Psychology with Year Abroad BSc

• Research-led teaching: Learn directly from world-leading researchers, ensuring you're taught the latest cutting-edge psychological theories and practices.
• Advanced research facilities: Work with state-of-the-art equipment in specialized labs, enhancing your learning in brain sciences, cognition, and psychology.   
• Personalised student support: Enjoy one-on-one guidance from expert lecturers and comprehensive well being and counseling services. We’re here to support your academic and personal growth.
• Pathways to Professional Psychology Careers: Our Single Honours graduates qualify for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Graduate Basis for Registration of the BPS. These are essential first steps towards careers in clinical, forensic, educational, or occupational psychology.
• Global opportunities: Expand your horizons with our exciting year abroad option. Develop your skills in an international setting and gain a global perspective on psychology.

• Lectures and Seminars: Engage with diverse academic knowledge through lectures and interactive seminars led by professors, doctors, and postgraduates.
• Tutorials and Practical Classes: Gain hands-on experience and personalized guidance in small group tutorials and practical sessions.
• Enquiry-Based Learning: Develop independence and critical thinking skills through an enquiry-based learning approach, encouraging self-motivation.

Support during your studies

You will have access to our comprehensive support system to help you make a smooth transition to university-level study.

• Personal tutors - will get to know you as you progress through your studies. They will provide academic support and advice to enable you to make the most of your time here at Birmingham.
• Wellbeing Officers - provide professional support, advice and guidance to you across a range of issues. They can discuss extensions, disabilities, reasonable adjustments, extenuating circumstances, and help you access wider support on campus and beyond.
• Academic Skills Centre - helps you become a more effective independent learner through a range of high-quality support, with workshops on topics such as note-taking, reading, academic writing and presentation skills.
• Student Experience team - will help you get the most out of your academic and social experience, including research opportunities, study skills support and preparing for your post-university careers.

Contact hours

Get ready for an engaging learning experience with an average of 12 contact hours per week! You will take part in dynamic lectures, interactive tutorials, stimulating seminars, hands-on workshops, and immersive lab sessions. Each week is designed to keep you excited and fully engaged in your studies.

Assessment methods and feedback

Psychology uses a variety of methods to assess student performance, including exams, essays and dissertations. At the beginning of each module, you'll be given information on how and when you'll be assessed for that particular area of study.

The optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available, we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.

To secure a place at Birmingham, you'll need to meet our general entry requirements as well as those specific to your course.

Number of A levels required: 3

Required subjects and grades

Typical offer: AAA

AAA including one science subject required from Chemistry / Biology / Human Biology / Physics / Psychology / Maths / Further Maths / Statistics

General studies

Specified subjects excluded for entry: We do not accept General Studies, Critical Studies, Critical Thinking, Science in Society, World Development, Communication and Culture, Citizenship Studies and Use of Maths.

BTEC Qualifications

BTEC Extended Diploma, Diploma and Extended Certificate are accepted but subjects are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us for further guidance.

Extended Project Qualification

Applicants who take the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and meet our offer criteria will be made the typical offer for the programme, plus an alternative offer, which will be one grade lower plus a grade A in the EPQ.

Deferred Entry

Deferring admission is usually not a problem but please inform the School or central Admissions. The university has a neutral attitude to gap years. You can still apply in advance for deferred entry and would be advised to do so.

English language requirements

If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification or a Presessional English course.

• TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing.
• IELTS: 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in any band.
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): PTE 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills.
• Cambridge English(exams taken from 2015): Cambridge English: Advanced Minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
• Language Cert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 ‘Communicator’ with no less than 33 in each skill
• Trinity ISE II: Not applicable
• Trinity ISE III: Pass in each Skill

Presessional English courses

If you have a conditional offer for Birmingham where English is a requirement, you can take a Presessional English course as an alternative to retaking IELTS or a similar qualification. We offer on-campus courses all year round starting from September, including additional online courses in the summer term. Teaching takes place in small classes with no more than 18 students to maximise class participation.

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

Applicants who take the EPQ and meet our offer criteria will be made the typical offer for their programme of choice, plus an alternative offer which will be one grade lower plus a grade A in the EPQ. This offer would apply if you make Birmingham your firm choice.

Core Maths qualification

Applicants who take the Core Maths qualification and meet our offer criteria will be made the typical offer for their programme of choice, plus an alternative offer which will be one grade lower plus a grade A in Core Maths. If you are also taking A-level Maths, you will not be eligible for an alternative offer through studying Core Maths. This offer would apply if you make Birmingham your firm choice.

*The University will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. If Parliament agrees on an increase in tuition fees, the University will increase fees for each year of study, normally in line with these changes and will communicate any change in the fees to you without delay. The fee for September 2025 entry was £9,535 for UK students. If you are applying for 2026 entry, you will be advised of the annual tuition fee once it is confirmed by the Government.

Undergraduate loans

To help with the cost of studies, undergraduate students from the UK can apply for student finance through the Student Loans Company. The support available is made up of a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan which helps to cover living costs.

Scholarships, grants and bursaries

At Birmingham, we believe that financial worries should not be a barrier to accessing higher education. That’s why we offer a range of additional financial support for students through scholarships, bursaries and other awards.

View further information on how to apply for undergraduate courses, including advice for UK and overseas applicants.

Psychology graduates are equipped to pursue a diverse range of impactful careers, with many continuing to shape the field.

As a Single Honours graduate, you'll gain eligibility for Graduate Membership and the Graduate Basis for Registration with the British Psychological Society—your first step toward postgraduate training in clinical, forensic, educational, or occupational psychology. Others use their expertise to advance in research, teach psychology, or enter dynamic sectors like broadcasting, human resources, marketing, social work, or the civil service.

The skills you develop like analytical thinking, communication, and interpersonal mastery are highly transferable, opening doors across a wide array of industries. From law enforcement to computing, from education to industry, the possibilities are vast. As a Psychology graduate, you’re not just prepared for one career, you’re empowered to shape your future in countless impactful ways.

Where Our Graduates Work

Graduates from this programme have gone on to work for a wide range of prestigious organisations, including:

• Universities & Academic Institutions

  University of Birmingham, University College London (UCL) and University of Oxford

• NHS & Mental Health Trusts

  Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, and Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust

• Private Sector & Charities

Roles Our Graduates Have Taken On

Our alumni have pursued a variety of impactful roles, such as:

• Clinical Psychologist
• Education Mental Health Practitioner
• Research Assistant
• Teacher
• Board Trustee
• Chief Executive Officer

Careers Network

Our aim is to make sure that success in your studies leads you on to a fulfilling career. Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offer support to help you identify your options, develop your skills and gain access to opportunities that propel you towards your career goal.

Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community, and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.

Flexible programmes to suit you

Not sure what you want to study?

Explore your options for combining subjects and shape your degree around your interests, whilst developing key skills for the world of work.