BSc (Hons) Psychology at UGM Manchester

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BSc (Hons) Psychology

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Award: BSc (Hons)
Mode of Study: Full-time
Duration: 3 years or 4 with Foundation Year
Location: UGM Manchester
UCAS Points: 104 Points for 3 Year Degree, 48 points for Foundation Degree
Start Date: September, January, May

Our BSc (Hons) Psychology degree will equip you with the scientific knowledge, practical research skills, and professional understanding needed to explore human behaviour and make a positive impact in areas such as mental health, wellbeing, education, and social services, opening the door to a wide range of rewarding career opportunities.
Bethan Jones | Programme Leader

Overview

Overview

Psychology helps us understand why people think, feel and behave as they do. From mental health and wellbeing to relationships, decision-making and social influences, psychology plays an important role in addressing many of the challenges faced by individuals and communities today. By studying your BSc (Hons) Psychology degree with UGM Manchester, you can develop a broad understanding of human behaviour while experiencing life in the multicultural heart of Manchester.

Our experienced academic team will support you in developing essential knowledge and understanding across the core areas of psychology, including biological, cognitive, social, developmental and individual differences psychology. We’ll explore how psychological theories and evidence are used to understand human behaviour and examine contemporary issues from local, national and global perspectives. We’ll also consider the ethical, cultural and historical contexts that shape the discipline and influence psychological research and practice.

You’ll learn how psychologists investigate human behaviour through research methods and evidence-based approaches. We’ll guide you in developing the ability to evaluate research, interpret findings and construct well-reasoned arguments. As your studies progress, you’ll design and conduct your own research projects, generating hypotheses, collecting and analysing data, and applying professional ethical standards. Through practical applications and workplace simulations, you’ll connect psychological concepts to contemporary issues and professional contexts.

The degree is carefully structured to combine academic knowledge with practical and employability skills development so you graduate with the confidence to succeed in a wide range of professional environments. We’ll support you in developing highly valued transferable skills such as communication, critical thinking, teamwork, problem-solving, data analysis, time management and independent learning. We also aim to help you build resilience and reflective practice so that you can take ownership of your personal and professional development, maximising your potential for future success.

Psychology is both fascinating and challenging, requiring curiosity, compassion and analytical thinking. This course focuses on helping you develop the knowledge, attitudes and competencies needed to understand human behaviour and apply psychological insight across a variety of settings. As a graduate of our BSc (Hons) Psychology degree, you’ll have the confidence, adaptability and evidence-based understanding gained through practical experience and applied learning to pursue careers across the health, education, community, business and voluntary sectors, or to progress to further specialist study and professional training in psychology and related fields.

Throughout this degree, some programme aims are:

Provide students with the knowledge and skills as set out in the QAA benchmark statement for Psychology.
Acquire transferable skills necessary for personal development as lifelong independent learners with the ability to respond positively to change during their academic studies/careers and continually develop professionally.
Through a contemporary curriculum, develop skills as well as theoretical and empirical understanding of core psychological concepts and approaches, applying these to ‘real world’ examples.
Develop transferable and employability skills such as communication, critical thinking, managing workloads and independent learning.
Use a research - informed approach and a range of evidence - based approaches to ensure students receive an education that is developed within theoretical and empirical understandings as well as making applications to wider contexts within industry.
Develop an informed understanding of contemporary issues in psychology and engage convincingly in debates about a diverse range of topics identified on a local, national and global scale

Entry Requirements

Entry Requirements

Standard Entry Requirements

104 Points for a 3 Year Degree

Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3.

You should also have five GCSEs at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics.

Foundation Year Entry Requirements

48 points for a Foundation Year.

English Language Requirements

All students applying with International or EU qualifications must meet the minimum English language requirements of IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5.5 in all bands for study at the undergraduate level.

For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our English Language Requirements.

Employability

Employability

Manchester offers extensive employment opportunities for psychology graduates, with a wide range of NHS services, local authorities, educational settings, charities, private organisations, and third-sector agencies seeking individuals with strong analytical, communication, and people-focused skills. Our BSc (Hons) Psychology explores human behaviour and mental processes within contemporary social contexts, preparing students to apply psychological knowledge across diverse professional environments. As a non-accredited degree, the programme equips graduates with valuable transferable skills that are highly sought after across health, education, business, and community sectors.

All modules are designed with employability at their core, integrating key skills such as critical thinking, communication, research methods, data analysis, problem-solving, and teamwork. Lecturers draw upon their academic and professional expertise to shape modules and assessments that emphasise the practical application of psychological principles. Employability workshops support students in developing effective CVs, interview techniques, and professional confidence, while volunteer opportunities, placements, and guest speakers provide valuable insights into a range of career pathways. Graduates leave with the knowledge, adaptability, and confidence to work effectively with individuals and communities in a variety of settings.

Graduate employment opportunities that might be available to graduates of the psychology programme include:

Additional qualifications and/or professional accreditation must be pursued to attain the following careers:

*Some roles, such as Assistant Psychologist posts, may require relevant experience and are often more accessible to graduates holding an accredited psychology degree or postgraduate qualifications.

Structure and Content

Structure and content

Foundation Level

Introduction to Research and Writing
Introduction to Health and Social Care
Data Skills
Professional Development Skills for Health and Social Care

Year One

Academic Professional Skills in Psychology
Introduction to Psychological Research Methods
Introduction to Social and Developmental Psychology
Introduction to Biological and Cognitive Psychology

Year Two

Advanced Biological and Cognitive Psychology
Essential Issues in Psychology, History and Individual Differences
Advanced Social and Developmental Psychology
Advanced Research Methods

Year Three

Psychological Applications in Professional Contexts
Psychology of Everyday Life
Forensic and Clinical Psychology
Research Project

Teaching and Assessment

Teaching and Assessment

We understand that our students’ learning needs and preferred learning styles vary, so we use a range of learning and teaching methods.

Lectures introduce the core course content, while seminars and discussion groups allow you to explore subjects in greater detail. Tutorials offer space to ask questions, ensuring you understand your study topics. We use case studies, practical activities, workplace simulations and workshops to help you apply psychological theory to real-world situations, allowing you to gain insights into contemporary psychological practice and professional contexts. We’ll also expect you to undertake considerable guided independent study, for instance, library research and background reading, preparing for seminar and tutorial activities, conducting research, and working on assignments.

Guest lectures and presentations by visiting speakers from relevant professional and employment sectors will allow you to develop your knowledge and understanding further.

You can expect a range of assessment methods, including essays, reports, presentations, research projects, case studies, practical assessments and workplace simulation activities. These contribute to your final module mark and demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes.

We also use other assessment forms to help you learn, provide feedback, and inform your development. These do not, however, count towards your final module mark.

Learning Activities

Course year	Foundation Year	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	24%	24%	24%	24%
Guided independent study	76%	76%	76%	76%

Assessment Strategy

Assessment tasks are linked to the learning outcomes of each module and are completed before and after the end of the module. Module assessments are typically either coursework or examination or a combination of both. Other types of assessment may include in-class tests, coursework, assignments, major project, presentation or projects.

Assessment Methods

Assessment Methods	Foundation Year	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3
Written exams	12%	n/a	n/a	n/a
Coursework	38%	50%	62%	38%
Practical Exams	50%	50%	38%	62%

More information

For an extensive list of assessment methods and learning activities and more visit the full profiles here:

Course Fees

Course Fees

EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.

Fees for this Course:

	3-Year Degree	3-Year Degree with Foundation Year
Annual Fees (2025/26)	£9,790 per year	Foundation Year: £9,790 Years 1–3: £9,790 per year
Total Course Fee	£29,370	£39,160

*The fee for the first year of your course is outlined in your offer letter. It is determined based on the rules and guidance in place at the time the offer is made, but it may be revised if there are government-approved increases linked to inflation. UGM Manchester may adjust tuition fees for any year of study, including the first year, provided any increase does not exceed the limits set by UK law and guidance from the Office for Students.

If fee increases are applied, they will be capped at the rate of inflation, typically measured using an index such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Any changes will be applied consistently to relevant groups of students, and the University will give advance notice before updated fees come into effect for the academic year.

This policy ensures that tuition fees remain in line with legal requirements, reflect inflation fairly, and align with government expectations that fee increases support the delivery of high-quality education and student outcomes.

Undergraduate Open Day on the 31st July

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BSc (Hons) Psychology