- Study Mode: Full time
- Location: High Wycombe
- Duration: Four Years
- Start Date: September 2022
Are you interested in people? Do you often wonder what makes them think, feel and behave the way they do? If you’re fascinated by human behaviour and emotion, our BSc (Hons) Behavioural Sciences course is the right choice for you.
You’ll benefit from our experienced lecturers, guest speakers and professional industry-led workshops. As well as this we offer smaller classroom sizes meaning you form personal relationships with your tutors and a close-knit community with your peers.
Open Days
We understand that when it comes to deciding where you’d like to study, there are a lot of things to consider. Come along to our Open Day and discover why BNU could be the place for you. You can find out more about your course, meet the course team, and get all your questions answered.
Application Guide
For everything you need to know about applying, check out our Application Guide. You can find useful information for each stage of your application journey – from before you even apply to what to do if you receive an offer, and everything in between.
Why study this subject?
This course is for those fascinated by human behaviour and emotion. On this programme you’ll explore what makes people tick from a range of perspectives and have the chance to specialise in an area you’re really curious about.
You’ll finish with a strong grasp of psychology as a discipline along with a deeper understanding of psychological influences and functioning in those areas you choose to explore with special interest.
Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?
At BNU, our team offers a wealth of experience and expertise in psychology and the social sciences. You’ll be taught by academics with specialist experience in their area, who’ll nurture your learning in this diverse and complex subject.
One of the special things about studying at BNU is that we will always offer you the flexibility to map your own study path by offering lots of different module options. This means you can really delve into the areas you’re interested in or passionate about.
Your learning won’t just take place in a lecture theatre – BNU prides itself on teaching practical skills wherever and whenever we can, meaning you will always leave us feeling confident and prepared for your future.
What’s more, you’ll gain experience volunteering in areas like mental health, forensic, educational addictions and sports psychology. You can also visit professional working environments and go on trips to prisons and courts.
What facilities can I use?
In workshops and lectures, you’ll have the opportunity to use our state-of-the-art observation laboratory to engage in the measurement of psycho-physiological responses using Biopac©. You’ll be able to measure the activity of the cardiovascular system, brain, autonomic nervous system and more. You’ll also have access to Tobii eye tracking equipment and HTC Vive, a virtual reality software, meaning you can push the boundaries and get creative with your research ideas!
Our library is packed with all the information you need for your assessments – you’ll have access to hundreds of specialist books, articles and online journals. Not to mention there’s plenty of room to knuckle down for some quiet study time.
We’ll also sign you up to our Virtual Learning Environment which means you’ll have access to lots of online resources wherever you are!
What will I study?
This course has been designed to combine social science and behavioural science, with psychology at its core, meaning you’ll get a lot of choice to pursue your own interests and pick the areas that you’re most passionate about.
You’ll pick from optional modules like criminology, sociology, positive psychology and sports psychology on top of core modules like social psychology, developmental psychology and personality. All of this will provide you with a solid foundation of knowledge that will take you through your own exploration of human behaviour.
Unlike British Psychological Society accredited degrees, this course benefits from fewer research methods modules meaning you’ll have more space to study the modules that you find particularly interesting.
In your final year, you’ll also have the opportunity to deep dive into your chosen specialist area by completing a literature-based dissertation. With the support and guidance of your personal tutor along with the facilities available to you here at BNU, the possibilities for this project are endless.
Because preparing you for your future career is at the heart of everything we do at BNU, we’ll also teach you valuable transferrable skills that will enhance your employability. We’ll help you with communication, numeracy, teamwork, critical thinking, computing, independent learning and much more.
You’ll also learn how to analyse data effectively, write concise reports and give engaging presentations.
How will I be taught and assessed?
This course is offered as a four-year programme, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate degree.
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, classroom-based activities, independent learning methods and practical sessions. You’ll always be encouraged to think critically about the ideas you engage with on this course and you’ll be given the opportunity to explore and discuss those ideas with your tutors and fellow students.
Whilst studying at BNU, you’ll also be given the opportunity to hear from external speakers who can provide you with a deeper understanding of the subject from their ‘real-life’ experience.
You’ll be assessed through a number of methods including poster presentations, essays and assignments, examinations, oral presentations, laboratory/research reports and a literature-based dissertation in your final year.
Placements Plus
BNU is a Placements Plus university. So, whatever degree you do, you can be sure there’ll be plenty of industry-relevant opportunities on offer, to help you get into your chosen field.
We’ll also prepare you for work beforehand, with special skills for work training, further boosting your CV, and building skills employers will value. In recognition of the value we place on these skills we have incorporated this experience into your study time.
Placements Plus is all about helping you get some valuable experience under your belt while you’re a student, to increase your choices later, and help you get the graduate-level job you want.
What are the course entry requirements?
A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 32 - 56
For this course, you'll need a GCSE Maths and English at grade C/4.
Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements for the 3-year undergraduate programme, or those who do not feel fully prepared for a Level 4 course, will be considered for the 4-year programme including a Foundation Year. If you wish to enquire further, please send your query along with any academic evidence or references to admissions@bucks.ac.uk
Find out more about our General Entry Requirements.
Modules
This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.
Year 1 Modules
Preparing for Success Knowledge and Creativity
Preparing for Success Self-development and Responsibility
Inquiry Based Learning
Foundations of Psychology
Year 2 Modules
Making Sense of Society: Understanding the Social World
Making Sense of Society: The Sociological Imagination
Intro to Biological Psychology & Cognitive Psychology
Intro to Cross-Disciplinary Psychology
Intro to Developmental & Social Psychology
Intro to Personality & Applying Psychology (optional)
Psychological Research Methods
Year 3 Modules
Developmental Psychology
BioPsychology
Personality and Individual Differences
Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology
Qualitative Research Methods in Psychology (optional)
Cognitive Processes in Psychology
Issues in Criminology: Discrimination (optional)
Contemporary Criminology (optional)
Citizenship, Community and Welfare (optional)
Cognition & Emotion in Sport & Exercise Psychology
Applied Sport & Performance Psychology (optional)
Gender and Sexuality in Society (optional)
Year 4 Modules
Literature Based Dissertation
Critical Social Psychology
Police Psychology and Legal Framework (optional)
Investigative and Forensic Psychology (optional)
Positive Psychology (optional)
Health Psychology (optional)
Business and Organisational Psychology (optional)
Advanced Developmental Psychology (optional)
Counselling Psychology (optional)
Principles of Psychopathology (optional)
Evolutionary Psychology (optional)
Exceptional Human Experience (optional)
Brain, Mind and Behaviour (optional)
Educational Psychology (optional)
What are the tuition fees
Home
Home, Academic Year 2022 - 2023
£9,250 per year
International
Overseas/International, Academic Year 2022 - 2023
£14,250 per year
What are my career prospects?
Throughout your time with us we’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. We’ll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. We also help you find employment after graduation. Have a look at our Careers and Employability pages to find out more.
Our BSc (Hons) Behavioural Sciences programme will help prepare you for a range of career possibilities, especially those within human behaviour, such as:
- Civil Service
- NHS
- Police force
- Sports organisations
- Occupational psychology
- Sports psychology.
Graduates can also choose to study for a postgraduate course such as MSc Applied Forensic Psychology, MSc Applied Positive Psychology, MSc Criminology, Communities and Disorder, and MSc Migration Studies: Policy and Practice.
Course leader
