Philosophy and Psychology

Philosophy and Psychology - BSc (Hons)

Do you question right from wrong or consider the reasons why people behave the way they do? Philosophy and Psychology explores the mind, emotions and behaviour, and aims to provide you with an analytical approach towards the world around us. You will develop your critical thinking skills and investigate theories from around the world to gain knowledge and build upon your research expertise. Our British Psychological Society accredited degree will equip you with skills that can be applied to various disciplines, enabling you to pursue a career of your choice.

Year of entry

2023 - for 2024 entry see here - for 2023 entry see here

Course type

Combined Honours

Location

Keele University campus

Subject area / School

Social, Political and Global Studies School of Psychology

UCAS code

CV85

Duration of study

3 years / 4 years with international or placement year

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Why study Philosophy and Psychology at Keele University?

This programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society, subject to passing your final year project and achieving a minimum 2:2 degree award

Top 150 in the World for Psychology (Times Higher Education World University Rankings, 2021)

Discover new ideas, debate big questions with your lecturers and peers, and better appreciate the views of others

Research-led teaching, providing insight into new and traditional topics, developing your analytical skills

Gain highly transferable graduate skills to pursue a broad range of careers in business, service, education and caring professions

Course overview

Philosophy and Psychology at Keele poses big questions about human life, the nature of reality and how we can learn from it. From biological influences and social pressures to environmental factors that affect how people think, act, and feel - philosophy and psychology underpin all that we are and everything we do.

In Philosophy you will study texts, think about ideas and formulate your own philosophical theories. You will explore central themes such as moral and political philosophy, logic, epistemology, and the philosophies of mind, religion and science, and will consider key philosophical problems about the nature of the world, the mind and various solutions proposed.

You’ll study different philosophical traditions past and present, including Anglo-American, Indian, Buddhist, Greek, French and German philosophy. You’ll enhance your logical and critical thinking skills, and develop the use of sound arguments to present your views, while detecting fallacies and other argumentative weaknesses. You'll learn to present your work in a variety of ways, allowing you to communicate effectively with others.

Psychology will equip you with a well-rounded education and in addition to studying the principal areas specified by the British Psychological Society (BPS) curriculum, you will have the opportunity to tailor your degree to reflect your career aspirations and interests.

Principle areas of psychology include: biological, cognitive, social and developmental psychology as well as individual differences and historical issues. You will gain fundamental scientific skills in research design, statistics, qualitative and survey methods. With this knowledge, you will learn how to conduct research and critically analyse that of others.

Enhance your learning

Royal Institute of Philosophy Lecture Series

Hear from guest speakers about their philosophical research and engage in thought-provoking discussions with peers and visitors from other universities. You will have the opportunity to network with professionals and share your knowledge and opinions as well as experience debates on a larger scale to gain a wider insight into different theories and explanations of philosophy. This experience builds your awareness of new research and allows you to demonstrate your critical thinking skills.

Work Placement Year

Between year 2 and year 3, you will have the opportunity to take a Work Placement Year with a placement provider relevant to either Psychology or Philosophy. This will help prepare you for the workplace by becoming familiar with the professional working environment and having the opportunity to draw upon psychological or philosophical principles, theories, or methods. This will allow you to build key skills in communication, teamwork and project management. You will be able to demonstrate your abilities and creative thinking, working with fellow professionals as well as independently.

You will be supported by staff in your preparation to apply for a work placement that suits your interests and career prospects. This opportunity will allow you to develop both personally and professionally during your studies which will assist you in your employment after university.

Research-active community

Teaching in the School of Psychology is driven by research and you will learn about some of the latest topics in the field.

Research within the School of Psychology is supported by four research groups: the Cognition, Brain, & Behaviour Research Group, the Developmental Psychology Research Group, the Social Psychological Research Group, and the Health and Well-being Research Group.

In addition, we host the Keele Augmented, Virtual, and Extended Reality Network (KAVERN), Children and Young People Research Network, and various members of the school are engaged in interdisciplinary research, including the Keele Policing Collaboration (KPAC), the Keele Centre for Aging Research (KCAR), and projects with colleagues in Health, Social Sciences and Humanities disciplines.

Find out more about our academic experts in the School of Psychology and their research in various fields.

Psychology study

Engage with real-world projects

During your degree programme, you may have the opportunity to work on research, led by staff, PhD and master's students in the School of Psychology. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to learn about research methods and gain insight into the diversity of research carried out within the School of Psychology.

Final year project in Psychology

In your final year you will have the opportunity to work with one of our expert academics to carry out and report an investigation of a research topic that aligns with your career aspirations or personal interests.

Final year project topics from previous Psychology students include:

Cognitive control and depression
Experiences of disabled students in Higher Education
Sleep and mental health
Detecting deception in others
Victims and forgiveness

Summer research assistantship scheme

The School of Psychology hosts a summer research assistantship scheme which is a paid opportunity during your second or third year that enables you to work alongside a member of staff on a research project. The experience and skills you will gain, such as data analysis, can help you stand out from the crowd when applying for employment or postgraduate study. Please note there is an application process for this scheme and the number of projects available will vary each year.

Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. This means we aim to create a diverse and inclusive culture in which you can thrive. Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) agenda is embedded throughout our curriculum, and the School of Psychology are proud to have been recognised for our activities in this area by holding The Athena SWAN bronze award.

Study Abroad

International Year

Enhance your career prospects with an International Year at one of our partner institutions. Utilising this opportunity between 2nd and 3rd year can help in your employment search to stand out from the crowd and broaden your horizons, potentially working across the globe. You will develop a new way of understanding the world and gain insight into various perspectives whilst learning in a different environment.

On successful completion of all modules across the year, you will graduate with a degree title ‘Philosophy and Psychology with International Year’. This can be highly beneficial for your career prospects and through experiencing different cultures; you will not only grow as an individual, but you will also strengthen your knowledge and interests within society. You can find more information here.

Alternatively, you may choose to study abroad for just a semester in your second year which will count towards your second-year grades. Our Global Opportunities team will support you through the process, ensuring you are able to get the most out of your international experience.

Next Steps

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Accreditation and professional recognition

This programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society, subject to passing your final year project and achieving a minimum 2:2 degree award.

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Additional opportunities

Foundation year Learn a language Placement year International year Study abroad GCP Elective Pathways Explore more

There are a range of additional opportunities available when studying this course.
Please note, undertaking one may impact upon the availability of another.

Entry requirements

Keele strives to be a place where learning, living and working is a positive experience for our entire community, and we're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of 'alternative offer' schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer. If you are looking for the 2023 schemes please see here.

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

A Level requirements

A Level requirement ABC / BBB

GCSE requirements

Maths at C (or 4)
English Language or Literature at C (or 4)

BTEC

BTEC requirements DDM

International Baccalaureate

H5, H5, H5 or 30 points overall

Access to HE Diploma requirements

Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 122 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction.

T Levels

Merit overall in the following T Levels:

Health
Healthcare Science
Science
Accounting
Legal Services
Finance
Management and Administration
Digital Business Services
Digital Production, Design and Development
Digital Support Services
Media, Broadcast and Production
Education and Childcare
Animal Care and Management

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

Preparation programmes for international students

International students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this course have the opportunity to study an International Foundation Year programme.

These courses are designed to prepare international students to enter into Keele University undergraduate degrees.

Next Steps

Entry requirements

The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don’t see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications. If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

Additional information

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

A Level requirements

A Level requirement ABC / BBB

GCSE requirements

Maths at C (or 4)
English Language or Literature at C (or 4)

BTEC

BTEC requirements DDM

International Baccalaureate

H5, H5, H5 or 30 points overall

Access to HE Diploma requirements

Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 122 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction.

T Levels

Merit overall in the following T Levels:

Health
Healthcare Science
Science
Accounting
Legal Services
Finance
Management and Administration
Digital Business Services
Digital Production, Design and Development
Digital Support Services
Media, Broadcast and Production
Education and Childcare
Animal Care and Management

English Language Requirements

All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from .

Alternative and contextual offers

We're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of alternative offer schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer.

General information

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.

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"The degree has taught me how to conduct my own experiments, and, it gave me the ability to run a small study in my second year to prepare for my final year project. Having free reign to conduct research and experiments in any field that you have an interest in, where you could possibly have an impact on the world with the research you conduct, or can be the basis for your future research, is definitely the most rewarding part of the course."

Peirce, Psychology

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Modules

Modules for Philosophy and Psychology

The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods, as well as student voice. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

COMPULSORY MODULES

Introduction to Developmental and Social Psychology

This module will allow you to explore a range of topics in developmental, individual differences and social psychology.You will learn about how psychologists have carried out research to better understand human behaviour and thought from expert staff with experience of working in these areas.

Introduction to Biological and Cognitive Psychology

You will learn about how psychologists have carried out research to better understand human behaviour and thought. Typical topics could include the structure and function of the brain, neuronal impulses, how we make sense of sensory stimuli, memory, higher level cognitive processes such as problem solving, and the ways in which genes and hormones influence our behaviour.

Answering Questions with Qualitative Data

In this introductory module to qualitative research design and data collection you will learn how you can research human experiences and behaviour using a variety of qualitative data such as interviews and social media. Stepping into the world of qualitative research you will also explore the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of methods as well as reflect on the ethics of various qualitative research designs.

Answering Questions with Quantitative Data

In this introductory module to qualitative research design and data collection you will learn how you can research human experiences and behaviour using a variety of qualitative data such as interviews and social media. Stepping into the world of qualitative research you will also explore the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of methods as well as reflect on the ethics of various qualitative research designs.

OPTIONAL MODULES

COMPULSORY MODULES

Developmental and Social Psychology

Classes in developmental psychology will cover topics such as parenting, emotional development, peer relationships, language development. Classes in social psychology will cover core topics, such as attitudes, social identity, group and intergroup behaviour.

Biological and Cognitive Psychology

This module builds upon and extends your knowledge and understanding of key issues in the study of cognitive processes and the biological basis of behaviour. Cognitive topics include processes such as perception, attention, human learning, and memory. Biological topics are related to the central nervous system in normal and pathological conditions.

Qualitative Research Methods

This module aims to advance your understanding of qualitative research methods and analyses used in Psychology and builds on the content of the first-year research methods modules. You will gain an understanding of a variety of methods, such as interviewing, focus groups, world cafes, etc. as well as a variety of analysis techniques, such as thematic analysis, discourse analysis, interpretative phenomenological analysis, etc.

Statistics for Psychology

This module will cover commonly used advanced research methods in psychology, ranging from classical tests through to statistics at the forefront of Psychology. These include factorial ANOVA, regression, and an introduction to Bayesian analysis. Additionally, you will be provided with hands-on experience working on your own research projects.

OPTIONAL MODULES

COMPULSORY MODULES

Final Year Project (Double) - ISP

During your Final Year Project, you will conduct an independent and substantive piece of empirical psychological research under supervision. You will also have the opportunity to develop a research question and hypotheses, design a research project, and submit an application to gain ethical approval.

Grand Challenges in Psychology

The Grand Challenges in Psychology module will enable you to extend your appreciation of the ways in which psychology and psychological science have developed culturally and historically to get us to where we are now. The topics covered invite you to think critically about current debates and future challenges in a wide range of areas of Psychology such as consciousness and cognition in human and non-human animals, the use of psychology for manipulation and control and community action and change.

OPTIONAL MODULES

Psychology in Education

Psychology in Education is designed to develop your understanding of psychological theory, research and practice in education. The sessions will introduce theories and research and then ask you to put this into practice in a variety of ways for a variety of audiences. Indicative topics may include Bullying, Social skills training and Diversity in the classroom.

Health and Disease

In this module indicative topics include prevention of illness, health promotion, behaviour change and community approaches to health. In the second half of the module, indicative content includes patient and health care professional perspectives regarding becoming ill and diagnosis with diseases such as cancer.

Vulnerabilities in the Criminal Justice System

This module will discuss vulnerabilities in the criminal justice system, covering a range of individual factors such as age, gender, ethnic and cultural background, and mental health issues which can render certain populations more vulnerable in the criminal justice system.

Psychology of Climate Change

Taking a historical and contemporary perspective through a psychological lens, this module will provide an in-depth understanding of human areas impacting the climate negatively, as well as discussing short- and long-term human impacts fighting the climate change.

Investigative Forensic Psychology

Explores some of the psychological processes relevant to eyewitness testimony. How effectively are people able to describe or recognise a suspect? How accurate is our memory for details of a crime and how can psychological research help us improve the testimony witnesses provide? These questions and more will be considered during the module.

SPECIALISE IN PSYCHOLOGY

If you specialise in Psychology you will study the third-year compulsory Psychology modules. You will also choose from the third-year Psychology optional modules in addition to those listed below:

Models of Cognition

This module will develop not only your understanding of key issues in cognitive psychological models but also your capacity to reason and evaluate as a scientist. Indicative topic areas include models of attention, memory, task switching and judgment and decision making.

Psychosocial Engineering

Psychosocial engineering is the application of social-psychological techniques to solve problems related to human behaviour. The sessions will teach you up-to-date social psychological theories of behaviour and attitude change, along with case studies of their application to tackle real-world problems.

Cognitive Development

When do new-born infants recognise their mother? Can chimpanzees take others' perspectives? Are human infants moral creatures? This module will advance your understanding of key areas of cognitive development. You will discuss studies focusing on developmental populations in human and non-human primates.

Illness and Coping

This module will give you knowledge and skills in health psychology, focusing on illness and how people cope with a range of health conditions. You will explore the psychological effects of these conditions on all those living with them, including patients, family and carers.

SPECIALISE IN PHILOSOPHY

COMPULSORY MODULES

OPTIONAL MODULES

Next Steps

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Your future career

95% of our students are in employment or further study within 15 months of finishing their studies (HESA Graduate Outcomes, 2019/20)

Enhance your employability

A degree in Philosophy and Psychology will equip you with a wide skillset in critical thinking, negotiating and problem-solving. You will gain experience with the use of IT, numeracy and data analysis, project management, team working, and skills in research methodology. You will be prepared for employment in a broad range of careers with skills that are applicable for a variety of roles.

You will learn to organise your time and workload, to present your views confidently and to work well with others through written and oral communication. The unique combination of skills gained throughout this programme, will enable you to utilise your expertise across disciplines.

You may wish to explore a career in:

Teaching and education
Psychology, health, social work
Policing and prisons
Research
Business, HR, finance
Marketing, PR, sales, advertising
Media
Law
Computing
Charity
Further study

To become a chartered psychologist, you will need to receive further training in the specific field of psychology that you want to work in.

It is important to consider it will take at least six years to become a fully qualified psychologist, which includes a full three year degree, such as this one and three years of postgraduate training.

Specialist professional psychology careers include:

Clinical psychologist
Counselling psychologist
Educational psychologist
Forensic psychologist
Neuropsychologist
Health psychologist
Sport and exercise psychologist
Psychological wellbeing practitioner
Further education teacher
High intensity therapist
Occupational therapist
Primary care graduate mental health worker

Keele’s Careers and Employability team (Shortlisted for Best University Careers Employment Service - National Undergraduate Employability Awards, 2021), offers a variety of personal and career development opportunities to enhance your employability.

From mock interviews, careers guidance and CV advice, to careers fairs, alumni mentoring and networking events, along with helping you find part-time and graduate employment - the team will support you throughout your studies and beyond.

Find out more about our careers and employability services, including career planning, alumni mentoring, jobs, internships, starting your own business and much more.

Next Steps

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"Studying philosophy at Keele has given me a great overview of philosophy, the changes in philosophical thoughts & arguments, and definitely given me a deeper understanding of life in general! Alongside the employability skills that philosophy provides you with, the ability to criticise and consider arguments is invaluable, and the small class sizes make understanding the more complex arguments a lot easier!"

Amy, Philosophy and Psychology

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Foundation year

Our Foundation Year provides an excellent alternative route to Keele, providing a unique opportunity to better prepare for your chosen degree, and with guaranteed entry onto your undergraduate course once you successfully complete your Foundation Year.

This extra year of study can improve your academic skills, expand your subject knowledge, give you a better understanding of higher education and, perhaps most importantly of all, build your confidence.

Keele University is consistently ranked among the top universities for student satisfaction, and we have over 70 years' experience of teaching a foundation year to students. On the Keele Foundation Year, you'll study on campus, joining our undergraduate community from the outset, with access to all the facilities and support that you'd get as an undergraduate student at Keele.

The information in this Foundation Year section is for UK/Home applicants. Where an international Foundation Year is available, please see the 'Information for international students' tab.

The information within this section is for students wishing to start their studies in September. If you would like to start this course in January, please visit our January pages for further details.

Course Content

Our Foundation Year allows you to develop your critical thinking, academic reading, writing, and communication study skills along with subject-specific knowledge and skills. Upon meeting the progression criteria and successfully completing our Foundation Year, you will automatically progress into your Keele undergraduate degree with the confidence that you have the skills, and knowledge needed to successfully complete your course.

Our combined honours foundation year is a two semester programme which provides a tailored pre-degree programme of study to better prepare you for the BSc (Hons) Philosophy and Psychology degree. For example, the Foundations of Humanities 1 module introduces you to the broad range of source material across the Humanities disciplines – from music to media – which enable us to analyse political, social or economic perspectives and attitudes to individuals, marginal groups and ‘mainstream’ society. Meanwhile, the Advancing Psychology module builds on your knowledge and understanding of core psychological concepts and explores how these can be used in an applied context. Course content has been developed in collaboration with degree teaching teams, so that by the time you begin Year 1, you will be ready to excel at your studies, as the majority of our Foundation Year students do.

Find out more about the Keele Foundation Year, including information about teaching and assessment methods by visiting the Foundation Year homepage.

Course Structure

The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

Semester One

FYO-00247	Foundations: Breaking the Code - Understanding Academic Writing	15 credits
FYO-00211	Foundations in Numerical and Quantitative Methods for Scientists	15 credits
FYO-00201	Foundations of Psychology	15 credits
FYO-00257	Foundations of Humanities 1	15 credits

Semester Two

FYO-00203	Advancing Psychology	30 credits
FYO-00271	University Research Portfolio	30 credits

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Between 40-56 UCAS points from at least 1 A level/level 3 qualification or equivalent, or
Relevant work experience

AND

GCSE English Language at grade 4 (C), or Level 2 Functional Skills, or
IELTS 5.5 (with 5.5 in all subtests)

AND

GCSE Mathematics at grade 4 (C) or above

How to Apply

Students will need to apply for BSc (Hons) Psychology with Foundation Year (UCAS code: C802) through UCAS at www.ucas.com. You will then be contacted to confirm your second subject by a member of our team.

Direct Entry Students

If you already have your qualifications, are not expecting any further results and only wish to apply to Keele, please contact the Admissions Office directly.

The information in this Foundation Year section is for UK/Home applicants. Where an international Foundation Year is available, please see the 'Information for international students' tab.

We also offer a January start for some of our Foundation Year courses. Adopting a blended learning approach, the January start is particularly useful for students wishing to return to education following time out of studying, or who are seeking a flexible approach to their Foundation Year studies. Our January start is available across most of our Science, Humanities, Social Science and Business courses.

Whilst still being a full-time course, our blended delivery model combines live teaching sessions - both online and on-campus - with self-directed study, enabling you to predominantly study at a time that suits your lifestyle. You will benefit from weekly online taught sessions which encourage you to engage with your teachers and peers.

In addition to online study there will be a series of full study days that you will be required to attend throughout each semester. These sessions may include lab-based activities, group work, review of course and assessment materials studied online. They will emphasise opportunities for you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of your chosen route.

Please refer to the September start tab for more information about the entry requirements and what you will study. The modules that you will take on a January start Foundation Year will be similar to those for the September start, but in a slightly different order and pattern.

For more information, including fees, the UCAS code for this course, how to apply, and how you will be taught, please visit our January Start Foundation Year webpage.

Our International Foundation Year is delivered on campus through Keele University International College (KUIC). Find out more about the International Foundation Year options on the KUIC website.

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