Science on the mind.

PsychologyBSc (Hons)

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Welcome to Psychology at the University of Southampton

Psychology is the scientific study of human behaviour and mental functioning. Our degree aims to develop you as a highly competent, professional graduate. We also want to give you that wider outlook on the world which is part of the whole University experience.

As a research-led University, we can equip you with the analytic and other transferable skills favoured by employers. It also serves as a stepping stone onto a broad set of specialist postgraduate qualifications, to enable your career development.

Several things make Psychology at Southampton distinctive. Our undergraduate teaching is ranked 4th in the UK according to the Guardian University Guide (2009), and we are one of the highest of 22 UK universities to be recognised in the Centre for Higher Education (CHE) ranking of European graduate programmes. Our seal of approval is provided by the British Psychological Society, and our undergraduate programme was the first to receive unconditional accreditation in 2005. Notwithstanding these standards of approval, we are continually looking to the needs of our students through placement schemes, internships, and study-abroad opportunities.

For us, Psychology is not just ‘all in the mind’. We can help you put it into action as well.

www.southampton.ac.uk/psychology

Cover image: Massimo Brega, The Lighthouse/Science Photo Library

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1. Phasing out food colours. UK and EU rule on additives Psychology provides the facts on hyperactivity and food colouring Page 4

2. Gaining a clear view. Investigating eye movement What our eyes focus on reveals what our mind attends to Page 6

3. Why be a Psychologist Where can your degree take you? Page 8

4. From student to PsychologistStudying Psychology with us at Southampton Page 10

5. Why choose Southampton?Scenery, culture, maritime history and retail – some of Southampton’s attractions Page 12

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5In this prospectus Your first year 14

The second year 16

The final year 17

Alumni 18

Teaching, assessment 19 and support

Application process 20

Graduation and your 21 future career

Getting here 22

Find out more 23

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“Our research is making it easier for parents to avoid food that can cause hyperactive behaviour in their children.”Emeritus Professor, Jim Stevenson Psychology at Southampton

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The effect of artificial food additives on children is an important question which is of concern to many parents. Thanks to a study conducted by researchers, from Psychology and Medicine at Southampton, the UK and EU Governments have taken steps to reduce the impact of colours and to make food labelling clearer where additives are present.

Following the publication of the Southampton report in the Lancet, the Food Standards Agency, which protects the public’s health and consumer interests in relation to food, announced a voluntary phasing out of six artificial colours in food and drink.

Emeritus Professor from Psychology, Jim Stevenson, explains how the study has had far reaching impact across the UK and EU:

“In the UK around 200 retailers, manufacturers, caterers and restaurants now have product ranges free from the six colours. In the EU, manufacturers must now abide by a ruling to label their products if they contain the additives indicating they may cause hyperactivity in children.”

The study concluded that the mixtures of additives had a measurable effect on the activity and attention of some children in the general population. It’s now very difficult to find sweets, cakes, biscuits, squash drinks and other food and drink that have got these colours in them.

This study is just one example of the wide impact of research conducted by Southampton’s researchers.

Phasing out food colours. UK and EU rule on additives

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“Taking undergraduates through a broad syllabus that touches on many fascinating aspects of discovery in relation to human visual cognition is one of the best aspects of my work here at Southampton.” Professor Simon Liversedge Co-Director Centre for Visual Cognition

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Eye movement research at Southampton covers a rich and diverse landscape, and Centre for Visual Cognition Co-Director, Professor Simon Liversedge, is one of the University’s world-leading experts who offer dynamic, research-led teaching to undergraduates.

Simon leads a team of internationally respected scientists who are carrying out eye tracking research that can have diverse societal impacts, as he explains:

“Our research shows how it may be possible to aid airport security, facilitate reading among children with hearing impairment, or even speed up learning of a foreign language. For example, we are working with research institutions in China looking at how people read sentences in which there are no spaces and the words are character based. Our findings so far suggest that adding spaces between words can facilitate learning Chinese, which represents one of the hardest languages to master.”

The University has visiting speakers and research fellows, which means undergraduates benefit from keynote lectures given by experts on eye movements in special populations such as people with autism spectrum disorders, or hearing impairment.

Southampton is involved in many areas of exciting research. “Our discoveries and collaborations with colleagues at home and abroad feed into the teaching of undergraduates. Coming to Southampton will open up new horizons that you never even realised existed.”

Gaining a clear view. Investigating eye movement

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Everywhere there are humans, there is a need for psychologists. As the study of human behaviour, psychology covers a huge gamut of our everyday and exceptional abilities.

Why be a Psychologist?

A first degree in Psychology provides you with the necessary knowledge base for a broad spectrum of employment roles. It also provides you with a scientific approach and a capacity to question, test, evaluate, and formulate appropriate responses within each of these roles. It should not surprise you then that our graduates are employed in an extensive range of positions from human resources, defence, occupational, and educational settings through to client support roles with individuals across the lifespan who may present a diverse set of clinical, educational or health-related needs.

Our graduates leave us with a qualification that provides knowledge, transferable skills, and a questioning mind. In 2010, more than 93% of our graduates were working or went on to postgraduate education (Source: Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Survey), putting Psychologists from Southampton ahead of the curve in their career development.

BSc (Hons) Degree in Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of human behaviour and mental functioning. We provide you with the chance to study a broad range of topics within psychology including close relationships, the visual system, memory and child development. Addiction, pain management, autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sexual health and the treatment of diabetes. These are just a few of the areas in which our research teams specialise and which aid the wider community.

Our degree produces highly competent, motivated psychologists, bringing a selection of transferable skills to the marketplace, all gained in an enjoyable learning environment. The degree is approved by the British Psychological Society (providing Graduate Basis for Chartership) and our strength as a research-led School also allows us to equip our students with the analytic and reasoning skills favoured by employers. Our degree also serves as a starting point for more specialist training, much of which is offered in-house.

Our goal is to enable your learning, be this for the interest and passion in the subject, or to equip you with the skills you will need to work in a way that makes a real difference.

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Within Psychology, there are over 400 undergraduate students, and over 150 postgraduate students. All are taught within a well-supported learning environment in which library resources, state-of-the-art online resources, and friendly personal tutors help students achieve their potential.

Our academic staff are internationally respected in their fields and provide cutting-edge and world leading debate and instruction in their areas of expertise. From the very first weeks of study, our students learn with the most esteemed professors of Psychology and this, we believe, sets our degree programme apart from others in the UK and beyond. Our degree programme also allows a huge flexibility of study, providing a framework in Years 1 and 2, and then providing complete choice of study in Year 3 over both your study topics and your study environment. Notably, we are pleased to offer you the opportunity to study within the traditional academic environment, or

within a local school setting, or even within an International setting through our established Erasmus study exchange scheme. Our degree structure will help you to tailor your learning to your career ambitions, providing a perfect first step towards postgraduate training or employment.

The School provides an e-lecture theatre, allowing interactive learning, and an informal learning environment called iZone, designed to encourage teamwork and collaborative learning. In your final year you have access to the latest audio-visual, ERP (evoked response potential) and eye-tracking facilities for your research projects.

The University’s Hartley Library is one of the leading research libraries in the country and is situated within a few minutes walk from Psychology. This recently extended and refurbished Library provides access to books, electronic journals and a range of other resources to support your studies.

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We are one of the top research-led Schools of Psychology in the country, rated 8th in the UK for research power in the latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).

From student to Psychologist

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Southampton is a bustling centre of culture, sport, commerce and maritime history – and home to 40,000 students across two universities.

Facilities such as the stunning Harbour Lights art house cinema, the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton Football Club at St Mary’s, cricket at the Rose Bowl, a thirteen-screen cinema, and a large number of clubs, bars and restaurants, ensure that Southampton has something for everyone. In addition, the superb mix of high quality shopping centres like West Quay and traditional shops and boutiques have made the city one of the UK’s top ten retail destinations.

Southampton’s location on the south coast of England makes the city an ideal base to explore.

The city is just an hour from London, with excellent road and rail links to the rest of the UK and access to Europe via ferry and an international airport.

The south’s greenest city also borders the beautiful New Forest, the South Downs, and is a short trip from the sandy beaches of Bournemouth, Poole and the Isle of Wight.

The University and the Faculty

Southampton University is one of the top research-led universities in the UK with 25,000 students and 5,000 members of staff, from all over the world, in a diverse and vibrant community.

Why choose Southampton?

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Highfield Campus, the base for Psychology, has its own restaurants, bars, shop, travel centre, hair and beauty salon, theatre, concert hall, art gallery, cinema and night club. Facilities at the campus include a large sports complex with a 25-metre swimming pool and the Learning Centre within Hartley Library, equipped with the latest technology.

University halls of residence and campuses are linked by the University’s award-winning Uni-link bus service, which also connects the University with the city, railway stations and the airport – all a short bus ride away.

Psychology is an integral part of the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences which allows our researchers access to a wealth of additional expertise. Psychology also has fruitful and active links, notably with the School of Education,

facilitating PGCE training and with Law, facilitating work in the area of crime analysis. We also maintain rich links with Medicine through a strong interest in Neuroscience. This interaction opens more career pathways for Southampton psychology students as they can progress into a number of interdisciplinary areas for further study or for employment. These include graduate entry into medicine and mental health practice.

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The Psychology curriculum introduces you to essential tenets of psychological theory in the broad areas of cognition, and social and individual wellbeing. You will also be introduced to essential methods of research enquiry, and data analysis which will support your own research studies.

The Science of Psychology

Despite diverse sub-disciplines and approaches, scientific psychology is unified in its goal to understand human behaviour and mental events. This topic-based course focuses on the most important empirical findings and theories, and the current state of research in a number of psychological areas.

The Psychology of Social and Individual Wellbeing

Basic and applied research in all areas of psychological inquiry is linked with examples of everyday experience. In addition, you get the opportunity to take part in

ongoing psychological research in order to acquire an improved understanding of the methods, findings and relevance of modern psychological research.

Thinking Psychologically

You meet weekly with your personal tutor to develop your critical thinking, effective working within teams, peer-learning and discussion, and individual responsibility; transferable skills that are essential to a highly competent psychologist.

Research Methods and Data Analysis 1

As a science, psychology involves experimental work and this module introduces you to the methods used in conducting research and the techniques for analysing the results. These skills will enable both your critical evaluation of published work and your design and execution of your own innovative research studies.

In this year, you will learn the foundations that support Psychology as a Science, whilst at the same time having the opportunity to study broadly through 2 options drawn from any part of the University.

Your first year

Students will discover how humans perceive, learn and think about information through studying cognitive psychology

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Research Methods and Data Analysis 2

As an extension of the Research Methods module presented in the first semester, this course consolidates your understanding of statistical techniques and introduces computer-based statistical data analysis.

Psychological Research Laboratory 1

The course provides you with practical experience of the main methods within psychological research, together with experience in the analysis of real data, and the presentation of psychological findings.

Psychology optional units:

The Psychology of Attractiveness

Students will explore possible answers to questions such as: What constitutes physical and interpersonal attractiveness? How many types of love are there? Where are the main sources of attraction? What difference does attractiveness make to people’s lives? What makes people become friends? What triggers the start of romantic relationships? Why do people who once loved one another break up? Does evolution dictate the mating strategies that men and women adopt? What makes men or women fancy the opposite (or same) sex?

Classic Studies in Psychology

This unit provides a selective overview of critical studies in psychology. The topics are taken from the broad sweep of sub-disciplines within psychology, ranging from abnormal, behavioural cognitive, developmental, health, and neuropsychology. The aim of the unit is to demonstrate the enduring importance of classic studies, placing them in their appropriate historical context, and to demonstrate their continuing influence of the discipline.

Non-psychology options could include

Archaeology, Arts (Classics, Philosophy, Art), Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Demography, Economics, Electronics, Environmental Sciences, Geography, Geophysical Sciences, Geology, Language, Mathematics, Oceanography, Philosophy, Physics, Physiology, Politics, Social Problems, Sociology.

Course summaryFirst year Second year Third year

Core modules: Core modules: Core modules:

- The Science of Psychology

- Psychology of Social and Individual Wellbeing

- Research Methods & Data Analysis 1

- Research Methods & Data Analysis 2

- Psychology Laboratory 1

- Behavioural Neuroscience

- Developmental Psychology

- Individual Differences

- Language and Memory

- Perception

- Social Psychology

- Research Methods & Data Analysis 3

- Psychology Laboratory 2

- Literature Review

- Research Project

Non-core modules

- Thinking Psychologically

- Two options

Six optional modules: see www.southampton.ac.uk/psychology for further details

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You will cover material from six key research areas of psychology: Neuroscience, Developmental Psychology, Individual Differences, Cognitive Psychology, Perception, and Social Psychology. In addition, your training in research methods and practical tuition are extended in preparation for the final year project.

Behavioural Neuroscience

This unit aims to develop the themes introduced in the year 1 courses. The unit integrates the approaches and findings of biological psychology in an attempt to understand why people behave as they do.

Developmental Psychology

This unit introduces you to basic issues in developmental psychological research. This unit reviews the changes children go through in specific aspects of development, considers the major theoretical explanations for change and examines research methods used in psychology to explore and understand development.

Individual Differences

This unit covers the topics of personality and intelligence from an individual difference perspective, examining issues such as intelligence testing, personality constructs, and how theories should be developed and empirically tested.

Language and Memory

Language and Memory will give you an insight into the complementary areas of mental processing in which mental representations or memories underpin the semantic processing of human language and vice versa. This unit shows how quite discrete areas of enquiry are nevertheless intertwined.

Perception

Perception provides an understanding of the processes by which the visual and acoustic systems generate representations that can be used in high-level cognitive tasks.

Social Psychology

This unit is designed to familiarise you with the principal theories, concepts, and methods of social psychology. The material covers major topics related to social behaviour. The lectures and readings will acquaint you with both classic and current issues in social psychology, and will help you discover ways to apply social-psychological principles to your day-to-day experiences.

In addition to the above, students will follow the Research Methods and Data Analysis 3 course and undertake the Psychology Research Laboratory class. At the end of this year, all BPS topic areas will have been covered.

The second year

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In the final year, you will study eight modules. Two of these are compulsory and relate to the Empirical Project. The remaining six are optional seminar units and you can choose them from an available list. These seminar courses (for example Attachment and Personal Relationships, Forensic Psychology, Current Issues in Clinical Psychology) are based upon individual reading and open discussion of up-to-date research.

You will choose a topic for a literature review and a research project, which are completed under the supervision of one of our lecturers.

The research project is the culmination of three years’ research training and represents a valuable piece of psychological research, the best example of which will be awarded a prize at graduation.

The wide selection on offer in the final year allows you to select and tailor your own studies to areas of interest, or to potential career pathways.

The final year

Developmental psychology reviews the changes children go through at key stages of their development

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Alumni

Professor Lucy Yardley

Professor of Health Psychology

Research Interests: Chronic illness and perceptions of therapy

I chose to come to Southampton as an undergraduate student in the 1980s because it seemed a very welcoming place – and I liked it so much that I stayed to do a master’s degree and a PhD. I then went on to work for the Medical Research Council and later University College London, but I was delighted when I had an opportunity to return as a member of staff.

I never imagined when I was a student that I would become the first female Head of Psychology, and I could never have achieved this without the superb guidance and support I was provided with throughout my time in Southampton. See Lucy’s web profile on www.psychology.soton.ac.uk/people/academic.php

Cara Davies

Course: BSc Psychology

Year of Graduation: 2010

I graduated in 2010, having thoroughly enjoyed my degree at Southampton. What made my experience distinctive was the opportunity to study in Amsterdam for a term during my final year. This is part of the Erasmus scheme in which Southampton students can study in Europe, and European students can study in Southampton.

For me, it provided a fantastic opportunity to live and study in another country, making my CV stand out, and making my degree more memorable and valuable for the experience. See Cara’s story on: www.southampton.ac.uk/psychology/about/ our_students/cara_davies_erasmus.page?

Professor Lucy Yardley’s research has focused on the experience of dizziness and vertigo, and the links between balance and anxiety disorders

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Teaching, assessment and support

We recognise the value of learning through hands-on experience so credit is given in all years for participating in our own ongoing psychological research. In addition, we prize and protect the opportunity for small-group teaching with academic tutors. Each student has a personal tutor from whom they can seek advice throughout the degree. Tutors can help you with module selection, personal difficulties and study problems, and personal tutors have a major role to play in monitoring your progress during the degree.

To ensure our students are fully supported during their first year, our undergraduates meet with their personal tutor at least three times during the first term in addition to the weekly meetings of Thinking Psychologically.

Highfield Campus also has the essential support services expected within a top-class University. These services are focused around the new Student Services Centre. On a more practical level, there are several banks, a post office and a bookshop.

Modules are taught via a mixture of lectures, tutorials and interactive learning sessions. Assessment varies between modules with a combination of exams and coursework to suit the material. Other modules are assessed entirely on coursework, such as modules on research skills in years 1, 2 and 3.

The Hartley Library, Highfield Campus

Applications process There are a number of scholarships that Psychology offers to international students as well as UK/EU students. All applications must be submitted via UCAS before the closing date of 15 January each year. Our normal entry requirements are AAB (340 points) from 3 A-levels, or ABBB (420 points) from 4 A-levels. We do not specify particular A-level subjects but a mix of the sciences and the arts can provide good preparation. General Studies cannot contribute towards your entry requirements; however, it can be taken into consideration as a fourth A-level. Candidates are expected to possess GCSE or O-level Mathematics (or equivalent) with a minimum of a C grade.

Mature students

Applications from mature students are welcomed; we require evidence of recent successful study completed in the last two years equivalent to A-level standards.

International students

We are a multi-national School and welcome applications from all people with the relevant qualifications. Equivalent qualifications to A-level will be considered. Studying in a second language is challenging and we do require a minimum level of proficiency. However, help and support with language skills is guaranteed alongside your degree studies.

The International Office runs an orientation programme prior to the start of the academic year – see www.southampton.ac.uk/internationalThe Students’ Union also runs several thriving overseas student societies.

Erasmus exchange

We offer the chance for international exchange visits with partner universities with the Erasmus schemes. See http://www.southampton.ac.uk/international/erasmus/index.html for further details.

Equal opportunities

The School and the University are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive working and learning environment that values the diversity of our students, respects their differing needs and fosters their active participation.

Visit days

Once provisional offers have been made, prospective students and their guests will be invited to attend Psychology Visit Days. During these visits members of the academic team will outline the course in more detail, and applicants and guests will be shown around the School facilities and the University. Current undergraduates will be available to answer questions from a student perspective.

Find out more

For further information regarding undergraduate admissions contact Tina Birring email: tb@southampton.ac.uk or phone 023 8059 2619

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Graduation and your future career

The University provides a well-resourced Careers Destinations Service and there is a very wide range of careers which can be pursued by graduates with a degree in psychology.

Employers of our graduates include:

Royal Navy

HSBC

Ernst & Young

Metropolitan Police

British Telecom

Major universities and colleges

Hampshire Partnerships

Hampshire County Council

NHS Trust

Jobs and courses our graduates are doing:

Practice Manager

Teacher Training

Graduate Trainee (NHS)

Royal Naval Officer

Post-Graduate Diploma in Law

Mental Health Support Manager

Careers Advisor

Assistant Psychologist Occupational Psychology

Learning Support Worker

Events Coordinator Clinical Psychology

Social Worker

Residential Childcare Worker

Degree in Midwifery

Special Needs Teacher

Thinking about a postgraduate career in psychology?

Psychology runs several postgraduate qualifications:

Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

MSc in Health Psychology

MSc in Research Methods and Data Analysis

PhD in Clinical Psychology

PhD in Educational Psychology

PhD in Health Psychology

PhD in a chosen research area

Your time at university provides you with opportunities to acquire new skills and experiences that will enrich your life, enhance your CV and prepare you for future employment.

Research within the University of Southampton research Centre for Visual Cognition has developed a set of perceptually uniform colour scales, to enhance the perceived changes between colours in the colour spectrum in graphs and geophysical data.

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Getting here

By RoadM3 from London − exit M3 at Junction 14, following signs for Southampton (A33). Follow the A33 into Bassett Avenue and follow map/signs to University campuses.

M27 from East or West − leave M27 at Junction 5 (Southampton Airport) and follow map/signs to University campuses.

By RailFast trains from London and Bournemouth/Weymouth stop at Southampton Central and Southampton Airport Parkway. Trains from Portsmouth and Bristol/South Wales stop at Southampton Central. There are usually taxis at both stations.

Rail/Bus ConnectionsBus connections from the airport and both Southampton stations run regularly. For information and advice on how and where to get buses to the campus and the centre of town contact the Uni-link bus service on +44 (0)23 8059 5974.

By FerryRed Funnel provides passenger/vehicle ferry services between Southampton and East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, and a high-speed passenger service between Southampton and West Cowes. There are bus links from the ferry terminal to the University.

By CoachNational express coaches run to and from Southampton coach station close to Central Station.

By AirSouthampton has its own international airport, which is only a few minutes from the University by taxi or bus. As well as domestic flights, there are flights to Europe and the Channel Islands.

For international students arriving at Heathrow or Gatwick airports, we participate in a ‘meet and greet’ service. (Information about this will be sent in your pre-arrival pack.)

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Find out more

Disclaimer

This document is for information purposes only and is prepared well in advance of publication. While the University of Southampton uses all reasonable efforts to ensure that all statements, information and data contained in this document are accurate as at the date of publication, it reserves the right to make revisions or modifications to such statements, information or data at any time and accepts no responsibility for the consequences of any such revisions or modifications. © University of Southampton 2011

This document can be made available, on request, in alternative formats such as electronic, large print, Braille or audio tape, and in some cases, other languages.

Southampton has excellent travel networks, providing easy access to and from the University.

Contact us:

PsychologyUniversity of SouthamptonHighfieldSouthamptonSO17 1BJTel: +44 (0)23 8059 2619

www.southampton.ac.uk/psychology tb@southampton.ac.uk +44 (0)23 8059 2619

International enquiries: global@southampton.ac.uk +44 (0)23 8059 9699