MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Biomechanics
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BSc (Hons) Psychology (with a Placement Year)
Twickenham
INTAKE: September
Program Overview
The BSc (Hons) Psychology (with a Placement Year) at St. Mary's University, Twickenham, is a distinguished four-year undergraduate degree offering a comprehensive and scientific exploration of the human mind, brain, and behaviour. This program is fully accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), ensuring that successful graduates are eligible for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), a vital prerequisite for those aiming for professional careers in psychology. A distinguishing feature is the compulsory year-long professional placement, typically undertaken between the second and final academic years. This invaluable practical experience allows students to apply their theoretical knowledge in real-world settings, gain significant industry insights, and develop crucial professional networks, substantially enhancing their employability upon graduation. St. Mary's fosters a supportive academic community, with teaching delivered by research-active staff who are experts in diverse areas of psychological inquiry.
Curriculum: The curriculum for the BSc (Hons) Psychology (with a Placement Year) program at St. Mary's is meticulously structured to provide a comprehensive and BPS-aligned education. The first year establishes foundational knowledge with core modules including "Research Methods and Statistics 1 & 2," "Introduction to Social and Developmental Psychology," "Introduction to Cognitive and Biological Psychology," and optional modules such as "Everyday Psychology" and "Deconstructing Psychology." The second year delves deeper into psychological domains through core modules like "Qualitative Research Methods and Analysis," "Quantitative Research Methods and Statistics," "The Social Brain," and "The Developing Mind," along with various optional modules exploring areas like "Frontiers in Psychology" or applications in education, business, or sport. The third year is dedicated to the compulsory "Placement Year," providing immersive professional experience. In the final academic year, students undertake a significant "Independent Project" (an empirical research project) and choose from advanced optional modules covering areas such as "Applied Child Psychology," "Psychology of Education," "Political Psychology," "Health Psychology," "Perception," and "Counselling Psychology." Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, workshops, and practical sessions within the university's well-equipped psychology laboratories.
Research Focus: The BSc (Hons) Psychology (with a Placement Year) program at St. Mary's University is deeply informed by the active and diverse research interests of its academic staff, who are contributing to contemporary psychological science. Faculty expertise spans a broad spectrum, including non-traditional romantic relationships, intergroup relationships, attentional biases associated with anxiety, intergenerational relationships within family contexts, decision-making 1 processes, and visuomotor processing. The psychology department benefits from dedicated research and learning suites, equipped with specialist equipment like anonymous observation interview suites, sensory controlled booths with various computer programmes (e.g., SuperLab, E-Prime, DirectRT, MediaLab), and advanced tools such as EEG, TMS, and eye-tracking systems. This research-rich environment ensures that the curriculum remains current, evidence-based, and provides students with insights into cutting-edge developments. Students are strongly encouraged to engage in critical inquiry, developing their own research skills through a significant "Independent Project" (empirical research project) in their final year, often informed by their practical experiences gained during the placement.
Industry Engagement: Industry engagement is a cornerstone of the BSc (Hons) Psychology (with a Placement Year) program at St. Mary's University, critically designed to provide extensive real-world experience and significantly boost student employability. The program's defining feature is the compulsory year-long industrial placement, typically undertaken between the second and final academic years. St. Mary's has a dedicated Workplace Learning Team that actively supports students in securing relevant placements in a wide array of sectors, including charities, schools, hospitals, care settings, and various businesses. These placements offer invaluable opportunities for students to directly apply their psychological knowledge and research skills in professional environments, gain practical experience, develop essential transferable skills such as communication, problem-solving, and data analysis, and build crucial professional networks. The university also facilitates engagement through guest speaker talks from various psychological professions, further bridging the gap between academia and industry.
Global Perspective: The BSc (Hons) Psychology (with a Placement Year) program at St. Mary's University inherently incorporates a strong global perspective by exploring human behaviour and mental processes within diverse cultural and international contexts. The curriculum examines how psychological theories and research findings may vary or apply across different societies and populations. Core modules, particularly those delving into social and developmental psychology, naturally consider cross-cultural differences in human experience and behaviour. The program's British Psychological Society (BPS) accreditation ensures its alignment with international standards of psychological education, making the qualification broadly recognised. Furthermore, the comprehensive understanding of psychological principles, combined with practical experience from the placement year, equips graduates to address global mental health challenges, understand international human resource dynamics, or contribute to cross-cultural research initiatives, preparing them to work effectively in an increasingly interconnected world.
Location
Twickenham
Score
IELTS 6
Tuition Fee
£ 17100
Undergraduate Entry Requirements
Academic Qualifications: Applicants should have successfully completed their secondary education with a minimum overall score of 70% or equivalent in their respective country's grading system.
English language proficiency:
- IELTS: A minimum overall score of 6.0 or 6.5 with no individual component below 5.5.
- TOEFL: A minimum overall score of 80.
- PTE Academic: A minimum overall score of 55.
- Some programs may have specific subject prerequisites or additional requirements.
St. Mary’s University Twickenham offers a variety of scholarships to support international students in financing their education and rewarding academic achievement. These scholarships are designed to ease the financial burden and recognize the talents and hard work of students coming from all over the world.
International Student Scholarships: St. Mary’s provides International Student Scholarships for students from a range of countries. These scholarships are typically partial fee reductions, aimed at making education more affordable. Eligible students are selected based on academic merit, financial need, and their potential to contribute to the university community. The scholarships are open to both undergraduate and postgraduate international students.
Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship: The Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship is one of the most prestigious awards available to international students at St. Mary’s University. This scholarship offers a significant reduction in tuition fees for high-achieving students, with eligibility determined by academic performance and specific course requirements. Students from a variety of regions, including Africa, Asia, and Latin America, are encouraged to apply for this highly competitive scholarship.
Country-Specific Scholarships: In addition to general international scholarships, St. Mary’s offers country-specific scholarships for students from certain regions. These scholarships provide additional financial assistance and are designed to support students from areas where educational opportunities may be limited. International students from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas are often eligible for these specialized scholarships.
Sports Scholarships: For students excelling in sports, St. Mary’s University provides Sports Scholarships. These awards are available to talented athletes who demonstrate the potential to represent the university in competitive sports. Sports scholars benefit from personalized coaching, access to state-of-the-art facilities, and financial support to help balance academic and athletic commitments.
The BSc (Hons) Psychology (with a Placement Year) at St. Mary's University, Twickenham, provides graduates with a comprehensive, British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited education in understanding the human mind and behaviour, significantly enhanced by a year of practical professional experience. This rigorous program equips students with the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the BPS, a foundational requirement for numerous professional psychology careers. The integrated placement year offers invaluable real-world application of theoretical knowledge, fostering vital industry insights, enhancing practical skills, and building crucial professional networks. Graduates are highly valued for their analytical capabilities, communication skills, and understanding of human behaviour, making them exceptionally competitive and versatile for a diverse range of employers.
Assistant Psychologist: This role often serves as a crucial stepping stone towards becoming a chartered psychologist (e.g., clinical, forensic, educational). Graduates, with the added benefit of their placement experience, provide support to qualified psychologists in clinical, forensic, or research settings, gaining invaluable hands-on experience.
Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP): PWPs work within NHS Talking Therapies services (formerly IAPT), assessing and supporting individuals with common mental health problems. The practical skills and empathy developed during a placement in a mental health setting are highly beneficial for this role, which typically requires further specific training.
Human Resources Officer: Psychology graduates, particularly those with practical experience from an HR-related placement, are highly suited for HR roles. Their understanding of human behaviour, motivation, group dynamics, and communication makes them valuable in recruitment, training and development, employee relations, and organisational development.
Market Researcher / Consumer Insights Analyst: The strong research methods and statistical analysis skills, combined with practical application during a market research or insights-focused placement, are highly sought after. Graduates collect and analyse data on consumer behaviour, preferences, and trends to inform business and marketing strategies.
Social Researcher: Graduates can work for government departments, charities, or research agencies, conducting research on social issues, public opinion, and policy effectiveness. The hands-on experience in research methodologies from their placement significantly strengthens their profile for these roles.
Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP) / Children's Wellbeing Practitioner (CWP): These roles involve providing early intervention and support for children and young people with mild to moderate mental health difficulties in school or community settings. Relevant placement experience within educational or youth support services would be highly beneficial.
Probation Officer / Prison Officer (with further training): A psychology degree, especially with practical insights gained from a placement in a criminal justice setting, provides a strong foundation for roles within the criminal justice system, where understanding human behaviour, rehabilitation, and risk assessment is crucial. Further training or specific entry schemes are typically required.
Counselling Support Worker / Mental Health Support Worker: Graduates can provide frontline support and care to individuals experiencing mental health challenges. The practical experience and exposure to diverse mental health contexts gained during a placement would be invaluable in these roles within hospitals, community centres, and charities.
