STUDY

Undergraduate

BSc (Hons) Psychology and Sociology

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Course options: Professional Placement, Study Abroad
Institution code: S82
UCAS code: LC38
Start date: September 2025
Duration: Three/four years full-time
Location: Ipswich
Typical Offer: 112 UCAS tariff points (or above), BBC (A-Level), DMM (BTEC), Merit (T Level)
Course options: Professional Placement, Study Abroad
Institution code: S82
UCAS code: LC38
Start date: September 2025
Duration: Three/four years full-time
Location: Ipswich
Typical Offer: 112 UCAS tariff points (or above), BBC (A-Level), DMM (BTEC), Merit (T Level)

Overview

Psychology enables you to study the workings of the human mind and how this is revealed in human behaviour, both consciously and unconsciously. As a psychology student, you will be introduced to psychological theories and will learn to critically evaluate them so that you can reach your own well-informed conclusions about the nature and origins of human and non-human behaviour. Sociology is the study of how society is organised and how we experience life and therefore psychological theory can help us to understand the impact society has on our behaviour. 

You’ll have access to excellent facilities and equipment. We have recently invested £320k in new hardware and software for our psychology laboratories and we also have a laboratory in the new £13m state-of-the-art Health and Wellbeing Building officially opened in June 2023. 

Studying psychology enables you to develop a diverse range of transferable skills which are valued highly by employers. We are proud to be ranked 1st in the UK for graduates in career 15 months after graduation for Psychology (Guardian University Guide, 2023). 

Sociology looks at your world and challenges you to ask searching questions about inequality, fairness, power and violence. With a degree in sociology, you can shape your future. You will study complex and challenging real world issues such as gender, sexuality, injustice, migration, the unequal impact of climate change and big global social changes in all parts of our world. Our course develops the skills you need to analyse and think carefully and knowledgeably about social life in the second quarter of the 21st century. 

You will be challenged to become sensitive to the wider social context of your lived experience and learn to look beyond a narrow focus on the individual in any life situation. These are the creative, analytical and intellectual skills you will need for many careers in a wide range of areas. You do not need to have taken A level sociology; if you do, then our degree will stretch and challenge you in new directions. Bring an open mind, expect to be challenged, and prepare yourself to explore the big sociological vistas.

This programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) which means that on successful completion of your degree, eligibility for graduate based chartership (GBC) of the BPS will be conferred. GBC of the BPS is a mandatory requirement for access to most professional practitioner training programmes. 

Further information about the University's relationship with the British Psychological Society (BPS) is available in the PSRB register.

Psychology at the University of Suffolk

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The University of Suffolk is world-class and committed to our region. We are proudly modern and innovative and we believe in transformative education. We are on the rise with a focus on student satisfaction, graduate prospects, spending on academic services and student facilities.

1st

in the UK for graduates in a career 15 months after graduation for Psychology

The Guardian University Guide 2023

4th

in the UK for graduate prospects for Sociology

The Complete University Guide 2024

7th

in the UK for Sociology and Social Policy

The Guardian University Guide 2023

Course Modules

Our undergraduate programmes are delivered as 'block and blend' - more information can be found on Why Suffolk? You can also watch our Block and Blend video.

Downloadable information regarding all University of Suffolk courses, including Key Facts, Course Aims, Course Structure and Assessment, is available in the Definitive Course Record.

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Foundations in Biological and Cognitive Psychology is a mandatory module for all students taking a psychology degree route. Together with the “Foundations in Social and Developmental Psychology” module, level 4 students will attain a holistic underpinning to the major approaches in psychology. The module will cover conceptual and historical issues of behavioural, biological and cognitive approaches to psychology.

Social Psychology is concerned with the scientific study of human social behaviour, experience and thought. Developmental Psychology is concerned with the scientific study of systematic changes in human psychology across an individual’s lifespan, particularly cognitive, perceptual, social and emotional development in childhood, adolescence and adulthood. This module provides an introduction to key theories and approaches in Social and Developmental Psychology.

This module is designed to provide students with two essential aspects of further psychological study. Firstly, an introduction to psychological research methods; including a consideration of methodology and data analysis for both quantitative and qualitative data.  Secondly, this module will also equip students with the essential academic study skills required for their degrees.

This module aims to introduce you to key features of the sociological perspective and what many call the sociological imagination. It is concerned with making the everyday strange and the far away near to gain a better grasp on key aspects of social life. This leads into a key concern of sociology with questions of power and inequality. Students will be able to engage with key debates about the nature of inequality and power using contemporary examples and analysis.

Introduction to Criminology aims to introduce students to the history of criminological thought, combining biographical fact with historical and cultural context. Students will develop an understanding of how crime is defined and measured and examine theoretical perspectives that seek to explain causes of criminal behaviour.

This module will introduce students to political concepts, principles and theories that shape the operation of politics in the UK, and how this affects policy responses to various social issues and problems with a particular emphasis placed upon crime and deviance. As well as introducing students to the political institutions of the UK, the module examines the different ways that political choices are framed and made in the UK and the process of debate and dialogue is a key part of the content of the module.

This module will introduce the major aspects of social change that have led to and developed within modern societies. The emphasis will be upon structural changes in Britain and Europe, but will give room for students to explore social change in rapidly changing middle income countries as well. 

The module will look into the history of people’s movement across the globe. Moreover, a focus on migration also includes discussions about different causes of migration, and its voluntary and forced forms, as well as asylum seeking.

Biological psychology (biopsychology) looks at psychological processes from a biological perspective, dealing with issues such as behaviour genetics, endocrinology and physiological psychology. Cognitive psychology studies how information is processed by the brain and sense organs. It is concerned with issues of how people perceive, understand, make decisions about and remember information.

All researchers require a basic understanding of qualitative research methodology. This module develops the knowledge gained in the Psychological Research Methods Module, and provides students with the skills to carry out research of sufficient quality and rigour to complete their own independent studies.

This module provides students with the skills to carry out quantitative research of sufficient quality and rigour to complete their own independent studies.  Students will attain a holistic underpinning to the major research skills utilized within psychology.

This module will build on the broad introduction at Level 4 and seek to provide research-based accounts of social and developmental behaviour in key areas, such as people in groups, prejudice and discrimination, aggression, social influence, emotional and social development, life-span adult development and developmental social psychology. 

Social Theory provides students with the opportunity to engage with the ideas of a range of important theorists from the late 20th and early 21st centuries, allowing for an engagement with the insightful, often challenging and sometimes counter-intuitive perspectives that come from a range of contemporary social theorists. 

This module intends to examine definitions of globalisation, the dimensions of globalisation and the evidence to evaluate the extent to which globalisation is now a key element in important aspects of social life. This module will allow students of sociology should be able to engage with these debates by evaluating a range of data and arguments about globalisation.

The central theme is the social nature of health. Understanding the broad patterns of morbidity and mortality are fundamental to enabling informed discussion regarding the social nature of health. The module seeks to broaden student’s understanding of contemporary health and illness with a content which is topical, wide ranging combining contemporary issues in health with classic debates within this field.

This module allows students to reflect on the world of work by considering their skills and strengths in relation to future career paths, and the kinds of practice and professional skills they may need to cultivate. The module allows students to take a work placement or engage in work shadowing. The module will also consider theoretical aspects of work and employment and review the most recent sociological research related to work and employment.  The examples will focus on Ipswich, Suffolk, and more widely on the UK and a global dimension of work and employment.

This module will encourage students to develop a critical approach to race, racism and resistance from a global perspective, looking not only on conceptions and lived experience in the Western countries but also other parts of the world, including the Global South including Latin American, Africa and Asian contexts, and Central and Eastern Europe. The module will explore key sites of contemporary racism and anti-racist political activism, drawing on examples such as the Black Lives Matter movement and pro- and anti-refugee solidarity activism in Europe and beyond. Attention will also be paid to decolonial and postcolonial approaches, as well as the intersection of gender, race, class and other categories of difference when exploring race, racism and resistance globally.

Abnormal Psychology seeks to explain unusual or maladaptive behaviour through the examination of rigorous, research-based subject matter. The concept of ‘abnormal’ can be problematic given negative connotations with ‘not normal’ and this will be a key area of debate: the essence of normality and the appropriateness of labels which may have important ramifications for how people suffering psychopathology are in some way perceived as ‘not normal’ or as inferior members of society.

This module seeks to primarily explore and touch upon individual differences in personality and intelligence. The module also aims to introduce students to other elements of differential psychology for example creativity, cognitive styles, motivation and leadership.

Research is an important and integral part of your degree, and the Research Dissertation gives students the opportunity to expand learning and develop interests in a particular topic. Students will critique research by others and will reflect on their own work, moving students from a theoretical knowledge of research toward a more informed level of skill and application. 

Gender and sexuality are an everyday experience for most people and impact on their daily lives. However, great complexity surrounds gender and sexuality in a contemporary society and culture. The module will consider theoretical aspects of gender and sexuality, as well as, it will look at different ways, both qualitative and quantitative, of researching gender and sexuality and it will deploy the most recent sociological research related to gender and sexuality.

This module introduces the sociological perspective to the discussion about and the debates on mental illness and the development of the psychiatric treatment and services.

To explore the relationship between technology and society is to look at the relationship between people and things. In this respect important debates about material culture and their origin in anthropology need to be examined. Material culture is one important element, with considerable contemporary interest, that links to the wider perspective of material civilization. The other major approach is to explore contributions to the study of technology – especially the debate about social construction and technological determinism. The module will take a broad definition of technology to include the important mundane material world (tables, chairs, pavements) alongside contemporary communications technologies (mobile phones, internet). This module will explore definitions and theories of technology and society, important anthropologically inspired accounts of the material world, and more recent work on the impact of communications technology.

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WHY SUFFOLK

2nd in the UK for Career Prospects

WUSCA 2024

3rd in the UK for spend on academic services

Complete University Guide 2025

4th in the UK for Teaching Satisfaction

Guardian University Guide 2024
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The Health and Wellbeing Building
Student and teacher using Psychology equipment
Watch our Psychology course video
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The Library
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SU Social Space

Entry Requirements

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Career Opportunities

There are many opportunities open to psychology degree holders including and not limited to: 

  • Psychologist 
  • Psychotherapist 
  • Social worker 
  • Counsellor 
  • Educational psychologist 
  • Human resource manager 
  • Teacher 
  • Research roles 
  • Media roles 
     

Sociology graduates are in demand and well placed to seek employment in graduate management schemes, social services, education, marketing, criminal justice, welfare services, government, counselling, charities and the voluntary sector. Recent graduates have gone on to work as:

  • Teachers
  • College lecturers
  • Housing officers
  • Probation officers
  • Employment consultants
  • English as a foreign language teachers

Your Course Team

Dr Rachel Grenfell-Essam

Rachel is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Course Leader for the BSc (Hons) Psychology and Associated Routes Programmes.

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Dr Jennifer Coe

Dr Jennifer Coe is a Lecturer in Psychology.

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Dr Emmanouil Georgiadis

Manos is an internationally known expert in applying motivational constructs in Sport and Exercise Psychology.

Manos Georgiadis staff profile photo

David James

David is Head of Law and Social Sciences, and sees himself as an educator dedicated to helping students to learn effectively within the social sciences.

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Dr Rachael Martin

Dr Rachael Martin is the Course Leader for the MSc Applications of Psychology

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Dr Kate McCulloch

Kate is a Lecturer in Psychology.

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Dr Abbie Millett

Abbie is an experienced educator and is Lecturer in Psychology.

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Dr Alina Rzepnikowska Phillips

Alina is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Politics and Course Leader for Sociology.

Alina Rzepnikowska Phillips staff profile photo

Dr Shamser Sinha

Shamser's research and teaching interests circle around; ‘race’ and racism; youth; and different ways of doing ethnography.

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Sarah Beane

Psychology Technical Learning Instructor Sarah joined the University of Suffolk in 2021.

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Sharon Versey

Sharon is Academic Administrator for all undergraduate Childhood and Education courses.

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Fees and Funding

UK Full-time Tuition Fee

£9,250

per year
International Full-time Tuition Fee

£15,090

per year

The decision to study a degree is an investment into your future, there are various means of support available to you in order to help fund your tuition fees and living costs. You can apply for funding from the Spring before your course starts.

UK Fees and Finance UK Bursaries and Scholarships International Fees and Scholarships

Ipswich Award

The University of Suffolk is offering a £1,000 Award for students joining the University of Suffolk’s Ipswich campus. The Award is based on specific eligibility criteria based on your year of entry.

More information
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How to Apply

To study this course on a full-time basis, you can apply through UCAS. As well as providing your academic qualifications, you’ll be able to showcase your skills, qualities and passion for the subject.

Apply Now Further Information on Applying
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Amy Felgate, BSc (Hons) Psychology and Sociology

"After completing my first year, I am confident that I have made the correct decision for following a degree in such a friendly environment."

read more
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