PSYCHOLOGY

Qualifying CertificateDepartment of Psychology, Social Work and Public Health

“Outstanding teaching, strong research and students happy to sing the praises of both.”

Sunday Times University Guide

COURSE OVERVIEWThe Qualifying Certificate in Psychology is designed to enable students with no previous experience of psychology in higher education to acquire sufficient knowledge and skills to study at FHEQ level 5/6 (second or third year of full-time study) in a UK university. Specifically, the certificate is offered as an entry qualification for the Oxford Brookes University MSc in Psychology, but it also meets the entry requirements for other universities’ psychology conversion courses (60 credit and accumulation transfer scheme (CATS) credits of undergraduate psychology modules). Students who successfully complete the Qualifying Certificate in Psychology, achieving average marks of 60% or above, will be given priority for places on the MSc in Psychology.

START DATESn September and January

COURSE DURATION

Full-time: n 1 semester (4 months)

Part-time: n 2 semesters (8 months)

Please note: as courses are reviewed regularly, the module list you choose from may vary from that shown here.

COURSE CONTENTTo pass with a Qualifying Certificate in Psychology you must pass four modules in psychology, of which a minimum of three must be at FHEQ level 4 (basic level):

n Foundations of Experimental Psychology This module provides an introduction to experimental psychology, its current theories, methods and findings. Topic areas covered include memory, learning, neuropsychology, perception and cognition. This module is available on campus in Semester 1 or as a distance-learning course in Semester 2.

n Introduction to Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology

An introduction to some basic psychological investigative procedures and the principles of data interpretation are given in this module. This module helps students understand how questions are formulated in psychology and how answers are sought.

And either:n Foundations of Social Psychology The module provides a general introduction to social

psychology. Social psychology emphasises the role of context, environment and culture. The module examines a host of different areas where individual, groups, crowds and societal groups engage.

or:n Foundations of Developmental Psychology This module provides an introduction to some key areas

in developmental psychology with an emphasis on social and emotional development from infancy to the end of childhood.

Typically you would take three of the above modules plus a more advanced module. If you intend to apply for the MSc in Psychology to meet the requirements for Graduate Basis for Registration of the British Psychological Society, it is recommended that the advanced module should be:

n Biological Psychology This module focuses on the biological basis of human

behaviour, relating actions and experiences to genetics and physiology. It will cover topic areas including sleep, emotion, language, memory, and schizophrenia.

The module will also discuss research methods such as brain imaging techniques, physiological recording, and the study of brain-damaged patients.

WHY IS OXFORD A GREAT PLACE TO STUDY THIS COURSE?Oxford has much to offer students of psychology. In addition to our own excellent libraries and resource centres, our postgraduate students have access to the world-renowned Bodleian Library and the Radcliffe Science Library. Our location amongst Oxford’s famed teaching hospitals offers opportunities for students to gain valuable experience through voluntary work.

Staff in psychology are currently undertaking research in areas such as:

n Developmental Psychology We have one of the largest groups of developmental

psychologists in the UK concerned with both typical and atypical cognitive, linguistic, social and motor development. We have a dedicated research space - Brookes Babylab - with observation room and

eye-tracking equipment.

n Literacy We are well known for our work on the development of

literacy particularly in children who struggle with reading and writing. This includes projects on children and adults with dyslexia and specific language impairment, deaf children and those diagnosed with DCD. Other studies have focussed on the development of handwriting assessments and the reading skills of adults in further education.

n Perception and Motion Analysis (PuMA) The Perception and Motion Analysis (PuMA) Research

Group have a particular interest in human movement and behaviour that relates to perception and action.

We have a dedicated lab which houses 3D motion analysis equipment.

n Applied Social Psychology The work of the Applied Social Psychology research

group involves the application of a variety of different research methods and theoretical perspectives to investigate a number of contemporary issues and social problems.

n Vision and Memory The vision and memory research group is a loose

affiliation of researchers interested in basic cognitive processes surrounding vision and memory.

Within this grouping there is selective expertise in the domains of visual attention, eye movements, visual short term memory, audiovisual speech perception, autobiographical memory and semantic and episodic memory contributions to self identity.

You will typically be expected to take part in psychology research studies as an integral part of your learning experience at Brookes.

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All information is correct at the time of going to press. Please refer to the University’s website for the most up-to-date

details.

Oxford Brookes University actively supports equality in education and welcomes applications from all people representative of our diverse community. For more details please visit www.brookes.ac.uk/services/hr/eod or phone +44 (0) 1865 485929.

COURSE FEES

Information on fees and financial support can be found on the website:postgraduate/courses/psych_cert/

SPECIFIC ENTRY REQUIREMENTSApplicants are welcome from any academic discipline. The admission requirement is a university degree.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

You should have English as your first language, or GCSE or O-level English Language, or an IELTS score of 7.0, or equivalent evidence of proficiency in English.

Please also see the university’s standard English language requirements.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR VISAS

If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Border Agency’s minimum language requirements as well as the university’s requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.

HOW TO APPLYApplications for the Qualifying Certificate in Psychology only should be made direct to the university. Application check list Your completed application should consist of:

n Application form, fully completed and signedn Personal statement (section 10 of application form)n One recent academic referencen Second reference (academic, employer or character reference)n Copy of degree certificate(s) and/or course transcriptsn English Language Certificaten Completed checklist Please return your completed application to the following address:

UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS OFFICEOxford Brookes UniversityHeadington, Oxford OX3 0BPUnited Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 1865 483040Fax: +44 (0) 1865 483983Email: admissions@brookes.ac.uk

FOLLOW US ON: n Facebookwww.facebook.com/brookes.psychology

n Twitterwww.twitter.com/brookeshls

n YouTubewww.youtube.com/OxfordBrookesSHSC

Visit our website at:www.psychology.brookes.ac.uk

3 December 2015