PSY-40179 - Module Specification
School of Psychology
Faculty of Natural Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

This module offers you the opportunity to develop your employability skills in an applied or research setting. Placements available vary each year but you will have the opportunity to secure an external placement with the support of our Placements and Projects manager or an internal placement which will involve working closely with a research supervisor or team on a project within the school of psychology.
You will take part in an interview with a member of the module team and work to secure either an external or internal placement relevant to your interests and specialism prior to the start of the placement. We will encourage you to consider how you can apply your psychological knowledge and expertise to your placement and to reflect on the skills you have developed through your placement. You will be expected to visit or work on your placement on approximately a weekly basis for 50 hours during the second semester.

The aim of the module is to provide an opportunity for students to gain experience in an applied setting relevant to their specialism which may be a research setting working within the School of Psychology or an external organisation. Students will be supported to apply for and gain a placement opportunity, including developing their CVs. The module is designed to help students to gain confidence in an applied setting and to develop their organisational and professional interpersonal skills. It will also provide students with an opportunity to understand how their skills and expertise can be utilised in an applied setting and encourage them to actively reflect on their future aspirations. Students will also gain experience in producing clear and effective written work.

Intended Learning Outcomes

carry out work or research based tasks under supervision and respond to guidance and feedback from supervisors: 1,2
consider alternative approaches and the wider consequences of the work or research being undertaken: 1
critically reflect on their development and on their placement experience from a psychological perspective, and communicate this professionally: 1,2
enhance employability skills through the development of their CV, the applications process and organisational and interpersonal skills: 1,2
consider interconnections between psychological literature and their placement role: 1,2

Study hours

Placement hours = 150 (50 hours on placement, 50 hours preparation, 50 hours reflection)
Teaching hours = 23
Semester 1:
Intro and skill audit - 2 hours
Applications, CVs and cover letter workshop - 2 hours
Placement interview - 1 hour
Professionalism and ethics on placement 2 hours
Semester 2:
Target setting - 1.5 hours, 0.5 hours support drop in
Assessment support 1, reflective writing and reviewing progress - 1.5 hours, 0.5 hours support drop in
Assessment support 2 and reviewing progress - 1.5 hours, 0.5 hours support drop in
Sharing experiences (in class presentations) - 10 hours
127 hours working on assessments and independent study

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment