Explore the science of thoughts, feelings and behaviour on this highly regarded, expert-led course – with three specialist routes and accreditation from the British Psychological Society. This includes an initial foundation year to prepare for the course.
Dive into psychology and discover what makes us human.
Develop your research skills and learn about life-changing initiatives.
Specialise in forensic or developmental psychology, or clinical, counselling and psychotherapy.
Test theories and boundaries with state-of-the-art equipment and research facilities.
Collaborate with leading researchers, placement organisations and fellow students.
Prepare for the degree with an extra foundation year at the start.

Are you fascinated by human behaviour and the mind? On our BSc Psychology course you’ll examine what drives behaviour – from brain physiology to epigenetic interactions, acquiring and developing cognitive skills, social influences and individual differences in personality and motivation. You’ll graduate ready to change lives.

This psychology degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and gives eligibility for the graduate basis for chartered membership (GBC) with the BPS.

If you don't meet the entry requirements for our BSc (Hons) course, or you’d like extra preparation before starting degree-level study, we recommend you join this foundation year course.

Following completion of the foundation year, and in progressing onto the BSc (Hons) Psychology degree, you will have a range of opportunities available to you to apply your learning.   

Work placements

You will have the opportunity to arrange a work-placement in your third year of the course. Examples of settings include schools, mental health organisations, police and other legal services.

Organisations currently offering placements include St Anne's Mental Health Service, The Hesley Group autism care provider, Sheffield Children's Hospital (NHS), Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Drug and alcohol service (RDASH), Sheffield MENCAP, City Hearts human trafficking support service and Cavendish Cancer Care.

There are opportunities to study abroad at one of our partner universities with the possibility of funding through the Erasmus+ programme (until 2023) or the Turing Scheme.

Study abroad

You can study abroad for one semester in your third year at one of our partner universities. Examples of our current partner institutions include Georgia Southern University in the US, Trent University and Carleton University in Canada, Queensland University of Technology, LaTrobe University and Deakin University in Australia, University of Jyvaskyla in Finland, Tallinn University in Estonia, the University of Warsaw in Poland, and Aahus University in Denmark.

Networking opportunities

You attend lectures from visiting guests such as clinical psychologists, police officers, prison officers, forensic psychologists, health psychologists and speech and language therapists.

We also hold recruitment presentations from psychology-specific employers. Recent guests have included the Cambian Group, Civil Service, Good Days Project and Hesley Group.

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

This foundation year is an entry route if you do not meet the entry requirements for our BSc (Hons) Psychology course, if you are not yet ready for degree-level study, or if you are returning to study and would like to spend time getting up to speed with the demands of learning before embarking on a degree.

You will share the foundation year with other Psychology, Sociology, Politics, Applied Social Science, Law, Criminology and Policing foundation students, before moving on to your degree.You are taught by academics with specialist knowledge and expertise in a range of areas including social psychology, forensic psychology, developmental psychology, health and work psychology.

You learn through

• lectures and seminars
• workshops
• laboratory classes
• individual tutorials
• work placements

This course prepares you to complete professional training in

• clinical psychology
• educational psychology
• occupational psychology
• health psychology
• forensic psychology
• counselling psychology

It also prepares you for a career in

• Teaching
• local government
• civil service
• industry and commerce
• education
• careers and counselling
• legal and advice work
• social work
• social research
• personnel and human resources
• marketing
• management

 

UCAS points

• 64

This must include at least 32 points from one A level or equivalent BTEC National qualifications exluding general studies For example:

• CC at A Level
• MPP in BTEC Extended Diploma.
• A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels and EPQ.

You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.

GCSE

• English Language at grade C or 4 or equivalent
• Maths at grade C or 4 or equivalent

• Access - at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2 from a relevant Open College Network accredited course.

If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.

Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.

Important notice:

The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

Year 1 Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Contemporary Issues In Social Science 1	60	Coursework
Contemporary Issues In Social Science 2	60	Coursework Practical

 

Year 2 Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Fundamentals In Psychology 1	40	Coursework
Fundamentals In Psychology 2	40	Coursework Exam
Psychological Research And Design	20	Coursework
Psychology Practicals And Statistics	20	Coursework

 

 

Year 3 Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Processes In Psychology	20	Exam
Psychology In Context	20	Coursework
Research Methods Training	20	Coursework

 

Elective modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Applying Psychology	60	Coursework Practical
Work Placement (Psychology)	60	Coursework Practical

 

Year 4 Optional modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Placement Year

 

Final Year Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Inclusive And Ethical Practice In Psychology	20	Coursework
Psychology Research Project	40	Coursework Practical

 

Elective modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Health Psychology	20	Coursework
Human Sexual Behaviour	20	Coursework
Neurodiversity	40	Coursework
Personality & Psychopathology: Theory, Assessment And Practice	40	Coursework
Positive Psychology	20	Coursework
Psychology Of Emotion	40	Coursework
Social And Affective Neuroscience (San)	20	Coursework
The Psychology Of Animals	20	Coursework
The Psychology Of Trauma	40	Coursework