Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Psychology with International or Placement Year

at Keele University United Kingdom

On this Combined Honours degree you will learn about different methodological approaches to understanding individuals and the societies in which we live.

The psychological content of this degree will challenge you with exciting ideas and findings from across the psychology curriculum. Of particular relevance are the study of developmental psychology, social psychology, cognitive psychology and individual differences. Indicative topics include school bullying and the social dynamics of crowds.

The psychology modules on this course are accredited by the British Psychological Society, a necessary first step for many professional careers in psychology, such as clinical, counselling, educational, forensic, occupational or sports psychology, and a prerequisite to becoming a Chartered Psychologist.

The compulsory sociology modules will provide you with a grounding in the key areas of the discipline which may include: inequalities, social theory, and research methods. Our programme covers a wide range of topics such as families, health, activism and protest, social media, globalisation, and urban life. Studying Sociology will enable you to think independently, critically, and imaginatively about the issues that shape our everyday lives and our futures.

Is your imagination captured by the literature of the Renaissance and the Victorians, or the opportunity to know more about postcolonialism or postmodernism? As an English Literature student at Keele, you'll be encouraged to delve deep into a range of literary works, which may include authors such as Emily Bronte, Aphra Behn, Tsitsi Dangarembga and J M Coetzee.

Our intellectually stimulating and engaging approach to exploring novels, poetry, drama, graphic novels and other types of literature produce intelligent, perceptive, socially aware and compassionate individuals who are able to make a real impact. English Literature at Keele is a vibrant community of staff and students who are passionate in their belief that literature and culture are vital to understand the world around us.

The course involves three main aspects:

• the study of theories and ideas about media and cultural production in a global context
• the critical analysis of cultural texts and practices from around the world
• engagement in practical creative production.

The MA in Global Media and Culture seeks to explore the relationship between these three areas and to show how knowledge of each informs and influences the others. In addition, it will provide you with the skills necessary for academic study at an advanced level, either for those wishing to go on to further academic research, or as advanced preparation for those interested in pursuing careers in a range of media and culture industries.

The emphasis of the programme is the critical and analytical study of the contemporary global framework of media and cultural studies, the production and continuation of localised cultural identities within a global context, and a theoretically-informed approach to the creative production of media texts.

The Global Media and Culture programme at Keele University represents the multidisciplinary coming together of academics and practitioners from a range of fields. The distinctive nature of Keele as a pioneer for interdisciplinary academic study provides the Global Media and Culture Programme with an ideal basis for the development of cross-subject study.

The study of International Relations covers key issues of international threats, conflict, competition, cooperation, development and globalisation, provides a solid understanding of international organisations such as the UN and
the European Union. IR as a discipline also covers structures of power and influence. Our IR experts specialise in a broad range of topics, which currently include security and terrorism studies, the environment, gender, development, peace and conflict, international history, political economy, international organisation, and IR and political theories. We currently have regional expertise in the politics of Europe, Eurasia, Africa, China and the Middle East.

Our programme develops a range of analytical skills to help you interpret and explain the processes at work in unfolding current events. In a world of complex interdependence, such skills are of increasing relevance to many areas of business, industry and government. 

Our Single Honours programme builds upon the core topics defined by the UK Institute of Physics to provide breadth of study, modules informed by the research of our astrophysics staff, with additional emphasis on mathematics and computing as tools for (astro)physical problem-solving.

The language of the universe is physics and mathematics. You will explore these, along with computational and statistical techniques, and apply these skills to tackling problems as diverse as stellar interiors, galaxies, black holes and the evolution of the universe itself.

You will gain an understanding of the fundamentals of physics and the essential ability to plan investigations, analyse results and present your work. Regular laboratory sessions, including access to our on-campus observatory, enable you to investigate unfamiliar phenomena and develop valuable transferable skills such as scientific writing and programming.

On this course you will follow the Single Honours Psychology course structure, however you will take a year out to work within a psychology setting between level 5 and 6. This could be adult mental health, learning difficulties or a research environment, allowing you to apply your psychological knowledge and skills in a practical setting relevant to developing a professional psychology career.

During your time studying at Keele you will be fully immersed in the subject with abundant choice across compulsory and elective modules in psychology. You will share the excitement of discovering new psychological knowledge working alongside our enthusiastic and supportive academic staff. You will also benefit from the psychology-specific learning support on offer from our Academic Support Team. You will graduate ready to use your psychology skills and knowledge to make a real difference.

Keele’s teaching and research explore a wide diversity of chemistry, helping you to develop subject knowledge and transferable skills in a supportive learning environment. You’ll develop a solid foundation of theory and practical skills, building to cover advanced concepts and contemporary issues in chemistry in later years. You will gain experience with scientific instruments and techniques, and enjoy access to dedicated IT facilities. You’ll also learn to use chemistry in problem solving, and to present your theories and findings confidently and imaginatively.

Studying Neuroscience, you’ll explore a range of topics which may include how we learn and remember, how the brain controls the body, and how the brain can be targeted by disease but in some instances can repair itself. Within the course are interesting related disciplines such as neuroanatomy, neuropharmacology and neuropathology. 

You will develop an understanding of how neuroscience can help us to explore and understand medical problems and improve quality of life. Working in diverse ways, you’ll develop independent research skills as you learn to acquire, interpret and analyse data from multiple sources. Your degree will open up exciting careers in sectors as varied as healthcare, scientific research, pharmacology, IT, publishing and more.

Single Honours Neuroscience enables you to focus your studies on an in-depth coverage of a wide range of topics. If you choose to study Neuroscience with another subject (Combined Honours) you will combine the key principles of neuroscience with the ability to choose specific areas of another subject that may interest you.

Immerse yourself in literary texts from the English Renaissance to contemporary American graphic novels. As an English and American Literature student at Keele, you'll examine the full chronological range of English and American literature, considering their direct intersections from the nineteenth century onwards. You might study poets like Lord Byron, Derek Walcott and Allen Ginsberg, dramatists including Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde and Tennessee Williams, and novelists such as Harriet Beecher Stowe, Henry James and Jackie Kay. Our intellectually stimulating and engaging approach to exploring a wide variety of literary genres  produces intelligent, perceptive, socially aware and compassionate individuals who are able to make a real impact.

Biology at Keele focuses on the amazing world of organisms – from how they’ve evolved to their relationships with the environment and each other. Keele takes a broad approach to biology, examining the diversity of life and its evolution from the geological past. You’ll consider a range of engaging biological topics which may include the complexity of biological processes and mechanisms at molecular, cellular, organismal and ecosystem levels, philosophical and ethical issues. You’ll develop your pratical skill set through engaging in activities which could include sampling, recording and analysing data in the field and in our well-equipped labs.