Biology and Psychology - BSc (Hons)
From the complexity of biological processes and human impact on our environments to understanding why people behave in certain ways, our British Psychological Society accredited BSc enables you to combine the study of two evolving and dynamic scientific subjects. You'll develop both the scientific and practical skills required for a career within a variety of sectors.
UCAS code
- CC81
Duration of study
- 3 years / 4 years with international or placement year
Why study Biology and Psychology at Keele University?
Course overview
Our combined honours Biology and Psychology BSc will provide you with a breadth of knowledge and diverse skills across two exciting scientific subjects.
Most of society's global challenges are connected to biology - from assessing the effect of medication on the human body to exploring methods to prevent species extinction. The biology component of this programme covers a range of fundamentals, as well as topics including physiology and anatomy, ecology and plant biology, and animal behaviour and microbes, viruses and parasites.
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.
Core skills training
To equip you with the scientific skills needed for a career in the biosciences, you will have access to our state-of-the-art David Attenborough Laboratories. Throughout your first and second year, you will take laboratory classes most weeks to develop your practical, analytical, observational and interpretative skills.
Practical support
During practical workshops you will benefit from a robust support structure. In addition to your lead lecturer you can engage with a variety of academic staff. This offers an invaluable opportunity to forge new networks and gain insight into news or research taking place within the school.
Benefit from networking opportunities with:
- Senior demonstrators
- Postgraduate student demonstrators
- Laboratory technicians
- Core skills videos and laboratory simulations
- Data analysis workshops
Gain practical experience in industry
In an increasingly competitive job market, employers are seeking to recruit employees who have high-level knowledge, skills and an understanding of the workplace. From a year working in industry and paid internships to summer secondment research placements in the UK or overseas, this programme offers many opportunities to become familiar with the professional working environment, develop professional contacts and apply the skills and theories you have learnt from your studies.
Please note as a combined honours student, if you are interested in undertaking a placement year you will be required to choose between a placement aligned to either Biology or Psychology.
International year
In between years two and three of your studies you can choose to spend a year studying abroad. This exciting opportunity enables you to understand your field from different cultural perspectives and to establish international networks. It also shows you have the personal attributes to embrace new experiences which can enhance your employability. We offer exchange opportunities with a wide variety of partner institutions.
Student support
We pride ourselves on our multi-layered student support structure. You will have access to an academic mentor and Keele’s Student Experience and Support team. In addition to the school's support offering, Keele Student Services is also your one-stop-shop for information and support. The team can offer guidance on a range of areas including;
- Disability and dyslexia
- Money advice and guidance
- Residence life
- Your welfare and wellbeing
Societies
We have a wealth of student-led societies at Keele which cover a diverse range of interests. Joining a society related to biology or psychology is a great opportunity to continue to develop your skills away from your studies. This is another excellent way of demonstrating your genuine interest for the area and can be beneficial when it comes to applying for graduate roles.
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.
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Related Courses
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.
It is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology if you specialise in Biology.
Additional opportunities
There are a range of additional opportunities available when studying this course.
Please note, undertaking one may impact upon the availability of another.
Laura Plant
BSc Biology and Psychology
Learn from our campus - our own 'living laboratory'
Fieldwork is embedded into core biology modules to help you acquire key skills in surveying organism distributions and the identification of specimens.
Our unique 600-acre campus offers a fantastic experimentation environment to perform fieldwork, test new ideas and discover solutions to real-world problems.
From our lake system, grasslands and woodlands to local zoos and nature reserves, you will have the opportunity to study in an authentic environment whilst practicing in a sustainable manner. There is also an opportunity to study tropical biology on a field course in Malaysia. This is an optional course with additional costs and it takes place in the summer between years two and three.
Sector-leading in environmental education
At Keele we're leading the sector in sustainability, not just in our ambitions to become carbon neutral by 2030 but also through our teaching and our ground-breaking research into climate change and renewable technologies. In 2021 we were awarded the prestigious title of Global Sustainability Institution of the Year (International Green Gown Awards, 2021).
Find out more about Keele’s commitment to sustainability.
Facilities
The David Attenborough Laboratories
The David Attenborough Laboratories have significantly expanded the School of Life Sciences’ teaching and research areas, and provide two additional state-of-the-art teaching laboratories with space for 120 students between them and two additional research laboratories.
Equipment and methods you will become familiar with during practical laboratory work include:
- Microscopy - a vital tool for all biologists
- Molecular biology methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
- Fruit fly genetics - understand the principles of heredity through experimental investigations
- Electrophysiology equipment to study nerve and muscle physiology
The research laboratories will make a significant contribution to the Global Health Initiative at Keele, and will be home to researchers working on neurological disorders including Parkinson’s disease, spinal injury, oncology, viral infections and carbohydrate biochemistry.
You will also carry out practical laboratory work in Keele's state-of-the-art Central Science Laboratory (CSL) building - which is part of the biggest single investment in learning and teaching in the University’s history.
The School of Psychology
In the School of Psychology, you will have access to our laboratories that house advanced equipment for research involving adults and children. This includes:
- EEG equipment to detect electrical activity in the brain
- Eye-tracking software to gain deeper understanding of cognitive processes, such as problem solving and decision making
- Virtual reality headsets to perform controlled laboratory studies of large-scale human exploratory behaviour
- Video observation suites to watch, record and collect research data
- Brain stimulation equipment to research links between brain organisation and behaviour
- Suite of laboratories for qualitative research
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 within this page 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 which will be invaluable in your academic studies and beyond. 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.
The Keele University Foundation Year is a two semester programme which provides a tailored pre-degree programme of study to better prepare you for the BSc (Hons) Biology and Psychology degree. For example, the Foundations of Life Sciences module looks at basic cell biology in terms of structure and function and goes on to examine how cells obtain their energy for example, by photosynthesis, and raw materials, for example via the nitrogen cycle. In addition, 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 Modules
| FYO-00185 | Practical and Academic Skills in Science | 15 credits |
| FYO-00197 | Foundations of Life Sciences | 15 credits |
| FYO-00211 | Foundations in Numerical and Quantitative Methods for Scientists | 15 credits |
| FYO-00201 | Foundations of Psychology | 15 credits |
Semester Two Modules
| FYO-00199 | Advancing Life Sciences | 30 credits |
| FYO-00203 | Advancing Psychology | 30 credits |
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
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. Read more about our undergraduate entry requirements for United Kingdom, European Union and International students.
- 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 Biology with Foundation Year (UCAS code C103) through UCAS at www.ucas.com. You will 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.
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.
Discover the Keele difference
Everything’s on your doorstep at Keele, and you’ll soon feel at home and make friends wherever you go.
We help students manage their money and ensure that they receive any funding for which they may be eligible.
Make yourself more employable after graduation by taking advantage of the whole host of additional opportunities.