Psychology with Biology

Psychology and biology are natural partners. The two disciplines share a concern with the mechanisms underlying behaviour and cognition, and the relationship between them has become increasingly central as neuroscience, genetics, and evolutionary approaches have reshaped how we understand the mind. A degree that combines the two allows you to study psychological phenomena with a grounding in the biological systems that produce them, from neurons and neurochemistry through to evolutionary pressures on behaviour and the genetic basis of individual differences.

At the University of St Andrews, this four-year full-time BSc gives you a thorough grounding in psychology across its full range, including perception, cognition, motivation, and behaviour, alongside a substantial engagement with biological sciences. You will learn research techniques from the start of the degree, developing the empirical and analytical skills that underpin both psychology and biology as scientific disciplines. The programme emphasises practical learning, grounding theoretical understanding in hands-on laboratory and research experience.

In your third year you will spend a year abroad, broadening your perspective by studying in a different academic environment and gaining the kind of adaptability that scientific careers increasingly require. With a typical entry tariff of 232 UCAS points, this is one of the most competitive psychology degrees in the UK, reflecting the university's strength in the subject.

Graduates from psychology and biology programmes are well placed for careers that draw on both scientific rigour and an understanding of human behaviour. Clinical psychology, neuroscience research, healthcare, biosciences, pharmaceutical development, public health, education, and research roles in academia are all natural directions. The strong research training the degree provides is particularly valuable for those who wish to continue to postgraduate study, including doctoral programmes in clinical psychology, neuroscience, or biological psychology.

The combination of disciplines also prepares graduates well for professional entry into medicine and related health professions.