BSc (Hons) Psychology Bachelor's degree at Durham University
BSc (Hons) Psychology at Durham University. Sitting within a Russell Group university, the course draws on an environment where research activity shapes teaching, so students encounter current thinking and methodological debate as part of their everyday study rather than as an…
About this course
BSc (Hons) Psychology is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at Durham University, based in Durham Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Psychology (non-specific) graduates from this provider, 87% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 51% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £26,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Psychology, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 50; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 87% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 97% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 5 modules
- Introduction to Psychology 1: Cognitive and Biological PsychologyCompulsory
Module details
introduces the core areas of cognitive psychology and biological psychology
- Introduction to Psychology 2: Developmental and Social PsychologyCompulsory
Module details
introduces the core areas of developmental psychology and social psychology
- Introduction to Psychological ResearchCompulsory
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introduces key research methods and statistical techniques used in psychology
- Academic Skill Development for PsychologyCompulsory
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introduces the fundamental skills required for studying Psychology at degree level using a small-group teaching approach. The skills covered will include aspects of written and oral communication in line with psychological literacy skills, such as summarising articles, critical evaluation, and presentations
- Careers in PsychologyOptional
Module details
allows you to acquire a broad foundation of knowledge and understanding of what people with psychology degrees do both within an academic context and more generally, and to acquire an understanding of the transferability of skills
Year 2 5 modules
- Cognitive and Biological PsychologyCompulsory
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develops an understanding of theoretical, methodological and empirical approaches in cognitive and biological psychology, exploring topics such as memory, decision making, learning, and perception
- Social and Developmental PsychologyCompulsory
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develops an understanding of research and theory in some of the key areas of developmental psychology. It also examines the contribution that social psychology has made to an understanding of the relations between people and social structures involving people
- Differential and Clinical PsychologyCompulsory
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develops an understanding of theory and research in differential psychology, the study of psychological similarities and differences between people, as well as an understanding of theory and research in atypical and clinical psychology
- Contemporary and Conceptual Issues in PsychologyCompulsory
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develops skills in researching and communicating a range of contemporary and conceptual issues in psychology, and provides an opportunity to discuss psychological research in a small-group teaching context
- Advanced Research Methods and StatisticsCompulsory
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provides experience of the practical application of a wide range of research and statistical methods used in psychological research, and develops presentation skills necessary for communicating research aims and findings
Year 3 1 modules
- Psychology DissertationCompulsory
Module details
In your final year, you will design and carry out your own research project and submit this as a 7,000-word dissertation. You will formulate the research question, employing appropriate methods of investigation and analysis, and interpret the results in light of relevant empirical work and psychological theory
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
The curriculum progresses from foundational topics in the first year towards more specialised study as students advance through the degree. Across the three years, teaching draws on areas such as Clinical, Cognitive, Forensic, Occupational, Developmental and Health Psychology, alongside Neuroscience and Research Methods, giving students exposure to how psychological science is applied across different contexts and populations. Research Methods runs as a consistent thread rather than a one-off module, reflecting the course's grounding in evidence and data rather than opinion. Students are expected to engage critically with published research, design and carry out their own studies, and analyse data using appropriate statistical approaches. As the degree progresses, there is scope to focus more closely on particular areas of interest within psychology, building towards independent project work that draws together theoretical knowledge, methodological skill and analytical reasoning.
Who it's for
This course suits someone who is genuinely curious about why people think, feel and behave as they do, and who wants that curiosity tested against evidence rather than left as speculation. It will appeal to those who enjoy asking questions, are comfortable with numbers and data alongside reading and writing, and who don't mind their assumptions being challenged by research findings. Studying here will feel like a steady build in both knowledge and rigour: early enthusiasm for the subject needs to be matched by a willingness to get to grips with statistics, study design and the discipline of academic writing. It suits students who can work independently over time, are organised enough to manage a research project across a full year, and who want a degree that keeps options open, whether that means further specialist study, training in a professional psychology field, or applying analytical and research skills more broadly. Most entrants arrive with A-levels or equivalent, typically in the 160–175 UCAS tariff range, so it suits those who have shown consistent academic performance through school or college, though this reflects the profile of recent entrants rather than a fixed requirement.
Careers & job market
Nationally, Graduate Outcomes data for Psychology courses shows that 85% of graduates were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with 45% of working graduates in highly skilled roles or further study. These figures relate to Psychology graduates across the UK rather than to any single university, and they describe typical patterns rather than guaranteed outcomes for any individual. National LEO earnings data for Psychology graduates shows starting salaries (15 months after graduation) typically ranging between £22,250 and £28,000, moving to between £19,125 and £27,000 after three years, and between £22,950 and £32,400 after five years, again, national figures reflecting the spread across graduates rather than a promise tied to this course. Separately, 85% of students nationally continue their studies past the first year, either still enrolled or having completed, indicating that most who begin a psychology degree stay the course. Graduates commonly go on to further specialist training in areas such as clinical, occupational or forensic psychology, or apply their research and analytical skills in fields where evidence-based thinking about human behaviour is valued.
University & format
Durham University is a public, Russell Group institution founded in 1832, with around 19,520 students in total. The BSc (Hons) Psychology degree is studied full-time over three years on the Durham Campus, taught in English, and leads to a Bachelor's degree with Honours (UCAS code C800). As a Russell Group member, Durham is part of a group of research-intensive universities, and its teaching quality is recognised with a Silver award in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
Names detected beside accreditation or recognition copy on the provider course page; verify the route and intake.
Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 95% |
| an Access course | 2% |
| Other | 2% |
| a Baccalaureate | 1% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code C800). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at Durham University →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Psychology graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £26,000 | £22,000 – £30,000 | 50 |
| 3 years after | £29,000 | £23,000 – £38,000 | 125 |
| 5 years after | £37,000 | £28,500 – £53,500 | 135 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 50; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Assistant / Graduate roleAssistant psychologist or research · 0–2 yrs
- 2Trainee / PractitionerDoctoral training or applied role · 2–6 yrs
- 3Qualified PsychologistChartered / HCPC-registered · 6–10 yrs
- 4Senior / ConsultantLeading services or research · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Psychology nationally
National figures for Psychology graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 50; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Psychology courses at the same study level.
Compared with 758 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 160; response rate: 56%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Psychology graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Survey scoring and data cleaning
- Literature-search summaries
- Routine report scaffolding
- Standard statistical runs
More human than ever
- Clinical judgement and formulation
- Empathy and the therapeutic relationship
- Designing and interpreting studies
- Ethics with vulnerable people
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Psychology graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- The NHS
- Schools
- Research & consultancies
- Charities
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Psychology graduates.
Psychology GraduateAcademicsPsychology Graduate: ABA Support for AutismAxcis Education RecruitmentPsychology Graduate for SEND school LincolnAspire PeoplePsychology GraduateTradewind RecruitmentPsychology Graduate TA – Special Needs School ExperienceStepintoteachingPsychology Expert Witness Lead: QA & TrainingSomek & AssociatesIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
87% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £26,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 9.0 out of 10: NSS 85.4% · in work or study 87% · continued 97%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of Durham
Psychology across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Durham Campus
698 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Psychology right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Durham University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Durham University; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Durham University’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Durham University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Durham University
Psychology at other universities
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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