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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Biology and Psychology

42 replies

LadyLazarus40 · 12/02/2022 12:28

Just wondering if anyone has come across any degrees which combine biology and psychology.

Dd is studying A levels in Biology, Chemistry and Psychology- she had always thought she’d do Biology at Uni but is really enjoying the two so would like to combine them.

UCL has a human sciences course which looks good and KCL has neuroscience and psychology. Are there any other courses anyone has come across? (For context her GCSES are 8’s and 9’s)

OP posts:
Original poster
LadyLazarus40 · 12/02/2022 12:39

[quote titchy][[https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/biology-with-psychology-bsc-hons-c1c8/]][/quote]
Ah sorry should have said she wants a city

OP posts:
Decaffe · 12/02/2022 13:10

Natural Sciences at Durham? (or elsewhere..)

MarchingFrogs · 12/02/2022 17:40

Newcastle
www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/c8c1/ ?

Original poster
LadyLazarus40 · 12/02/2022 17:44

Thanks @MarchingFrogs had just come across the Newcastle course which looks fab but is a long way from here! @Decaffe Nat Science at Durham looks fab but she’s not interested in Durham (and doesn’t have all 9’s etc) unfortunately can’t seem to find any other Nar Science courses which really do Biology and Psychology.

OP posts:
lastminutetutor · 12/02/2022 17:56

The problem with psychology is that there are very strict guidelines from the BPS about what constitutes a psychology degree which then subsequently will enable the person to work as a psychologist. Even though she may have no intention to work as a psychologist it will limit the number of courses offering this option. I am not saying they aren't out there but it is not a common arrangement and she needs to be aware that her future options might be limited if she decides to go into psychology.

AgeingDoc · 12/02/2022 17:59

It's a VERY long time ago now, but my room mate in my first year at Manchester was studying Zoology with Psychology. No idea if it still exists, but maybe look at Manchester?

Original poster
LadyLazarus40 · 12/02/2022 18:46

@AgeingDoc older child will be at Manchester (has place but in gap year at mo) so whilst they get on v well I think she’d like somewhere different to him.

@lastminutetutor thank you - v good point I hadn’t considered. She will need to think carefully about this - her interest has always been biological research which has a big overlap with psychology so maybe a human biology type course may be best …

OP posts:
Jemimapuddleduk · 12/02/2022 18:48

I did those exact same a levels in 1997! I did physiological sciences at Newcastle, loved it then trained to be an accountant 🤣

MarchingFrogs · 12/02/2022 18:50

Birmingham also offers Human Sciences (BSc and MSci).

Original poster
LadyLazarus40 · 12/02/2022 18:53

@Jemimapuddleduk

I did those exact same a levels in 1997! I did physiological sciences at Newcastle, loved it then trained to be an accountant 🤣
Haha I would out good money on her not going into accountancy but who knows!!
OP posts:
EugeniaGrace · 12/02/2022 19:00

Leeds offers neuroscience and also has a few other biomedical sciences

biologicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/undergraduate

Carbiesdreamhouse · 12/02/2022 19:05

Agree with a pp, rhubj very carefully about whether she'll be ok with not doing psychology afterwards. Because if she does a join honours that's not BPS accredited, or she doesn't take enough psych credits to get the accreditation, then she'll never be able to work as a psychologist (well, unless she goes back and does conversion quals which would be a huge shame since she'd already done a degree!)

SE13Mummy · 12/02/2022 19:22

I know someone who has a biology and psychology degree from Keele, with BPS accreditation. I've just looked it up and the course is still being run.

Carbiesdreamhouse · 12/02/2022 19:25

Yes you can definitely do joint honours and it being accredited. You have to be careful that it is accredited and there are usually rules about how many credits you must take in psychology.

Some psychology courses are also more leaned to biology too, include more on neuroscience etc. It's worth looking at the teaching team and what their research focuses on.

MarchingFrogs · 13/02/2022 11:17

@SE13Mummy

I know someone who has a biology and psychology degree from Keele, with BPS accreditation. I've just looked it up and the course is still being run.
Not a 'city' university, though. Rather, often suggested for those who are looking for a really nice campus one. (As in both, it's a really nice campus and seems to score highly in what tends to be a bit of a kiss of death in some MN circles, student satisfactionShock).
clary · 13/02/2022 11:43

I don't have any suggestions beyond those posted here @LadyLazarus40 but just to say, you do not need all 9s to study at Durham. Or anywhere. Pal of Ds2's is at Cambridge with GCSEs that include a 6 - the horror.

With 8s and 9s at GCSE your dd can apply anywhere fat fits her predicted at A level. Even Oxford.

clary · 13/02/2022 11:44

that fits, obviously doh

Original poster
LadyLazarus40 · 13/02/2022 11:52

@clary thank you, yes I know that’s the case in principle but when she was thinking of Oxford the MN feedback was that her GCSEs were v borderline (someone described her as having a spiky profile) and whilst MN isn’t obv an admissions office it seems like she’s not the type of person she’s after. I think she’s fab but it seems in reality you have to have all 9’s and 4 a*’s etc etc. She feels like she wouldn’t be a good fit for Oxford and Durham. She does really want UCL however.

OP posts:
clary · 13/02/2022 12:16

That's fine of course, I'm not saying she should go to Durham or Oxfird; but 8s and 9s at GCSE is certainly not a spiky profile! The two lads from ds2's year at his school who are at Cambridge have spiker profiles than that. No one in his year got all 9s at GCSE. The MN view can be ridiculous sometimes.

Anyway agree she should apply where she can see herself getting the most out if it.

SE13Mummy · 13/02/2022 13:43

@MarchingFrogs you're definitely right about Keele not being a city! I suppose it depends how important it is for OP's DD to do a course she wants vs. being in a city. If she were to live in Stoke-on-Trent, she'd be in a city...

MarchingFrogs · 13/02/2022 13:47

she should apply where she can see herself getting the most out if it.

@clary that statement - whatever the 'most' is to which any applicant anywhere personally aspires, should definitely be carved in stone somewhere.

Original poster
LadyLazarus40 · 13/02/2022 14:09

[quote SE13Mummy]@MarchingFrogs you're definitely right about Keele not being a city! I suppose it depends how important it is for OP's DD to do a course she wants vs. being in a city. If she were to live in Stoke-on-Trent, she'd be in a city...[/quote]
The city is v important- we live in a tiny village - she wants to be in a large city (eldest gone to Manchester)

OP posts:
SE13Mummy · 13/02/2022 14:28

Newcastle, Plymouth and Nottingham are worth a look then, along with St Andrews and Stirling.

MarchingFrogs · 13/02/2022 14:29

Ah, yes - 'Newcastle' isn't really 'Newcastle', so to speak...