Our Human Biology and Psychology BSc presents you with the chance to study two exciting subjects.

You will explore the physiology of the body’s major systems, human health, disease and the relationship between the human body with the environment. From exploring how our lifestyle and genes affect our risk of disease to discovering the latest developments in cancer research, you will have the opportunity to deep dive into a broad range of topics that are of increasing importance in medical research and underpin the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

Psychology will equip you with a well-rounded education and in addition to studying the principal areas specified by the British Psychological Society (BPS) curriculum, you will have the opportunity to tailor your degree to reflect your career aspirations and interests.

Principle areas of psychology include: biological, cognitive, social and developmental psychology as well as individual differences and historical issues. You will gain fundamental scientific skills in research design, statistics, qualitative and survey methods. With this knowledge, you will learn how to conduct research and critically analyse that of others.

The skills you will develop on this degree will not only equip you with subject-specific knowledge but will provide you with a variety of transferable skills that can be used in a wide range of sectors.

Learn from our campus - our own 'living laboratory'

The flexible modular course structure allows you in the second and final year to tailor your programme of study to individual interests and ambitions. For example in the second year, you have the opportunity to choose environmental Biology module. In this module you will attend a summer field course where you will visit a range of terrestrial and aquatic habitats and develop fieldwork skills such as identification of specimens, surveying, and data analysis.

Our unique 600-acre campus offers a fantastic experimentation environment to perform fieldwork, test new ideas and discover solutions to real-world problems.

From our lake system grasslands and woodlands to mining and industrial heritage of the local area, our local diverse range of habitats provide opportunities to study in an authentic environment whilst practicing sustainably.‌

Gain practical experience in industry

In an increasingly competitive job market, employers are seeking to recruit employees who have high-level knowledge, skills and an understanding of the workplace. If you're unsure which area of human biology or psychology you want to focus on, work experience can provide insight into what work is like in a specific field.

From a year working in industry to summer secondment research placements in the UK or overseas, our programme offers many opportunities to gain familiarisation with the professional working environment, develop professional contacts and apply the biological or psychological skills and theories you have learnt.

Please note: If you wish to undertake a work placement year, you will be required to choose a placement aligned to either Human Biology or Psychology.

Final year project

In your final year you will have the opportunity to work with one of our expert academics to carry out and report an investigation of a research topic that aligns with your career aspirations or personal interests.

Final year project topics from previous Psychology students include:

• Cognitive control and depression
• Experiences of disabled students in Higher Education
• Sleep and mental health
• Detecting deception in others
• Victims and forgiveness

Final year project topics from previous Human Biology students include:

• Cancer research
• Molecular biology
• Drug repurposing
• Parasitology
• Bioinformatics
• Immunology
  
  

Engage with real-world projects in Psychology

During your degree programme, you may have the opportunity to work on research, led by staff, PhD and master's students in the School of Psychology. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to learn about research methods and gain insight into the diversity of research carried out within the School of Psychology.

Summer research assistantship scheme

The School of Psychology offers a summer research assistantship scheme that is a paid opportunity during your second or third year of study. This scheme involves working alongside a member of staff on a research project and gaining valuable skills and experience in data analysis, that can help you to stand out from the crowd when applying for employment or postgraduate study.

Please note there is an application process for this scheme and the number of projects available will vary each year.

Study abroad

In between years two and three of your studies you can choose to spend a year studying abroad. This exciting opportunity enable you to understand your field from different cultural perspectives and to establish international networks. It also shows you have the personal attributes to embrace new experiences which can enhance your employability.

We offer exchange opportunities with a wide variety of partner institutions.

Support

We offer a multi layered support structure to help you meet your academic and personal needs. Our open-door policy enables you to engage with us directly, meaning you can seek support, gain feedback or discuss any matters on a regular basis.

You will benefit from the support of the dedicated Faculty Student Experience and Support team who offer advice, guidance and one to one support to students.

Additionally you will be assigned an academic mentor who will support you throughout your degree. Our robust student support system also includes a dedicated placements officer and disability liaison officer, should you need this additional support.

Practical support

During practical workshops you will benefit from a multi-tiered support structure. In addition to your lead lecturer you can engage with a variety of academic staff. This offers an invaluable opportunity to forge new networks and gain insight into news or research taking place within the school.

Benefit from networking opportunities with:

• Senior demonstrators
• Postgraduate student demonstrators
• Laboratory technicians
• Core skills videos and laboratory simulations
• Data analysis workshops

Societies

We have a wealth of student-led societies which cover a diverse range of interests. Joining a society is a great opportunity to continue to develop your skills away from your studies and can be beneficial when it comes to applying for graduate roles. It’s also a great way to meet like-minded people, make friends and share interests with fellow students.

Committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As a university and as a School, we are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. This means we aim to create a diverse and inclusive culture in which you can thrive. Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) agenda is embedded throughout our curriculum, and the School of Psychology are proud to have been recognised for their activities in this area by holding The Athena SWAN bronze award.