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Course type: Degree

Degree

Also known as an undergraduate or bachelors degree.

Internationally respected, universally understood.

An essential requirement for many high-level jobs.

Gain a thorough understanding of your subject – and the tools to investigate, think critically, form reasoned arguments, solve problems and communicate effectively in new contexts.

Progress to higher level study, such as a postgraduate diploma or masters degree.
Credits: 360

Credits

Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.

One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.

You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.

For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
How long it takes
Study method: Distance learning
Entry requirements: Find out more about; Entry requirements

BSc (Honours) Psychology

: Course code: Q07

As psychology is the study of the mind, it touches every aspect of our lives. This degree explores key questions around why we do the things we do and how we interact with others. You’ll explore how psychologists use research evidence to contribute to debates on forensic science, mental health, relationships, child development, employment and much more. You’ll gain knowledge and understanding of different areas of psychology; develop valuable analytical and communication skills; and enhance your ability to work both independently and collaboratively. This will put you in a strong position when it comes to employment opportunities.

This course is accredited by:

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Key features

Course details

Entry requirements

Fees and funding

How you'll study

Careers

How long it takes

Build your knowledge and understanding of a broad range of core topics in psychology
Options allow you to focus on child psychology, counselling, forensic psychology, mental health, or sports psychology
Accredited by The British Psychological Society and the first step to becoming a psychologist
Gain valuable analytical and communication skills that will enhance your employability

We also offer a Diploma of Higher Education in Psychology (W45) that is the same in structure as the first two-thirds of this degree; similarly our Certificate of Higher Education in Psychology (T22) corresponds to the first third.

Course type

Degree

Credits

360

How long it takes

Full-time study – 3 years

Part-time study – 6 years

Time limit – 16 years

See How long it takes

Study method

Distance learning

Entry requirements

Find out more about Entry requirements

Ask a question

This psychology degree has three stages, each comprising 120 credits.

At Stage 1, you'll choose between an introduction to psychology and counselling, the social sciences or childhood studies. You’ll follow this with your first core psychology module.
At Stage 2, you’ll choose from a range of applied psychology modules relevant to specific issues. You'll complete this stage with a second core psychology module.
At Stage 3, you can specialise in sports psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, or forensic and counselling psychology. Your final core psychology module includes an independent research project.

Our modular study approach gives you the flexibility to complete your qualification at a pace that fits around your life. Whether you prefer a fast track or want to work at a slower rate, you can tailor your study plan to suit your needs.

Stage 1 (120 credits)

In Stage 1, you’ll be introduced to some of the big topics in psychology and the academic skills needed for successful study. You’ll start with one of three options – a core social science module covering criminology, sociology, and other related areas, a broad introduction to psychology and counselling, or interdisciplinary childhood studies. These will set the scene for your first core psychology module, which explores how psychologists investigate how we think and behave, and considers how academic research can be applied in real-life settings.

Stage 1 modules
Modules	Credits
You’ll start your degree with one from:
Exploring psychological worlds: thinking, feeling, doing (D110)	60
Introducing the social sciences (DD102)	60
Introduction to childhood studies and child psychology (E104)	60
You’ll complete Stage 1 with:
Encountering psychology in context (D120)	60

Stage 2 (120 credits)

At Stage 2, you’ll begin to explore the areas of psychology that most interest you – choosing from options such as child psychology, mental health, and sports psychology. You’ll complete this stage with a compulsory module that draws on the four core areas of biological, cognitive, developmental and social psychology to investigate how we understand others and the world around us. You'll also learn about a wide variety of research methods used to explore these issues and undertake your own supervised research projects.

Stage 2 modules
Modules	Credits
You'll choose one from:
Child development: birth to adolescence (E225) – planned for October 2025	60
Exploring mental health and counselling (D241)	60
Living psychology: from the everyday to the extraordinary (DD210)	60
Sport and exercise psychology in action (E235)	60
You’ll complete Stage 2 with:
Investigating psychology 2 (DE200)	60

Stage 3 (120 credits)

At Stage 3, you’ll choose from exploring the relationship between counselling and forensic psychology; the psychology of sport and exercise; social psychological issues such as gender, multiculturalism, immigration, global conflicts and work; and research methods with children and young people. In the final module, you'll further explore the questions that psychologists ask and the methods they choose to answer them, and you’ll complete your degree with an independent research project.

Stage 3 modules
Modules	Credits
You’ll choose one from:
Advancing social psychology (DD317)	60
Athletic development: a psychological perspective (E312)	60
Counselling and forensic psychology: investigating crime and therapy (DD310)	60
Contemporary research with children and young people (E320)	60
You’ll complete your degree with:
Investigating psychology 3 (DE300)	60

You can complete this degree in three years by studying at a pace equivalent to full-time. That’s 120 credits per year. To complete in three years, you’ll need to start your degree in October. You can either study two 60-credit modules at the same time or start one in October and the other in February.

Don’t worry if your circumstances change; you don’t have to stick to full-time study. You can speed up or slow down your learning each year if your circumstances change.

Stage 1 modules
Modules	Credits
Stage 1 \| Year 1
You'll start your degree with one from:
Exploring psychological worlds: thinking, feeling, doing (D110)	60
Introducing the social sciences (DD102)	60
Introduction to childhood studies and child psychology (E104)	60
You'll complete Stage 1 with:
Encountering psychology in context (D120)	60
Stage 2 \| Year 2
You'll choose one from:
Child development: birth to adolescence (E225) – planned for October 2025	60
Living psychology: from the everyday to the extraordinary (DD210)	60
Exploring mental health and counselling (D241)	60
Sport and exercise psychology in action (E235)	60
You'll complete Stage 2 with:
Investigating psychology 2 (DE200)	60
Stage 3 \| Year 3
You'll choose one from:
Advancing social psychology (DD317)	60
Athletic development: a psychological perspective (E312)	60
Counselling and forensic psychology: investigating crime and therapy (DD310)	60
Contemporary research with children and young people (E320)	60
You'll complete your degree with:
Investigating psychology 3 (DE300)	60

I chose OU study when I left school, and it’s fast-tracked my career…The course content was accessible and easy to engage with. The textbooks were amazing, and the guidance for assignments was so helpful…With over four years’ experience in a related field to my degree, I’ve already built up a professional network. I have a huge advantage over recent graduates…I know people who went away to university and are now struggling to find entry-level opportunities. The route I took isn’t for the faint-hearted, but it’s really paid off – I’m in such a brilliant position with my career.

Joe MastersBSc (Hons) Psychology

You can complete this degree in six years by studying part-time. That’s one 60-credit module each year.

Stage 2 modules
Modules	Credits
Stage 1 \| Year 1
You'll start your degree with one from:
Exploring psychological worlds: thinking, feeling, doing (D110)	60
Introducing the social sciences (DD102)	60
Introduction to childhood studies and child psychology (E104)	60
Stage 1 \| Year 2
You'll complete Stage 1 with:
Encountering psychology in context (D120)	60
Stage 2 \| Year 3
You'll choose one from:
Child development: birth to adolescence (E225) – planned for October 2025	60
Exploring mental health and counselling (D241)	60
Living psychology: from the everyday to the extraordinary (DD210)	60
Sport and exercise psychology in action (E235)	60
Stage 2 \| Year 4
You'll complete Stage 2 with:
Investigating psychology 2 (DE200)	60
Stage 3 \| Year 5
You'll choose one from:
Advancing social psychology (DD317)	60
Athletic development: a psychological perspective (E312)	60
Counselling and forensic psychology: investigating crime and therapy (DD310)	60
Contemporary research with children and young people (E320)	60
Stage 3 \| Year 6
You'll complete your degree with:
Investigating psychology 3 (DE300)	60

We regularly review our curriculum; therefore, the qualification described on this page – including its availability, its structure, and available modules – may change over time. If we make changes to this qualification, we’ll update this page as soon as possible. Once you’ve registered or are studying this qualification, where practicable, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes. If you’d like to know more about the circumstances in which the University might make changes to the curriculum, see our Academic Regulations or contact us. This description was last updated on 19 July 2024.

Accessibility

Our qualifications are as accessible as possible, and we have a comprehensive range of support services. Our BSc (Honours) Psychology uses a variety of study materials and includes the following elements:

Online study – most modules are online; some have a mix of printed and online material. Online learning resources could include websites, audio/video, and interactive activities
Using and producing diagrams or screenshots
Finding external/third party material online
Specialist software, such as SPSS software for statistical analysis
Mathematical and scientific expressions, notations and associated techniques
Group-work
Practical work

Every module has its own Accessibility Statement with more detailed accessibility information – you’ll find these on individual module descriptions. Visit our Disability support page to learn about our services.

Learning outcomes, teaching and assessment

This qualification develops your learning in four main areas:

Knowledge and understanding
Cognitive skills
Practical and professional skills
Key skills

The level and depth of your learning gradually increases as you work through the qualification. You’ll be supported throughout by the OU’s unique style of teaching and assessment – which includes a personal tutor to guide and comment on your work; top quality course texts; elearning resources like podcasts, interactive media and online materials; tutorial groups and community forums.

Read the detailed learning outcomes here

Credit transfer

If you have already studied at university level, you may be able to count it towards your Open University qualification – which could save you time and money by reducing the number of modules you need to study. At the OU we call this credit transfer.

It’s not just university study that can be considered, you can also transfer study from a wide range of professional or vocational qualifications such as HNCs and HNDs.

You should apply for credit transfer before you register, at least 4 weeks before the registration closing date. We will need to know what you studied, where and when and you will need to provide evidence of your previous study.

For more details of when you will need to apply by and to download an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website.

Classification of your degree

On successfully completing this course, we’ll award you our BSc (Honours) Psychology.

The class of honours (first, upper-second, lower-second or third) will depend on your grades at Stages 2 and 3.

You’ll have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.

International recognition

If you intend to use your Open University qualifications to seek work or undertake further study outside the UK, we recommend checking whether your intended qualification will meet local requirements for your chosen career. Find out more about international recognition of Open University qualifications.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

BSc (Honours) Psychology

Compare this course

There are no formal entry requirements for this qualification.

At The Open University we believe education should be open to all, so we provide a high-quality university education to anyone who wishes to realise their ambitions and fulfil their potential.

Even though there are no entry requirements, there are some skills that you'll need to succeed. If you're not quite ready for OU study we can guide you to resources that prepare you, many of which are free.

Answer a few quick questions to check whether you're ready for study success

Preparing for study with an Access module

Students who start their study with an Access module are more likely to be successful when they advance to Stage 1 of their qualification. They’re specially designed to give you a gentle introduction to OU study, boost confidence in your study skills, and help you gain a broad overview of your chosen subject area.

You’ll also benefit from:

feedback from your tutor through regular one-to-one phone tutorials
support from a dedicated team throughout your study
detailed written feedback on your work.

The Access module we’d recommend studying in preparation for this qualification is our:

Science, technology and maths Access module

What you will study

This multidisciplinary module is an ideal starting point if you have little or no previous knowledge of the sciences, technology and mathematics. It’ll help develop your study skills in advance of your OU qualification, and you get to explore a number of STEM subjects including science, engineering and design, environment, mathematics, and computing and IT.

View full details of Science, technology and maths Access module

Y033

Psychology, social science and wellbeing Access module

What you will study

This multidisciplinary module provides an excellent introduction to studying with The Open University; you'll get to cover a wide range of subject areas, including psychology, childhood and youth studies, health and social wellbeing, sport, education and social sciences.

View full details of Psychology, social science and wellbeing Access module

Y034

Compare the cost of studying at the OU with other campus-based universities in England.

Qualification	Total cost at campus university*	Total cost at The Open University**	Saving with The Open University
Honours Degree	£27,750	£21,816	£5,934 (21%)
Diploma of Higher Education	£18,500	£14,544	£3,956 (21%)
Certificate of Higher Education	£9,250	£7,272	£1,978 (21%)

Honours Degree

Total cost at campus university* £27,750

Total cost at The Open University** £21,816

Saving with The Open University £5,934 (21%)

Diploma of Higher Education

Total cost at campus university* £18,500

Total cost at The Open University** £14,544

Saving with The Open University £3,956 (21%)

Certificate of Higher Education

Total cost at campus university* £9,250

Total cost at The Open University** £7,272

Saving with The Open University £1,978 (21%)

*Based on maximum chargeable fees for 24/25 academic year.

**The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2025. Fees typically increase annually. In England, fees are subject to the part-time fee limit, as set out in section C of the University's Fee Rules.

How will I study this course?

With our unique approach to distance learning, you can study from home, work or on the move.

You’ll have some assessment deadlines to meet, but otherwise, you’ll be free to study at the times that suit you, fitting your learning around work, family, and social life.

For each of your modules, you’ll use either just online resources or a mix of online and printed materials.

Each module you study will have a module website with

a week-by-week study planner, giving you a step-by-step guide through your studies
course materials such as reading, videos, recordings, and self-assessed activities
module forums for discussions and collaborative activities with other students
details of each assignment and their due dates
a tutorial booking system, online tutorial rooms, and your tutor’s contact details
online versions of some printed module materials and resources.

If you have additional needs, we can also provide most module materials in alternative formats. Find out more about materials on our accessibility webpage.

Tutor support

You’ll have a tutor for each module, who will introduce themselves before the module begins.

Throughout the module, they will:

mark your assignments and give feedback to help you improve
guide you to learning resources
support you, whether with general study skills or help with a specific topic.

Tutorials

Tutorials usually take place online, and they’re always optional.

Online tutorials are live presentations with module tutors in dedicated online tutorial rooms and are sometimes recorded.

Assessment

Our assessments are all designed to reinforce your learning and help you show your understanding of the topics. The mix of assessment methods will vary between modules.

Computer-Marked Assignments

Usually, a series of online, multiple-choice questions.

Tutor-Marked Assignments

You’ll have a number of these throughout each module, each with a submission deadline.
They can be made up of essays, questions, experiments or something else to test your understanding of what you have learned.
Your tutor will mark and return them to you with detailed feedback.

End-of-Module Assessments

The final, marked piece of work on most modules.
Modules with an end-of-module assessment won’t usually have an exam.

Exams

Some modules end with an exam. You’ll be given time to revise and prepare.
You’ll be given your exam date at least 5 months in advance.
Most exams take place remotely, and you will complete them at home or at an alternative location.
If a module has an in-person exam (that you must take at one of our exam centres) or is invigilated online, we’ll make this clear in the module description.

Progressing to a point where I felt more comfortable writing my assignments, and having my scores reflecting that, made me quite happy because it showed the hard work was being rewarded.
Patrick ‘Ricky’ Skene, BSc (Hons) Sport, Fitness and Coaching

Other support and resources

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to our subject-specific Student Support Teams.

They’ll help you with any general questions about your study and updates to your OU account.

To help with your studies, you’ll also have access to:

our online library, with high-quality online resources to support your study
other university libraries in the UK and Ireland
the online Help Centre, which has general information about OU study and support, along with study skills advice
free Microsoft Office 365 software
IT and computing support from our Computing Helpdesk.

Find out more about student support and being a part of the OU community.

Career relevance

Our psychology degree is designed to deliver the requirements for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS), and has been accredited by the BPS for over 20 years. Careers as a professional psychologist in the applied areas of psychology will require further study, training and/or work experience beyond your degree – for which this degree course provides ideal preparation.

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) regulated titles include:

clinical psychologist
counselling psychologist
educational psychologist
forensic psychologist
health psychologist
occupational psychologist
sports and exercise psychologist.

Accreditation

Graduates achieving a 2.2 or better for this qualification are eligible for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) conferred by the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Other careers

There are many other types of career for which the knowledge and skills that you will develop as a psychology graduate may be useful such as:

advertising
marketing
education
the health professions
human resources
management.

Many graduate-level jobs are open to graduates of any discipline, particularly in business, finance, management consultancy and the public sector. Some careers may require further study, training and/or work experience beyond your degree.

Skills for career development

As well as the specific knowledge gained from studying an OU degree, you'll develop many transferable and work-related skills that are highly valued by employers. These include skills in:

communication
numeracy
effective team-working
independent and critical thinking
IT and data handling
analysing and evaluating diverse sources of information, including qualitative and quantitative data
designing and carrying out research projects, and presenting their findings
problem-solving and reasoning
application of learning to real world problems and situations
independent learning.

Exploring your options

Once you register with us (and for up to three years after you finish your studies), you’ll have full access to our careers service for a wide range of information and advice. This includes online forums, website, interview simulation, vacancy service as well as the option to email or speak to a careers adviser. Some areas of the careers service website are available for you to see now, including help with looking for and applying for jobs. You can also read more general information about how OU study enhances your career.

In the meantime if you want to do some research around this qualification and where it might take you, we’ve put together a list of relevant job titles as a starting point. Listed below are some professions for which knowledge of psychology may be useful. However, note that a number of these careers require further study, training and/or work experience beyond your degree:

forensic psychologist
clinical psychologist
counselling psychologist
educational psychologist
health psychologist
occupational psychologist

sports and exercise psychologist
teacher
lecturer
researcher
social worker
youth services worker

prison officer
police officer
probation worker
counsellor
human resources manager.

You can achieve this degree in as little as three years and have a maximum of 16 years to complete it. Our module-by-module approach gives you the flexibility to complete your qualification at a pace that works best for you.

3-year degree

You can complete this degree in three years by studying at a pace equivalent to full-time. That’s similar to a student at a campus-based university.

You'll study 120 credits a year.
You'll need 32–36 study hours per week.

For a year-by-year breakdown of modules, take a look at our 3-year degree pathway in the Course details section.

6-year degree

You can complete this degree in six years by studying part-time. That’s roughly half the rate of a student on a full-time course at a campus-based university.

You'll study 60 credits a year.
You'll need 16–18 study hours per week.

For a year-by-year breakdown of modules, take a look at our 6-year degree pathway in the Course details section.

Register for this course

Start dates

Feb 2025 - Registration closes 09/01/2025

Credit transfer: apply by 05/12/2024

Request your Psychology and Counselling prospectus

Our prospectuses help you choose your course, understand what it's like to be an OU student and register for study.

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Prepare for OU study with an Access module

Course structure

Stage 1 (120 credits)

Stage 2 (120 credits)

Stage 3 (120 credits)

3-year pathway

6-year pathway

Accessibility

Learning outcomes, teaching and assessment

Credit transfer

Classification of your degree

International recognition

Regulations

Compare this course

Preparing for study with an Access module

Science, technology and maths Access module

What you will study

Psychology, social science and wellbeing Access module

What you will study

Fees and funding in England

Tuition fee