Best Universities In UK For Psychology – 2023 Guide

Unlocking the human mind and unraveling the complexities of behaviour, psychology continues to captivate and inspire countless individuals. For those seeking to embark on a transformative academic journey in the field, the United Kingdom boasts a constellation of outstanding universities renowned for their exceptional psychology programmes. In this article, we delve into the realm of higher education and present a curated selection of the best universities in the UK that offer unparalleled opportunities to explore the fascinating realm of psychology.

Why Get A Psychology Degree?

Obtaining a psychology degree can be a personally and professionally rewarding choice for numerous reasons. Here are some compelling reasons why you should consider pursuing a psychology degree:

Psychology offers a profound understanding of human behavior, thoughts, emotions, and motivations. With a psychology degree, you gain valuable insights into why people act the way they do, enhancing your ability to navigate relationships, communicate effectively, and empathise with others.

Besides that, psychology provides you with the tools to make a positive impact on people’s lives. Whether you choose to work as a therapist, counselor, or advocate for mental health, you have the opportunity to help individuals overcome challenges, improve their well-being, and lead more fulfilling lives.

With regards to personal growth, studying psychology involves exploring your own thoughts, emotions, and biases. This self-reflection can lead to personal growth, improved self-awareness, and a deeper understanding of your own strengths and limitations. It can also enhance your ability to navigate life’s challenges and cultivate healthier relationships.

Career Prospects

A psychology degree opens up a diverse range of career prospects across various industries and sectors. Here are some of the potential career paths you can pursue with a psychology degree:

Clinical Psychologist
Counseling Psychologist
Research Psychologist
Industrial-Organisational Psychologist
School Psychologist
Forensic Psychologist
Health Psychologist
Social Worker
Human Resources Specialist
Market Research Analyst

Best Psychology Universities in the UK

Here are the best universities for psychology degrees in the UK entering 2024. All these universities have accreditation from the British Psychological Society. This is your first step to becoming a Chartered Psychologist.

1. Oxford and Cambridge

The psychology programmes in the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge rank in the top of most reputable rankings, if not all. They consistently exhibit world-class teaching and research, making them the top destinations for psychology undergraduate programmes.

2. University of St Andrews

The BSc (Hons) in Psychology here will introduce you to the full range of areas that are studied by psychologists, including perception, cognition, motivation and behaviour. The structure grounds you in the theoretical foundations and modern developments of contemporary psychology. Nevertheless, a great amount of emphasis will be on practical classes and on learning research techniques right from the start.

According to the National Student Survey, the faculty here is nothing short of excellent. Whether it is teaching, providing guidance, stimulating interest, they are among the best in the UK. You can also see this translate to student performance and satisfaction, with 100% employment within 15 months of leaving the institution.

3. University of Bath

The Psychology BSc (Hons) programme in the University of Bath is indeed one of the best psychology courses in the UK. Registrations are already piling in for the September 2024 intake. While many professional psychology roles require further specialist trainings, many graduates have been highly sought after in the recent years. Some of the prominent employers include HM Treasury, SEN School, Unilever, NHS, and others.

This is a cross-disciplinary programme with a focus on biological, cognitive, developmental and social aspects, with options including clinical and health. Through this structure, you will also learn about how psychology engages with other disciplines, such as management, neuroscience, political science and psychiatry.

4. UCL (University College London)

UCL’s BSc (Hons) in Psychology is characterised by its commitment to research excellence, comprehensive curriculum, innovative teaching methods, and extensive resources. The UCL Division of Psychology and Language Sciences is one of the largest centres of psychology teaching and research in the UK. Its cutting-edge research is recognised beyond the borders of the UK.

UCL offers students a stimulating and enriching educational experience that equips them with the knowledge, skills, and connections necessary for a successful career in psychology. Do check out the PALS Virtual Discovery Session to get a glimpse of the programme.

5. Loughborough University

The BSc (Hons) Psychology degree at Loughborough University excels in providing a well-rounded education that combines academic rigour with practical experiences. The programme’s emphasis on research, small class sizes, diverse specialisations, and comprehensive support services ensures that students receive an exceptional learning experience and are well-prepared for successful careers in the field of psychology.

This programme also ranks 1st in the world for sport-related subjects for 6 consecutive years. Students have the opportunity to work with elite athletes on campus through their Coach and Volunteer Academy, an experience like no other.

Psychology University Rankings in the UK

Here is a league table for the best universities for psychology in the UK as we enter 2024:

Rank	Institution	Entry Standards	Student Satisfaction	Research Quality	Continuation	Graduate prospects outcomes	Graduate prospects on track	Overall Score
1	University of Cambridge	196		3.61	100	88	75	100
2	University of Oxford	206		3.62	98			99.3
3	London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London	210	4.41	3.64	100			98.8
4	University of St Andrews	213	4.01	3.43	97.8	80	93	95.8
5	University of Bath	188	4.04	3.03	98	86	86	94.8
6	UCL (University College London)	190	3.95	3.57	96.9	66	88	93.5
7	Loughborough University	162	3.9	3.53	97.8	78	86	92.5
8	University of Glasgow	209	4.13	3.51	96.5	72	83	92.4
9	Cardiff University	167	3.76	3.55	97.7	75	87	92.2
10	University of Bristol	180	3.79	3.33	96.9	74	81	91.9
11	King's College London, University of London	174	4.04	3.5	94.8	70	86	91.8
12	University of York	165	4.2	3.53	98.6	66	76	91.7
13	Durham University	174	3.72	3.22	98.4	75	81	91.6
14	University of Exeter	169	3.8	3.44	97.8	76	76	91.6
15	University of Warwick	156	4.05	3.35	97.6	74	82	91
16	University of Leeds	160	3.72	3.28	98.1	73	84	90.5
17	The University of Edinburgh	198	3.63	3.64	98.1	64	73	90.5
18	University of Surrey	141	4.06	3.35	97	78	79	89.9
19	Lancaster University	156	3.84	3.23	99	73	73	89.7
20	University of Southampton	152	3.9	3.37	98	68	78	89.4
21	Newcastle University	157	3.81	3.21	96.8	73	78	89.4
22	University of Sheffield	150	3.55	3.45	98.8	68	82	89
23	University of Birmingham	154	3.61	3.48	97.8	65	79	88.6
24	University of Nottingham	157	3.67	3.29	98.2	68	72	88.6
25	University of Manchester	161	3.57	3.38	97.9	64	72	88.2
26	Aston University, Birmingham	131	3.91	3.18	98.3	70	86	88.2
27	University of Strathclyde	202	3.97	3.49	97	55	73	88.1
28	Queen Mary University of London	149	3.79	3.28	98	61	81	88
29	Royal Holloway, University of London	151	3.83	3.47	95.9	64	75	88
30	University of East Anglia UEA	138	3.85	3.45	97.6	60	73	86.8
31	University of Liverpool	143	3.47	3.46	97.8	62	77	86.7
32	Bangor University	128	4.15	3.17	96.7	64	72	86.3
33	University of Aberdeen	169	4.2	3.28	97.5	49	75	86
34	University of Reading	139	3.57	3.32	97	59	78	85.7
35	City, University of London	141	3.9	2.89	97.3	60	75	85.6
36	University of Kent	136	3.36	3.17	97.3	68	75	85.4
37	University of Leicester	127	3.74	3.32	97.1	58	79	85.2
38	Northumbria University, Newcastle	143	3.87	2.85	97	59	69	85
39	Nottingham Trent University	130	3.92	3.02	97.3	56	75	84.4
40	University of Sussex	137	3.72	3.38	96.9	48	72	84.3
41	Glasgow Caledonian University	181	3.99	3.41	98.1	45	73	84.3
42	University of Plymouth	132	3.85	3.05	97.1	50	76	84.1
43	Queen's University Belfast	162	3.82	2.64	95.7	48	67	84
44	University of Stirling	165	4.04	3.18	96.2	47	67	84
45	Swansea University	138	3.6	2.9	95.7	63	67	83.9
46	University of Portsmouth	129	4.07	2.96	93.4	59	74	83.8
47	University of Lincoln	129	3.76	3.03	96.4	55	74	83.7
48	Keele University	129	3.72	2.97	95.1	62	76	83.7
49	Ulster University	127	3.96	3.03	94.8	58	71	83.6
50	University of Essex	122	3.93	3.32	93.9	55	72	83.4
51	University of Hull	126	3.9	3.1	95.5	51	72	83.1
52	Bristol, University of the West of England	131	4.03	2.92	93.7	56	76	82.8
53	Plymouth Marjon University	121	4.55	2.64	93.3			82.6
54	Liverpool John Moores University	138	3.89	2.46	93.5	58	75	82.6
55	University of Winchester	126	3.81	2.28	92.3	71	74	82.2
56	University of Dundee	170	3.8	3.06	94.6	43	70	82.2
57	University of Hertfordshire	115	3.81	2.89	95.4	61	77	82.2
58	Abertay University	156	3.99	2.68	96.8	57	65	82.1
59	University of Suffolk	103	4.1	2.69	90.4	74	75	82
60	Manchester Metropolitan University	134	3.85	3.02	94.5	51	69	82
61	Oxford Brookes University	111	4.03	2.93	95.5	53	73	81.6
62	Heriot-Watt University	170	3.7	2.41	96.3	54	63	81.5
63	Bournemouth University	118	3.78	2.73	95.1	57	69	81.4
64	Staffordshire University	121	3.93	2.75	92.7	55	73	81.4
65	Edinburgh Napier University	168	4.14	3.08	91.8	54	57	81.3
66	University of Westminster, London	111	3.81	2.75	94.4	61	71	80.9
67	Liverpool Hope University	125	3.61	2.92	92.2	58	65	80.9
68	University of Chester	129	3.93	2.35	93.1	61	67	80.8
69	Edge Hill University	131	3.9	2.45	93.6	52	67	80.7
70	University of Greenwich	120	3.85	2.95	92.1	61	60	80.7
71	University of Chichester	122	4.07	2.08	91.3	63	72	80.5
72	Birmingham City University	127	3.89	2.19	93.5	56	78	80.5
73	Sheffield Hallam University	119	3.74	2.64	96.6	52	75	80.5
74	University of Brighton	117	3.55	2.83	94.9	52	77	80.4
75	University of South Wales	124	3.91	2.77	90.8	62	69	80.3
76	University of Worcester	120	3.77	2.3	93.2	57	82	80.3
77	Leeds Beckett University	121	3.79	2.54	94.2	52	75	80.1
78	University of Central Lancashire	124	3.89	2.79	95	44	68	80.1
79	Cardiff Metropolitan University	128	3.44	2.96	90.9	54	80	80
80	Kingston University	118	3.88	2.65	92.6	54	68	79.8
81	Brunel University London	119	3.57	2.52	95.4	55	63	79.7
82	Aberystwyth University	125	4.17	2.17	95.6	36	69	79.3
83	University of Roehampton	107	3.71	2.92	92.3	52	69	79.2
84	University of Salford	122	3.49	3.01	90.9	50	81	79.2
85	Canterbury Christ Church University	106	4.13	2.63	91.8	52	72	79.2
86	York St John University	121	4.11	2.67	92.3	46	61	79.1
87	University of Gloucestershire	121	3.85	1.55	95	57	67	78.7
88	University of Derby	116	4.08	2.31	94	48	65	78.6
89	Bath Spa University	117	3.7	2.06	93.4	56	73	78.5
90	Anglia Ruskin University	108	3.94	2.68	87.9	54	75	78.5
91	University of Bradford	117	3.67	2.09	92.9	58	67	78.3
92	University of the West of Scotland	133	4	2.27	91.8	56	71	78
93	Coventry University	128	3.84	2.97	86.1	44	71	77.9
94	London Metropolitan University	102	4.15	2.67	84.1	65	63	77.9
95	University of Cumbria	103	4.41	2	87.8	60		77.5
96	De Montfort University	116	3.61	2.43	91.7	52	67	77.5
97	Goldsmiths, University of London	120	3.21	3.01	90.6	49	58	77.3
98	Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh	155	3.74	2.3	93.9	44	56	77.2
99	Leeds Trinity University	115	3.98	1.78	89.1	57	80	77.1
100	University of Buckingham	131	3.95		84.1	72	83	77
101	University of Huddersfield	127	3.94	2.4	90.3	30	67	76.6
102	St Mary's University, Twickenham	113	4.04	2.17	85.4	47	78	76.6
103	London South Bank University	110	3.54	2.49	90.3	48	66	76.3
104	University of Bedfordshire	98	3.79	2.63	85.8	56	79	76
105	University of Bolton	117	4.15	1.63	89.7	55	60	75.9
106	University of Wales Trinity Saint David	126	3.99	1.39	81.1	62	74	75.5
107	Teesside University, Middlesbrough	115	3.88	2.17	89.9	41	70	75.4
108	Middlesex University	111	3.62	2.74	83.7	61	52	75.3
109	University of Northampton	110	3.64	2.09	91.6	35	68	74.7
110	University of East London	105	3.45	2.61	91.4	41	68	74.7
111	University of Sunderland	119	4.05	2.87	80.1	46	56	74
112	University of Wolverhampton	108	3.93	2.37	87.5	39	58	73.9
113	Solent University (Southampton)	122	3.66		88.2	48	82	73.7
114	University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)	159	4.24			55	50	73.7
115	University of West London	107	4.07	1.4	91.2	42	54	73.3
116	Newman University, Birmingham	104	4.03	1.19	84.9	57	68	73
117	Bishop Grosseteste University	106	3.36	1.82	79		74	69.9
118	Buckinghamshire New University	103	4.11		81.6	38	36	66.4

How are the Rankings Measured?

The ranking methodology includes several key indicators, such as teaching quality, research output and reputation, industry connections and engagement, international diversity, and citations. These indicators help evaluate the academic environment, resources, faculty expertise, and global impact of relevant institutions. The rankings also consider factors like student satisfaction, graduate employability, and the influence and reach of research conducted by the universities.

Frequently Asked Questions about Studying Psychology in UK Universities

What qualifications do I need to study psychology at a UK university?

The entry requirements vary among universities, but most typically require A-levels or their equivalent. Generally, a combination of subjects including psychology, biology, sociology, or mathematics is preferred. It is advisable to check the specific requirements of the universities you are interested in.

Are there any specific skills or background knowledge required to study psychology?

While prior knowledge of psychology is not mandatory, having a strong foundation in scientific and critical thinking skills is beneficial. Proficiency in research methods, data analysis, and excellent written and verbal communication skills are highly valued in psychology programs.

Are psychology degrees accredited or recognised in the UK?

UK universities offering psychology degrees are usually accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). BPS accreditation ensures that the programme meets high academic and professional standards, and it is recognised by employers and professional bodies in the field.

Can I specialise in a specific area of psychology during my undergraduate studies?

In most undergraduate psychology programmes in the UK, the curriculum covers a broad range of psychology topics, providing a solid foundation across various areas. However, specialisation typically occurs at the postgraduate level, where you can choose to pursue a specific field of psychology.

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