Teaching and assessment
You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
Teaching format
Teaching during the first two years is mainly by lectures, seminars, practicals and group work, with personal supervision by members of the academic staff. In Years 3 and 4, we place a particular emphasis on independent learning to equip you with skills that will be useful in a wide range of employment contexts and to provide a strong background for subsequent PhD or professional training.
Lectures
Our lectures are given in state-of-the-art lecture theatres that are equipped with multiple screens for presentations, audio amplification and lecture recording facilities. Interactive lectures that let you instantaneously respond to questions and have your say using your smartphone, are a standard feature of our teaching. Lecture slides are typically available before each lecture and are usually recorded for future revision.
Seminars
Seminars are an important part of the course. During these you'll focus on a task in small groups, led by a member of staff.
Practicals
You'll also have the chance to carry out psychological experiments, and we have a computer laboratory dedicated to this. All aspects of experimentation are covered, from design issues through to the carrying out and analysis of findings.
Timetabled activities
In your first year, you can expect:
| Lectures |
8-10 hours per week |
| Tutorials |
1-2 hours per week |
| Practicals |
4-5 hours per semester |
These figures are representative of a typical week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.
Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.
In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during semesters. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.
Teaching location
The Department of Psychology is located on Campus West.
Most tutorials, seminars, practical work, staff offices and laboratories are in our purpose-built psychology building.
About our campus
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can use the fast and frequent bus service. Take a campus tour.
Assessment and feedback
Year 1 marks do not contribute to the final degree class awarded. However, you must pass the modules in Year 1 in order to progress to Year 2, and supervisors may refer to marks gained in Year 1 when writing references. Exams are usually multiple choice format. Assessed coursework in the form of essays, practicals, and related tasks provides valuable feedback towards optimal performance in Year 2 and beyond.
Year 2 is examined through exams (mainly multiple choice) held at the end of each module, and assessed coursework in the form of essays and practical reports. Progression from Year 2 to Year 3 of the MSci requires an average mark of 55% in Year 2.
Year 3 includes a literature survey, a mixture of advanced optional and pathway-specific modules, a module in Advanced Research Methods and Year 3 Research Project.
Year 4 includes 3 further advanced modules, and an extended and in-depth research project.
Year 2 contributes 25% of the final degree mark, Year 3 contributes 37.5% and Year 4 contributes 37.5%.
