You'll be introduced to the key skills to develop your confidence in your abilities to be an independent, reflective learner. Prepare for your degree and learn the different ways of presenting academic information, as well as skills such as how to use library and online resources, planning, note-taking, evaluative skills and avoiding plagiarism. 

Understand how to identify and evaluate sources of academic information and how to use these to support an argument. 

Develop organisational, time management and stress management skills to enable you to approach your level 4 studies with confidence and you'll learn to reflect on assessment feedback and identify relevant support services to help you in your academic career.

Study an area of psychology which is of particular interest to you. Explore and agree on your topic area of interest through workshop tuitions and one-to-one supervision, to produce a systematic plan and to agree a format for assessment. 

You'll be given the opportunity to explore assorted topics that your project can focus upon. You'll focus exclusively on existing academic literature and other secondary sources to produce your project. Formats of how you would like to present your project work are negotiable and may include a written report, presentation or oral examination, film or a series of blog posts. 

You’ll be introduced to the main perspectives, investigation methods, studies and controversies in key areas of psychology.

Explore the history of psychology and its themes including cognitive behaviour, sociology, biology and developmental theories.

You'll learn through lectures, discussions and group workshops and become familiar with key concepts through individual research.

Get a foundation in quantitative and qualitative approaches to research in psychology, focusing on research terminology and design, data collection, data handling and analysis.

Learn about the application of psychology in a professional context, considering research, ethics and professional issues in each of the British Psychological Society (BPS) professional areas.

You'll be taught through a blended approach to learning, including lectures, discussions and group work.

Get an introduction to forensic psychology.

You'll study topics including psychological theories of crime, international perspectives of crime and risk management, victimology, offenders, media and crime, the role of the forensic psychologist, prison and prisoners, restorative justice, courtroom psychology, police psychology, the nature, range and volume of crime, and methods of measurement.

You'll explore ethical practice, professional issues and conduct, along with conceptual, historical and cultural issues.

You'll learn about the core areas in psychology - biological, cognitive, developmental and social.

We'll look at the historical and cultural context and origins of modern psychology, including international and cultural perspectives.

Biological
You'll learn about brain structure and functions such as pain, fear, eating, drinking and sleeping.

Cognitive
We'll cover attention, memory, and problem-solving.

Developmental
We'll look at lifelong development, personality and temperament, behavioural genetics, resilience and vulnerability, constructivist and constructionist theories, information processing approach, the role of education and ecological systems theory.

Social
Learn about the history of psychology, social thinking, beliefs and judgements, attitudes and behaviours.

You'll get a foundation in professional development skills in psychology.

This includes individual difference psychology - looking at personality and the assessment of human psychology - and professional working practices.

You'll learn about conceptual and historical issues and the role of psychology in understanding issues of diversity in the workplace.

You'll develop skills valued by employers, particularly during the Professional Development Block.

You'll have meetings every two weeks with your personal tutor to support you and your professional skill development.

Get a foundation in quantitative and qualitative research design and analysis.

You'll learn about effective study design, ethical working practices, analysis and handling of qualitative and quantitative data.

You'll start using tools for data collection such as online surveys and E-Prime, and SPSS for analysis.

You'll take part in psychological research designed by yourself and by others.

Develop skills valued by employers and needed for investigative work throughout your degree.

Develop your understanding of the relationship between theory and practice in forensic psychology.

You'll consider conceptual and historical issues.

We'll look at topics including deviant sexuality, sexual offending, psychology and mental health issues in prisons, international perspectives, drugs and crime, child and adolescent offending, personality disorder and crime, polygraphy, violent offending, psychopathology, personality disorders, and the cognitive interview.

You'll apply your understanding of psychological theories to the risk assessment and treatment of a fictitious sexual offender.

We'll cover methodological and ethical issues related to psychological research and apply psychology to world issues.

You'll consider conceptual and historical issues in the areas of biological, cognitive, developmental and social psychology.

Build upon the knowledge and professional skills you gained in your first year.

You'll be prepared with the skills that are valued by employers and as such you will complete a professional placement. 

You'll also be introduced to the concept of professional learning through work and approaches to scoping out and sourcing projects with employers, professional bodies and projects linked to civic or community challenges or student identified skills development. 

Build on and extend your skills in quantitative and qualitative research design and analysis.

You'll take part in psychological research designed by yourself and others. T

We'll cover ethical issues in conducting psychological research, the design, control and analysis of experiments with more than one independent variable and learn how to use relevant software to collect data.

You'll learn how to analyse quantitative data, including distributions and transformation of data, two-way analysis of variance, post-hoc analyses and linear regression.

You'll use specialist software (e.g. SPSS, G*Power) to perform and interpret statistical analyses.

We'll also look at issues in qualitative research, including ethical issues, how to collect and analyse qualitative data using discourse analysis, grounded theory, interpretative phenomenological analysis and narrative analysis.

Complete an original investigation within a field of psychology you're particularly interested in.

Your project forms the culmination of the various research methods modules preceding it.

You may choose any research methods appropriate to your particular area of enquiry.

Develop evidence-based solutions for contemporary issues within the Criminal Justice System, to effect positive change.

You'll work in groups to discuss topics in the UK and around the world.

You'll apply your knowledge to suggest ways to reduce the risk of re-offending.

Topics will include risk assessment, self-harm and suicide, forensic mental health and approaches to treatment including cognitive behavioural therapy, positive psychology, motivational interviewing, mindfulness and group offending behaviour programmes.

You'll get flexible opportunities to enhance your professional skills and graduate choices.

We'll tailor the module to your development as you apply theoretical understanding to a context of your choice.

It could include a work-based project within your professional setting or a skill-development approach addressing specific gaps in your portfolio.