Psychology

Course summary

Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and behaviour. It looks at how we think, why we act in the way we do and the way in which we are influenced by our social surroundings, our biological make-up and our upbringing. Psychology fascinates students, challenging their preconceptions about our mental life and equipping them with a deep understanding of why humans behave in the way they do. Additionally, the subject is rooted in the rigour of experimental research and scientific discovery. An A Level in Psychology can complement a wide variety of areas and subjects for further study. For medicine, biomedical science and dentistry it can be the ideal complementary subject for expanding a student’s skill-set, such as critical thinking, which is extremely useful for further study, as well as the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT). For some students, it awakens an interest, of which they were previously unaware, and they go on to study Psychology in all its various forms (e.g. Developmental, Social, Forensic and Cognitive Neuroscience) at University. These degrees can lead students on to careers in Clinical Psychology, the media, health or sports science. For others, an A Level in Psychology instils academic abilities in research, analysis, communication and organisation that can provide an excellent foundation for University courses such as Law, History and Politics.