Psychology (Cognition and Neuroscience) BSc (Hons)

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Nottingham Trent University

Program Overview

The BSc (Hons) Psychology (Cognition and Neuroscience) at Nottingham Trent University focuses on how the brain supports thinking, memory, perception, and behaviour, combining psychology with neuroscience methods. It suits students who are curious about how the mind works at a biological level and want strong scientific and research training for careers in psychology, healthcare, or research.

Curriculum structure

Year One
In your first year, you’ll build a strong foundation in psychology while being introduced to cognition and neuroscience. Modules such as Understanding the Self: Psychology 101, Psychology in Action (Cognition and Neuroscience), and Exploring Psychological Impact and Change help you understand behaviour from both psychological and scientific perspectives. You’ll also develop core research skills through Research Design and Practice (1) and Analysing Data: Methods and Tools (1), where you begin working with statistical tools and scientific data.

Year Two
Your second year develops your understanding of brain processes and cognitive functions in more depth. You’ll study modules including Brain, Behaviour and Cognition: Understanding the Mind, Social Evolution and Individual Development, and Analytical Thinking in Cognition and Neuroscience, focusing on areas such as memory, perception, and language. Research skills are strengthened through Research Design and Practice (2) and advanced data analysis training in Analysing Data: Methods and Tools (2).

Final Year
In your final year, you specialise in cognition and neuroscience and apply your knowledge to real scientific questions. You’ll complete an independent research project in a cognitive or neuroscience area and study modules such as Mind in Motion: Cognition, Neuroscience and Behaviour. Optional modules such as Health Psychology, Occupational Psychology, or Sport and Exercise Psychology allow you to tailor the degree to your interests and career direction.

Focus areas (in a string): cognitive neuroscience, brain and behaviour relationships, memory and perception, attention and language processing, biological psychology, research methods and statistics, psychological data analysis, applied cognitive psychology, independent research

Learning outcomes (in a string): understand how brain processes influence behaviour, apply neuroscience methods to psychological problems, analyse cognitive processes using scientific methods, conduct independent research, interpret psychological and neurological data, develop advanced analytical and critical thinking skills, communicate scientific findings clearly, understand ethical research practice

Professional alignment (accreditation): British Psychological Society accredited degree providing Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership and progression toward professional psychology training

Reputation (employability rankings): Nottingham Trent University psychology programmes are highly regarded for student demand and strong employability support, with research-led teaching, practical experience, and career-focused learning built into the degree.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The BSc (Hons) Psychology (Cognition and Neuroscience) at Nottingham Trent University is strongly focused on learning by doing, so you’re not just studying theory—you’re actively applying it in real research environments. From the beginning of the course, you’ll work in specialist laboratories and use advanced neuroscience tools to understand how the brain influences behaviour. Alongside this, you’ll develop hands-on research skills using industry-standard software and take part in applied projects that mirror real psychological and scientific work:

Access to specialist psychology laboratories including EEG labs, eye-tracking systems, motion capture lab, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) lab, and auditory perception lab
Computational modelling and data analysis labs for cognitive neuroscience research projects
Training in statistical analysis using R software as part of research methods and data analysis modules
Practical research training through Research Design and Practice and Analysing Data: Methods and Tools modules
Small-group analytical teaching in Cognition and Neuroscience-focused seminars to develop critical thinking skills
Applied project work in Psychological Applications to Work Settings using real-world organisational problems
Independent final-year research project in cognition or neuroscience supervised by academic researchers
Optional specialist module work such as Mind in Motion: Cognition, Neuroscience and Behaviour
Optional sandwich placement year to gain professional or research experience
Study abroad and international summer school opportunities to broaden academic and cultural experience
Virtual learning environment providing access to digital resources, collaboration tools, and coursework submission
Access to Boots Library, dedicated psychology study areas, and research spaces across campus

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from the BSc (Hons) Psychology (Cognition and Neuroscience) at Nottingham Trent University leave with strong scientific and analytical skills that open doors into psychology, neuroscience, healthcare, education, and data-focused careers. Many progress into roles such as research assistant, assistant psychologist, clinical support worker, or data analyst, while others move into wider sectors like healthcare services, research organisations, and education. The degree also builds highly transferable skills in research, statistics, and critical thinking that employers value across many industries.

Dedicated employability support from NTU Employability, including one-to-one career guidance, CV workshops, interview preparation, and employer networking events
Work-like experience embedded throughout the course through employer challenge projects that involve solving real problems for external organisations
At least 60 hours of structured, assessed real-world work experience built into the degree
Optional year-long sandwich placement in research, healthcare, psychology, or related professional settings
Study abroad and international summer school opportunities to broaden experience and employability
Strong links with employers in NHS services, research institutes, education providers, and data-driven organisations
British Psychological Society accreditation providing Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, essential for progression into professional psychology training
Development of advanced research and data analysis skills using tools such as R, widely used in scientific and professional environments
Opportunities to work on supervised research projects with academic staff specialising in cognition and neuroscience
Work-integrated learning across all years, including laboratory work, applied projects, and independent research

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this degree, you can progress to postgraduate study in areas such as cognitive neuroscience, clinical psychology, neuropsychology, health psychology, occupational psychology, or psychological research methods. With British Psychological Society Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, you can move on to Master’s programmes, doctoral training (PhD or DClinPsy), or specialist professional routes leading to careers as a clinical psychologist, neuroscientist, or research professional.