Psychology and Philosophy BSc (Hons)

About the course

Psychology

This course gives you an advanced understanding of human psychology, and its application in a wide range of settings. You will also develop core transferable skills highly valued by employers such as time management and effective communication skills.

Your first year of study will provide you with a good foundation in the subject enabling you to progress on to your second year where your module options will depend on the proportion of time you choose to study psychology for. Psychology can be studied as a joint or minor subject within the Joint Honours programme.

The course does not allow graduate membership to the British Psychological Society but this can be obtained through a further year of study on a Psychology Conversion Course

Philosophy

All the teaching staff in philosophy are researchers. We think that teaching philosophy, learning philosophy and researching philosophy are all really the same activity—philosophy!

This course will provide you with a good introduction to issues in ethics, knowledge and metaphysics, and the meaning of life. You will be encouraged to tackle the difficult and puzzling questions posed, systematically and objectively, helping to develop skills such as the ability to identify and analyse problems, to understand alternative solutions and their merits, and to make intelligent and well articulated judgments. All the while developing a number of key transferable skills, highly valued in a wide range of career pathways.

In your second and final years, you will build on this solid introduction to philosophy through the study of a wide range of topics, including: ancient Greek philosophy; continental philosophy; contemporary Anglo-American philosophy; logic and reasoning; metaphysics; aesthetics, philosophy of mind, philosophy of information and moral and political philosophy.

Don’t just learn about philosophy; learn to do philosophy.

Why choose this course?

Psychology 

• Benefit from our psychology department’s exciting multidisciplinary approach to experimental research, world-class facilities and highly respected teaching staff.
• Develop an advanced understanding of human psychology
• Learn to critically evaluate and integrate various psychological approaches into everyday situations 

Philosophy

• Gain an excellent grounding in philosophy while developing your essay-writing, critical analysis and debating skills
• Become clearer and more systematic in the expression of your own philosophical ideas and in the critical assessment of those of others
• Grow your own philosophical ideas at our student philosophy society and optional residential weekend.

Locations

• University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Careers

This programme gives you flexibility in your studies at university resulting in flexibility in your choice of career at the end of your course. You will acquire a much broader base of knowledge and experience that could really widen your employment opportunities. Graduates have found employment in diverse roles such as computer programmers, design engineers, management development specialists, accountants and project managers. Over 72% of our graduates had entered employment six months after graduation, and a further 17% had gone on to further study or training.

Teaching methods

You will develop your capacity for independent study and interpersonal skills on this programme.There is an emphasis on structured research, well-prepared written and verbal presentations and computer literacy.

You will experience a wide variety of teaching styles on the programme including:

• standard lectures
• seminars
• tutorials
• laboratories
• case studies
• individual and group projects

In your final year you will normally have the opportunity to hone your independent study and interpersonal skills by undertaking a major project or dissertation. 

Work Placement

You will have the opportunity to take a paid work placement or study abroad for a year between your second and final years, extending your degree from a three year to a four year qualification. You will not be required to pay tuition fees for this year and you will gain excellent experience that sets you apart from the crowd in the graduate jobs market.

Study Abroad

You can study in most European countries, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, South Africa, Russia, China, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Australia. You will study a programme of taught modules and/or project work with one of our partner universities, which will complement your studies on the Joint Honours Programme. You may need to study the language of your chosen country in your first and second years. Depending on where you choose to study you may be eligible to apply for certain grants, scholarships and financial support to help finance your study abroad experience.

Work Placement

A work placement provides you with an excellent opportunity to gain valuable experience and put your theoretical knowledge and understanding from your studies in to practice.

Our Careers and Placements service will help you to develop your CV and support you through the application process for a wide range of placement opportunities in a variety of sectors and organisations.

Fees & funding

Fees 2013

UK/EU Students

Full time: £8,500 for the 2013 academic year

International Students

Discounts are available for International students if payment is made in full at registration

View detailed information about tuition fees

Scholarships

• National Scholarship Programme

Find out more about scholarships for UK/EU and international students

Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

View detailed information about our accommodation

How to apply