Psychology with Placement Year BSc (Hons)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Keele University

Program Overview

Psychology with Placement Year at Keele University combines a strong foundation in psychological science with a dedicated year of professional work experience. It is ideal for students who want to understand human behaviour while gaining real-world experience that strengthens employability before graduation.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

In your first year, you build a solid foundation in psychology through modules such as First Steps in Becoming a Psychology Researcher and Understanding People. You explore core areas including cognitive, social, developmental, and biological psychology while developing essential skills in research methods, data collection, and academic writing. Practical sessions help you understand how psychologists investigate behaviour and mental processes.

Year 2

During the second year, you deepen your knowledge and research skills through Next Steps in Becoming a Psychology Researcher and Understanding People in Depth. You develop both qualitative and quantitative research techniques, including interviews, surveys, and statistical analysis. You also explore more advanced topics such as identity, perception, emotional development, and biological influences on behaviour.

Placement Year

Between Years 2 and 3, you complete a professional placement in a psychology-related setting such as healthcare, education, charities, or research environments. This year allows you to apply psychological knowledge in real workplaces, build professional skills, and gain valuable experience that improves your graduate career prospects. You also develop confidence in teamwork, communication, and problem-solving in a professional environment.

Final Year

In your final year, you focus on independent research and advanced psychological topics. Modules such as Being a Psychology Researcher, Professional Skills for Researchers, and Grand Challenges in Psychology help you develop advanced research and analytical abilities. You also complete a dissertation based on your own original research and can choose optional modules such as health behaviour change or forensic psychology to match your career interests.

Focus Areas

Psychological research methods, cognitive psychology, social psychology, biological psychology, mental health, behaviour change, forensic psychology, data analysis, applied psychology, professional skills, workplace experience

Learning Outcomes

You will develop strong research and analytical skills, the ability to design and conduct psychological studies, and confidence in interpreting data. The course also builds communication, teamwork, and professional skills, alongside experience applying psychology in real workplace settings.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

This degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society, providing an important foundation for progression into professional psychology training and Chartered Psychologist status with further study.

Reputation (Employability & Recognition)

The placement year strengthens employability by giving you real professional experience alongside academic study. Graduates develop transferable skills such as communication, problem-solving, research, and data analysis, which are valued across careers in healthcare, education, business, and research.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Psychology with Placement Year at Keele University gives you the chance to build practical experience through both hands-on research and a full year in a professional workplace. Throughout the course, you will apply psychological theory in laboratories, design experiments, analyse real data, and develop workplace skills that prepare you for graduate roles. The dedicated placement year allows you to gain experience in settings such as charities, healthcare environments, research teams, or organisations that support mental health and wellbeing.

Learning is supported by specialist psychology facilities, digital research tools, and applied projects that help you connect academic knowledge with real-world practice:

A dedicated placement year between Year 2 and final year in organisations such as charities, healthcare services, research teams, or community support settings
Psychology laboratories for studying behaviour, cognition, perception, and social interaction
Access to EEG equipment for measuring brain activity in cognitive and behavioural research
Eye-tracking systems used to study attention, decision-making, and visual behaviour
Virtual reality tools for immersive behavioural and psychological experiments
Video observation suites for recording and analysing participant behaviour
Qualitative research spaces designed for interviews, focus groups, and social research methods
Computer laboratories with statistical and research software for data analysis
Group-based research projects involving experimental design and interpretation of real datasets
Independent final-year dissertation using laboratory facilities and supervised research guidance
Opportunities to work with active psychology research groups focused on cognition, health, wellbeing, and social behaviour
Access to university libraries and digital academic databases for advanced psychological research

Progression & Future Opportunities

Psychology with Placement Year at Keele University prepares you for graduate careers by combining academic learning with a full year of professional experience. Graduates commonly move into roles such as assistant psychologist, research assistant, human resources officer, and mental health support worker, supported by strong analytical, research, and communication skills. The placement year gives you valuable workplace exposure, helping you graduate with both academic knowledge and practical experience:

A dedicated placement year allows students to gain experience in organisations such as charities, healthcare services, research teams, or community support settings
Keele’s Careers and Employability team provides CV guidance, interview preparation, career coaching, and access to graduate job opportunities
Students can attend employer networking events, careers fairs, and benefit from mentoring to build professional connections
The course develops transferable skills including communication, data analysis, teamwork, project management, and problem-solving valued by employers
Graduates progress into sectors such as healthcare, education, social care, research, HR, marketing, counselling-related roles, and public services
Accreditation from the British Psychological Society provides a recognised foundation for further professional psychology training
Support is available to help students find placements and develop career-ready skills during the placement year
Research projects and dissertation work strengthen professional confidence and employability

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this degree, students often continue into postgraduate study in areas such as clinical psychology, counselling psychology, health psychology, forensic psychology, or organisational psychology. The degree also provides a strong foundation for master’s programmes, professional training, or research-based study such as MPhil or PhD for those aiming for specialist or academic careers.