What is A-Level Psychology like compared to degree level?

So I sort of regret not doing A-Level psych given that I have recently developed an interest for it and am thinking of cultivating this passion at undergrad level. But let's not dwell on that.
What I'm interested in are the key differences between the A-level and the undergrad course.
1. Are the topics similar/different (in terms of core modules which are mostly the same across all universities but talking about optional ones would be interesting too)?
2. Is it more interesting at A-Level or degree level?
3. I know A-Level requires you to memories a lot of studies and researcher names, does this apply to uni too?

So I sort of regret not doing A-Level psych given that I have recently developed an interest for it and am thinking of cultivating this passion at undergrad level. But let's not dwell on that.
What I'm interested in are the key differences between the A-level and the undergrad course.
1. Are the topics similar/different (in terms of core modules which are mostly the same across all universities but talking about optional ones would be interesting too)?
2. Is it more interesting at A-Level or degree level?
3. I know A-Level requires you to memories a lot of studies and researcher names, does this apply to uni too?

Hi there! I'm Kiera, I'm now in my third year of studying Psychology.
I did Edexcel A-Level Psych, and found my first year of university repeated a lot of that content. At university, like at A-Level, you'll cover a lot of the core areas of Psychology (such as biological, social, cognitive). A lot of the first year of university covers A-Level content, just in a lot more detail, to make sure everyone is on the same page. Every accredited course has to cover those basic foundations of psychology - so there's quite a few topics you'll cover regardless of where you go.
Every university has different optional modules, some of which you wouldn't have covered (in much detail) at A-Level. For example, one of my optional modules for this year is language development, which you don't really cover in A-Level. I personally find it much more interesting at university. You focus on a smaller number of areas, but in much more detail, rather than just breezing over different concepts. If you have optional modules, you get to shape your course a little too!
In terms of difficulty - the content itself at university is much harder. However, at most universities, the courses are modular. This means you'll study a couple of areas at a time (modules), and be assessed on those individually. So in a 12 week semester for me, I'll study 3 modules, each of those has 2 assessments (spread out). After I've finished those modules, the next semester you move onto new ones. This means you only have to memorize 12 weeks of content at a time, you then do exams/coursework for those modules, then move on! I've found this a lot easier to cope with than A-Level, where you're memorizing 2 years worth of content and trying to cram it all into a couple of hours of exams. I've only ever had to memorize lots of studies and researcher names once for an essay exam, other than that I haven't have to. You complete assignments in your own time and you'll research studies on the internet and then cite them - you don't have to memorize them.
Hope this helps! Let me know if you have anymore questions🤗
-Kiera (Student Ambassador, York St. John University)

Thank you so much for your reply!
Doing exams after one module rather than after everything you've learnt sounds appealing indeed!
So my next question to you is quite niche, and for that I apologise.
I believe you covered this in your exam board, but the topics in A-Level psychology that really interest me are issues and debates (origins of psychology, holism, reductionism, free will and determinism, nature vs nurture) and humanistic and psycho dynamic approach focusing on Maslow and Freud. Did you cover these specific areas in your mandatory/optional modules?

Glad I could help!
Issues like holism, reductionism, nature/nurture, etc., will come up in every module you do rather than being a separate topic. E.g., in child development-related modules I’ve covered Freud, Maslow, and many other theorists. You’ll look at general theories of adolescent development, you’ll analyse them (are they reductionist? most of the time, yes), you’ll apply them to real-life scenarios (like in assignments, you’ll draw on the research to talk about the implications a certain theory has for society, etc) so you do cover it, just not as an individual module as they aren’t necessarily theories/ areas of psychology you'd study individually. In terms of approaches too, that becomes integrated into modules (e.g., humanistic approaches to counselling), some universities might have more philosophical-based modules that cover it somewhat individually but it tends to come up everywhere - even in research methods.
We had two mandatory modules over 1st and 2nd year about child development and one about individual differences. A lot of them are over lap too - for example, we discussed adolescent brain development in neuropsychology. This year, all of my modules were optional, so I take neuropsychology, lifespan development, child and adolescent development, and language development (I enjoyed developmental too!).
Hope this answers your question?😊
-Kiera (Student Ambassador, York St. John)

Hi, adding on to OP's questions, how significant is the jump from a level psychology to undergrad in terms of the science content? Could you give a brief overview of specific things you learn in biological psychology? How much more complex is it compared to Alevel? Is there any chemistry involved in the scientific aspects of your psychology degree?

Hi there!
There's a lot to cover here! In terms of the science content, the science you cover at university is a lot more specialised. In A-level biology, you cover all of the basic anatomy in brief detail, whereas in university-level psychology, you'll only cover parts of biology that relate to psychology directly. For example, you won't cover things like the respiratory system in much detail if at all, but you'll look at the nervous system in a lot more depth. I found it was more of a shift than a jump, there's still lots to learn, but it's all about really specific areas so it tends to link together a bit more, which made things easier to remember in my experience🤗 It probably also helped that I was interested in learning about the brain at university, but not so much about the cells in a leaf at A-level.
There are small elements of chemistry and physics (for example, how MRI machines work involves some physics), but not too much!
And finally, here's a broad overview of what I've covered so far in my biological modules! I've copy-pasted the descriptions for my biological module each year, which I took from the YSJ Psychology Page (here).
1st Year (Biological Basis of Behaviour) - "In this module you will learn about biological psychology. You will start by exploring the historical development of the subject. You will then study the key concepts in structural and functional neuroanatomy, the study of the nervous system, and biological systems. We will also introduce you to the different research methods used in biological psychology."
2nd Year (Advanced Topics in Brain and Behaviour) - "This module involves a deeper and broader exploration of cognitive and biological psychology than in previous years, as we investigate a range of methodologies and contemporary debates in the study of brain and behaviour. You will critically apply concepts, theories and principles to your own original mini cognitive research project, designed and conducted within small groups. The process and experience of conducting an experimental project from design to completion as a written report will help to prepare you for developing and conducting an independent research project in your final year."
3rd Year (Optional Module, Neuropsychology) - "In this module, you will gain an understanding of neuropsychological disorders such as Alzheimer's and epilepsy. Learn about the neuropathology of these disorders and their cognitive profiles. You will have the opportunity to administer neurological tests and learn to interpret scores. You will be able to assess recent advances in neuropsychology and explore the role of neuropsychologists during rehabilitation."
Hope this helps!
If you have any other questions, let me know😊
-Kiera

THANK YOU FOR REPLYING TO MY MESSAGE. IT'S HELPED A LOT!
if I suddenly think of another question I want to ask I might hop back on here if that's ok with you