BSc (Hons) Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience

Program Overview

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Course Details

The University of Bolton's BSc (Hons) Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience degree explores links between the human mind, behaviour and the biological structures and processes of the brain, offering you the opportunity to deepen and enrich your understanding of these interrelated fields. Focusing on human psychology, our expert and dedicated team will guide you to gain a sound understanding of mental and psychological processes and develop advanced knowledge of the neural, hormonal, and molecular structures and networks that underpin the mind.

This interdisciplinary course reflects the growing need for psychologists with a solid background in neuroscience. Knowledge of how the brain works can be vital to understanding mental processes. Throughout this degree, you'll have the opportunity to develop a deep understanding of the science and theories of psychology and neuroscience and gain a strong grounding in study and research methods. Together, we'll explore how the complex biological structures and networks of the brain shape and are shaped by our experiences.

With support from our department's dedicated, enthusiastic teaching staff and a technology-enriched learning environment, you'll investigate the interplay between mental and neural processes. We'll guide you as you develop your understanding of how the brain responds to and makes sense of the world. Furthermore, we'll and introduce you to the application of psychological and neuroscientific research techniques (for instance, electrophysiology and eye-tracker experiments). Interpersonal and transferable skills are vital, so we'll also challenge you to develop sought-after communication, problem-solving, numerical, analytical, self-management, and IT skills. Overall, our dedicated team will focus on helping you gain the skills employers value and a detailed understanding of psychology and neuroscience.

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Highlights

Our Psychology courses are ranked top 10 in the UK and first in Greater Manchester for student satisfaction for the fourth year running, according to the Complete University Guide 2022.

There is a strong focus on employability skills as well as academic success. Modules focusing on applied psychology and applied experience introduce these skills and a range of career options.

Throughout your degree, you'll have support from your personal tutor, part of our team of helpful and approachable academic staff who possess a diverse range of research interests.

We work hard to create a learning environment that offers innovative teaching and assessment methods and access to high-specification facilities such as our observation and psychophysiology laboratories, Neuroscan software and hardware, and Stim2 software.

We've invested in creating a learning environment that offers innovative methods of teaching and assessment using top-class facilities, such as our observation laboratory with video cameras, microphones and video editing equipment.

The course provides opportunities to achieve the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society, as well as additional qualifications (e.g. Test user certificate in occupational (ability) assessment).

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Key Features

Throughout the programme, we stress the applied nature of psychology, emphasising learning through experience to help prepare you for further professional qualifications in psychology, neuropsychology, or neuroscience.

We'll explain the principles and methods of psychological and neuroscientific research, including collecting, analysing, reporting, and interpreting data. During your final year, you'll have the opportunity to carry out an individual research study on a topic relevant to your psychology pathway.

Teaching is dynamic and varied, using lectures, small group work, discussion groups, case studies, demonstrations and laboratory workshops. You'll be encouraged to take responsibility for your own learning with opportunities for you to participate and gain practical experience.

Our highly-qualified staff, who have substantial experience in the field, deliver the course content. We aim to give you the best possible opportunity to achieve your true potential by offering personal supervision throughout the course.

By choosing to study with us, you'll have the chance to enjoy Bolton's many shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. Manchester, one of the UK's most multicultural and lively cities, is less than 20 minutes away by train. Not forgetting, the North West of England is renowned for its beautiful countryside, coastline and heritage. This makes Bolton an ideal base from which to explore some of the best cultural and outdoor activities the UK offers.

Program Outline

As a graduate of our BSc (Hons) Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience, you'll have a sound knowledge of human behaviour and research, statistics, and writing skills. This combination of skills can provide a foundation for many careers, particularly roles that involve working with a range of complex issues or data.

Upon successfully completing the course, you'll be able to demonstrate in-demand graduate skills such as high order analysis, research skills, problem-solving, interpersonal awareness, communication skills, the ability to develop arguments supported by relevant evidence, teamwork, and IT and data handling skills.

What can I do with this qualification?

Numerous career paths are open to BSc (Hons) Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience graduates with British Psychological Society (BPS) accreditation. The more traditional routes include clinical, forensic, occupational, educational, health, sport and exercise psychology and counselling, and teaching and research in academic departments and other institutions that require technical laboratory expertise. In addition, there are broader career options, including personnel management, research, sport and exercise, teaching, advice work, social work, law enforcement and healthcare. Many of our graduates have been successful in these fields of work. Psychology graduates can also progress to graduate schemes which are long term employment contracts, usually with a large corporate company offering advanced training packages. Postgraduate training and study are required to become a Chartered Psychologist. Due to course entry requirements, many psychology graduates spend a year or more getting work experience before embarking on postgraduate study. Postgraduate study is available in areas such as clinical, counselling, educational, occupational, sport and exercise, or forensic psychology.

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Alternative career options

Graduates can use the qualification to step into a range of other careers. Relevant experience and/or postgraduate study may be required for some of these roles. Possible careers include:

Clinical psychology

Pharmaceutical and bioscience companies

Laboratory technician

Probation work

Prison work

Careers advice

Social work

Counselling

Family mediation and support

Teaching and education

Nursing

Human resources

Police service

Market research

Play therapy

Advice work

Media and advertising

Communications

Sport and recreation

Brand consultancy