Talk to me about psychology degrees

[lovewillfindit]

DD in y12 doing A levels French, History and Biology - of which she prefers the last. Has said she might like to do a degree in psychology. I've looked and it seems you can do this with biology A level - but are people with just one science at a disadvantage?

She's a high flyer, straight 9s at GCSE and I'd be surprised if she wasn't on track for three A stars plus an A star in EPQ. Where would a good place to apply? She suffers from severe anxiety (hence interest in psychology) and I think needs to be in a smallish and academic environment to thrive - she is NOT a party girl. She's anti Oxbridge as she thinks she'd find it too stressful but where else could offer a similar-ish experience because I think she'd hate unstructured days or would all courses be quite full on? And what kind of things does she need to read/participate in this year to put on a PS?

It may be a bit far away for your DD but York could be worth a look if she thinks she may want to go into clinical psychology. They take part in a fast track doctorate programme with Hull which is only open to York and Hull psychology graduates. Studying at York doesn’t guarantee a place, but it significantly increases their chances of moving into clinical practice. Also York is a lovely campus and city.

It's statistics not maths mind

Fellow psych here, 4 years ugd, skipped the masters but got experience to get on to doctorate (fully salaried) before specialising further for another 4 years (part time)!
It's a slog but it's worth it!

Question for those who’ve been through it - does it matter where undergrad degree is (assuming bps) for getting into masters/phd/work/clinical psych doctorate? Dd stressing that if she goes to a “lower ranked” uni it will limit her options later…I’d rather she went to a less stressed place even if it is supposedly lower ranked!

I went to Surrey University open day and offer day with ds and also to Bath open day. Not psychology. However, both campus universities and Surrey in particular seemed to have a supportive feel. Surrey campus is beautiful. My ds had Bath as firm and Surrey as insurance.
Looking at psychology Bath is A star AA without EPQ and not contextual for psychology and Surrey ABB.

Just swinging by to say I studied psychology with zero science A levels, as I'm numerate the statistics in the degree course weren't an issue. And I'm now a psychologist on 6 figures, for all the psych degree cynics

@smartiesneberhadtheanswer What kind of psychologist? Just curious.

It is always possible to get onto MSc and PhD programs from any BPS accredited BSc. The application process looks at grades and experiences and achievements not just university name.

Places on the clinical PhD programme are very very competitive and you typically need 2-3 years experience (eg assistant psychology jobs) before applying to the clinical PhD. So by then, the university name on you UG degree doesn't matter so much.

@DorotheaDiamond DD might also
need to consider what alternative career aspirations she might have if she changes her mind about being a psychologist or cannot get on the next level courses she needs. It’s such a slog and most psychology degree holders give up or don’t bother to go any further. It is a degree that’s taught at 118 unis. Very few psychology degree holders become psychologists. I would always have a plan B and this might be better served at a better uni.

In her personal statement, she can highlight her academic achievements, her interest in psychology (especially as it relates to her experiences with anxiety), and any relevant extracurricular activities. Demonstrating an understanding of the subject through wider reading, online courses, or participation in psychology-related events can strengthen her application. Work experience or volunteering in a psychology-related field, if possible, would also be beneficial.

Considering the preference for a small and academic environment, there are several universities known for their strong psychology programs and supportive atmospheres. While not Oxbridge, institutions like Durham University, University of St Andrews, or University of Bath might offer a balance of academic rigor.

Having one science A level, particularly in biology, should not put her at a significant disadvantage. Psychology programs generally accept a range of A level subjects, and her academic excellence will likely be a strong factor in the admissions process.

Hope those contributions help @lovewillfindit

I did Psychology as part of my degree and was worried about the maths, but honestly the maths is really easy. It's just stats, very straightforward compared to GCSE Maths imo.

My only recommendation is to look for the courses with the right UCAS code for what career path would be chosen following the degree. The most prestigious psychology degrees have a UCAS code of C800. Some degrees have psychology elements but may not necessarily be recognised by the BPS for example.
C824 seems to also be accredited by the BPS with much lower entry requirements.