Online BSc Psychology - Essex, Derby, Arden or OU?

I am 23 years old employed in a full time job, but looking to start (my first) undergraduate degree in Psychology. I’d love to hear your experiences of studying online and part time.
- What university did you study with?
- What is their teaching and student support like? (Eg. If you need to ask questions or further clarification on a topic)
- Would you recommend them?

Thank you in advance! :smile:

@wavyyyladyyy

Hello! I can't speak for the BSc program at Arden University as I did the MSc there, but what I would say is that I myself have worked in F.E/H.E for over 10 years and Arden has the best virtual learning environment I have come across. The ability to communicate with tutors, via various means is excellent and the access to journals was great. Student support is very effective, I did my course during the pandemic and they replied to me in reasonable time - I didn't need that much support due to my background in the field.

With ANY provider I would check their QAA report (a bit like Ofsted) and their Teaching Excellence Framework report (TEF) both readily available online for an unbiased view. There is also a blended learning option at Arden which might interest you

Marc
Arden University Student Ambassador

Reply 2

Eli_UoEOnline

3

Original post by wavyyyladyyy

I am 23 years old employed in a full time job, but looking to start (my first) undergraduate degree in Psychology. I’d love to hear your experiences of studying online and part time.
- What university did you study with?
- What is their teaching and student support like? (Eg. If you need to ask questions or further clarification on a topic)
- Would you recommend them?

Thank you in advance! :smile:

Hey! I am studying law at the University of Essex Online and am having a truly amazing experience with the uni. The teaching and student support are both excellent. I specifically chose this uni because their admissions team was great to work with. I often meet one-on-one with the professors who are wonderful and helpful. They respond super quickly which I appreciate. Studying online definitely requires some self-discipline, but in truth, so does studying in person. I also work part-time, so studying online and part-time has been a game changer for me as it allows me to work and study in my own time. I would definitely recommend the University of Essex Online!

Reply 3

Dana_UoEOnline

4

Hello,

I am a 4th-year BSc Criminal Psychology student at the University of Essex Online, and I personally recommend studying through the university. It has a very supportive and attentive environment. There are Q&A sessions every 2 weeks, I think. You can also email the tutor of the module your questions and they usually respond promptly (weekdays, sometimes weekends). If you still have further questions or do not understand a topic, you can always ask for a Zoom meeting with the tutor. As for the disability support team, they are incredible. They provide a week extension if you qualify for disability (including mental illnesses or ADHD). There are also resources available on the platform, like a study hub and there are other opportunities to learn such as through lectures or the monthly journal club.
Regarding assignments, some of the psychology modules have collaborative learning questions (where you must write peer responses and such).

Let me know if you have any other inquiries about the university or my experience!

All the best,
Dana Kafoud

Reply 4

blitterflicker

20

Original post by Eli_UoEOnline

Hey! I am studying law at the University of Essex Online and am having a truly amazing experience with the uni. The teaching and student support are both excellent. I specifically chose this uni because their admissions team was great to work with. I often meet one-on-one with the professors who are wonderful and helpful. They respond super quickly which I appreciate. Studying online definitely requires some self-discipline, but in truth, so does studying in person. I also work part-time, so studying online and part-time has been a game changer for me as it allows me to work and study in my own time. I would definitely recommend the University of Essex Online!

What’s the course material like? Like the video quality of lectures, are they easy to understand and well filmed and do they have extra videos designed for online learners? Thanks

Original post by blitterflicker

What’s the course material like? Like the video quality of lectures, are they easy to understand and well filmed and do they have extra videos designed for online learners? Thanks

@blitterflicker
At Arden all of the lectures were recorded, I would actually refer to them as seminar's because there were typically small groups of about 12- 15 of which you could ask questions verbally and also in the chat box. There were also supporting videos and many other resources available. The access to journals was really impressive

Marc
Arden University Student Ambassador

Reply 6

Anonymous #1

I’m halfway through a psychology BSc with the OU, part-time, so in Y4 of 6. I would recommend them, the course materials are excellent, tutors very available and helpful. I would have a look at the modules for all the course options you are considering, as that might make a difference. Also check whether the degrees are BPS accredited. OU have various joint hons degrees as well as straight psychology, but not all of them contain the modelled they need to get the accreditation.

Reply 7

Krisz1306

7

Hey. I am planning to enrol for Bsc Of Psychology Arden online for the next intake. Anyone can give me some feedback who’s taking this course? My first choice would have been King’s university, but the same course is over 19K a year and that’s not affordable for me sadly. Thanks

Reply 8

Krisz1306

7

Original post by Arden University

@blitterflicker
At Arden all of the lectures were recorded, I would actually refer to them as seminar's because there were typically small groups of about 12- 15 of which you could ask questions verbally and also in the chat box. There were also supporting videos and many other resources available. The access to journals was really impressive
Marc
Arden University Student Ambassador

Sound great. I am planning to enrol for the next intake. Afterwards planning to go into DClinPsy, at King’s College. What do you think are my chances to get in there if I didn’t take the Bsc from King’s college? Sadly that’s not really affordable for me, one year there is over 19K, and student finance only covers 9.5K😕

Original post by Krisz1306

Sound great. I am planning to enrol for the next intake. Afterwards planning to go into DClinPsy, at King’s College. What do you think are my chances to get in there if I didn’t take the Bsc from King’s college? Sadly that’s not really affordable for me, one year there is over 19K, and student finance only covers 9.5K😕

@Krisz1306
I am sure that you will be a great student at Arden 🙂 I met (albeit all online due to the pandemic) lots of lovely people there.

I've not done DClinPsy myself, but, I would think that candidates who have relevant work experience would have a major advantage in the application process and that high up the tree is very competitive (so I would apply to several institutions).

I've had about 5 jobs in education, and nobody has ever asked me where I got my 1st BA Hons or my PGCE etc. Focus on your own development and get some experience if you want to progress onto the DClinPsy

Marc
Arden University Student Ambassador

(edited 2 weeks ago)

Reply 10

Krisz1306

7

Original post by Arden University

@Krisz1306
I am sure that you will be a great student at Arden 🙂 I met (albeit all online due to the pandemic) lots of lovely people there.
I've not done DClinPsy myself, but, I would think that candidates who have relevant work experience would have a major advantage in the application process and that high up the tree is very competitive (so I would apply to several institutions).
I've had about 5 jobs in education, and nobody has ever asked me where I got my 1st BA Hons or my PGCE etc. Focus on your own development, get some experience, and remember that studying at Level 7 can be a bit of a culture shock at first if you haven't done it before (I did a PGCE and PGC SENDco beforehand to ease me in). It's easy to have a dip in confidence but the tutors and student support are always really supportive
Marc
Arden University Student Ambassador

Really appreciate your reply! Thanks

Original post by wavyyyladyyy

I am 23 years old employed in a full time job, but looking to start (my first) undergraduate degree in Psychology. I’d love to hear your experiences of studying online and part time.
- What university did you study with?
- What is their teaching and student support like? (Eg. If you need to ask questions or further clarification on a topic)
- Would you recommend them?
Thank you in advance! :smile:

Hi @wavyyyladyyy!🌟

That’s such an exciting decision—starting your first undergraduate degree in Psychology while managing a full-time job is a fantastic step forward, and I’d love to share my experiences with you!🚀

What university did I study with?
I completed my BA in Business Management and Modern Languages at the University of Essex, and I’m now pursuing my MSc in Psychology at the same university. Essex has been a huge part of my academic journey, and it’s a brilliant place to study!🎓

What is their teaching and student support like?
The teaching at Essex is fantastic! The material is engaging, up-to-date, and designed to help you understand both theoretical and practical aspects of psychology. The tutors are incredibly supportive and approachable—you can reach out with questions, and they’ll guide you through any challenges.💫

The student support system at Essex is also excellent. Whether you need academic advice or help balancing your studies with your full-time job, there’s always someone ready to assist.

Would I recommend them?
Absolutely! Essex offers a strong community, world-class teaching, and a flexible approach to learning that makes it possible to thrive, even with a busy schedule. The psychology program is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), which is key for building a career in the field.🧠

Essex is also a great place to grow personally and professionally. The campus is lively, and there are countless opportunities to get involved in activities, meet people, and make the most of your university experience.🌳

If you’re passionate about psychology and ready to take this step, I’d definitely recommend Essex! Let me know if you have any more questions—I’d be happy to help or chat about my experiences further. 😊

Best of luck on your journey!
Essex Student Rep - Renaldas✌️

Online BSc Psychology - Essex, Derby, Arden or OU?

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