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Original poster

Psychology with science A levels

25 replies

AmandaClare · 25/02/2023 15:48

DD is keen to study psychology at degree level. Her A levels are maths, economics, French and politics.

All the unis she's interested in say that she needs at least one science or maths, which she has, so in theory all ok. She's worrying though that in practice it will count against her not to have a science A level. She does have three 9s for sciences at GCSE.

Just wondered if anyone had any experience?

OP posts:
Original poster
AmandaClare · 25/02/2023 16:25

Sorry should say WITHOUT

OP posts:
Pumpkintopf · 25/02/2023 16:50

I should think she'd be absolutely fine, particularly with her maths and there can be a lot of statistics in a psychology degree. If she's concerned it would be a good idea to ring the admissions team at one of the unis she's interested in and have a chat with them but I can't imagine it being a problem.

kitsuneghost · 25/02/2023 17:03

I would say she is fine. Psychology is traditionally pretty easy to get into and has the advantage that most unis do it.

KittyMcKitty · 25/02/2023 17:24

kitsuneghost · 25/02/2023 17:03

I would say she is fine. Psychology is traditionally pretty easy to get into and has the advantage that most unis do it.

Psychology is actually massively popular and very oversubscribed at the moment.

OP if you meet the requirements then her application should have equal consideration.

Lightstoasteraction · 25/02/2023 17:32

kitsuneghost · 25/02/2023 17:03

I would say she is fine. Psychology is traditionally pretty easy to get into and has the advantage that most unis do it.

This is not helpful advice. Psychology courses are very over-subscribed. Yes it is offered by many institutions but those viewed as higher status ask for high grades, and sometimes give alternative offers, eg Sociology to candidates with excellent predicted grades who meet the subject requirements.

HermioneWeasley · 25/02/2023 17:33

She’ll be fine. I did a BSC in psychology and all arts A levels.

lastminutetutor · 25/02/2023 17:40

The only other really relevant science is biology. Although the other sciences will show some scientific ability and some research methods training, generally biology and maths are the most relevant. Other of course than having psychology A level. Whether she will get in with that combination probably depends on the university. Still good though for grades to do subjects she enjoys.

WhereIsMumHiding3 · 25/02/2023 18:11

AmandaClare · 25/02/2023 15:48

DD is keen to study psychology at degree level. Her A levels are maths, economics, French and politics.

All the unis she's interested in say that she needs at least one science or maths, which she has, so in theory all ok. She's worrying though that in practice it will count against her not to have a science A level. She does have three 9s for sciences at GCSE.

Just wondered if anyone had any experience?

I'm a psychologist

Her A level choices will be fine for a psychology degree.

Don't worry .

WhereIsMumHiding3 · 25/02/2023 18:17

I didn't have biology even as an O level! I did maths chemistry Art and English Lit at A levels. Plenty of my uni psych classmates didn't have a science. Can't say that chemistry really helped me in psych degree. Maths did for the statistical analysis stuff. Biology isn't essential but it is a bit helpful

WhereIsMumHiding3 · 25/02/2023 18:19

Oooh I see she has 3 9s at GCSE that's fabulous - that means she has biology chemistry and physics. Perfect

She'll be grand
Psychology is a fabulous degree
Really good fun

TizerorFizz · 25/02/2023 18:19

140,000 currently studying psychology in the uk (HESA). It’s very popular and only very competitive at the top places. Clearly DD didn’t have this subject in mind at 16 so why now? Many universities just want one science. However Cambridge say they don’t mind. 1/9 get in though. What does she want to do afterwards because that’s where the real competition lies.

benten54 · 25/02/2023 19:28

I did BSC Psy with English, sociology and law A Levels.

TizerorFizz · 25/02/2023 22:53

@benten54 Where? Cambridge? When?

PeekAtYou · 25/02/2023 23:04

My dd is currently doing a psychology degree. (BSc) She did Biology, Maths and Psychology at A-level.

Her course has mandatory chemistry and biology content but it doesn't assume A-level standard knowledge. She did double science at GCSE which hasn't held her back.

Boomboom22 · 25/02/2023 23:06

Totally fine. You don't need psych a level and maths is an advantage, mainly statistics. I did media English and psych to do psych.

Fifthtimelucky · 25/02/2023 23:07

When my daughter was looking to apply for Psychology, all the universities she looked at wanted at least one science A level.

Mine only had one science A level (psychology) and only did double science. She had offers from all 5 (RG) universities so clearly none was worried about the lack of a traditional science at A level.

Your daughter should be absolutely fine, OP.

mushroom3 · 27/02/2023 00:36

Some Unis ask for one grade higher if you don't have a science versus at least one science (well they did when DD applied). Maths is definitely useful for the Stats content. Biology and Psychology are useful but not essential. My DD has said those that haven't done biology A level are finding the biological units harder than those who did, but it is fine.

poetryandwine · 27/02/2023 01:09

Former Russell Group admissions tutor here, STEM subject. I think this is a good combination of subjects for Psychology and Maths is an excellent choice.

Although another Science wouldn’t hurt, it is the responsibility of admissions teams to give an accurate description of their requirements. Your DD should be just fine. If you have any questions DD (rather than you or her other parent) should contact the admissions teams at some of her top choices. We like to help!

benten54 · 27/02/2023 02:53

TizerorFizz · 25/02/2023 22:53

@benten54 Where? Cambridge? When?

Reading in the mid 90's!
I had offers from Durham, Notts, Strathclyde and poss Exeter.
Got 4 A's so could have applied to Ox or Cambs but working class background meant it was a bit out of reach in those days so no idea what entry requirements they had!
Was desperate to do DClinPsych but too competitive so 20 years later I'm a lawyer (4 years more university) and partner in a law firm on the other side of the world!

Tippexy · 27/02/2023 07:11

benten54 · 27/02/2023 02:53

Reading in the mid 90's!
I had offers from Durham, Notts, Strathclyde and poss Exeter.
Got 4 A's so could have applied to Ox or Cambs but working class background meant it was a bit out of reach in those days so no idea what entry requirements they had!
Was desperate to do DClinPsych but too competitive so 20 years later I'm a lawyer (4 years more university) and partner in a law firm on the other side of the world!

Show quote history

She meant why did you mention Cambridge out of nowhere.

OP make sure the degree confers graduate basis for chartered membership (GBC) for the BPS. This ensures she is eligible to apply for professional doctorates in psychology should she so choose in the future.

fortyfifty · 27/02/2023 08:15

Those seem like a great set of A level subjects. With maths A level and 9s in single science GCSEs I can't see how she'd be worse off than someone applying with just psychology A level and 2 Humanities A levels. Your DD would be ahead with stats, and at no disadvantage not having done psychology A level, as content is repeated in the first year of the degree.

TizerorFizz · 27/02/2023 08:59

In the 90s at Reading wasn’t a competitive choice. I also think, back in the day, psychology wasn’t always seen as a science. Times change.

Any school capable of having a student with AAAA should have said Oxbridge. People limit themselves by clinging to background. Happened in my family.

KittyMcKitty · 27/02/2023 09:29

Tizeror not everyone is interested in Oxbridge - it isn’t the be all and end all. Neither of my dc had any interest in it - that’s not limiting themselves. One dc is at Manchester and the other, assuming they meet their offer will go to Durham - I see no reason why they should have applied to Oxbridge.

TizerorFizz · 27/02/2023 12:49

@KittyMcKitty
I didn’t say they should. However if you compare university requirements you need to look at all to do so. I think someone saying working class background prevented Cambridge when they got AAAA is wrong. They didn’t aim very high which is a huge shame. I am not saying Durham isn’t good. I’m saying Reading would not be comparable with the best. So look at the best and what they want and work from there.

WhereIsMumHiding3 · 01/03/2023 14:31

mushroom3 · 27/02/2023 00:36

Some Unis ask for one grade higher if you don't have a science versus at least one science (well they did when DD applied). Maths is definitely useful for the Stats content. Biology and Psychology are useful but not essential. My DD has said those that haven't done biology A level are finding the biological units harder than those who did, but it is fine.

As I said psychologist here and I didn't even have biology at O level when I applied for my psychology degree at a RG uni.

To be fair I did do a biology course whilst at uni having changed from maths to biology (my degree asked you to do second courses in first year) and it was a quick O-A level and above your for me! But I passed Grin it! And I went in to get an excellent psychology degree

For psychology so many subjects are useful. Maths gif the stats, any social sciences or sciences for the report writing for experiments & research reviews... It's one of those subjects that draws on a lot of fields. I think OPs DD has a good mix

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