FAQs
What is unique about the course?
The IoPPN at King’s is Europe’s largest centre for research and education in psychiatry, psychology and neuroscience. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2021) the impact of our work and our research environment were judged to be 4*, which translates as ‘world leading’.
All of this knowledge and experience is incorporated into our undergraduate degree. The key staff members for the BSc, who designed and developed this programme, have years of experience in running programmes and modules, both at King’s and at some of the most highly regarded psychology courses in the UK. We have designed this programme to be a modern, interactive Psychology degree that will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to fulfil your potential.
What is the difference between the IoPPN and King’s?
King’s College London (KCL) is the university, and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) is one of the nine faculties (schools) that make up King’s College London. The IoPPN delivers courses and carries out research within the fields of psychiatry, psychology and neuroscience.
The IoPPN has existed, in different formats, for over a century and was born out of the famous Maudsley Hospital, one of the first hospitals to recognise and work in the field of mental health. For much of its history it was known as the Institute of Psychiatry, and it became part of King’s College London in 1997.
Is the course accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)?
Yes. Our BSc Psychology course was accredited by the BPS in September 2015 and re-accredited in Spring 2023. In their response to our accreditation application, the BPS commended several areas of particular strength in our course, including our emphasis on research-led teaching, our modules for developing employability skills, and the wide range of discipline-specific opportunities, placements and internships that are available for students at the world-leading Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN).
We automatically enrol BSc Psychology students as student members of the BPS. The BPS website describes the benefits of the BPS Student membership and of taking a BPS accredited course in psychology as an undergraduate.
How scientific is the course? Would I be able to follow if I have done psychology A-level and don’t have a scientific background?
Science is the core of the course. It is a BSc and 25% of each of the first two years will be taken up by research methods and statistics. Although there is maths and biology content, many students will not have both of these subjects at A-level or the equivalent. That means we will be teaching also the relevant basic material in these areas, and not assuming you know it already.
What are contextual offers?
At King’s we don’t just use your grades to assess your application. We recognise that not everyone has the same educational journey and that some students have had to overcome challenges to achieve their grades.
If you have experienced certain barriers which make it harder for you to achieve a course’s standard entry requirements, we will take this into consideration.
Learn more about contextualised offers.
What are the different pathways and UCAS codes?
There are particular codes indicating that you would like to join the 4-year degree programme. However, if you are a UK student it does not matter which pathway you apply to at this stage. You will be able to join either 4-year pathway or indeed leave them in your second year of study (dependent on averaging a 2:1, or 60%). There are no caps on numbers for any of the pathways. There are also no different entry criteria for the different pathways.
If you are applying from overseas and will require a visa it is worth applying for either of the 4-year pathways as this means you are given a visa for that entire period. You would be able to join the 3-year path in year 2 instead if you wished.
Important note – please do not apply to more than one of the pathways available.
Does the course include any placements or the option to study abroad?
Yes. The BSc degree is available as a 3-year option or a 4-year option (with Placement year or Study-Abroad year). The admissions criteria are identical for the 3-year and 4-year BSc programmes. You will actually apply to join the 4-year programs in your second year of study, should you wish to. You will need to be achieving an average mark of 60% or higher.
If you are a Home student it does not matter which UCAS code you apply through, and please only apply to one. The different course codes are useful for those of you who are applying from overseas. If you are an Overseas applicant and you think you might want to stay for 4-years, please use a 4-year code so that you have the correct visa from the start of your degree.
The IoPPN has practice placements agreements with:
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM)
- King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (KCH)
- Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
- Guys’ and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT)
This provides opportunities for voluntary work & placement work in a clinical context. Many of the placements within these teams are open to King’s students only.
Within the Professional Placement Scheme we have an excellent selection of full-time placements (minimum 30 weeks) available. Students will also be able to seek out placements independently as well.
The Placement Scheme is fully-supported by staff in our department who will lead you through the process.
King’s College London offers a Study Abroad scheme and has links with a variety of universities.
What are the arrangements for required vs optional modules?
All students will take the same modules in the first year. In the second year of the BSc Psychology programme there is choice from the second semester; three modules are chosen from nine to ten options. In the final year, all BSc Psychology students do a research project (which counts as three modules) and choose the remaining five modules from a large selection. There are also opportunities at certain junctures to study modules from other faculties at King’s, if you would like to do so.
What can we expect in terms of timetabled hours in class/lectures?
In the first year, around 10-12.5 hours per week, for example:
- 2 x 90 mins practical
- 2 x 60-75 mins seminars
- 3 x 60 -75 mins lectures
- 60 mins group problem-based learning session
- 90 mins talk and workshop
For each contact hour you will have 2-3 hours independent study time.
Your timetabled hours are spread across the days of the week (Monday-Friday). In a typical term, you should expect to have 4 or 5 days per week that have timetabled sessions.
In the second and third years, timetabled hours will vary depending on module choice. However, it is likely that timetabled hours will be slightly lower in Year 3, as there is greater emphasis on independent work or study.
What is the balance of exams vs coursework?
For your first year, two modules are all coursework, whilst the other six modules have a mixture of exams and coursework.
In second and third year, it will depend on your module choice, although exams often play a greater role in these years. 3/8 of the third year is assessed via your project (coursework), while most other third year modules have a mixture of coursework and examination assessment (with the proportions varying from one module to the next). You will be able to view the assessment model for each module as you make your optional choices.
Do first year marks count in the overall result? What is the assessment breakdown?
Your marks from the first year do not count towards your final degree grade. Your grades achieved in the second year are worth approximately 40%, and your grades from Year 3 60% of your final degree grade.
How many staff are there on the programme?
There are currently around 40 full-time academic staff who make a major teaching contribution to the Psychology course (organising and delivering one or more modules, acting as personal tutors, or other roles). In addition to our core academic team, we have around 70 trained postgraduate or postdoctoral teaching assistants, who help to run seminars, practical sessions and may assist with assessment. We also have a very large number of research staff (from lecturers to professors) who contribute smaller amounts of time for research teaching as part of in-course activities or through supervising final year research projects.
Which campus will I be based at?
Teaching during the first two years of BSc Psychology will primarily take place at our Guy's Campus. In the first half of the second year your modules will be at Guy’s. Later in the second year, when you make optional choices, these modules might be at Guy’s, Denmark Hill, the Strand or Waterloo.
The third year will focus on a research project, and your time will be spent mostly where your supervisor is based, which is usually Guy’s or Denmark Hill. Some of the Year 3 optional choices are based at the IoPPN in Denmark Hill, which enables you to get a taste of postgraduate opportunities you might want to pursue. Others are based at Guy’s, Waterloo or the Strand.
Is it possible to switch between IoPPN degree programmes?
Our undergraduate degree programmes within the IoPPN have several modules in common, and are all accredited by the BPS, but are not designed to allow you to switch from one programme to the other. You will also have the opportunity to take optional modules in years 2 and 3 from the other programme.
What can I expect to do after I graduate in Psychology?
Psychology graduates have many opportunities based on their wide-ranging degree, which ultimately focuses on people and how they, and their brains, work. This makes Psychology graduates remarkably flexible in the workplace.
Graduates may go on to work in the public or private sectors. For example, public relations, teaching, marketing and human resources. They might also study further to become a professional psychologist, e.g. a clinical, educational, occupational psychologist, or apply their knowledge to a range of roles in the field of health and social care.
Have more questions? Contact us
For enquiries relating to the course, please contact: y1_ugpsychology@kcl.ac.uk
For admissions related enquiries, please contact: newstudents@kcl.ac.uk