BSc (Hons) Psychological and Behavioural Science with foundation

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Durham University

Program Overview

The BSc Psychological and Behavioural Science with Foundation at Durham University provides a supportive route into behavioural science, combining a foundation year with a degree focused on decision-making and behaviour change. It is ideal for students who want to strengthen their academic skills first and then study how behavioural insights are applied to real-world challenges in business, policy, and society.

Curriculum Structure

Foundation Year

The foundation year develops the academic confidence and core skills needed for degree-level study. You will study modules such as Concepts, Methods and Theories in Social Science, Mathematics 1, Scholarship in Higher Education, and Advanced Scholarship in Higher Education, building knowledge in research, statistics, and academic writing. This year prepares you for psychology and behavioural science while strengthening critical thinking and independent learning.

Year 1

In Year 1, you begin core psychological and behavioural science training. Modules such as Classic Papers: A Tutorial Introduction to Psychological Science and Introduction to Psychological Research introduce key theories, experimental design, and data analysis. This stage focuses on understanding how behaviour is studied scientifically and how psychological evidence informs decision-making.

Year 2

The second year develops your behavioural science expertise and applied understanding. You explore decision-making, cognitive biases, and real-world behaviour through modules such as Behavioural Science for Marketers, alongside deeper training in research methods. This year emphasises how behavioural insights can be applied in business, policy, and organisational contexts.

Year 3

In the final year, you focus on advanced behavioural science and independent research. Modules such as Behaviour Change: Foundations, Advances and Applications explore judgement, decision-making, and behavioural interventions, alongside a research dissertation. This stage prepares you to apply behavioural science to practical, real-world challenges.

Focus Areas

Behavioural science, decision-making and judgement, behaviour change, cognitive bias, consumer behaviour, psychological research methods, applied behavioural insights, social cognition

Learning Outcomes

Develop understanding of human decision-making, apply behavioural science to real-world problems, design behaviour change interventions, analyse psychological data, critically evaluate research, and communicate behavioural insights effectively

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The degree provides eligibility for British Psychological Society accreditation (subject to achieving required grades), supporting progression into professional psychology training.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings)

Durham University is a Russell Group university with a strong reputation for psychology and behavioural science. Graduates develop skills valued in consulting, business, policy, and psychology-related careers.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

On the BSc Psychological and Behavioural Science with Foundation at Durham University, you develop practical skills through hands-on research, behavioural experiments, and applied decision-making projects. The programme begins with building academic and analytical skills in the foundation year, then progresses to laboratory-based psychology training using professional research tools. Throughout the degree, you work on collaborative projects and complete an independent research study using specialist behavioural science facilities:

Access to dedicated psychology teaching and research laboratories for behavioural science experiments
3T functional MRI facilities with integrated eye-tracking and pupillometry for studying decision-making
EEG laboratories (wet and dry systems) for recording brain activity during behavioural experiments
Virtual reality suites and motion capture environments for behavioural testing
Eye-tracking systems for analysing attention, judgement, and decision-making behaviour
Psychophysiology suites using Biopac and Mindware systems to measure physiological responses
Behavioural neuroscience equipment including brain stimulation tools for experimental research
Controlled experimental testing spaces including sound-controlled rooms and simulated environments
Independent behavioural science dissertation using department laboratories and research support
Collaborative group-based research projects applying behavioural science concepts
Support from specialist technical staff for experiment design and data collection
Access to university libraries, digital datasets, and behavioural science research resources

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from the BSc Psychological and Behavioural Science with Foundation at Durham University develop strong analytical and behavioural insight skills that open up opportunities across psychology, business, and public policy. Many go on to roles in marketing, human resources, research, consultancy, and policy-related work, while others continue into professional psychology training or postgraduate study. The combination of behavioural science and psychology gives you a flexible and in-demand skill set across industries:

Support from Durham’s Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre, including CV guidance, interview preparation, employer networking, and one-to-one career advice
Psychology Employability Retreat and ongoing academic advisor support to help shape your career path throughout the degree
Opportunities for internships, placements, and employer engagement events through university careers services
British Psychological Society accreditation (with a 2:1 or First), providing Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership and a pathway into professional psychology training
Graduates progressing into careers in psychology support roles, marketing analysis, human resources, teaching support, business consultancy, and public sector organisations
Strong graduate outcomes with most students moving into employment or further study within 15 months of graduation
Development of transferable skills in research, data analysis, communication, and behavioural insight valued by employers

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this programme, students can progress into postgraduate study in psychology, behavioural science, or related disciplines. Common pathways include master’s degrees in behavioural science, cognitive psychology, clinical psychology, marketing, organisational psychology, or data science. Some graduates also pursue research degrees such as MSc by Research, MPhil, or PhD, leading to academic or specialist research careers.