Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behaviour, one of the most wide-ranging and intellectually engaging disciplines in higher education. It asks fundamental questions about how people perceive the world, how memory, attention, and language work, how emotions and motivations shape what we do, how individuals develop from infancy through adulthood, how social contexts influence our thinking and choices, and what happens when psychological processes go wrong. Because human behaviour is the central concern of so many professions and organisations, psychological understanding is genuinely valued across a very broad range of contexts.

At Loughborough University, this three-year full-time programme takes the scientific nature of psychology seriously, grounding your studies in research methods, statistical analysis, and the critical evaluation of evidence. You will engage with the major areas of the discipline, including cognitive psychology, biological psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, and individual differences, developing both conceptual understanding and the practical skills to design, conduct, and analyse psychological research. Loughborough's research strengths in areas such as sport psychology, health psychology, and applied cognitive psychology inform the teaching and create opportunities to engage with research at the cutting edge of the discipline.

You will also have the opportunity to explore applied areas of psychology, from the clinical understanding of mental health to the improvement of performance in workplace and sporting contexts, as the current description reflects.

Psychology degrees accredited by the British Psychological Society confer the Graduate Basis for Chartership, which is the first step towards becoming a chartered psychologist. This matters for students planning to enter professional psychology practice.

Graduates from psychology programmes pursue careers across an exceptionally wide range, including clinical and counselling psychology, health services, human resources and organisational development, education, marketing and consumer research, sport and performance coaching, research, and social work. Further study at postgraduate level is required for professional practice as a psychologist, typically through a doctorate in clinical, educational, forensic, occupational, or sports psychology.