Psychology with Placement Year

Psychology is the science of human behaviour and mental processes, exploring how people think, feel, perceive, remember, learn and develop across the lifespan. It sits at the intersection of biology, neuroscience, social science and philosophy, asking questions that matter both for understanding the human condition and for addressing practical challenges in health, education, work and public life. It is a discipline that combines experimental rigour with the close observation of real behaviour and experience.

At the University of East Anglia you will learn to understand how nature and nurture, biology and culture, and genes and the environment determine human thoughts, feelings and behaviours. You will explore a range of theoretical ideas and research evidence, developing the ability to critically evaluate psychological theories and build your own understanding of the field. This four-year programme includes a placement year, giving you direct professional experience in a psychology-relevant context, whether in research, clinical settings, education, health or another applied area.

The placement significantly strengthens your employability and professional identity at graduation.

Psychology graduates enter an exceptionally wide range of careers. Those wishing to work as clinical, counselling, educational, occupational or forensic psychologists typically undertake additional postgraduate training. Others move into human resources, marketing, social work, healthcare, research, education, the criminal justice system and the voluntary sector.

The placement year gives East Anglia graduates a practical head start in the graduate market. Postgraduate study in clinical, occupational or applied psychology is a natural further step for those seeking professional practice qualifications.