If you’re passionate about understanding human behaviour and helping people overcome mental health challenges, this course is for you.
On our accredited degree course, you’ll learn about the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental health difficulties and how these skills are applied in healthcare settings.
Together, we’ll explore the science behind what we do and who we are, and you’ll develop critical thinking and research skills, under the guidance of a wide range of enthusiastic lecturers and tutors who are renowned experts within their fields.
Immerse yourself in the science of mind and behaviour – and take the first step towards a career as a chartered psychologist, or training as a clinical psychologist.
Accreditation
Our unique degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society. Achieve a second-class honours degree or above and you’ll be eligible for graduate chartered membership. This is the first step towards becoming a chartered psychologist and offers you a head start on an exciting and rewarding career journey.
Find out more about studying Psychology with Clinical Psychology at ARU in this short video
Why ARU?
Our course is fully accredited by the British Psychological Society. Successful completion can become a springboard into a range of careers in the mental health field
Our staff are qualified clinical psychologists who share their extensive clinical experience and expertise to ensure you have an authentic learning experience
Bring the world of work to life through Live Briefs; designed and developed with regional employers to give you exposure to ‘real world’ problem-solving
Explore world-leading research with 98% of our Psychology research being recognised as internationally significant (REF 2023)
We provide an efficient on-campus teaching schedule coupled with excellent online support. Our Psychology course offers a quality study-life balance allowing time to be part of the university and to gain work experience
I’ve conducted my own research [which] has allowed me to gain first-hand experience of what it means to be a psychologist.
Louise Kelly, BSc (Hons) Psychology student
Once you’ve completed your studies, you can register with the BPS as a graduate chartered member, if you have achieved a second-class honours degree or above. This is It’s your first step towards becoming a chartered psychologist.
You could use your psychological knowledge and research skills to promote mental health or solve problems in a variety of workplaces.
With further training you might become a counsellor, therapist, or a practising clinical psychologist. This degree course is the first step on that journey.
This course is a prerequisite for undertaking a three-year Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology – which in turn qualifies you to work as a clinical psychologist.
Once qualified, you’ll be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and ready to work with people with a range of mental health difficulties. You might work in the public, private or third sector.
Other potential careers include:
CBT therapist (within the Talking Therapies programme)
Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
Mental Health Wellbeing Practitioner
Assistant Psychologist
Clinical Associate Psychologist
Counsellor and Psychotherapist.
This degree focuses on the theoretical and professional skills you need to work in these clinical contexts. It's also a good basis for careers in research, human resources, and marketing.
We’re here to help you develop your CV and find that all-important role after graduation. Our Employability Service offers tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, help to complete job applications, and much more. You’ll have 24/7 access to an online Careers Centre too, which is packed with useful resources.
The support continues after you graduate, with lifelong access to our Alumni Career Centre.
We start the course by learning about the ideas that underpin modern psychology; and focus on how the science of psychology explains our everyday experiences and relationships.
Later, we explore biological, social, cognitive and emotional explanations of human behaviour. This includes a focus on diagnosis and formulation of common mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, OCD, post-traumatic stress disorder and many more.
Our flexible modules mean you can focus on areas of particular interest to you in Year 3.
We focus on strengthening your research skills too, looking at statistics, data collection and analysis – all valuable preparation for your final-year Research Project, and your future career.
Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.
Year 1
Becoming a Researcher (30 credits)
Self and Society (30 credits)
The Psychology of Everyday Life (15 credits)
Mind and Behaviour (30 credits)
Clinical and Health Psychology (15 credits)
Into ARU
Year 2
Research in Action: Statistical Thinking (15 credits)
Social Psychology: Development and Difference (30 credits)
Ruskin Module (15 credits)
Research in Action: Qualitative Methods and Psychology in Practice (15 credits)
Brain, Body and Mind (30 credits)
Diagnosis and Formulation in Mental Health (15 credits)
Year 3
Psychology Project (30 credits)
Professional Skills in Clinical Settings (15 credits)
Psychological Assessment (15 credits)
Atypical Development (15 credits)
Psychological Therapies (15 credits)
Cognitive Neuroscience (15 credits) *
Culture and Health (15 credits) *
Educational Psychology (15 credits) *
Psychology in the Workplace (15 credits) *
Groups in Conflict: Social Psychological Issues (15 credits) *
You can choose to take an optional placement year as part of this course. Placements typically happen in Year 3, and your course will take four years overall. Find out more about placement years.
Placement year
Work Placement - Psychology and Sport Sciences (120 credits)
A foundation year prepares you for the rest of your course, and focuses on general skills such as researching and referencing, numeracy and ICT, and communication. We'll also start to look at some more subject-specific topics.
Your placement year is a chance to put everything you’ve learnt in Years 1 and 2 into practice. Spend typically 9-12 months working for an organisation, developing your skills and gaining valuable work experience. Our Placements Team is here to help you secure a placement.
Throughout the course, we’ll use a range of assessment methods to measure your progress. You’ll complete exams (both written and practical), essays, research reports, oral presentations, lab reports and a dissertation on a subject of your choice.
At ARU, you’ll learn from expert tutors who are actively engaged in research work in their specialist field.
At ARU you’ll be based in our Science Centre, which features a range of psychology labs.
You’ll use our excellent research facilities, including well-equipped specialist laboratories for measuring electrical activity in the brain, eye movement, psychoneuroimmunology, emotions and communication, psychometrics, human behaviour, consumer reactions and much more.
Use virtual reality headsets, eye trackers, driving simulators and more.
Monitor physiological and brain activity in our specialist labs and analyse biomarkers such as cortisol and testosterone in saliva and hair samples.
Entry requirements
Important additional notes
Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.
Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course; please email [email protected] for further information. Applicants to undergraduate courses can also check our information about undergraduate entry qualifications.
You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.
We don't accept AS level qualifications on their own for entry to our undergraduate degree courses. However for some degree courses a small number of tariff points from AS levels are accepted as long as they're combined with tariff points from A levels or other equivalent level 3 qualifications in other subjects.
Important additional notes
Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.
Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course; please email [email protected] for further information. Applicants to undergraduate courses can also check our information about undergraduate entry qualifications.
You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.
We don't accept AS level qualifications on their own for entry to our undergraduate degree courses. However for some degree courses a small number of tariff points from AS levels are accepted as long as they're combined with tariff points from A levels or other equivalent level 3 qualifications in other subjects.
Important additional notes
Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.
Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course; please email [email protected] for further information. Applicants to undergraduate courses can also check our information about undergraduate entry qualifications.
You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.
We don't accept AS level qualifications on their own for entry to our undergraduate degree courses. However for some degree courses a small number of tariff points from AS levels are accepted as long as they're combined with tariff points from A levels or other equivalent level 3 qualifications in other subjects.
International students
We welcome applications from international and EU students, and accept a range of international qualifications.
This course includes an optional placement year. The placement year fee is:
£1,500 (2025-26)
£1,700 (2026-27)
You will be responsible for covering the cost of travelling to your placement during your placement year. This cost could vary significantly depending on where your placement is located, where you live during your course and how you travel.
Living at university
We understand that affordability is an important issue when you’re thinking about studying at university.
The overall cost of university can vary depending on where you’re studying and which course you’re taking.
Costs may also be lower if you're living at home. However, some of the main costs you’ll want to think about include:
accommodation
bills
internet, mobile phone and calls
travel
food and drink
socialising and going out
study materials.
Most full-time UK students can apply for a Maintenance Loan to help cover living costs. More about maintenance loans.
Our Money Advice Service is on hand if you’d like to chat about living costs, budgets and managing your money. You can also find out more about student finance at one of our Open Days.
We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries, which provide extra financial support while you’re at university.
If you're eligible for a scholarship, you'll generally receive it automatically – there's no need to apply.
Our campus employment bureau, ARU Temps, can help you find part-time work that fits around your studies. It's a great chance to enhance your CV and boost your income while you study.
Our course is fully accredited by the British Psychological Society. Successful completion can become a springboard into a range of careers in the mental health field
Dr Jane Scott
Dr Debora Antoniotti de Vasconcelos e Sa
Professor Peter Bright
Dr Elena Sakkalou
