BSc (Hons) Psychology Bachelor's degree at Lancaster University

Cognition is the mental processes underlying our ability to process and perceive the world around us. Social psychology offers a way to understand ourselves and the social world around us. You will learn about classic paradigms and experimental approaches, covering key historical and conceptual topics within these fields of psychological research. You will be provided with a comprehensive overview of core theories and findings as well as explore how theories and findings extend beyond the laboratory setting into the real world. You will also see how personality, individual differences, and intelligence impact our mental processes and are expressed in our thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

Your first theory module will introduce you to two key areas of study in psychology, developmental psychology and neuropsychology, plus the underpinning concept of individual differences. Developmental Psychology looks at change over time, using theories of learning (such as those from Piaget and Vygotsky) as a focus for discussion. Neuropsychology takes us into the realms of the brain and mind, where you will begin to understand the complex interplay between the brain and behaviour in real-world contexts. You will learn to use primary sources of knowledge - peer-reviewed journal articles presenting scientific theory and evidence - to enrich your thinking and talking about psychology and dev

How do we decide whether two groups differ in a psychological process or behaviour? Further your understanding of rigorous and transparent scientific practices and develop your thinking of real-world issues. Using modern techniques, learn more about how to collect, present and analyse data. You will be introduced to key concepts and practices of research design and data analysis through lectures. Practical laboratory classes will teach you how to design studies, handle data, perform statistical analyses and report your findings. The laboratory classes will be hands-on, giving you direct experience with all stages of a research project, including the use of specialised software. Topics covere

How do we determine what is a true finding in psychological science? How do we know which theories are well supported by evidence? This module introduces you to rigorous and transparent scientific practices. You will develop systematic ways of thinking about and approaching real-world issues. Using modern techniques, you will learn how to collect, present and analyse data. We will introduce key concepts and practices of research design and data analysis through lectures. Practical laboratory classes will teach you how to design studies, handle data, perform statistical analyses and report your findings. The laboratory classes will be hands-on, giving you direct experience of all stages of a

Explore the dynamic field of Criminology where you will encounter a range of theoretical perspectives and debates that inform the discipline. Do you think that criminals are born bad? Or do they learn this behaviour from their families or as a product of where they grow up? We’ll debate it all! You will study both positivistic and social analyses of crime and criminalisation and learn to evaluate criminological theory in relation to a range of intellectual movements. You’ll evaluate these theories in relation to academic scholarship, empirical evidence, popularity and application in crime policy and practice, and in relation to their geographical, social, cultural and historical locations.

Criminology and Law are two of the disciplines that underpin our criminal justice system (CJS). You will explore the interplay between these subjects by learning about the concepts, principles and processes of the CJS in England and Wales. You will gain an understanding of the structure and organisation of the CJS then find out about the different roles, functions and working practices of the main agencies that operate within it. The notions of ‘justice’ and ‘injustice’ will feature heavily in this module. As a student of Criminology, you will have an opportunity to think critically about the powers and decision-making processes of the CJS, as well as those that are subject to them, as poten

In order to ask questions about the way language works in society, how it connects with the mind/brain or how it is acquired by computers, you first need to know something about the foundational elements of language. This module will introduce you to the building blocks of human language. You will learn about sounds in language, how they are pronounced and how they can be combined to form words. We will teach you about the way words themselves are structured. You’ll also explore how language puts words together to build sentences of different types and how sentences express meaning, in isolation and in context. By the end of the module, you will be familiar with the essentials of phonetics,

Language is intimately connected with both mind and society. Learn about the relationship between language and the mind as you explore questions central to linguistics such as: how does a child acquire their first language? To what extent does the language we speak influence the way we think? And what effect can brain damage have on language? You will also examine the different ways in which language intersects with society, with an introduction to the foundations of sociolinguistics and discourse analysis. You’ll also explore how communication works across different cultures and how language planning and policies can shape the world. As the module progresses, you will investigate the way mi

You have the option to study a language which we teach at three different levels depending on your ability. We offer beginners, progressing and becoming independent in: Chinese French German Italian Spanish By the end of the year, you’ll be able to engage with basic everyday life situations such as describing your environment, express preferences and discuss past events or future plans in simple terms. In seminars you will cover a range of oral, aural, written, and reading skills in an integrated way that embraces techniques of linguistic mediation and the plurilingual contexts of each language. The study of the cultural, social and historical context is embedded in the language learning, un

This module introduces you to the fundamental neural principles underlying cognition and behaviour, with particular emphasis on perceptual, cognitive, and emotional processes. You will gain basic knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, and functions of the central and peripheral nervous systems, alongside a range of theories and neuroscientific research methods. Develop your analytical and critical thinking skills by engaging in scientific literature and making comparisons across different theories and methods. By the end of the module, you will understand the methods used to study the nervous system and be able to describe the general relationships between brain structure and function. Topics

Delve deeper into the fascinating world of cognitive psychology. You’ll uncover how the brain processes information, how we remember, learn, focus our attention and make sense of what we see and hear. Topics include everything from memory and categorisation to face recognition, auditory processing and how our senses work together. Explore landmark studies and cutting-edge research that reveal how our minds shape behaviour. This is your chance to engage with the science behind how we experience the world. You’ll sharpen your ability to analyse research, evaluate evidence, and make sense of complex ideas. It’s a key step in understanding human behaviour and in building your own research and cr

Gain a solid foundation in developmental psychology, exploring it from a range of theoretical and methodological perspectives. Through lectures and seminars, you'll dive into key topics in developmental science from prenatal development through childhood and adolescence. You'll explore motor, perceptual, cognitive, communicative, social, emotional and cultural development. Along the way, you'll tackle fundamental questions: What makes infants such powerful learners? How do different capacities emerge and develop? And what happens when development takes an atypical path? You'll also engage with major theoretical debates that have shaped our understanding of these processes.

How do we design experiments to ensure they answer the specific research question(s) we propose? How would data that is derived from such experiments be analysed? Uncover advanced concepts that are important to consider when designing experimental studies. We will introduce you to advanced statistical techniques and key concepts that can be used to analyse data from experimental research studies. In the labs you will gain hands-on experience in developing experiments, preparing data for analysis, and analysing complex datasets. Topics will include designing complex experimental studies, important ethical considerations when conducting research, how to prepare “messy” data for analysis and ho

How do you explore human behaviour and experience it without conducting experiments? In this module, you’ll learn how to design, carry out, and analyse non-experimental studies that offer valuable insights into people’s thoughts, feelings and actions, particularly through language and observation. You’ll develop core skills in qualitative methods such as interviews and thematic analysis and discover how to combine these with quantitative approaches in mixed methods research. You’ll also explore how to analyse complex numerical data from observational studies using advanced statistical techniques, including regression. Lectures will introduce you to the key concepts, while lab sessions give y

Explore the rich and thought-provoking world of social psychology. You’ll dive into topics like social influence, leadership, prejudice, intergroup conflict, social cognition, attitudes, attribution, and identity uncovering how our thoughts, behaviours and relationships are shaped by the social world around us. But this isn’t just about theory. You’ll also examine how social psychology is shaped by cultural and historical context, question the methods used in research, and think critically about how knowledge is produced and how it’s used. Through engaging lectures and interactive seminars, you’ll build a strong set of academic skills. Learn how to use technical language, connect complex ide

For your project, you’ll carry out an independent piece of psychological research, guided by a dedicated supervisor. Together, you’ll decide on a research question that reflects your interests, so no two projects are the same. You can use a variety of methods, depending on the topic you choose. This is your chance to bring together everything you’ve learned throughout your degree and make your own contribution to psychological research.

Discover what clinical psychology is, learn about key theoretical frameworks and treatment approaches, and develop an understanding of how research is related to practice. You will describe and discuss prominent (neuro-)psychological disorders affecting different populations. This may include disorders such as schizophrenia, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, developmental disabilities, selected eating disorders and mood and anxiety disorders. You will discuss these disorders in terms of their assessment, cause, research background and interventions. You will be introduced to issues in professional training and practice and gain a realistic appreciation for the work of clinical psychologists. By the

Explore the ‘ins and outs’ of cognitive science, integrating cutting-edge research with practical applications. Gain insight into experimental research from the cognitive revolution onwards, work which has produced ever more sophisticated models of human behaviour. You will also investigate the world outside the cognitive science laboratory, building your understanding of a variety of behaviours and events, applying core insights from within.

Building on earlier core perspectives, you will engage critically and constructively with social psychological research and theory. Explore a wide variety of applied topics currently being researched by social psychologists. You will develop your ability to evaluate and summarise the current state of knowledge (theory and evidence) on a given topic and apply this knowledge constructively to address real-world issues.

Delve into a contemporary psychological analysis of cyber behaviours and the digital footprint created by, and used in the service of, human activity. You will integrate and contrast traditional psychological concepts with online behaviours that inevitably show both commonalities and differences. You will learn about methodologies for cyber research and the theories and tools that cyber psychology has created. You will also explore “what does it mean to be a human in a ubiquitous digital environment?”.

Explore how psychology can help in forensic and investigative settings, including police investigations and dealing with suspects in court rooms. You will learn about offender profiling, lie detection, investigative interviewing and interrogation, while gaining an appreciation for what can be learned from studying the behaviour of criminals in a scientific framework, with the goal of understanding theories of crime and criminal behaviour. You will learn how to apply psychological theories of behaviour to explain criminal case studies and experiences in criminal contexts, as well as the strengths and limitations of classifications of criminal behaviour. This module will equip you with the ski

Explore how advances in developmental psychology methods and measures have transformed our understanding of development. You will be presented with current methods in the field and asked to highlight areas in methodological or theoretical debate. You’ll examine contemporary and historical techniques and developmental theory. By engaging with contemporary research, you will evaluate how these methods have opened new avenues for investigating the mechanisms underlying developmental change, whilst considering the parameters for use and their implications. You will have the opportunity to speculate on future advances and how they may change our understanding of the field. Topics will include pre

Do you want to entertain and inspire children and the public in STEM? With an introduction to teaching as well as wider engagement opportunities, learn how to understand your audience and how to engage and enliven them. You will also learn how to balance this with educating them and presenting science in a way that’s appropriate to your audience. We include an introduction to pedagogy, how to inspire school pupils and how to use traditional and new media for science communication. You will deliver an activity of your choosing to an audience. This could be a lesson at school, engaging with children at a large outreach event or delivering a public lecture. In addition, you will also reflect on

You only know what's real because your brain tells you it is real. However, what if your brain is lying to you? Examine striking instances of hallucination, delusions and disorders of consciousness in the neurotypical and pathological population. You will critically review a broad ranging and interdisciplinary set of findings from neurology, neuroscience (including brain-imaging and brain-stimulation), neuropsychology, neuropsychiatry and the scientific accounts proposed by these disciplines for these aberrant experiences. You will examine a wide variety of case studies, approaches, and methods and their relation to over-arching theory. A recurring question will be, "Why are certain types of