Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour. Our professional body, the British Psychological Society (BPS), describes Psychology as being "about understanding what makes people tick and how this understanding can help us address many of the problems and issues in society today."
Welcome to the Psychology Pathway!
This course will introduce you to some of the different areas that make up psychology and to some of the methods we use. You will work with lecturers, researchers and university students and I look forward to welcoming you and working with you. If you have any questions, please get in touch! Dr Chris Gibbons
Psychology
Psychology is the science of mind and behaviour. We are all psychologists in our efforts to try and make sense of our own and others’ behaviour. However, how you think is often flawed and riddled with biases that you are unaware of and, even if you are popular and have lots of friends, this pails into insignificance compared to the sample sizes studied by most psychology researchers. This means the insights we get in psychology are more likely to be closer to an accurate understanding of the mind and behaviour and we often find results that go against what most people would expect. Psychologists study behaviour in rigorous, systematic and carefully controlled ways. This is the approach we take when studying behaviour in research test facilities and when we carry out research in real-life settings.
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What do I need to study on the Psychology Pathway?
We would advise that all students check the academic entry requirements (GCSE, A-Levels or equivalent) for each course before applying for their Pathway. Many courses specify that you must have achieved a specific grade at a specific level in order to be considered for a place on the undergraduate programme. Therefore, it is important that you clarify this information as early as possible in order to avoid disappointment.
Please click here to be redirected to the Queen's University course finder, where you should find all necessary details - in particular, pre-requisite information.
- What courses can I study at Queen's after taking part in the Psychology pathway?
Students completing this Pathway are eligible to apply for a range of courses under their subject area. For the full list, have a look at our Pathway Courses Available document for further information.
- What does the Summer School look like?
The Summer School will give you the chance to meet like-minded pathway students, current Queen's University students and Queen's academics who will lead a range of workshops and lectures designed to give you a better understanding of what it will be like to study Psychology at undergraduate level. On this pathway, you will benefit from guidance and support to aid you before making a start at Queen's University Belfast.
- What careers are available for graduates in this field?
A survey of graduates 6 months after graduation reveals that Queen’s graduates from these programmes have recently gone to work in roles such as:
Support Worker (Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health), Employment Adviser (Ingeus), Councillor (Omagh District Council), Support Worker (Praxis), Assistant Clinical Psychologist (SL Volunteers), Assistant Psychologist (Western Health & Social Care Trust), Assistant Manager (Marks and Spencer), Civil Servant (Civil Service), Graduate Intern (Centre for Effective Services), Graduate Intern (Health and Social Care Trust), Support Worker (Autism Initiatives), Activity Therapist (Valley Nursing Home)
Some have gone on to further study in areas such as:
Doctorate in Educational, Child & Adolescent Psychology, MSc Atypical Child Development, MSc Applied Psychology, MSc Health Psychology, MSc Neuroscience, MSc Legal Science, MSc Foundations in Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, MSc Performance Enhancement in Sport and Health, PGCE Primary and PhD in Psychology.
For more information, please click here to have a look at some of the options available with help from the graduate careers service.
- How can I get in touch?
If you have a question about one of our Pathways, or want to ask an academic a question, please email us at pop@qub.ac.uk and someone will be in touch!
Apply for this Pathway
Applications for 2025