Which Uni for Psychology?

[Somuchchoice]

Having combed through all the league tables I would really value suggestions for which are the best Universities for Psychology.
Ideally we are looking for a University which is a great university not only for Psychology but also has a good reputation generally (just in case Psychology isn't pursued as a career after University). Predicted grades of 3 A*. Not interested in Scotland or London.
There are so many great Universities that I would appreciate some help narrowing down those that are perceived as being the best for that subject.

The University of Hull is good if they are interested in clinical psychology. As far as I know, it's still the only university with a direct pathway onto a clinical doctorate (ie you take specialist clinical modules in the third year, apply for the doctorate and if successful you start the doctorate the September after graduating from the BSc).

But if you don’t want that path, Hull is mid div. I would therefore look at the universities that occur in most of the top 10 lists. So Manchester, York, Bristol, Sussex, Warwick, Cardiff, Sheffield and Bath.

Op please ensure that you don't just focus on uni. To get ahead in psych, it's not just grades that count. Work experience is also key. I'm in the field and the number of grade A and first class degree students who have no work experience, don't have the ability to reflect, deal with doubt/ uncertainty, cant deal with failure, and use the course as a way to deal with their own issues is immense. Sorry I've gone off on a tangent

I’d recommend one with a year out. The experience will help with applying for jobs.

Someone earlier mentioned Hull's fast track clinical psychology option - having looked into it for dd, it's also open to York psychology students. I think decisions are made after 2nd year (those who are interested apply/are interviewed and their exam results are also considered). If you get through you do the clinical psychology doctorate at Hull.

York is generally better respected than Hull, so for a high achiever who may not go into psychology, it would seem like a better option.

For my dd, who's also a high achiever, we're also looking at other options like occupational therapy and mental health nursing, because she's really interested in therapy of some sort in future.

Here are always nursing and OT jobs. To train further to be a clinical psychologist is always significantly more difficult. But of course they earn more. To make things RG really more difficult, I have read that over 100 universities offer psychology and only a handful of grads get to fully qualify.

Add Durham to my list and do some work experience if DD really wants to qualify.

Sorry for typos. You get the gist!

I did a psychology degree many years ago and having a placement year was invaluable. My plans were always to do educational psychology but after spending a year with the service I realised that this was not for me but in fact found my dream job. I have no knowledge of 'best' universities but I would recommend a placement year.

I understand london(expensive), but why not scotland?

Some very well thought of psych courses at Scottish Uni’s.

All the Ed Psychs I worked with were ex teachers. That’s another career that’s very difficult to access. It is vital to know about education.

Edinburgh and Kings London were on lots of lists as being top 10. I would think finding a year out might be more difficult. It’s such a popular degree, it cannot be possible for many universities to offer a year out. I thought Bath did, and then couldn’t find it!

SilverOtter thank you for that information - I will encourage a good look at the Doctorate.
wizzywig Yes I will definitely encourage some work experience. A very important tangent!
Also like the idea of a placement year. So useful to gain experience and skills.
Bluebluezoo Scotland is deemed too far away!

So far the following Universities have been mentioned Hull, Manchester, York, Bristol, Sussex, Warwick, Cardiff, Sheffield, Bath and Durham.
Any other suggestions?
What are your thoughts on Exeter, Birmingham, Nottingham, Loughborough and Southampton?

A friend of a friend's daughter is at Birmingham doing psychology. I understood from friend that it has a very good reputation. She's very happy there and enjoying the course.

My dd is in y13 and applied to Birmingham, Southampton, Hull, Warwick and Essex.
She has Birmingham as her Firm and Warwick as her insurance.

She liked the course descriptions as well as locations for her choices. She wants to be a Clinical Psychologist and Birmingham seemed a good choice for employment advice and opportunities too.

Any reason why she isn't considering Oxford with those grades? Their experimental psychology degree gives a standard offer of A*AA.

Bath do a great course with a yrs placement. The 4 yr course has competitive entry, but highly regarded.

All the Ed Psychs I worked with were ex teachers

Yes, definitely. You used to have to have done at least 2 years teaching before you could get on the (then Masters) qualification to be an EP. Since they changed the entry route so that it’s doctorate level instead of MSc and you don’t have to have qualified as a teacher, I haven’t come across any new EPs who are ex-teachers! I think it’s a shame actually.

Warwick, Cardiff, Southampton, Nottingham and Birmingham are all worth looking at for psych degrees, @Somuchchoice.

I did Psychology at Leeds. It had a pretty good rep at the time (but over a decade ago!), good for research, great course, as well as great city and student life. I loved my time at uni, best time of my life.

With her grades she should be going for Oxford. Bristol also very good for psychology and it's got a great reputation.

Exeter, Birmingham, Nottingham and Southampton were all on my daughter's list, along with Leeds.

Exeter and Birmingham were her top choices and she plumped for Exeter, where she is now very happy. Her predicted grades were not 3 x A* though. With those grades, we'd definitely have been looking at Oxford, Durham and Bristol (like yours, she didn't want Scotland or London).

My daughter decided against it, and it is more competitive, but it would be worth looking at an Integrated Masters. Exeter and Birmingham definitely offer them, and from memory most other places she looked did too.

We found that the course content was much the same everywhere (they have to cover the same core content to get BPS accreditation). The main differences were in options for years out: in the UK and abroad.

And of course as for all students, there are considerations around location and type of university (campus vs town etc) to take into account.

When I worked with EPs, I couldn’t imagine them not being teachers first. We actively recruited teachers to do the EP courses. They give so much advice to teachers about DC, I would have thought being a teacher themselves was pretty important. I’m sorry to see it’s changed.,

Oxford is the best academically for psychology. Unless your DD is against Oxbridge she should really consider it with 3 A*. Cambridge, Cardiff, Birmingham and York also highly rated.

Exeter
Lancaster

Might depend what subjects the A levels are in. However I would choose the best RG and Bath.

Thank you so much for all your thoughts. They have given us a lot to think about! Oxbridge is definitely being considered, along with all the other suggestions!

Reading has a very well regarded psychology department and good links with local NHS trusts if interested in clinical psychology.