Psychology with Professional Placement Year (BSc)

The degree is based on a range of core and optional modules. Each module is supported by electronic teaching materials (such as lecture recordings) shared via Learning Central, part of the University’s virtual learning environment. Modules include lectures, seminars and group discussions, and group work, and you will be expected to apply the skills you learn through written work, oral presentations and posters, research practicals and an independent research project.

In years 1 and 2 (levels four and five) you will receive detailed guidance to ensure that you have a firm foundation in BPS core areas of psychology as well as relevant computing, critical thinking, analysis and experimental skills. On your placement you will have regular contact with your placement team who will guide you through your daily activities and any additional training you will need. The university placement team will be in regular contact with you to ensure the quality of your experience. On completion of your placement, you will undertake a self-reflective report that will outline your experience and its relationship to the content of your degree. Your personal tutor and academic leads will ensure that you have achieved an acceptable level of competence before you progress to the final year (level six). At level six, you will have a choice of modules to study and a compulsory independent research project to complete. In the latter case, you will meet regularly with a project supervisor who will guide you and discuss methodologies and practical work.

How will I be supported?

You will have access to relevant multimedia material, presentations, lecture handouts, bibliographies, electronic exercises, and discussion boards through the Learning Central website. You will be assigned a personal tutor who will offer pastoral guidance throughout your education journey at Cardiff university. You will also be assigned a university placement tutor who will monitor the quality of your placement and support you throughout your placement year.

The school will also provide you with appropriate academic support through seminars and feedback opportunities with academic staff. The main purpose of feedback is to provide you with evaluative information to help you understand the strengths of your work and how you can improve your understanding and critical thinking skills further – the aim of the programme is to develop your understanding and higher-level independent critical thinking skills and not to provide a definitive model answer (although examples of good practice are provided). Feedback is therefore important in the context of improving and enhancing your cognitive skill sets. You will receive feedback on your academic progress in many ways throughout your studies: for example, during one-to-one feedback drop-in meetings, discussion with personal tutors, your project or practical class supervisor, seminars, and Q & A sessions with lecturers. You will also receive written structured comments on your coursework. We encourage you to use every opportunity to interact with staff in this way. You will also receive detailed generic feedback on examinations via written question-by-question analyses of students’ answers, together with a breakdown of your marks. Feedback and other forms of academic guidance are intended to support your development as an independent learner, so that you can explore topics in an informed, accurate, efficient and systematic manner.

How will I be assessed?

We use a variety of assessment methods as part of our programme, including multiple choice and conventional written examinations, essay writing, critical reviews, developing policy documents, application of mental health tools, presenting posters, technical reports, and project reports.

We also use a mix of summative and formative assessments. Summative assessments will inform the outcome of your modules and degree. Formative assessments do not carry any grade weighting but offer a valuable opportunity to confirm understanding of content, adoption of appropriate approaches in responding to questions, and that you employ academic feedback to support successful completion of your summative assessments. The placement is assessed via a self-reflective report that evaluates your placement experience and its relationship to the psychological content you cover in your degree

What skills will I practise and develop?

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will achieve by the end of your programme at Cardiff University and identify the knowledge and skills that you will develop. They will also help you to understand what is expected of you.

You will acquire and develop a range of valuable skills, both those that are discipline specific and more generic ‘employability skills’.

As a result of engaging fully with this programme, you should be able to

Knowledge & Understanding:

• Critically analyse key psychological theories, concepts, and their historical development, drawing on both core British Psychology Society themes and research-led enquiries.
• Critically evaluate psychological theories and concepts, using empirical evidence to support analysis and argument.
• Apply knowledge of key research paradigms, including quantitative and qualitative approaches, ethical issues, digital tools, and appropriate statistical techniques, to psychological inquiries.
• Critically analyse the relevance and limitations of psychological research in real-world contexts and across cultures and communities.
• Understand and reflect upon the role of the psychologist in the workplace.

Intellectual Skills:

• Critically apply a range of research techniques, quantitative and qualitative methods and measurement techniques to research questions, using digital/electronic tools and appropriate statistical methods.
• Effectively utilise scientific research skills designing ethically sound experiments and critically assessing research questions using qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Critically evaluate how psychological factors influences behaviour in research and real-world contexts.
• Demonstrate the ability to adapt to the professional practices by successfully undertaking a professional placement year.

Professional Practical Skills:

• Recognise and apply ethical principles in psychological research and professional practice.
• Effectively collect, store, and use data in psychological research and practice.
• Communicate complex psychological ideas clearly, using verbal, written, and digital formats, while considering diversity and ethical implications.

Transferable/Key Skills:

• Independently gather information and utilise a range of digital tools competently, including reference databases, AI systems, blogs, spreadsheets, and word processing, to communicate information clearly and appropriately.
• Contribute to teamwork with the necessary skills for collaboration, showing sensitivity to cultural, interpersonal and contextual factors.
• Complete self-directed study and projects, using appropriate project management skills, to achieve objectives
• Reflect on personal strengths and weaknesses for ongoing development.
• Work independently by successfully completing a professional placement year