Psychology with Professional Placement Year

UCAS code: C810

Here's what Cardiff University says about its Psychology with Professional Placement Year course.

Studying psychology is about understanding how people think, feel, and act - whether this is just one person or a whole group. On this 4-year program, accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), you'll develop a comprehensive understanding of the science behind human behaviour. You’ll explore everything from social psychology and how we interact with others, to how our brain works and the psychological and neural basis of mental health issues. Plus, you'll learn from experts who are leading research in their fields, so you'll get access to the latest findings. The programme is packed with hands-on research opportunities, which means you’ll develop both your critical thinking and practical research skills—whether it's collecting data, analysing results, or working on real-life issues. The programme includes an opportunity to work in a professional psychology setting and gain experience of applying psychology in real world scenarios. A professional placement in a psychology degree offers valuable real-world experience, allowing you to apply classroom knowledge in practical settings. It helps develop essential skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, enhancing your employability. Placements also provide networking opportunities, connecting you with industry professionals and peers, which can be beneficial for future job searches. Additionally, they allow you to explore various specialisations within psychology, helping you to clarify your career goals. Excelling in a placement may even lead to job offers, as organisations often prefer to employ individuals they have already trained. Placements enrich your education and career prospects and are a great choice for many of our students.

By the end of the program, you’ll be ready for a variety of careers—whether that’s in clinical or educational psychology, working in health and social services, research, industry, or legal professions. Importantly, you’ll be learning in one of the UK’s top 10 psychology departments, with passionate lecturers who genuinely want to help you succeed. So, if you're curious about human behaviour and want to get learn more about the application of psychology to real-world research and issues, this programme could be a great fit for you.

Distinctive Features of the Programme

Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) This programme meets the high-quality standards in education set out by the BPS.

The programme covers the BPS core areas by the end of level 5, and this provides students with an opportunity to study specialist sub-fields of psychology in more depth in the final year. Topics range from environment psychology, forensic psychology to the neural basis of learning and memory.

Top 10 We are ranked in the top 10 for psychology in the UK (Complete University Guide, 2024).

Opportunity to gain professional experience as part of your degree We are one of only a few psychology schools who offer the opportunity to gain professional experience on our Psychology with Professional Placement (BSc) programme.

A professional placement enhances practical skills, boosts employability, offers networking opportunities, and clarifies career goals in psychology.

Employment Our graduate statistics regularly show that over 90% of our graduates are employed, in further education/study, or both, 15 months after completing their programme. This reflects the solid foundation our programmes offer, empowering you to achieve career success or pursue lifelong learning.

Internationally acclaimed researchers involved in programme design and delivery The 2021 Research Excellence Framework showed that 95% of our research is world leading or internationally excellent. You will be taught by researchers who are working across the spectrum of psychology to tackle major challenges facing individuals, society, science and the environment.