BSc Psychology with Biology

If not included in your offer, we will take into consideration your additional A/AS levels and any key skill units when we receive your results in August.

The aim of the course is to give you a thorough grounding in theories, methods and research in Psychology and Biology in order to provide a comprehensive degree covering the main approaches to the study of brain and behaviour. In particular, this course aims to study the underlying relationship of psychology with population ecology and human and animal behaviour. The aim of the Psychology with Neuroscience course, by contrast, is to provide an understanding of mechanisms of brain function underlying psychological principles. Both courses are accredited as conferring eligibility for Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society and giving the Graduate Basis for Registration which is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist. Students will get the Graduate Basis for Registration of the BPS provided they obtain an honours degree (third class honours or above).

In your first year you will spend 7/12 of your time in Psychology and 5/12 in Biology. In your second year two-thirds of your modules will be in Psychology and one-third in Biology. In your final year you spend at least one-third of your time in Biology and the rest of your time in Psychology. The precise allocation between the two disciplines in your third year depends on your choice of options.

An integral part of the course is the teaching of research methodology in both Psychology and Biology, and students will acquire competence in laboratory techniques and in the use of statistical methods to analyse data from experiments in the laboratory and in the field.

Year 1
You will study introductory modules in Psychology which cover: approaches to psychology, cognitive psychology; abnormal psychology; developmental psychology; social psychology, applied psychology and biological bases of behaviour; statistics and laboratory work. You will learn about the fundamental concepts of cell and developmental biology, the diversity of organisms, how cellular functions are integrated in the whole animal to control bodily function by both the somatic and autonomic nervous systems, strategies that have evolved in animals for the acquisition of the energy essential for life and the scientific principles that underlie biodiversity from both environmental and evolutionary perspectives. You will be able to place this information in the context of the physiological control of bodily function, and the place of individuals in environmental and evolutionary biology. You should appreciate the nature and breadth of Psychology and begin the process of seeing the relationship between psychological parameters and underlying biological phenomena. The understanding of methodology, experimental design and statistical analysis will be developed in the context of both Biology and Psychology. 

Year 2
You will develop your knowledge in social psychology, developmental psychology, abnormal, personality and individual differences and cognitive psychology. You will have practical experience of data collection and its statistical analysis in psychological experiments. You should understand the major mammalian physiological systems and the way in which they interact to support life and appreciate how the theory of evolution and natural selection underpins modern interpretation of the function of animal behaviour. You will develop an appreciation of the range of approaches, from empirical to biological, to the study of behaviour in animals and humans, and the interaction between these approaches. 

Year 3
A strong element of choice characterises this year. Essentially all the teaching will be on the understanding of aspects of behaviour and evolution and the interface of this with Psychology. Three core modules are taken in Psychology: social behaviour & development, brain & cognition and a psychology research project. There are also two core modules in Biology: social evolution and co-operation in nature. Additional modules are selected from topics in Psychology and in Biology. In Psychology, the two options are chosen from the following modules:  psychology of sport, behavioural pharmacology, psychology of love and attraction, cognitive and clinical neuropsychology, individual differences, human factors, visual cognition, game theory & experimental games and various aspects of applied psychology (e.g. clinical, legal, educational).  In Biology there are 4 modules to choose from: brain & behaviour, wildlife management & population biology, comparative animal physiology and genes in ecology. You should develop an understanding of the implications for social organisation in organisms of the theories of kin selection and reciprocal altruism and field studies will provide training to formulate testable hypotheses about animal behaviour in the wild with particular emphasis on co-operative behaviour. Depending on your interests you will have an understanding of how structure and function have influenced the ways in which different animal types have solved similar physiological problems, how animals maintain themselves in a wide range of different environments and the ways by which they adapt to changes in these environments, and the cellular basis of information processing within the central nervous system in man or will gain understanding of various aspects of population biology including the ways in which genetic markers can be used to improve understanding of various population processes and evolution of behaviour. You should appreciate the contribution of neuropsychology to understanding language and localisation of cognitive function. You should understand the importance of major life stages in human development and social behaviour in a variety of contexts. You will have demonstrated your knowledge and competence in data collection and analysis, and the interpretation of research data, through participation in a research project in Psychology. You will have an opportunity through the choice of options in Psychology and/or Biology to introduce some variation into your courses of study that reflect your diverse interests and career aspirations.

Skills Gained
During your progression through the course you will also acquire subject specific skills and techniques, through practical work etc. You will also develop a range of transferable skills. In both disciplines, you will develop skills in oral and written communication, information retrieval and the evaluation of research. You will develop generic skills in IT as well as specialist data analysis skills. Practical laboratory and project work will develop research skills in both psychology and biology, enabling you to design and undertake experiments and other empirical investigations, and acquire a range of laboratory techniques.

Graduate Opportunities
Graduates from this degree will have acquired skills relevant to careers in areas such as industry, university research, teaching, health care, personnel and management training. Following accreditation, the degree will qualify you to undertake further training in areas such as clinical, educational, forensic, occupational and counselling psychology. It will also provide the basis for advanced training in Biology.

Postgraduate opportunities are available at Leicester in both disciplines. In addition to the forensic and clinical psychology course run within the School of Psychology there are active postgraduate research programmes in Psychology and in Biology.

BPS Accreditation
BPS accreditation for Psychology with Biology has been approved.

Psychology Brochure

A new Psychology Brochure is now available. Please use our Request Form to order or download a copy.