Studying Psychology and Counselling

Yes, it's BPS accredited, which is the gold standard for psychology courses in the UK. This means the course meets the high-quality standards set by the BPS. It also provides you with the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership which is an essential first step towards becoming a professional psychologist.

Although our undergraduate course is not accredited by the BACP, our postgraduate course is. This means we hold the ethical framework of the BACP central to our courses and provide you with the opportunity to explore and adopt its principles ready for postgraduate training. All of our counselling lectures are members of the BACP and active in the field of counselling. Who better to support you on your journey to becoming a qualified therapist.

There’s no requirement to complete any psychology-specific preparation before starting your degree, so that’s one less thing to worry about. Whether you’ve studied psychology before or you’re completely new to the subject, our first-year modules are designed to bring everyone up to speed. You’ll build a strong foundation in key areas of psychology, setting you up for success right from the start.

Welcome week is all about helping you settle in and feel at home. You’ll take part in a variety of fun and interactive activities designed to help you get to know the campus, the buildings you’ll be studying in, and most importantly, your new course mates.

You’ll be assigned an academic mentor (a member of staff in the psychology department) and spend most of the week with your academic mentor group, giving you a great chance to connect with fellow psychology students right from day one. It’s also a great opportunity to meet the friendly staff who will be teaching and supporting you throughout your degree. Your academic mentor will share the full schedule and details closer to the time.

A typical week will be a mixture of lectures, seminars, practical sessions, and independent study. You can expect around 10-13 hours of scheduled teaching each week, with sessions spread across core areas such as cognitive, social, developmental, biological, and individual differences psychology, as well as research methods. Much of your learning will be in smaller seminar groups where you’ll discuss ideas, apply theory to real-world, contemporary examples, and develop critical thinking skills.

Outside of scheduled teaching time, you’ll have time for reading, working on assignments, meeting with peers or your academic mentor, and taking advantage of what the university’s has to offer, such as joining societies, attending guest lectures, or relaxing with your friends in one of our cafés.

In your first year, you'll explore a variety of core modules that introduce key psychological perspectives, including social, developmental, and cognitive psychology. You'll study exciting modules such as Adventures in Psychology 1 & 2, Becoming a Researcher 1 & 2, Growing and Changing, Pathways in Psychology, and Steps to Success 1. From the first week of level 4 you will begin your counselling journey, developing the skills you require to support others. Want to learn more about each module? Visit the course page now

Before you start your course, you will be able to download our Beacon App which will allow you to stay connected and get personalised updates, access your timetable, and explore everything University of Staffordshire has to offer.

There’s a whole world of opportunities beyond your core psychology modules. To mention a few. As part of the Psychology department, you can apply for the Summer Research Assistant Scheme, where you’ll support academic staff on exciting, contemporary research projects. Or you might join the Psychology Society, a vibrant, inclusive student community where everyone is welcome, and is perfect for meeting like-minded peers and expanding your horizons. We also host regular Visiting Speaker Talks to keep you up to date with the latest trends and discoveries in psychology.

Want to build skills and earn while you learn? You can become a Student Ambassador, gaining valuable work experience, meeting new people, and boosting your CV. And it doesn't stop there: the Students' Union is home to a huge range of clubs and societies covering everything from academic interests to creative hobbies. Getting involved is a brilliant way to make friends, try something new, and truly make the most of your time at University of Staffordshire.

A wide range of support is available for students with specific learning needs or mental health concerns. The Student Inclusion Team can help with learning assessments, support plans, and guidance on applying for Disabled Students’ Allowances.

For mental health support, the Student Wellbeing service offers access to trained professionals who provide a range of supports. The university also has peer mentors and wellbeing peer mentors to offer friendly, student-led support throughout your time here. Whether you need academic adjustments or emotional support, there’s always help available.

Yes! If you have any questions, you can contact your course leader using the profile link in the section below.

With your assigned success coach, you will be supported to pursue whatever path you choose, whether that's employment or postgraduate study. We offer an MSc Health Psychology, a Clinical Psychology Professional Doctorate, Health Psychology Professional Doctorate, and PgDip/MSc Psychotherapeutic Counselling. We also provide professional courses such as Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) and PgDip Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which we can support your transition into.