best uni for psychology

ammy.xuu

Hi,
I am currently in year 12 and researching uni options. What are the best universities to study psychology at?

Reply 1

University of Bath

Official Rep

Original post by ammy.xuu

Hi,
I am currently in year 12 and researching uni options. What are the best universities to study psychology at?

Hi there,

Its great to hear you're wanting to go into psychology - I did this subject at uni here at Bath and absolutely loved the variety and depth of the different modules the course offers you. It is also a course which can open a lot of doors for you career-wise.

I think your best bet would be to check out a league table such as the complete uni guide or the times higher education. It looks like some good choices besides Oxbridge are LSE, St Andrews, us here at Bath, UCL and Loughborough.

From there, I would suggest you take a look at some of the courses and their modules on their websites, as psychology courses will indeed share some elements (in order to be accredited by the BPS) but will also have a lot of variations in the modules they offer. Its very important that you choose a course with modules that A) you find interesting, B) align with what you want to learn and C) may help you on your way to any career ideas you have for the future.

Other important factors to consider are where you want to be in the country - visit open days of some of the unis you're interested in. See how the campus and the city feels to you, get a feel for the place - could you see yourself being happy there for 3-4 years? Chat to some lecturers, chat to some current students and see what you make of the community!

I would also consider looking into whether or not your courses offer a placement option. Placements offer the chance to work in industry or do professional research for a year and can be a great way to add some experience to your CV, get your foot in the door for future employment and do something fun and different for a year. Here at Bath for example, we have a psychology course with a placement. As a uni we have one of the best placement schemes in the country, with the huge majority of our courses having versions with placements on offer.

I really hope this helps - very best of luck with your A levels and let us know if you have any questions!

Holly
University of Bath

Reply 2

Royal Holloway, University of London

Official Rep

Original post by ammy.xuu

Hi,
I am currently in year 12 and researching uni options. What are the best universities to study psychology at?

Hi there,

It's great to hear you're considering studying Psychology.

One of the best things I would advise to help make your decision is to chat to one of our current students or a member of staff here: https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/chat/. You can filter by 'Area of Study' to find a student on your chosen course and ask them any questions you may have about studying at Royal Holloway.

You can also join us for our next Online Open Day on Wednesday 15 January to find out more about the course. For this event, we're offering two sessions for some of our departments, at 10am and 3pm, so you can choose which one suits you best: https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/student-life/visit-royal-holloway/online-open-day-january-2025/.

You can also visit our campus in person. Book a guided tour of our beautiful campus to discover more about us. If you need any further help, do let us know.

Best wishes,
Royal Holloway, University of London

(edited 4 weeks ago)

Reply 3

McGinger

Original post by ammy.xuu

Hi,
I am currently in year 12 and researching uni options. What are the best universities to study psychology at?

A course with a work-placement.

Reply 4

Coventry University Student Ambassadors

Official Rep

Original post by ammy.xuu

Hi,
I am currently in year 12 and researching uni options. What are the best universities to study psychology at?

Hi! 😊
It’s great that you’re already researching your university options for psychology—planning ahead makes such a difference. Coventry University is a fantastic choice for psychology students, offering accredited courses by the British Psychological Society (BPS) like Bsc(Hons) Psychology and opportunities for hands-on learning through facilities like our mock counselling rooms and neuroscience labs.
While the "best" university depends on your preferences, I’d recommend considering factors like course content, placement opportunities, teaching support, and student satisfaction. It’s also worth checking university rankings for psychology and attending open days to get a feel for the campus and community.
If you’d like more details about Coventry University’s psychology courses or student life here, feel free to ask! 😊
Hope this helps!

Coventry University Student Ambassadors

Reply 5

UEA Rep Grace

Official Rep

Original post by ammy.xuu

Hi,
I am currently in year 12 and researching uni options. What are the best universities to study psychology at?

Hi @ammy.xuu,

I don't know if there's a "best" university to study psychology- I think it depends on what you want to do. If you plan to go into clinical or forensics, it may be best to study somewhere that offers modules in those areas, or places with placements/assistant psychologist roles to prepare you. If you want to go into research or academia you might want to consider places that are ranked highly for those things.

It's also worth thinking about what kind of university would suit you. How far do you want to be from home? How expensive is the city you're planning to go to? Would you prefer a city or university campus? What support is available? What is the diversity and equality culture like? What are the entry grades to get on the course you want? Are there food shops nearby? This last one seems silly, but I ended up trekking 45 minutes each way to Aldi once a week!

I'd also highly recommend attending an open day for each university you are interested in so you can speak to students and lecturers, get a tour of the labs and see what the third-year and PhD students are doing for their research projects. Hopefully being on campus will give you a feel for what life at that university will be like.

I've just finished doing psychology at UEA and I really enjoyed it! They offer a variety of different courses, for instance, I added an extra year to my degree and did a placement, while my friend went abroad. UEA is ranked 14th for research quality in Psychology, 21st overall, and has over 90% of graduates going into work or further study within 15 months of their course. It fit all the criteria I had set for my dream university, and most importantly, I could see myself studying there.

I hope this helps. If you have any other questions such as what are the benefits of a placement year or how to make the most out of university, let me know!

UEA Rep Grace 😊

(edited 3 weeks ago)

Reply 6

EssexStudentRep

Official Rep

Original post by ammy.xuu

Hi,
I am currently in year 12 and researching uni options. What are the best universities to study psychology at?

Hi @ammy.xuu!⭐️

It’s so exciting that you’re considering studying Psychology! If you’re unsure which program to choose, let me tell you about the BSc Psychology at the University of Essex—it’s truly an amazing choice, especially since we are ranked Top 30 in the UK for Psychology🌎🌟

This program is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), meaning it’s designed to give you everything you need for a strong foundation in the field and pave the way for further training if you want to become a chartered psychologist. You’ll dive into fascinating topics like cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, mental health, and social behaviour while also developing essential skills in research, data analysis, and critical thinking.🎓🧠

One of the best parts? You’ll have the chance to apply your learning to the real world. From practical lab work to exploring how psychology shapes everyday life, this degree sets you up for a variety of career paths—whether you’re interested in mental health, education, marketing, or even criminal justice. Employers love the combination of analytical and people skills that psychology graduates bring to the table!🚀💫

The Department of Psychology at Essex is a vibrant, supportive community filled with staff who are passionate about teaching and research. The university itself is known for its beautiful Colchester campus, with plenty of green spaces to relax and a strong sense of community.🌈🌳

Choosing where to study is a big decision, but I’m confident you’ll find Essex to be a fantastic place to start your psychology journey. If you’d like more information or have any questions, feel free to reach out—I’m happy to help. Best of luck, and I hope to see you at Essex soon! ✨

Warm wishes,
Essex Student Rep - Renaldas✌️