you will have access to purpose-built facilities specifically equipped for work in human brain sciences (including brain imaging), psychophysiology, cognition and speech production, visual and auditory perception, food and nutritional psychology, psychopharmacology, social psychology, child development, clinical and forensic psychology.

"I've had an amazing university experience at Birmingham, academically and socially. Cannot recommend the institution enough."

National student survey (2010)

We offer a mix of lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical classes and research projects, and use a variety of assessment methods including essays, practical reports, oral and poster presentations, dissertations and written examinations. Our undergraduate programme is carefully structured to provide training in the skills that students need as they develop into independent learners.

Teaching structure

Lectures

For each core module there is normally a one-hour weekly lecture and related workshops or seminars.

Research methods

In addition to the modules covering specific topics in psychology, we provide four courses covering research methods, statistics, data analysis and practical work. Each such course comprises two components, statistics/computing and practical work. The practical components each comprise two hands-on practicals supported by special lectures and weekly small-group sessions with some self-study. Instruction is given in all types of practical psychology including formal controlled experiments, observational methods, semi-structured interviews, and questionnaire studies. Practicals are assessed by a variety of methods including written reports and oral presentation.

Statistics / computing

The statistics/computing components consist of weekly lectures supported by hands-on computer workshops in which students work through example problems. Students are taught how to use the software in the School’s computer laboratories, including email, the Internet, word processing and statistics programmes. Three of the four courses deal with the many statistical methods that psychologists use to analyse their research findings. Ethical issues are also discussed.

Research modules

The research modules are designed to complement other modules offered by the School, and provide the necessary skills to conduct scientific psychological research.

Tutorials

Students are assigned a Personal Tutor in the first year, and where possible will stay with this tutor until the end of the programme. The tutor serves a pastoral and an academic role, in which students follow a programme of instruction, linked to the research methods courses.

Assessment

Students’ progress is assessed on a mixture of written examinations and coursework. Students hand in essays and practical work associated with the core modules according to a schedule of deadlines – roughly one piece of work every two or three weeks. Successful completion of first year work is a prerequisite for entry into the second year. The marks gained in the second year make up one-quarter of the final degree classification. 

Facilities

The School is at the centre of the campus in buildings that have been modernised to meet our particular needs. Facilities include laboratories specially equipped for work in human brain sciences (including brain imaging), psychophysiology, cognition and speech production, visual and auditory perception, food and nutritional psychology, psychopharmacology, social psychology, child development, clinical and forensic psychology.

Besides the School’s own equipment and laboratories, many facilities in outside organisations can be used. There are also strong links with departments in our own and in other Divisions covering the arts, social, engineering and medical disciplines.

Our School of Psychology is one of the biggest and most active psychology departments in Britain. We ranked in the top three in the recent Research Assessment Exercise (with Oxford and Cambridge) with over 80% of our research being rated as internationally excellent.

Excellent research opportunities are provided by our links with local hospitals and clinics, local schools and nurseries, other University departments, industrial companies and departments of local and national government, both in this country and overseas.

The School currently holds over £8 million in research grants and contracts.

Our research themes are:

• Behavioural neuroscience
• Developmental, social and applied psychology
• Language, cognition and perception

Our graduates are well respected and are successful in finding careers both in professional or academic psychology and, more generally, in the professional, commercial and industrial world.

Psychology graduates are qualified to take up a wide range of careers, and many continue in psychology. Our Single Honours graduates are eligible for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society and Graduate Basis for Registration of the BPS, which is the first step towards postgraduate training and careers in clinical, forensic, educational or occupational psychology. Others work for higher degrees or join a team as research assistants. Yet others may become teachers of psychology in schools, sixth form colleges or colleges of further education.

Top employers for our 2008/09 graduates

• Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
• Birmingham City Council
• HM Prison Service
• Macmillan
• Mencap
• National Health Service
• NSPCC
• University of Birmingham
• West Midlands Police
• Wilcox Psychological Associates

Top occupations for our 2008/09 graduates

• Assistant Psychologist
• Clinical Psychologist
• Clinical Studies Officer
• Customer Relations Officer
• Forensic Psychologist
• Healthcare Assistant
• Neuropsychologist
• Probation Service Officer
• Relief Support Worker
• Support Worker