CHOOSING YOUR UNIVERSITY

If you want to be a psychologist it is essential that the degree you do is accredited by the BPS. A list of accredited courses can be found on the BPS web site: http://www.bps.org.uk/

The following universities are considered to offer the best courses and have the best reputation for Psychology degrees:

Bangor Birmingham Bristol Cambridge Cardiff Glasgow Newcastle Oxford Reading St Andrew’s UCL York

Other good Universities include:

Other things to consider when choosing a university:

• Think about what type of university you want to go to; city or campus. City universities can often be more spread out than campus, whereas campus universities can be out of town, away from other facilities.

• Financial considerations are also important. Universities in London and the South can be more expensive in terms of living costs like rent. Also, to save money, you may want to live at home for part or all of your degree.

• Consider the Psychology degree that the university is offering. Psychology is a very varied subject and what topics they cover will depend on the interests of the university lecturers. Also old ‘Red Brick’ universities (these are very long established universities like Reading, York etc) tend to offer different types of courses to newer universities. Red Brick universities usually are more science based.

• Make sure you go to a variety of open days. This will allow you to get a good feel for a university; what the other students are like, what the students' union is like, and the facilities in the psychology department. This is important when doing a psychology degree as the facilities they offer will dictate what you can research for your dissertation. For example, if you are interested in sleep, some universities have sleep labs etc.

• Another important consideration is employment after your degree. Make sure you choose a university that has high levels of student employment and a good careers service.

Going to university is one of the biggest decisions you can make in your life, so it is important to choose the right course at the right university. Think about what is important to you and then make sure the universities you apply to meet your requirements.