Psychology courses

About BA Hons Politics And International Relations & Psychology in University of Strathclyde

Study with us

• join a vibrant research and teaching environment for first-class student experience
• study the science of behaviour and the reasons for differences between individuals, across the lifespan
• benefit from award-winning international academics engaged in real-world research in various fields including elections and voting, public policy, political parties, comparative political systems, international relations and security studies
• acquire skills in communication, numeracy and critical thinking
• Politics & International Relations students benefit from opportunities for university internships, employer placements, international exchanges and work as paid research assistants for leading academics

Why this course?

As a politics student, you'll look at the work of governments and their policies and study the behaviour of those who govern - and who they are governing - both at home and abroad. You'll also gain knowledge of domestic and international institutions and issues relating to conflict and cooperation. We cover diverse and relevant issues, such as international terrorism to the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum.

Politics graduates can go on to work in a number of areas, with many pursuing academic research careers in the UK, Europe and North America.

Our main focus in psychology is the study of human behaviour. Studying with us, you'll look at conditions of behaviour – how we learn, remember, coordinate our actions and interact with others – and the reasons for differences between individuals, such as personality or intelligence.

Due to the popularity of the course and performance criteria for entry into Honours (Year 4) the numbers admitted to Years 2 and 3 of the course are limited.

Our BA degrees in Humanities & Social Sciences are initially broad-based. In Year 1, you'll study three subjects, including your chosen subject(s).

Facilities

Our location in the Lord Hope building provides a social hub and access to student services such as the library, cafés, meeting areas and exhibition spaces.

Our high-quality facilities include six purpose-built experimental research laboratories:

• driving simulator lab
• memory lab
• perception and action lab
• psychophysiology lab
• psycholinguistics lab
• oculomotor lab

Learning & teaching

Politics

In Politics Years 1 to 3, lectures and tutorials are the main forms of teaching. In methods classes, lab sessions and practical group work are used. At Honours level, all classes are taught in a small group seminar format.

Tutorials, seminars and student presentations form an essential part of your learning and development. In addition, work on essays, book reviews and other class projects are part of the teaching and learning environment.

At Honours level, students work on a specific project for their Honours dissertation under the personal supervision of a member of the teaching staff.

Psychology

Our methods include:

• lectures
• small-group tutorials
• practical labs
• online tutorials
• online wikis
• group work
• problem-based learning
• one-to-one supervision

These methods are used across all years of the degree and aim to provide you with opportunities to learn and work in different ways.

Careers

Politics

Politics graduates are employed in the media, management, teaching, sales and advertising, local government, further and higher education and social work. 

Knowledge of the political process is also useful in a business career and the degree provides the normal route of entry into business traineeships. Employers are particularly interested in the high-level written and verbal skills of Politics graduates and their ability to research and analyse information.

Courses in Politics are recognised in the training of Modern Studies teachers, and a Politics degree is also particularly appropriate for entry to the civil service. 

Students who specialise in research methods acquire social science research skills and expertise in the analysis of data, while the study of institutions is an extremely good background for those entering government service or communications, eg journalism, television and advertising. There is also a tradition of Strathclyde Politics graduates entering academic research centres in the UK, Europe and North America.

Psychology

As a Psychology graduate, continuing your studies will help you become a professional psychologist, which can lead to working in areas such as clinical, educational or occupational psychology. Many graduates also work in research.

Other possible careers are teaching, human resource management, social work, counselling and management and professional positions throughout the private and public sectors.

Academic qualification equivalents

• For entry to Strathclyde undergraduate programmes we'd look for 70-75% in all subjects taken at level XII and the same at level X. 

English language requirements (one of the below):

• IELTS   :    6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each component
• TOEFL :     73-79 overall, with the following minimum scores in each component: Listening: 17 Reading: 18 Speaking: 20                               Writing: 19
• PTE      :     54-57 overall, with a minimum of 51 in each component

University of Strathclyde Highlights

University of Strathclyde Average Tuition Fees And Other Expenses

Fee for various range of courses available at the university varies as per their duration, level and type of program. Some of the popular courses with their respective fees are as mentioned below.

Undergraduate Courses (2020-2021)

Graduate Courses (2020-2021)

Cost of Living

List of expenses apart from the basic tuition fee are as compiled below.

Note that candidates looking for their private rented accommodation will require 100 to 125 GBP, per week, for a room in a shared plus other expenses.

• MBA
• Accounting
• Education
• Economics
• Arts and Science
• Biotechnology
• Computer Science & IT
• Environmental Sciences
• Finance
• Science
• Human Resource Management
• Marketing
• Nursing
• Psychology
• Movie,Acting and Photography
• Biology
• Business Administration
• Chemistry
• Journalism
• Health Science
• View all courses