Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Mental Health BSc at Royal Holloway University of London

The course

Psychology is the study of how people think, react and interact. It is concerned with all aspects of behaviour and the thoughts, feelings and motivations that underlie such behaviour. It is an important subject because it relates to the whole range of human experience, from visual perception to complex social interactions.

This three year course explores a range of areas within psychology and specialisms in the areas of clinical psychology and mental health. In your final year you'll specialise in the study of a range of approaches to clinical mental health issues. You'll benefit from the department's advanced technology, including an on-site MRI scanner, systems for tracking precise body movements in very young children and adults, CCTV and video systems for discreet observation of behaviour and a dedicated baby lab for studying the development of infants. 

We are one of the top Psychology departments in the UK with excellent ratings for both research and teaching. Our research and teaching enhance one another, bringing students in touch with the frontiers of psychological knowledge and equipping you with a wide portfolio of transferable skills. You’ll contribute to our renowned research culture with a final year research project.

You’ll join a close-knit department that scores consistently high satisfaction rates in National Student Surveys, with a high staff-to-student ratio. You’ll learn in small tutorial groups and within a progressive environment for which the Department of Psychology has been awarded the Athena SWAN Silver Award for efforts to promote equality and women in science.

Follow your passion for psychology, clinical psychology and mental health and you’ll graduate with excellent employability prospects in a variety of different fields. Notable alumni include the leading bioscience innovator Professor Jackie Hunter CBE, founder of the Terrence Higgins Trust Dr Rupert Whitaker, and Dr Christian Jarrett – author of The Rough Guide to Psychology.

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.

• Explore specialisms in the areas of clinical psychology and mental health.
• Examine the range of approaches to clinical mental health issues.
• Benefit from the department’s advanced facilities, including an on-site MRI scanner.
• Contribute to topics at the cutting-edge of psychological investigation.

Your future career

Study psychology, clinical psychology and mental health at Royal Holloway University of London and you’ll graduate with excellent prospects of progressing to a rewarding career or further study, both in the UK and internationally. The range of transferable skills you’ll develop during your studies will make you an attractive candidate in a variety of different fields. 

The Department of Psychology is dedicated to helping students prepare for their graduate careers. Throughout their studies, students benefit from a series 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. As well as careers directly linked to criminology and 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.