Course overview
Experience a taster lecture in Psychology
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Gain a deep understanding of psychology through active learning experiences to understand how psychological theory and concepts are applied in practice. Learn about the role and responsibilities of clinical and practitioner psychologists.
Develop extensive research skills to support your own psychological research.
Gain analytical, interpersonal and transferable skills beneficial in a variety of psychology and mental health-related careers.
Top reasons to study this course
- Skills for the future: 90% of applied psychology students agreed that their course has developed the knowledge and skills they think they will need for their future (National Student Survey 2024, tees.ac.uk/source).
- Develop clinical and practice skills: learn to assess mental and cognitive difficulties and how to bring these together to understand a person’s problems. You apply these to realistic case studies while developing evidence-based treatment plans.
- Learn from experts: you are taught by qualified practitioner psychologists with professional experience of working with people with mental health difficulties.
- Learning with local community impact: tackle real issues of interest to the local community around the University. This may involve projects around the environment and wellbeing, gambling-related harms or the impact of poverty on mental health.
- Employability: professional development opportunities and employability skills are embedded throughout the course through our links with local organisations and employers.
Course details
Course structure
Year 1 core modules
Bias-Busters - Thinking Critically About Psychology
You develop the skills needed to read and evaluate psychological information, theories and research papers. Exploring different cognitive biases, you examine common errors that people make when assessing arguments and evaluating evidence, and how to overcome widespread mistakes.
Engaging Minds: Psychological Issues and their Impact on The Future
You explore complex and contemporary debates in psychology and look to apply psychological research and theory to real-world problems.
Introduction to Mental Health and Psychopathologies
You focus on key concepts in mental health and explore some of the philosophical aspects of mental health, as well as looking at mental health and society.
Investigating Human Behaviour: An Introduction to Psychological Research Methods
You gain a foundation in psychological research methods and analysis.
The Psychology of (Almost) Everything
You study core psychological theories and perspectives including biological, social, individual differences, developmental and cognitive psychology.
Understanding Minds: Clinical Perspectives across the Lifespan
You are introduced to clinical psychology and the roles, responsibilities and ethics which underpin it.
Year 2 core modules
Applying Psychology to a Complex World
Employability and personal transferrable skills are developed whilst also working in partnership with local organisations.
You explore biological, neurological and evolutionary explanations for a series of identified psychological topics.
Cognition; investigating how we think, remember and understand
You focus on current cognitive psychological theories and their application, as well as experimental designs in the context of the study of cognitive psychology.
You critically examine competing perspectives, contemporary debates, historical perspectives and applied topics within developmental psychology.
You develop an understanding of non-experimental research in the context of the study of individual differences in psychology.
Treating Minds: Developing Clinical Plans for Anxiety and Depression
You develop the skills you need when working with anxiety or depression as a psychological therapist.
Final-year core modules
Leading Minds: Adaptation and Evaluation in Clinical Practice
You develop your clinical skills and awareness of the wider roles that clinical psychologists play in practice, and develop skills around service evaluation and audit; a key skill for assistant and clinical psychologists.
Deep dive into a topic linked to your chosen programme of study, selected by you in consultation with a dissertation supervisor.
and three optional modules
Advanced Research Methods
Applied Positive Psychology
Clinical Psychopathologies
Current Issues in Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Cyberpsychology
Employability and Work-Related Learning
You develop your graduate skills in preparation for employment in a professional context. You have the opportunity to gain academic credit based on your participation in work experience, a short period of professional activity or work-related learning relevant to the discipline or area of professional interest. You develop an understanding of graduate employment pathways, opportunities, reflective practice and experiential learning. The core focus of the module will be helping you prepare for a graduate career, developing an understanding of professional working contexts and enabling you to identify and evidence your own graduate skills.
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Interpersonal Violence and Trauma across the Lifespan
Nature Based Approaches, Meaning and Mental Health
Promoting Health, Preventing Illness
Psychology in Clinical Practice
You examine some of the areas of work of practitioner psychologists, structured around the core competencies inherent in training to become a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society. You engage with professional and ethical issues inherent in the design and development of research, training, consultancy and interventions in clinical settings, and are introduced to the requirements of postgraduate study in psychology.
Completion of this module does not provide eligibility for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society.
Sex, Crime and Behaviour
The Psychology of Everyday Self
This module provides an arena for you to study in depth one of the most intriguing and misunderstood aspects of psychological experience – that of selfhood.
It brings together a number of sub-disciplines that throw light on selfhood and subjective experience. Perspectives from social, developmental, and clinical psychology are combined in this module to offer you the opportunity to explore what selfhood means to you and how different constructs of selfhood can be enriching to the human experience.
Therapeutic Care and Meaningful Interactions
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
You learn in lectures, seminars and lab classes. Taught sessions are often interactive with group discussions and range of group/individual practical activities. In the first year, your learning is enhanced through an interactive online textbook which provides guided learning materials and online activities with built-in immediate feedback.
How you are assessed
You are assessed through online workbooks, blog posts, essays, portfolios, multiple choice questions exams, lab reports, annotated reading lists, online exams, written reports, dissertation proposal, dissertation, presentation of a selected clinical issue aimed at a health profession audience, formulation and treatment plan and service evaluation. Our assessments are designed to enhance inclusivity and maximise success.
Formative feedback is provided using a variety of approaches. This is designed to support learning and allow you to practice and prepare for your summative assessment tasks.
Our Disability Services team provide an inclusive and empowering learning environment and have specialist staff to support disabled students access any additional tailored resources needed. If you have a specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism, sensory impairment, chronic health condition or any other disability please contact a Disability Services as early as possible.
Find out more about our disability services
Find out more about financial support
Find out more about our course related costs
Entry requirements
2026-27 entry requirements
For Clearing 2025 entry requirements, please refer to the information in the box above.
A typical offer is 96-120 tariff points from at least two A levels, T level or equivalent. You must also have GCSEs in English and maths at grade 4 (grade C) or equivalent.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements.
International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country.
You can gain considerable knowledge from work, volunteering and life. Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credit for this which can be credited towards the course you want to study.
Find out more about RPL
Employability
Career opportunities
On successful completion with a 2.2 or above, you are eligible to apply for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership status with the British Psychological Society (www.bps.org.uk).
The skills and knowledge developed on this course are suited to postgraduate training to become a Chartered Psychologist in any area of psychology. You can also enter a broad range of careers including health and social welfare, the probation service, the prison service, the police, voluntary organisations and the public sector, as well as business-related roles.
Information for international applicants
Qualifications
International applicants - find out what qualifications you need by selecting your country below.
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Useful information
Visit our international pages for useful information for non-UK students and applicants.