Applied Psychology BSc at Royal Holloway University of London

The course

Are you fascinated by how humans think, feel and interact with each other and the wider world around us? Applied psychology at Royal Holloway University of London takes the study of the human experience and applies it to real-world issues, creating a broader social and occupational context for your academic studies.

You’ll join a department ranked 6th in the UK for research (The Research Excellence Framework 2014), contributing to this cutting-edge research culture with a final year research project. This flexible course lets you tailor your learning with a range of optional modules in your final year, including Occupational & Organisational Psychology, Human Performance: Work, Sport, & Medicine and The Ageing Brain.

You’ll study in one of the best-equipped psychology departments in the country, enjoying access to an on-site magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner for studying brain structure and activity, instruments for recording electrical changes in the brain (EEG), technology for tracking eye movements and more cutting-edge facilities and equipment. This friendly, inclusive department earned a 96% student satisfaction rating in the NSS 2015, and has been awarded the Athena SWAN Silver Award for its efforts to promote equality and women in science.

Follow your passion for applied psychology and you’ll graduate with highly developed literacy and numeracy skills, making you an attractive prospect for potential employers.

Our flexible degree programmes enable you to apply to take a Placement Year, which can be spent studying abroad, working or carrying out voluntary work. You can even do all three if you want to (minimum of three months each)! To recognise the importance of this additional skills development and university experience, your Placement Year will be formally recognised on your degree certificate and will contribute to your overall result. Please note conditions may apply if your degree already includes an integrated year out, please contact the Careers & Employability Service for more information.

• Apply the theory and principles of psychology to real-world issues.
• Understand a broader spectrum of social and occupational contexts.
• Select from a range of optional modules in your final year.
• Contribute to cutting-edge research with a final year research project.
• Graduate with excellent employability prospects in a variety of sectors.

Your future career

Study applied psychology at Royal Holloway University of London and you’ll graduate with excellent employability prospects in a range of sectors.

The Department of Psychology is dedicated to helping students prepare for their graduate careers. Throughout their studies, students benefit from a course of careers seminars, events, advice and information. Plus, we have established connections with many local organisations, including the Macular Society, Southern Addictions Advisory Service and Bishop Creighton House, providing you with the chance to enjoy rewarding placement opportunities. Careers information and advice will be on hand throughout your studies, while annual ‘Meet Our Grads’ events mean you can share the knowledge and experience of our extensive alumni network.

Within six months of graduation, 90% of psychology graduates (Unistats 2015) have gone onto full time employment or further studies. Our recent alumni have gone on to enjoy careers in local government agencies, mental health charities, media organisations, occupational psychology, health psychology, clinical psychology, forensic psychology and neuroscience.

As well as careers directly linked to Psychology, the transferable skills gained will form an excellent basis for potential careers in criminal justice agencies. As such, graduates have found employment with criminal justice agencies such as the Crown Prosecution Service, the police, probation service, youth custody and the prison service. Others have pursued careers in banking, publishing, media, management, local government, mental health support, youth work or other support work. In addition, a large number of students progress to further study at masters or doctoral level. For those interested in continuing onto postgraduate study, as this course is accredited by the British Psychological Society, graduates have the opportunity to gain Graduate and/or Chartered Membership of the Society, and eligibility to apply to our MSc in Forensic Psychology.