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3rd for French, German, Spanish, Italian
The Complete University Guide (2023)
Study or work overseas during your international placement year
Our Psychology Employability Programme (PEP) works with organisations to provide voluntary work experience to enhance your skills
This course combines the scientific study of how humans think and behave with a working knowledge of Chinese language and culture and a fantastic experience overseas, which will prepare you for a rewarding career in the UK and abroad.
Through this programme, you will develop a detailed understanding of psychology, while gaining the skills and knowledge to engage with the discipline in preparation for an International Placement Year overseas in a Chinese-speaking country. During four years, you will be able to draw on expertise from two specialist departments: Languages and Cultures and Psychology.
In your first year, you will gain an in-depth overview of the main study themes through our introductory modules and will explore the theories underpinning these areas, learn to evaluate scientific journals, and develop your ability to construct formal arguments. In addition, you will take either beginner or advanced Chinese language classes, taught by native speakers, and will explore the Chinese language in its cultural context.
During the second year of your degree, you will develop the key themes introduced in your first year. You will build a solid background knowledge in cognitive, social, and developmental psychology, deepening your understanding and testing your knowledge. You will also benefit from specialist Chinese modules, which will develop your foreign language oral and written communication skills further.
Spending your third year - the International Placement Year - abroad in a Chinese-speaking country makes a major contribution to your command of the language, while deepening your intercultural sensitivity. You can study at a partner institution or conduct a work placement. Our staff will work with you to ensure that you are fully prepared before embarking on your placement in a Chinese-speaking country.
Returning to Lancaster for your fourth year, you will further develop your knowledge and understanding of the neural underpinnings of psychological processes. You will also carry out your own research project in psychology, under the supervision of an experienced researcher. The core language modules available this year will enable you to continue to develop your language skills and you can study specialist culture and comparative modules.
Beginners Languages
Studying a language from beginners level is somewhat intense in nature so we only allow students to study one language from beginners level. Please bear this in mind when looking at our first year module options. If you apply to study a degree with a language from beginners level, your optional modules will only include higher level languages and modules in other subject areas.
Our student Wiktoria Wilk talks about her work placement in China, which she did voluntarily as part of her International Placement Year. Students who study Chinese as a major subject are required to spend a period of time in a Chinese-speaking country during their degree.
with your International Placement Year enabling you to study at a partner institution, conduct a work placement, teach with the British Council, or a combination of these. Many degree schemes incorporate a minor in other subjects to complement your major subject. Our distinctive approach to undergraduate language degrees gives you the opportunity to acquire both high-level language skills and a thorough understanding of languages, cultures and societies within a global context.
Degree Structure
is an integral and assessed part of our language degrees. It gives you the opportunity to improve your language proficiency, broaden your cultural knowledge and gain transferable skills that are much valued by employers.
The International Placement Year is compulsory for students taking Chinese or other languages at major level.
International Placement Year
you might not have a plan for after you graduate, but when you're ready to take the next step, we're here to help you. Studying a language strengthens your written and oral communication competence, your organisational skills, your aptitude in analysing and synthesising information, your ability to contribute to discussions and suggest ideas, and your understanding of other countries and cultures in a global world.
Careers and employabilityAdditionally, should you wish to pursue a career abroad, our degree will have prepared you with an exceptional ability in the Chinese language and you will also have gained a rigorous understanding of life overseas.
A Level AAB
Required Subjects A level Chinese, or if this is to be studied from beginners’ level, AS grade B or A level grade B in another foreign language, or GCSE grade A or 7 in a foreign language. Native Mandarin speakers will not be accepted onto this scheme.
GCSE Mathematics grade B or 6 (Applicants with a GCSE Maths C or 5 considered on a case-by-case basis)
IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements webpages.
International Baccalaureate 35 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects and appropriate evidence of language ability
BTEC Distinction, Distinction, Distinction and appropriate evidence of language ability
We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualification. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions webpages.
Contact Admissions Team + 44 (0) 1524 592028 or via ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk
Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and others which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism. We divide academic study into two sections - Part 1 (Year 1) and Part 2 (Year 2, 3 and sometimes 4). For most programmes Part 1 requires you to study 120 credits spread over at least three modules which, depending upon your programme, will be drawn from one, two or three different academic subjects. A higher degree of specialisation then develops in subsequent years. For more information about our teaching methods at Lancaster please visit our Teaching and Learning section.
The following courses do not offer modules outside of the subject area due to the structured nature of the programmes: Architecture, Law, Physics, Engineering, Medicine, Sports and Exercise Science, Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedicine and Biomedical Science.
Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research.
Developing transferable study and employability skills are both important aspects for studying a degree and securing employment. This module is tailored to the psychology discipline and provides you with an essential foundation to successfully build your degree, as well as equipping you with practical employability skills.
This 100% coursework module allows you to develop key transferable study skills to increase your employability to work in a range of industries. Key topics of study include understanding assessment and feedback, critical thinking and forming an academic argument, writing CVs and cover letters, and effective methods of communication. These skills are combined with developing knowledge of finding and securing voluntary and paid work experience, placements and jobs.
On completing this module you will be equipped with skills to; write essays and lab reports, critically appraise information from a range of resources, produce a CV and cover letter for a prospective employer, present psychological information with confidence and clarity, and be able to find psychology-related opportunities, placements, and jobs, with an understanding of how to secure them.
Developing transferable study and employability skills are both important aspects for studying a degree, and securing employment. This module is tailored to the psychology discipline and provides you with an essential foundation to successfully build your degree, as well as equipping you with practical employability skills.
This 100% coursework module allows you to develop key transferable study skills to increase your employability to work in a range of industries. Key topics of study include understanding assessment and feedback, critical thinking and forming an academic argument, writing CVs and cover letters, and effective methods of communication. These skills are combined with developing knowledge of finding and securing voluntary and paid work experience, placements and jobs.
On completing this module you will be equipped with skills to; write essays and lab reports, critically appraise information from a range of resources, produce a CV and cover letter for a prospective employer, present psychological information with confidence and clarity, and be able to find psychology-related opportunities, placements, and jobs, with an understanding of how to secure them.
Cognition is the mental process of acquiring and using knowledge; it underpins our ability to perceive the world around us. This module will equip you with a firm foundation of the conceptual knowledge and terminologies used in cognitive psychology.
You will be introduced to key topics in cognitive psychology, such as attention, perception, categorisation, language, memory, problem-solving, and decision-making. These core topics will be explored using key theories, classic paradigms, and experimental approaches, looking into both past and current research.
Once the module is complete, you will be able to describe key theories and processes, as well as illustrate classic paradigms and experimental approaches used in cognitive psychology. This will provide a foundation for those continuing with psychological studies in Part II.
Developmental psychology is a scientific discipline that explains how humans develop across their lifespan. You will study topics including Piagetian and Vygotskian theoretical frameworks, the nature vs nurture debate, and children’s development of crucial abilities to engage in the social world. You will develop a strong understanding of the relationships between psychological theory and experimental evidence, drawing upon classic and state-of-the-art scientific literature, including current cutting-edge investigative research going on in our Psychology Department.
This module will enable you to gain an understanding of the foundational topics in developmental psychology, meaning that you will be able to discuss important developmental topics in an informed and critical manner drawing on theory and evidence, accompanied by growing skills in searching for and critically appraising literature related to a variety of topics. This module will equip you with an excellent foundation of knowledge in order to continue studying developmental psychology in Part II.
Neuroscience gives us an insight into the inner workings of the brain, which underpin human behaviour; neuroscience helps us to understand the biological mechanisms that make us human.
In this module, you will gain an understanding of the anatomy of the nervous system, the main structures of the brain, and the functions of neurons; the specialised cells which receive, send, and process information in the nervous system. Once key neural mechanisms are covered, you will examine the effects of drugs on the brain, the processes that allow us to see and hear, the neural control of movement, the control of sleep and dreaming, and the neural bases of learning and memory.
On completing this module, you will have a broad understanding of brain function, be able to critically evaluate neuroscience research, and express your understanding of such topics through discussions and assessments.
This module is designed for students who have already completed an A-level in Chinese or whose Chinese is of a broadly similar standard. The language element aims to enable students both to consolidate and improve their skills in spoken and written Chinese. A further aim is to provide students with an introduction to the historical and cultural development of China in the past, and also to contemporary institutions and society.
Seminars are based on a textbook, and emphasis is placed on the acquisition of vocabulary and a firm grasp of Chinese grammatical structures. You will have the opportunity to develop listening and speaking skills through discussions and activities and with the support of audio and visual materials.
You are given the chance to examine how key moments in Chinese history have shaped contemporary Chinese culture. We will look at examples including films, plays, and novels.
Would you like to be able to communicate using Mandarin Chinese? Do you want to acquire key elements to become an expert of Chinese culture, society, and institutions? We focus on teaching absolute beginners how to speak, listen, and read so you can confidently use day-to-day Chinese. You’ll also be given the opportunity to learn about Chinese culture, history, and contemporary society.
You will have the opportunity to learn Chinese pronunciation and intonation, the basics of Chinese grammar, key sentence structures, and insights about the graphical element of writing, such as the significance of types of strokes, radicals, and their ancestral meaning.
To explore Chinese culture, you are given the chance to examine how key moments in Chinese history have shaped contemporary Chinese culture. We will look at examples including films, plays, and novels.
All DeLC first year language programmes are supported by a series of plenary sessions and film screenings designed to offer students further opportunities to expand and consolidate their knowledge and skills base. The DELC100/101 programme runs for 22 weeks and consists of language-specific film screenings relevant to their course(s) in addition to skills-based plenary sessions. The module is non credit-bearing but students are expected to attend so as to acquire complementary skills useful in areas such as oral presentations, essay-writing and engaging with culture alongside useful strategies to enhance autonomous language learning outside the classroom. Towards the end of the programme, to help students prepare for their exams, plenary sessions offer help and advice on managing revision time efficiently and identifying strategies and techniques to suit individual learning styles and needs.
This module introduces you to key topics and debates within psychological research relating to personality and individual differences.
Through the exploration of topics including personality, intelligence and psychometric testing, you will gain key skills to examine and evaluate the impact of individual differences on cognition, behaviour and social relationships.
Completing this module provides you with an understanding of biological, environmental and cultural influences on personality, intelligence and other traits, methods of psychometric testing and their role in psychological research, and the ability to critically evaluate key theories and assess the impact on real-world issues.
Psychologists engage in the scientific process of developing and testing theories that explain and understand human psychology and behaviour. This module introduces you to the scientific processes and practices surrounding the development and testing of psychological and behavioural theories.
In this module, you will develop an understanding of the importance of transparent and high-quality psychological research and will assess the utility and reproducibility of current studies. You will study the relationship between theory, testing and evaluation and will develop practical skills to conduct your own research.
On completing this module, you will have gained a well-rounded understanding of the research process and an awareness of the importance of reproducibility, and you will have learned how to critically engage with research and its coverage in the media. You will learn key transferable skills, including data management, evaluation of primary and secondary sources, and knowledge of the relationship between theories, concepts and research methods.
How do we determine what is true in science? How do we know which theories are well supported by evidence, and which ones are not? This module focuses on the research process, particularly drawing upon how to identify and avoid questionable practices, in favour of those that are open, transparent, and reproducible.
You will build upon your knowledge of the research process developed in Research Integrity and Open Science 1. Looking at some of the problems faced by researchers, and how research findings are assessed in light of these issues, you will develop tools to help overcome and prevent future issues.
Topics of study include the problem of false-positive findings, questionable research practices, researcher degrees of freedom, fraud, detecting errors and meta-analysis. These topics will allow you to understand how to embed open, transparent and reproducible research methods into your own practices, supporting your ability to plan a research study and provide clear, accurate descriptions of proposed methods and planned analyses.
Once you have completed this module, you will have a deeper understanding of the research process, from concept and design to post-publication. You will have advanced knowledge of the reproducibility crisis and be equipped with practical skills to conduct your own research using a ‘reproducibility toolkit’. You will learn to critically evaluate psychological theory and research in order to identify and avoid questionable research practices and to ensure your own practices are open, transparent and reproducible.
Whether we want to understand ourselves or the world around us, social psychology can offer valuable insights. This module will present theories and findings, demonstrating how the principles of this field are relevant to our everyday lives, and it will help to develop a range of knowledge and skills that you will be able to apply to your studies as they progress throughout your degree, as well as approaches that you will find helpful for applying psychological knowledge in practice.
The module will equip you with knowledge of basic issues in social psychology, as well as applied psychology. You will be exposed to classic studies as well as cutting-edge research. Lectures will introduce a range of core topics including attraction, the self, and leadership.
In addition, this module will explore how the topics covered are being updated in relation to the modern digital age and how this affects our social world. The module will help you in understanding the main theoretical ideas and traditions of social psychology and relating individual psychological
Psychology is an evidence-based discipline, and understanding how to carry out psychological enquiry through statistical analysis of data plays a key part in research. This module is designed to equip you with a strong understanding of how data is used to inform decisions about the validity of psychological theories.
You will learn theoretical principles behind introductory statistical analysis techniques in psychological research, developing an understanding of scientific research methods to perform your own statistical analysis using numerical data. You will learn basic skills in data processing, visualisation, and inferential statistical analysis.
By the end of this module, you will understand which statistical methods are appropriate for a given research design, and will have developed some basic skills in data analysis to competently handle numerical data in order to calculate statistical analyses and answer research questions.
Psychology is an evidence-based discipline, and understanding how to carry out psychological enquiry through statistical analysis of data plays a key part in research. This module builds on the knowledge acquired during Statistics for Psychologists 1, allowing you to broaden your skills and develop a deeper understanding of statistical analysis techniques in psychological research.
This module equips you with a wider understanding of statistical concepts and their application to a range of experimental designs. You will expand your knowledge of statistical tests and continue to practise the implementation of these with data relating to psychological theories. On completing this module, you will have taken your statistical analysis skills to the next level, with an ability to calculate a range of statistics including correlation and chi-square, important tests for psychology but also for workplace data analysis more generally.
This module comprises of both oral and aural skills, to be taken alongside the corresponding Written Language module. It builds upon skills gained in the first year. Students who have taken the Intensive language course in their first year normally follow this course throughout the second year.
The module aims to enhance students’ linguistic proficiency in spoken Chinese in a range of formal and informal settings (both spontaneous and prepared). Specific attention will be given to developing good, accurate pronunciation and intonations as well as fluency, accuracy of grammar, and vocabulary when speaking the language.
This module also aims at broadening students’ knowledge about different aspects of modern Chinese-speaking societies, politics and culture, and contemporary issues and institutions.
By the end of this module, we hope you will have enhanced your comprehension of the spoken language, as used in both formal speech, and in everyday life situations including those that they may encounter in Chinese-speaking countries.
This module comprises of both oral and aural skills, to be taken alongside the corresponding Written Language module. It builds upon skills gained in the first year of the Intensive course. Students who have taken the Intensive language course in their first year, normally follow this course throughout the second year.
The module aims to enhance students’ linguistic proficiency in spoken Chinese in a range of formal and informal settings (both spontaneous and prepared). Specific attention will be given to developing good, accurate pronunciation and intonations well as fluency, accuracy of grammar, and vocabulary when speaking the language.
This module also aims at broadening students’ knowledge about different aspects of modern society, politics and culture, and contemporary issues and institutions in order to prepare them for residence abroad in their 3rd year.
By the end of this module, students will have had the opportunity to enhance their comprehension of the spoken language, as used in both formal speech, and in everyday life situations including those that they may encounter in Chinese-speaking countries.
This module comprises of reading and writing skills to be taken alongside the Oral Skills module.
This module aims to consolidate skills gained by students in the first year of study, and enable them to build a level of competence and confidence required to familiarise themselves with the culture and society of countries where their studied language is spoken.
The module aims to enhance your proficiency in understanding written Chinese, as well as in the writing of Chinese (notes, reports, summaries, essays, projects, etc.) including translation from and into Chinese; and the systematic study of Chinese lexis, grammar and syntax.
The module aims to enhance your linguistic proficiency, with particular emphasis on reading a variety of sources and on writing fluently and accurately in the language, in a variety of registers.
This module comprises of reading and writing skills to be taken alongside the Oral Skills module.
This module aims to consolidate skills you have developed in the first year of study, and enable you to build a level of competence and confidence required to familiarise yourselves with the culture and society of countries where your studied language is spoken.
The module aims to enhance your proficiency in understanding spoken Chinese, as well as in the writing of Chinese (notes, reports, summaries, essays, projects, etc.) including translation from and into Chinese; and the systematic study of Chinese lexis, grammar and syntax.
The module aims to enhance your linguistic proficiency, with particular emphasis on reading a variety of sources and on writing fluently and accurately in the language, in a variety of registers.
This module concerns the study of basic mental processes, such as memory, attention, learning, and categorisation. You will explore the current issues, debates and approaches in many key areas of cognitive psychology. We will see how research has evolved in these fields, both in terms of the practical challenges, and the development of psychological theories. We will also investigate how basic findings in cognitive psychology can have a wider application to society, such as in treatments for psychological disorders, or in the influence of misinformation in belief formation.
By the end of the module, you will understand more about these core topics, and will be able to show a critical appreciation of research methods, approaches and outcomes in cognitive psychology. You will develop skills to write about a topic in cognitive psychology in an informed and reflective way.
Whilst aiming to expand on your knowledge and skills on research methods acquired in the Part I modules, this module aims to develop knowledge and skills on experimental research methods employed across the different topics in psychology, such as social, developmental, and cognitive approaches. This will involve learning about how to plan, conduct and report research and how to evaluate research studies. You will learn conventions in writing and presentation styles in psychology, and your writing and method skills will address the complexities and confounds in experimental studies.
This module will develop your ability to be clear, accurate, complete, and concise in writing up research. You will build these skills as an individual, but also through collaborative work. You will develop the ability to generate and explore hypotheses and research questions, and will carry out empirical studies drawing on a variety of psychological methods. Additionally, you are required to plan, conduct and report empirical research including defining a research problem, formulating testable predictions, choosing appropriate methods, planning and conducting data gathering, demonstrate evaluation of data, and producing a professional report. You will employ evidence-based reasoning when presenting, interpreting and evaluating psychological research, and will use some psychological tools such as experimental software and computer packages including at least one statistical package.
This module provides you with an introduction to non-experimental methods by which psychological research is conducted, data collected and analysed, whilst also addressing the ethical issues relevant to a range of experimental and non-experimental methods. You will undertake blocks of exercises in which they design, report and evaluate different forms of psychological research through questionnaires and surveys, in addition to interviewing and qualitative analysis.
Working in small groups, you will design and implement research projects on a given topic, followed by independent analyses and interpretation of the results, which are then written up in the research reports. You will also engage with the various ethical issues affecting psychological research on human participants and the strategies for addressing those issues in conducting psychological research with integrity. The module will support further your abilities to be clear, accurate, complete, and concise in writing up research. You will also develop the ability to use appropriate software and online resources in the generation and analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative data.
This module is a non-credit bearing module. If you are a major student going abroad in your second or third year you are enrolled on it during the year prior to your departure, and timetabled to attend the events. These include: introduction to the International Placement Year and choice of activities; British Council English Language Assistantships and how to apply; introduction to partner universities and how they function; working in companies abroad; finance during the International Placement Year; research skills and questionnaire design; teaching abroad; curriculum writing and employability skills; and welfare and wellbeing.
Expanding on the knowledge gained in Part I, you will further develop your knowledge of theory and research in a number of core areas in this field. Starting with the history of social psychology, you will explore topics such as social beliefs and judgements, intergroup relations, and applying social psychology to everyday life.
The lectures will cover contemporary and empirical developments in the key areas of social psychology, and the accompanying seminar programme will help develop a range of your academic and transferable skills in relation to social psychological subject matters, including the use of technical language, integrating knowledge, analytic skills, argument construction, and presentation.
In this module, you will gain the knowledge and skills to understand how psychological research findings reported in journals and textbooks have been obtained; carry out your own analysis of data collected during practical classes and report the results; and analyse and report the results of your own research project.
You will come to identify the appropriate form of analysis for different data types, and will use the statistical package R to conduct the analysis of variance (ANOVA) appropriate for different research designs.
Building on learning from your first-year statistics modules, we move into more complex forms of regression (linear and non-linear), moderation and mediation. The classes in this module extend your knowledge and understanding of correlation and simple regression to the area of multiple regression. We consider more than one influence on a behaviour and when thinking about how those influences may work together, and possibly how they are ordered in time, whether we can say that the influence “causes” a behaviour. We also consider alternative forms of analysis for data that do not fit the methods learned so far that are needed for considering causes of behaviour.
The practical sessions in this module take a further step in growing your independence for writing and performing your own statistical analyses. By solving problems across many different datasets, we prepare you for working with your own data and analysis for your third-year project.
On successful completion of the module, you will have broadened your skills and understanding of statistics such that you can choose from among a range of methods which best suits a research question and its dataset. Also, you will have developed skills so that you can interpret the results of studies with confidence and express how general these results are likely to be across different samples and populations.
As part of The International Placement Year you will normally spend at least eight months abroad in your third year. You will have the opportunity to:
The module also aims to enhance and develop your language skills, with all assessments being written in the target language. If you have started a language as a beginner in year one you will spend a minimum of four months in a country where that language is spoken. If you are a joint honours student who is studying two languages, you may choose to spend the year in either of the two countries concerned or, if appropriate arrangements can be made, you can spend a semester in each country.
Lancaster University will make reasonable endeavours to place students at an approved overseas partner. Students conduct either a study placement at a partner University, a teaching assistantship placement with the British Council or an appropriate working placement with a vetted employer abroad or a combination of placements (please note that there are some restrictions on British Council placements which usually last for the whole of the academic year).
Joint honours degrees
If you are a joint honours student who is combining a language with a non-language subject, your placement year will provide the opportunity to develop your language skills and cultural awareness, but will not necessarily relate to the non-language aspect of your degree.
Lancaster University cannot accept responsibility for any financial aspects of your International Placement Year.
This module includes authentic texts only slightly adapted from the originals, with a special focus on contemporary Chinese society and institutions. You will have the opportunity to learn how to communicate comprehensively and systematically using the appropriate expressions and language norms in the right context.
You’ll have the opportunity to develop your skills in understanding and joining political, academic and journalistic discussions using advanced Chinese language skills. An aim of this module is for you to be able to translate between English and Chinese and develop an idiomatic style of formal writing.
It’s not necessary to have studied the Part I, Chinese Language 2 or 3 modules in order to continue on to this module. However you must have reached a CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) B1-B2 level of Chinese proficiency.
This module is integrated with the Chinese Language 4 module.
This module has two main aims. The first one is to enhance your linguistic proficiency with emphasis on understanding of spoken and written Chinese, the speaking of Chinese (prepared and spontaneous) in both formal and informal settings, the writing of Chinese, and the systematic study of Chinese lexis, grammar and syntax. The second aim is to increase your awareness, knowledge and understanding of contemporary China.
By the end of this module we aim for you to have an informed interest in the society and culture of the Chinese-speaking world. You should also have acquired almost native-speaker abilities in both spoken and written language.
This module will explore cutting-edge topics in developmental psychology, including the latest development in foetal research, new theories of communication and learning in infants and children, social cognition, face perception, perception of elementary physic and the theory of the mind.
You will explore empirical research evidence from classic as well as contemporary research sources in developmental psychology, with a particular focus on the early stages of human development, from foetal studies through to toddlerhood. This module will also provide you with invaluable insights into how to conduct research into issues concerning developmental psychology
The module will introduce you to the fundamental neuronal principles underlying cognition and behaviour, with particular emphasis on perceptual, cognitive, and emotional processes. You will be provided with basic knowledge about the anatomy, physiology, and functions of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
You will become acquainted with a range of theories and research methods in cognitive neuroscience and explore how knowledge of physiological processes can aid our understanding of a wide range of human behaviour. The module provides you with the essential preparation for neuroscience-related advanced modules in your third year.
The project is a piece of empirical work that will be completed under the guidance of a member of the lecturing staff. Exploring a topic of your choice, you will gain significant knowledge and understanding of how to develop and conduct psychological research, and will learn how to operationalise a manageable research problem.
In collaboration with a supervisor, you will develop the ability to formulate specific research hypotheses and carry out and write up an independent piece of research. This will equip you with in-depth and specialised expertise in a specific area of psychological inquiry, and transferable skills in project management, data skills, and reviewing literature.
This module lives in the space between the here-and-now and a future made possible by science. You’ll explore perceptions of science across different languages and cultures, from Asia to Europe to the Americas, and explore relationships between the spiritual and the material.
You’ll look at some intriguing questions about science and the twenty-first century human condition:
You’ll find out about differing views on these and other topics from a wide range of source materials, such as speculative fiction, graphic novels, film, philosophical essays, and online talks.
Typically, the module covers five main themes:
Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting in the October of your year of study.
Our Undergraduate Tuition Fees for 2023/24 are:
| UK | International |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £24,265 |
There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.
Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.
Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. Every student belongs to a college, and all students pay a small college membership fee which supports the running of college events and activities.
For students starting in 2022 and 2023, the fee is £40 for undergraduates and research students and £15 for students on one-year courses. Fees for students starting in 2024 have not yet been set.
To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated IT support helpdesk is available in the event of any problems.
The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or broadband support in place.
In addition to travel and accommodation costs, while you are studying abroad, you will need to have a passport and, depending on the country, there may be other costs such as travel documents (e.g. VISA or work permit) and any tests and vaccines that are required at the time of travel. Some countries may require proof of funds.
In addition to possible commuting costs during your placement, you may need to buy clothing that is suitable for your workplace and you may have accommodation costs. Depending on the employer and your job, you may have other costs such as copies of personal documents required by your employer for example.
You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.
You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status:
Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.
| Scheme | Based on | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Based on {{item.eligibility_basis}} | Amount {{item.amount}} |
We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.
Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.
Lancaster has a flexible approach to undergraduate study. Many degree schemes incorporate a minor in other subjects to complement your major subject.
Spending a year abroad is an integral and assessed part of our language degrees. We offer flexibility to split your time abroad between different activities.
When you arrive in Lancaster, you might not have a plan for after you graduate, but when you're ready to take the next step, we're here to help you. Studying a language strengthens your written and oral communication competence, your organisational skills, your aptitude in analysing and synthesising information, your ability to contribute to discussions and suggest ideas, and your understanding of other countries and cultures in a global world.
Careers and employability
Like many other students, I wasn't sure of what to pursue at university. I was split between two areas: Biology and Psychology. I have always enjoyed Biology throughout my school years, but I decided to take Psychology in my final year at school and loved it just as much. So, I chose to study both at Lancaster University.
Although this combined degree might seem a bit unusual to many people, it could not make more sense to me. The BSc in Biology with Psychology has allowed me to learn so much about the human brain through two incredibly different yet complementary perspectives. Each module in Biology has helped me understand those in Psychology and vice-versa. It is a great fit for those interested in neuroscience, as it has a specific focus on the functioning of the brain and the consequences of when something goes wrong. Although working in two distinct departments can be a challenge sometimes, it is also a great opportunity to meet people with a wide variety of interests.
Taking this degree has allowed me to better understand what I want to pursue in the future and, more importantly, what to do to get there.
Ju Ribeiro, BSc Biology with Psychology
Lancaster University's Psychology Department hosts a wide range of labs dedicated to the cutting-edge of psychological research. As an undergraduate student, you may get the opportunity to work alongside some of our researchers in these labs as a part of your third year project, or within a PEP placement.
The Levy Lab is our dedicated to you for working with data analysis, developing research methods, and group work. It comprises a suite of computer facilities with state-of-the-art data projection and sharing resources.
At Lancaster we have a suite of Electroencephalograms (EEGs) which allow us to monitor human brain activity for a variety of different studies, from psychological disorders and diseases, to how we process sounds and learn new skills.
Our Eye Tracking Lab is at the forefront of psychological research into disorders of the brain. In this lab, we use a range of equipment including eye trackers, EEGs, and NIRS in order to study how illnesses such as Alzheimer's impair cognitive function.
Within our Department, we have a lab dedicated to infancy and early childhood development studies, known as the Babylab. This lab comes fully equipped with multiple types of eye trackers and motion capture cameras in order to study child-caregiver interactions and how children play. We also have EEG machines that allow us to gain insight into the patterns of brain activity that children experience as they learn new words, objects, and actions!
In our Virtual Reality Suite, we explore the influence of the body on space perception in real and virtual environments, spatial memory, and visual processing. Our VR Suite comes equipped with a number of Oculus VR headsets, motion capture suits, and tracker cameras, allowing our test subjects to interact with large VR environments.
Our summer open days give you Lancaster University in a day. Visit campus and put yourself in the picture.
Undergraduate Open Days
Join Meenal and Vlad as they take you on a tour of the Lancaster University campus. Discover the learning facilities, accommodation, sports facilities, welfare, cafes, bars, parkland and more.
Undergraduate Open DaysThe information on this site relates primarily to 2024/2025 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.
The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.
More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.
We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.
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