Psychology
If you are curious about how the mind works, then psychology is for you. Here at Cardiff University, we offer two undergraduate courses: a three-year Psychology BSc and a four-year Psychology with Professional Placement BSc.
Why study with us?
Accredited by the BPS
Our programmes meet the high quality standards in education set out by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
Top 10
We were ranked in the top 10 for psychology in the UK (Complete University Guide Rankings. 2024).
Professional experience as part of your degree
We are one of only a few psychology schools who offer the opportunity to gain professional experience on our Psychology with Professional Placement BSc.
Internationally acclaimed researchers involved in course design and delivery
95% of our research is world leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework, 2021). You will be taught by researchers who are working across the spectrum of psychology to tackle major challenges facing society and the environment.
96% employment
96% of our graduates are employed, in further study, or both 15 months after completing their course (Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2021/22 survey).
Courses
Entry year
The course covers a diverse range of topics – giving every student the opportunity to explore their interests. I particularly found the optional placement year to be beneficial; it helped me view course content from a more applied perspective, as well as giving me the confidence and skills to pursue my chosen career path!
Taster lectures
Decision making
Strawberry or vanilla? Shoes or trainers? We make some choices quickly and automatically, whereas other decisions take us much longer and are often agonised over. Discover the psychology behind decision-making in this taster lecture delivered by Professor Marc Buehner, who teaches a decision-making module on the course.
Sleep engineering
Sleep is critical for both health and cognition. Our researchers are developing ways to manipulate sleep (sleep engineering) to maximise its beneficial properties including the ability to enhance memory, disarm negative emotions and combat cognitive decline trough sleep. Discover the fascinating world of sleep engineering with Professor Penny Lewis.
Psychopathy and forensic psychology
Why do criminals commit crimes? What determines whether they will offend again? Why are people violent to one another? Professor Robert Snowden takes you on a path of discovery into this dark yet fascinating area of psychology.
Placements
We have agreements with over 100 organisations and can offer outstanding placements in clinical, forensic, educational, organisational, industrial, and research settings.
These are available locally in Cardiff, throughout the UK, and abroad in Europe and beyond. While you are on placement, you will be supported by School staff, who will visit your place of work and ensure that your placement delivers value for you.
Placement snapshots
From primate cognition research at a wildlife sanctuary to a Research Assistant at Broadmoor Hospital – hear what some of our students did on their placement year as part of our BSc Psychology with Professional Placement course.
Your career
A psychology degree can provide you with a variety of career options and psychologists are employed on an increasingly wide scale in a variety of sectors. Depending on your interests you may want to go on to become a clinical psychologist, forensic psychologist, health psychologist, occupational psychologist, sports, neuro or educational psychologist, counsellor, researcher or academic.
Some career paths require specific postgraduate training - our postgraduate programmes incorporate a diverse mix of taught modules, research and professional practice, and lead to a variety of career options.
Our School
We are passionate about psychology and our School is long-established, well resourced, and has an excellent international reputation. Along with our outstanding research facilities, we also have dedicated undergraduate facilities to ensure you have the best experience possible including:
- Newly refurbished lecture theatres
- Undergraduate common room with modern and varied study space
- Computing lab
- Undergraduate research rooms adapted for multi-participant studies
- Interactive seminar rooms complete with smart displays
Tower Building
Students on our Children's Psychological Disorders MSc
Students outside our Centre for Human Developmental Science
Students studying the psychology behind sound perception
Students carrying out electroencephalography (EEG)
Students working in our Centre for Human Developmental Sciences
Our School has an undergraduate common room with modern and varied study space
Psychology students utilising our wide variety of study space
We have a wide range of advanced brain imaging facilities
Students conducting sound perception experiments
Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) - one of Europe's leading imaging facilities.
Discover more
Studying psychology at Cardiff has benefited me greatly, even in social situations, because everything we learn is interesting and applicable; and when tutorials are filled with fascinating content and taught with enthusiasm by incredibly knowledgeable lecturers, it is hard not to be inspired!
Explore Cardiff University
Next steps
View our psychology courses
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Learn more about our courses, the School and the wider University.
Get in touch
If you have any questions - big or small - don't hesitate to get in touch. We would love to hear from you.
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Undergraduate
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Undergraduate prospectus 2025
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Contact us
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