Psychology

Course summary

Psychology is the scientific study of the brain and behaviour and will introduce you to a host of interesting theories about why we behave as we do. The British Psychological Society describes it as ‘one of the best examples of all-round education’. If you’re curious about other people’s thought processes and emotional reactions to events, this could be a fascinating subject to study. What you’ll study You’ll investigate the influence of peers and authority figures on our behaviour; how our memories work and why they’re important; the impact of early childhood on later life; and the causes and treatments for various psychological conditions. Later in the course, you’ll explore an area that particularly interests you, choosing from topics like aggression, schizophrenia and gender. To support your studies, you’ll take part in trips to We The Curious, The Wild Place and national student conferences. Some students also run a psychology club for younger pupils, consolidating their knowledge by explaining it to others. Studying Psychology will give you important transferable skills – from testing experimental hypotheses to debating the merits of different theories. You’ll develop strong evaluative expertise, an appreciation of scientific methodology, and the ability to interpret and present information in a range of appropriate forms. You’ll find these useful in many different degree courses. Looking further ahead, if you’re considering a career in chartered psychology as a clinical, forensic, educational or sports psychologist, Psychology A-level is an excellent starting point.