Overview
Psychology at Durham follows a scientist-practitioner model. You will design experiments, analyse behavioural data, and evaluate psychological interventions. Campus facilities include observation suites and statistical software labs. Modules span neuroscience, personality, psychopathology, and research methods. Ethical practice and inclusivity are woven through every course, preparing you for postgraduate training or applied roles in HR, healthcare, and education.
BSc (Hons) Psychology is taught as one award, not a list of unrelated modules. The published length is 3 years full-time, and the credit total is 360. Students move from Introduction to Psychology through Introduction to Psychology; Psychological Research Methods I; Biological Psychology & Neuroscience; Statistics for Psychology I; Social & Cultural Psychology; Historical & Conceptual Issues in Psychology, and finish on Honours Empirical Research Project & Dissertation.
Each course has a question, a method, and a submission. In this field, students read a finding and say what it shows about behaviour, and what it does not. Reading is one empirical paper, one methods critique, and an ethics note. The artefact a marker expects is a critical review that a non-specialist manager could follow.
The award is built so that a graduate can do the following in practice: Design ethically sound psychology experiments and analyse results Apply major theoretical frameworks to real-world behaviour Communicate psychological science to diverse audiences
Teaching assumes the student can read a source, attempt a problem before the seminar, and revise after feedback. Attendance at live seminars is part of the design. The capstone or final course must use the methods of the earlier courses; a project that ignores them does not pass.
This course does not confer a psychology, counselling, or clinical licence.
The pages for each course name the topics that are examined. Those topics are the syllabus. A brochure line is not a substitute for them.
Students may volunteer with Durham University's community wellbeing projects subject to safeguarding training.
Who This Programme Is For
- ✦Curious minds interested in human behaviour and mental health
- ✦Future clinicians, researchers, or organisational psychologists
- ✦Students planning BPS-accredited postgraduate study
Faculty spotlight
Dr. Sarah Whitmore leads Cognitive Psychology; Professor David Nkosi researches community mental health in Africa.
Programme Structure & Delivery
Coursework
Interactive modules, weekly readings, recorded and live seminars, and collaborative discussions with peers worldwide.
Assessment
Module assignments, proctored examinations, and capstone projects designed to demonstrate mastery of the field.
Learning Outcomes
- ✦Design ethically sound psychology experiments and analyse results
- ✦Apply major theoretical frameworks to real-world behaviour
- ✦Communicate psychological science to diverse audiences
- ✦Critically evaluate claims in popular psychology media
Career Pathways
- ✦Assistant Psychologist
- ✦HR Analyst
- ✦Research Assistant
- ✦Mental Health Support Worker
- ✦Further Study (MSc/MA)
Assessment
Modules are assessed through a published mix of coursework, applied projects, and examinations. Exam windows are announced in advance so students in other time zones are not forced into overnight sittings. Alternative arrangements are available where documented.
Curriculum
Year 1 — Foundations
PSY101Introduction to Psychology- PSY101-M1 · Constructs, measures, and what a score does not mean — Introduction to Psychology
- PSY101-M2 · Study design, bias, and sample limits — Introduction to Psychology
- PSY101-M3 · Evidence review and competing explanations — Introduction to Psychology
- PSY101-M4 · Ethics of inquiry and the duty not to overclaim — Introduction to Psychology
- PSY101-M5 · Application to one workplace or community setting — Introduction to Psychology
- PSY101-M6 · A critical review with method, finding, and limit — Introduction to Psychology
20 creditsPSY102Psychological Research Methods I- PSY102-M1 · Constructs, measures, and what a score does not mean — Psychological Research Methods I
- PSY102-M2 · Study design, bias, and sample limits — Psychological Research Methods I
- PSY102-M3 · Evidence review and competing explanations — Psychological Research Methods I
- PSY102-M4 · Ethics of inquiry and the duty not to overclaim — Psychological Research Methods I
- PSY102-M5 · Application to one workplace or community setting — Psychological Research Methods I
- PSY102-M6 · A critical review with method, finding, and limit — Psychological Research Methods I
20 creditsPSY103Biological Psychology & Neuroscience- PSY103-M1 · Constructs, measures, and what a score does not mean — Biological Psychology & Neuroscience
- PSY103-M2 · Study design, bias, and sample limits — Biological Psychology & Neuroscience
- PSY103-M3 · Evidence review and competing explanations — Biological Psychology & Neuroscience
- PSY103-M4 · Ethics of inquiry and the duty not to overclaim — Biological Psychology & Neuroscience
- PSY103-M5 · Application to one workplace or community setting — Biological Psychology & Neuroscience
- PSY103-M6 · A critical review with method, finding, and limit — Biological Psychology & Neuroscience
20 creditsPSY104Statistics for Psychology I- PSY104-M1 · The question, the unit of analysis, and data quality — Statistics for Psychology I
- PSY104-M2 · Features, baselines, and error — Statistics for Psychology I
- PSY104-M3 · Validation, leakage, and what the model must not decide — Statistics for Psychology I
- PSY104-M4 · Monitoring, drift, and human review — Statistics for Psychology I
- PSY104-M5 · Interpretation for a non-technical decision maker — Statistics for Psychology I
- PSY104-M6 · A supervised project with method, result, and limitation — Statistics for Psychology I
20 creditsPSY105Social & Cultural Psychology- PSY105-M1 · Constructs, measures, and what a score does not mean — Social & Cultural Psychology
- PSY105-M2 · Study design, bias, and sample limits — Social & Cultural Psychology
- PSY105-M3 · Evidence review and competing explanations — Social & Cultural Psychology
- PSY105-M4 · Ethics of inquiry and the duty not to overclaim — Social & Cultural Psychology
- PSY105-M5 · Application to one workplace or community setting — Social & Cultural Psychology
- PSY105-M6 · A critical review with method, finding, and limit — Social & Cultural Psychology
20 creditsPSY106Historical & Conceptual Issues in Psychology- PSY106-M1 · Constructs, measures, and what a score does not mean — Historical & Conceptual Issues in Psychology
- PSY106-M2 · Study design, bias, and sample limits — Historical & Conceptual Issues in Psychology
- PSY106-M3 · Evidence review and competing explanations — Historical & Conceptual Issues in Psychology
- PSY106-M4 · Ethics of inquiry and the duty not to overclaim — Historical & Conceptual Issues in Psychology
- PSY106-M5 · Application to one workplace or community setting — Historical & Conceptual Issues in Psychology
- PSY106-M6 · A critical review with method, finding, and limit — Historical & Conceptual Issues in Psychology
20 creditsYear 2 — Core Domains
PSY201Cognitive Psychology- PSY201-M1 · Constructs, measures, and what a score does not mean — Cognitive Psychology
- PSY201-M2 · Study design, bias, and sample limits — Cognitive Psychology
- PSY201-M3 · Evidence review and competing explanations — Cognitive Psychology
- PSY201-M4 · Ethics of inquiry and the duty not to overclaim — Cognitive Psychology
- PSY201-M5 · Application to one workplace or community setting — Cognitive Psychology
- PSY201-M6 · A critical review with method, finding, and limit — Cognitive Psychology
20 creditsPSY202Developmental Psychology Across Lifespan- PSY202-M1 · Constructs, measures, and what a score does not mean — Developmental Psychology Across Lifespan
- PSY202-M2 · Study design, bias, and sample limits — Developmental Psychology Across Lifespan
- PSY202-M3 · Evidence review and competing explanations — Developmental Psychology Across Lifespan
- PSY202-M4 · Ethics of inquiry and the duty not to overclaim — Developmental Psychology Across Lifespan
- PSY202-M5 · Application to one workplace or community setting — Developmental Psychology Across Lifespan
- PSY202-M6 · A critical review with method, finding, and limit — Developmental Psychology Across Lifespan
20 creditsPSY203Individual Differences & Personality- PSY203-M1 · Constructs, measures, and what a score does not mean — Individual Differences & Personality
- PSY203-M2 · Study design, bias, and sample limits — Individual Differences & Personality
- PSY203-M3 · Evidence review and competing explanations — Individual Differences & Personality
- PSY203-M4 · Ethics of inquiry and the duty not to overclaim — Individual Differences & Personality
- PSY203-M5 · Application to one workplace or community setting — Individual Differences & Personality
- PSY203-M6 · A critical review with method, finding, and limit — Individual Differences & Personality
20 creditsPSY204Research Methods & Statistics II- PSY204-M1 · The question, the unit of analysis, and data quality — Research Methods & Statistics II
- PSY204-M2 · Features, baselines, and error — Research Methods & Statistics II
- PSY204-M3 · Validation, leakage, and what the model must not decide — Research Methods & Statistics II
- PSY204-M4 · Monitoring, drift, and human review — Research Methods & Statistics II
- PSY204-M5 · Interpretation for a non-technical decision maker — Research Methods & Statistics II
- PSY204-M6 · A supervised project with method, result, and limitation — Research Methods & Statistics II
20 creditsPSY205Psychopathology & Mental Wellbeing- PSY205-M1 · Constructs, measures, and what a score does not mean — Psychopathology & Mental Wellbeing
- PSY205-M2 · Study design, bias, and sample limits — Psychopathology & Mental Wellbeing
- PSY205-M3 · Evidence review and competing explanations — Psychopathology & Mental Wellbeing
- PSY205-M4 · Ethics of inquiry and the duty not to overclaim — Psychopathology & Mental Wellbeing
- PSY205-M5 · Application to one workplace or community setting — Psychopathology & Mental Wellbeing
- PSY205-M6 · A critical review with method, finding, and limit — Psychopathology & Mental Wellbeing
20 creditsPSY206Applied & Occupational Psychology- PSY206-M1 · Constructs, measures, and what a score does not mean — Applied & Occupational Psychology
- PSY206-M2 · Study design, bias, and sample limits — Applied & Occupational Psychology
- PSY206-M3 · Evidence review and competing explanations — Applied & Occupational Psychology
- PSY206-M4 · Ethics of inquiry and the duty not to overclaim — Applied & Occupational Psychology
- PSY206-M5 · Application to one workplace or community setting — Applied & Occupational Psychology
- PSY206-M6 · A critical review with method, finding, and limit — Applied & Occupational Psychology
20 creditsYear 3 — Specialisations & Honours
PSY301Clinical & Health Psychology- PSY301-M1 · Pathway, payment, records, and the bottleneck — Clinical & Health Psychology
- PSY301-M2 · Incident, harm, cause, and the change that prevents a repeat — Clinical & Health Psychology
- PSY301-M3 · Indicators, privacy, and misuse of a report — Clinical & Health Psychology
- PSY301-M4 · Quality, safety, and the limit of the data — Clinical & Health Psychology
- PSY301-M5 · Service design for a named population — Clinical & Health Psychology
- PSY301-M6 · A service or informatics brief with evidence and a recommendation — Clinical & Health Psychology
20 creditsPSY302Neuropsychology & Brain Function- PSY302-M1 · Constructs, measures, and what a score does not mean — Neuropsychology & Brain Function
- PSY302-M2 · Study design, bias, and sample limits — Neuropsychology & Brain Function
- PSY302-M3 · Evidence review and competing explanations — Neuropsychology & Brain Function
- PSY302-M4 · Ethics of inquiry and the duty not to overclaim — Neuropsychology & Brain Function
- PSY302-M5 · Application to one workplace or community setting — Neuropsychology & Brain Function
- PSY302-M6 · A critical review with method, finding, and limit — Neuropsychology & Brain Function
20 creditsPSY303Forensic & Criminal Psychology- PSY303-M1 · Assets, trust boundaries, and the adversary model — Forensic & Criminal Psychology
- PSY303-M2 · Threat modelling and attack paths — Forensic & Criminal Psychology
- PSY303-M3 · Identity, logging, and segmentation — Forensic & Criminal Psychology
- PSY303-M4 · Detection, containment, and evidence — Forensic & Criminal Psychology
- PSY303-M5 · Residual risk and what a control does not stop — Forensic & Criminal Psychology
- PSY303-M6 · Defensive design, test plan, and after-action review — Forensic & Criminal Psychology
20 creditsPSY304Cyberpsychology & Digital Behaviour- PSY304-M1 · Assets, trust boundaries, and the adversary model — Cyberpsychology & Digital Behaviour
- PSY304-M2 · Threat modelling and attack paths — Cyberpsychology & Digital Behaviour
- PSY304-M3 · Identity, logging, and segmentation — Cyberpsychology & Digital Behaviour
- PSY304-M4 · Detection, containment, and evidence — Cyberpsychology & Digital Behaviour
- PSY304-M5 · Residual risk and what a control does not stop — Cyberpsychology & Digital Behaviour
- PSY304-M6 · Defensive design, test plan, and after-action review — Cyberpsychology & Digital Behaviour
20 creditsPSY305Honours Empirical Research Project & Dissertation- PSY305-M1 · Constructs, measures, and what a score does not mean — Honours Empirical Research Project & Dissertation
- PSY305-M2 · Study design, bias, and sample limits — Honours Empirical Research Project & Dissertation
- PSY305-M3 · Evidence review and competing explanations — Honours Empirical Research Project & Dissertation
- PSY305-M4 · Ethics of inquiry and the duty not to overclaim — Honours Empirical Research Project & Dissertation
- PSY305-M5 · Application to one workplace or community setting — Honours Empirical Research Project & Dissertation
- PSY305-M6 · A critical review with method, finding, and limit — Honours Empirical Research Project & Dissertation
40 creditsAdmission requirements
Academic entry
- A-levels BBB (or equivalent) in relevant subjects, or an Access to HE Diploma with Merit profile
- International Baccalaureate 28 points, or high school diploma with GPA 3.0/4.0 minimum
English language
- English proficiency: IELTS 5.5, TOEFL 46, or equivalent (waived for prior English-medium study)
Documents
- Personal statement (400–600 words) explaining your academic interests and career goals
- One academic reference from a teacher, tutor, or school counsellor
Research & interview
- Optional: portfolio or interview for creative and professional programmes
Programme questions
How long is the BSc (Hons) Psychology?+
The published duration is 3 years full-time. Teaching language: English. Actual time-to-complete depends on mode and any recognised prior learning.
Can I study this from my country?+
This is a fully online award. You study from your country. No student visa and no campus relocation are required.
What does it cost?+
Degree tuition for this award is published as £0 / tuition-free on the online pathway. Examination or administrative fees may apply at checkout — never an annual tuition invoice. Check the Fees page for any extras.
What are the entry requirements?+
Requirements are grouped on this page (academic, English, documents). Equivalent qualifications are considered. English may be waived after prior English-medium study.
How is the programme assessed?+
Assessment is typically a mix of coursework, projects, and examinations. Doctoral awards include a thesis or dissertation and an oral examination. Details sit in the programme specification and module outlines.
Will this award be recognised where I live?+
Recognition of the award for local employment, professional licence, or ministry attestation is decided by your employer or regulator. Durham University publishes verification pages for certificates. We do not claim automatic equivalence in every country.
How do I apply?+
Start an application on this website. Progress is saved from the first step. Admissions: admissions@durhm.co.uk.
