BSc Psychology 2024/25 Handbook

Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

School of Health Sciences, Division of Psychology and Mental Health

2024-25

Version 1, September 2024

 

This document contains important information, please read it carefully.

What is this handbook? It is produced by the Psychology programme in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health and provides general information essential to undergraduates reading psychology. This handbook should be read in conjunction with other documents produced by the Psychology programme and the University. You will find it useful to refer to this handbook throughout your degree. You are advised to re-familiarise yourself with this information at the start of every year of study, and to make use of it as a first point of reference if you have questions about policies and procedures at any point in your degree. You are free to download or print copies of this handbook. However, as with all University documents, certain details may become out-of-date (e.g. changes in staff roles and contact addresses or aspects of assessment may change). As such, we advise that you always refer to the electronic version, a link to which can be found in the BSc Psychology community space on Blackboard, which will always be current

SECTION 1 – GENERAL INFORMATION

 

British Psychological Society: Accreditation

The British Psychological Society (BPS) is the representative body for psychologists and psychology in the United Kingdom. The BPS is responsible for the accreditation of undergraduate degrees in Psychology. Our BSc Psychology degrees (including 4 year Study Abroad and

Placement pathways) are accredited by the BPS, as are the BSc and MSci Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology degrees, where students undertake their Final Year Project in Psychology. This means we award degrees which confer eligibility to apply for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC). GBC is a prerequisite for further professional training in psychology which is accredited by the BPS. For example, GBC is an entry requirement for many BPS accredited Postgraduate training courses and is required for entry to all Doctoral programmes, as part of the route to becoming a Chartered Psychologist.

Please note that you must satisfy certain academic standards in order for your degree to confer the British Psychological Society’s Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) status

As a student registered on our programme, you are eligible to apply for Student Membership of the BPS. Student members receive a range of benefits, including the monthly The Psychologist magazine, access to the Society’s Student Members Pages, and the opportunity to transfer to graduate membership free of charge following graduation. Please note that joining the Society is optional for students and, if you choose not to join, you will still be eligible to apply to join as a Graduate Member at the end of your degree.

Please see BPS website for further information: https://www.bps.org.uk/studentmembers

School of Health Sciences Student Handbook

Click here to access.

You will need your University of Manchester login. 

The student handbook has been developed as a resource for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught students completing degree programmes within the School of Health Sciences (SHS). 

This resource should be used as the first point of reference for questions concerning your programme, support and advice, or academic policies and procedures. 

The University of Manchester is a large and complex organisation, and we want to ensure that you know how to access the information, support, and guidance you need to succeed in your studies. It is therefore designed to guide you through many aspects of your time as a student and provides useful links to information available through the University’s website, as well as summarising the facilities and support services that are available across the University and how you can access them. It also outlines what you should expect of the School and what they can expect from you, and clarifies the policies and procedures relevant to your area of study.

 

 

SECTION 2 – CONTACTS AND COMMUNICATIONS

 

Key Contacts

Head of School of Health Sciences: Professor Andrew Brass

Head of School Administration: Mr Chris Bamford

BSc Psychology Programme Director: Dr Doron Cohen

Title	Name	E-mail Address
Programme Director 2024-25	Dr Doron Cohen	doron.cohen@manchester.ac.uk
Deputy Programme Director	Dr Annie Pye	annie.pye@manchester.ac.uk
1st year Tutor	Dr Elizabeth McManus	psychyear1tutor@manchester.ac.uk
2nd year Tutors	Dr Ruth Ingram and Dr Amber Ruigrok	psychyear2tutor@manchester.ac.uk
Final Year Tutors	Dr Lee Wickham and Dr Rachel Ashworth	lee.h.wickham@manchester.ac.uk rachel.ashworth@manchester.ac.uk
Final Year Project Coordinator	Dr Lee Wickham	Lee.h.wickham@manchester.ac.uk
Year Placement Leads	Dr Kamelia Harris & Dr Luke Jones	Kamelia.harris@manchester.ac.uk Luke.jones@manchester.ac.uk
Study Abroad Lead	Dr Wai Yeung	Wai.yeung-2@manchester.ac.uk
Examinations Officer	Dr Rachel Ashworth	rachel.ashworth@manchester.ac.uk
Student Experience Leads	Dr Leone Buckle and Dr Rebecca White	leone.buckle@manchester.ac.uk rebecca.white@manchester.ac.uk
Senior Academic Advisor	Dr Rebecca Champion	rebecca.champion@manchester.ac.uk

School of Health Sciences Teaching, Learning and Student Experience Staff :

In order for staff to respond as quickly as possible to your request, and to ensure that your request reaches the correct member of staff, we have set-up dedicated email addresses that serve a different function. If your query relates to any of the below, please email the relevant email address.

 

Email Address	Supports queries about:
shs.assessment@manchester.ac.uk	Examination queries Assessment queries Assessment submissions Resit/reassessment queries
shs.attendance@manchester.ac.uk	Attendance monitoring
shs.dc@manchester.ac.uk	Disability support
shs.mitcircs@manchester.ac.uk	Mitigating circumstances
shs.placements@manchester.ac.uk	All placement queries
shs.programmes@manchester.ac.uk	Registration advice and guidance Course unit selection and enrolment Timetable queries Programme content
shs.wellbeing@manchester.ac.uk	Wellbeing student support, appointments and signposting
shs.hub@manchester.ac.uk	Student Support Hub – general queries and advice not covered by the above teams

 

As these inboxes are associated with staff supporting multiple programmes, please could you ensure that you always include the following details in your email, which will help us to ensure that your message is dealt with promptly:

• Full Name
• Student ID Number
• Year of Study
• Programme

Programme Director

Doron Cohen’s role as Programme Director is to ensure the smooth running of the BSc Psychology degree programme, and to oversee the welfare, conduct and progress of the students on it. He is supported in this role by the deputy Programme Director Annie Pye.

Communicating with staff

The flowchart below outlines the channels through which you should direct questions, concerns or feedback regarding the BSc Psychology. Issues can be addressed more efficiently if you initially seek help from the first point of contact outlined below. However, if you feel that the issue has not been resolved, please forward the matter to the next appointed contact. Please note, additional sources of support for students are outlined in Section 7.

Most staff will indicate how they prefer students to contact them during their first lecture (e.g. Online Discussion Board or e-mail). Where possible, staff will respond to queries within 3 working days. If you haven’t received a reply after this time please re-direct your query to the next point of contact indicated in the flow-chart below. Please note; there may occasionally be times when staff are not available, however, such absences will be indicated using auto-reply e-mails.

 

SECTION 3 – PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

 

Aims of the Programme

We operate within the mission of the University in its aim to provide international excellence in learning and teaching. In particular, the BSc Psychology programme aims to:

Attract students who will benefit from studying in a research-enriched environment provide the environment that will allow students to explore the core topics of the discipline of Psychology as outlined by the British Psychological Society, Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC)

Provide recent and advanced knowledge and research evidence coming from four themes that represent the modern discipline of Psychology: Evolution and Development; Mind and Brain; Psychology in Society; and Adaptability and Wellbeing; and to demonstrate the complex interactions between them

Provide the opportunity to study a range of research-led, specialist topics in Psychology

Focus on the contested nature of knowledge in Psychology, and provide an opportunity for students to develop skills in integrating ideas and evidence from different perspectives

Enable students to evaluate research critically and provide them with the opportunity to develop basic skills in research

Deliver course units in ways that will encourage students to become independent, active learners widen participation within the body of students studying Psychology provide students with a skillset that will enhance their future employability

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the undergraduate programme in Psychology, it is expected that you will have proficiency in the following core areas:

Knowledge & Understanding

be able to apply multiple perspectives to psychological issues, recognising that psychology involves a range of research methods, theories, evidence and applications

be able to integrate ideas and findings across the multiple perspectives in psychology recognise distinctive psychological approaches to relevant issues demonstrate an understanding of psychology as a coherent and developing scientific discipline

Intellectual Skills

be able to generate and explore hypotheses and research questions, design and conduct empirical studies, analyse data, and interpret findings

be able to synthesise and critically assess information in a systematic, analytic and comprehensive way and clearly communicate findings and conclusions

be able to employ evidence-based reasoning and examine practical, theoretical and ethical issues associated with the use of different methodologies, paradigms and methods of analysis in psychology

demonstrate an understanding of psychology as a coherent and developing scientific discipline

interpret and analyse data with appropriate software and within a relevant theoretical framework

 Practical Skills

be able to carry out empirical studies involving a variety of methods of data collection, including experiments, observation, psychometric tests, questionnaires, interviews and field studies and to do this safely, ethically and competently

be able to analyse data using both quantitative and qualitative methods

be computer literate, with competence in word-processing, statistical software, and accessing electronic resources

be able to access, use and correctly cite, acknowledge and reference diverse information sources

Transferable Skills and Personal Qualities

be able to communicate effectively, by developing a cogent argument supported by relevant evidence, and tailoring the communication to the audience’s needs

be able to independently gather, sift, synthesise and organise material from various sources (including library, electronic and online resources), and to critically evaluate its significance

be able both to make written presentations using appropriate language for a target population and to collect and integrate evidence to formulate and test a hypothesis

be able to maintain independence of thought and be self-reliant

  

Programme Structure

The Credit Rating System

Every course unit contributing to a degree is assigned a number of credits. A normal workload in one year for a full-time honours student involves the completion of course units totalling 120 credits; 10 credits represent a student workload of approximately 100 hours. This workload may include teaching time, group work, directed reading, independent study, assignment or presentation preparation, revision and examinations. Not only does the credit weighting of a course unit tell you how much work you are expected to do in completing it, it also tells you the weighting of the course unit in the calculation of your year average and degree classification. Course units are weighted in exact proportion to their credit rating so that, for example, course units of 20 credits are weighted twice as heavily as course units of 10 credits (see SECTION 6 – PROGRESSION, THE AWARD OF DEGREES AND APPEALS PROCEDURES for more detail about credits).

To meet the requirements of the honours degree programme, all students must complete course units totalling 120 credits in each year, totalling 360 credits over the three years of the degree.

There are 4 themes that run through the programme: Evolution & Development, Psychology in Society, Mind & Brain, and Adaptability & Wellbeing. These themes represent the current discipline of Psychology, and map onto the research expertise of the staff contributing to the degree. In Years 1 and 2, you will complete course units from each of the four themes, alongside units covering essential training in research methods and statistics, the study of psychology’s conceptual roots, and units designed to support your academic and professional development. In the final year you will complete a research project and your own selection of four courses from any of the four themes. Details of Final Year course units are made available toward the end of your 2^nd year.

In Year 1 you have the opportunity to replace one of your Semester 2 Psychology course units (PSYC11402 Group Dynamics and Team Building) with a 10 credit unit from the University’s Language Centre. In year 1, language units taken can be at any level. All other Year 1 units are compulsory.

In Year 2 you can elect to replace 20 credits of Psychology units with external units from University College of Interdisciplinary Learning (UCIL) or the University’s Language Centre. Language units taken in year 2 must be at Level 2 or above.

In your Final Year you can replace a further 20 credits of Psychology units with external units from UCIL, the University’s Language Centre, Business and

Management for all Programmes (BMaP) or the Manchester Enterprise Centre (MEC). Again, there are restrictions on which Psychology units can be dropped and which external units they can be replaced with.

 

Year 1
Semester 1	Semester 2
Research Methods & Statistics (20 credits)
Professional Development (10 credits)
Evolution & Development Theme:
Introduction to Developmental Psychology (10 credits)
Lifespan & Ageing (10 credits)
Psychology in Society Theme:
Introduction to Social Psychology (10 credits)	*Group Dynamics (10 credits)
Mind & Brain Theme:
Introduction to Cognition (10 credits)	Brain & Behaviour (10 credits)
	Sensation & Perception (10 credits)
Adaptability & Wellbeing Theme:
	Foundations of Mental Health & Distress (10 credits)
	Foundations of Health Psychology (10 credits)
*Course unit can be swapped for a permitted external unit, up to a maximum of 10 credits
1st year tutors – Dr Matthew Checketts & Dr Elizabeth McManus

 

Year 2
Semester 1	Semester 2
Statistics & Data Analysis (10 credits)
*Conceptual & Historical Issues in Psychology (10 credits)
Employability Unit (10 credits)
Evolution & Development Theme:
**Topics & Issues in Developmental Psychology (10 credits)
**Evolution of Behaviour & Cognition (10 credits)
Psychology in Society Theme:
*Topics & Issues in Social Psychology (10 credits)	Forensic Psychology (10 credits)
Mind & Brain Theme:
Cognition (10 credits)	*Cognitive Neuroscience (10 credits)
	*Perception & Action (10 credits)
Adaptability & Wellbeing Theme:
	Interventions to Improve Mental Health & Wellbeing (10 credits)
	Personality and Individual Differences (10 credits)
*Course unit can be swapped for permitted external course units, up to a maximum of 20 credits across the Year
**Up to one course unit can be swapped for permitted external course units, up to a maximum of 20 credits across the year
2nd year tutors – Dr Ruth Ingram & Dr Amber Ruigrok

 

Final Year
Semester 1	Semester 2
Final Year Project (40 credits)
*Option 1 (20 credits) *Option 2 (20 credits) Selected from Semester 1 unit choice	*Option 3 (20 credits) *Option 4 (20 credits) Selected from Semester 2 unit choice
*Course units can be swapped for permitted external course units, up to a maximum of 20 credits across the year
Final year tutors – Dr Lee Wickham & Dr Rachel Ashworth

External Unit Options

While your main academic focus for the course of your degree will be Psychology, we offer the opportunity to swap some Psychology units for external units in each year of study. We encourage students to take external course units because this is a great way of broadening your academic experience and adding a distinctive element to your degree, which ultimately can enhance your employability.

Students registered on BSc Psychology are able to substitute Psychology units for external units, worth a maximum of 50 credits over the course of the degree:

In Year 1, up to 10 credits

In Year 2, up to 20 credits

In Final Year, up to 20 credits

The grade that you achieve for assessed work on the non-Psychology elective will be used to calculate your final year average or degree classification in the same way that a grade obtained from a psychology course unit would be.

Optional Psychology Units

Because your degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society, certain Psychology units are compulsory

In Year 1 you have the option to drop:

Group Dynamics (please email pmh.programmes@manchester.ac.uk to request)

In Year 2 you have the option to drop up to two units from the following list:

Topics & Issues in Developmental Psychology OR Evolution of Behaviour

& Cognition (Semester 1)

Conceptual & Historical Issues in Psychology (Semester 1)

Topics & Issues in Social Psychology (Semester 1)

Forensic Psychology (Semester 2)

Cognitive Neuroscience (Semester 2)

Perception & Action (Semester 2)

In your Final Year you can drop any one 20 credit Psychology unit

Permitted External Units

A list of permitted external course units will be made available to students in advance of the application process. In the meantime, you can find out more by visiting the scheme websites (linked below).

In Year 1 you are offered a choice of units selected from University Language Centre.

In Year 2 you are offered a choice of units selected from University College for Interdisciplinary Learning (UCIL) and the University Language Centre.
In Final Year you are offered a choice of units selected from University College for Interdisciplinary Learning (UCIL), Business and Management for all Programmes (BMap), Manchester Enterprise Centre (MEC) and the University Language Centre.

In Year 2 and Final Year, please note that you may only select language units at level 2 or above.

Please note that students can change Optional and External units up to the end of the first week of teaching in each semester.

If you have any issues with enrolment please contact your Programmes Team at

shs.programmes@manchester.ac.uk

 

SECTION 4 – TEACHING AND LEARNING

 

Modes of Study

Lecture delivery

For most course units on the programme, lectures are the starting point for learning about a subject. The type of content will vary according to the topic area; some will provide a broad introduction, while others will have a narrower focus and present a more detailed overview. Lectures are primarily focused on providing information rather than interaction. As such, lectures may be provided through recorded content (giving you the opportunity for self-directed work through the materials at your own pace and allowing you to refer back to content at any time through the unit). Where materials are provided as recorded content for self-directed study, you will also have the opportunity to attend live sessions with teaching staff focusing on review or support of material to ensure understanding.

A copy of lecture slides will usually be provided on Blackboard in advance of all lectures. The level of detail provided in lecture slides varies between course units and you will usually want to make additional notes (note that effective note-taking does not mean transcribing the lecture content – effective note-taking is a skill you are expected to develop as an independent learner). Please do not be afraid to ask questions and do ask for clarification if you have found something difficult to understand or if you would like a point to be repeated or expanded upon. You can do this during a teaching session or you can post questions on the online discussion board associated with each unit.

After the lecture you are expected to build your knowledge and understanding of the lecture content with independent reading and study. Alternatively, some students find it useful to attend lectures already having done relevant reading on the topic and, in some course units, preparatory reading is a specific requirement. Recommended texts are usually listed in the course unit outlines, but individual lectures will often direct you to extra, and usually more specific, reading. It is most important that you keep up with this reading, rather than leaving too much to do around coursework deadlines, or for the examination period.

Lab Classes

Lab classes enable you to gain practical experience of, and develop expertise in, the techniques of empirical work and report writing. In these classes you will learn how to develop research hypotheses/questions, design studies which can address those hypotheses/questions, gain an understanding of the practicalities of data collection, analyse your own data and draw inferences from them. You will also be given guidance on how to write up the results of empirical work in the form of research reports. Over the course of the degree you will produce a number of assessed research reports and will receive written feedback on this work. Additionally you will participate in studies as a ‘participant’ (see Student Experiment Participation Scheme).

Seminars/ live online support classes/ reading groups

Some course units in Years 1 and 2, and the majority in Final Year, have a seminar/ live support class programme to accompany the lectures. The aim of these is to provide an opportunity for you to actively engage with the content of the lectures in different ways (for example, taking part in a variety of activities in seminars, designed to give you the chance to discuss, evaluate, apply and consolidate your understanding of the learning material. In some final year course units, reading groups support you to understand and evaluate journal articles that are particularly relevant to the related course unit. You will be provided with the references for the articles in advance, and are expected to have located and read these articles before the group meets. Because these reading groups focus on key journal articles associated with the course lectures, they act as supported revision and are particularly useful preparation for Final Year assessments

Tutorials

Tutorials, running as part of the Professional Development unit in Year 1, are designed to support you in the transition to Higher Education and to encourage you to think about planning for your future beyond the degree. These small group sessions, supported by a tutor, focus on academic skill development in Semester 1 and early career preparation in Semester 2.

Practical Classes

Statistics practical classes complement the lectures on statistics in Years 1 and 2, and provide opportunities to practice your skills while having staff and demonstrators on hand to answer questions and clarify difficulties.

Student Experiment Participation Scheme (SEPS)

The Student Experiment Participation Scheme (SEPS) is well established in our programme and is similar to schemes adopted by Undergraduate Psychology courses in other universities. SEPS aims to provide an opportunity for students to gain first-hand experience of participating in psychological research. It is envisaged that students will apply what they have learnt to their own research during lab classes in 1^st and 2^nd year, and ultimately to their final year project. In addition, SEPS ensures that Final Year students have access to a pool of research participants, something that all students will benefit from upon reaching their final year.

SEPS is an assessed element of the Professional Development unit in Year 1 and the Employability unit in Year 2. Students are required to collect a specified number of SEPS credits in Years 1 and 2 to pass this assessment component (please refer to the relevant unit outline, which can be found in your syllabus booklet or on the unit Blackboard space).

Please note: SEPS credits are distinct from course credits.

SEPS credits are assigned to research studies run by Final Year students, research staff or postgraduate students. Each study is allocated SEPS credits based on the length of time required for participation, with 15 minutes of participation equating to 1 SEPS credit. All research studies have been scrutinised for adherence to the BPS ethical guidelines and will have an ‘ethics code’ showing that it has been deemed suitable. All studies will be advertised using the SONA system. You will receive guidance and a Participant Handbook, explaining how to use SONA. Please be aware that if you volunteer for a study without going through the SONA system, you will not receive SEPS credits for your participation.

If you are unable to attend a study which you have signed-up for, it is your responsibility to contact the researcher to cancel your participation (see the Participant Handbook for guidance). If you fail to attend or cancel a study which you have signed up for this will be classed as an unexcused no-show and you will receive a 4-credit penalty. This penalty can be applied even after you have collected the required number of credits from other studies. Following 4 unexcused no-shows you will be blocked from the SONA system, meaning that you will not be able to sign-up for further studies. Students who are blocked before collecting the required credits will fail this component of the associated course unit (see below for further details).

If you are unable to attend or cancel a pre-booked study for unavoidable reasons, or if you are experiencing circumstances that affect your ability to participate in SEPS, you should complete and submit a Mitigating Circumstances Form available here as soon as possible. If you need to get in touch about your request, or provide additional evidence, you should email shs.mitcircs@manchester.ac.uk. For further information, contact the SEPS academic lead (Ruth Ingram, ruth.ingram@manchester.ac.uk).

An alternative coursework assignment will be available for students not wishing to participate in research studies. You must confirm your decision to opt-out and you will be told how to do this as part of the teaching on the Professional Development unit in Year 1 and the Employability unit in Year 2. Please contact the unit lead (Dr Ruth Ingram for Professional Development in Year 1; Dr Belen Lopez-Perez for Employability in Year 2) for further information.

Passing the SEPS scheme is a requirement of the relevant course units. If you fail to earn the required SEPS credits (or complete the alternative assignment), you will fail the course unit. Students who fail the scheme, but who qualify for resit assessment (see School Handbook), will be given an opportunity to complete a ‘resit’ assignment during the summer examination period, in order to obtain the required course credits for progression to the next year of study. If you have achieved fewer than 50% of the required SEPS credits, in addition to being required to pass a resit assignment, your grade for the relevant unit will be capped at 40%.

For students who have opted out of research participation by the relevant deadline, failing the alternative assignment will result in failing the course unit. You will be required to complete a resit assignment and your mark for the unit will be capped at 40%.

The guidelines for SEPS will be outlined on Blackboard in the Professional Development unit for 1^st year students and the Employability unit for 2^nd year students. If you have any questions about SEPS or SONA, please email the SEPS admin team at psycredits@manchester.ac.uk. This inbox is monitored part-time, and the team aim to respond to queries within 2 working days.

 

SECTION 5 – ASSESSMENT

 

Assessments

The University’s standard pass grade is 40. While grades are typically presented as percentages, the scale used is actually categorical (i.e. a pass grade of 40% does not indicate 40% correct).

Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) Examinations and Quizzes

Some examinations assess performance using multiple choice questions (MCQs). The raw score (percentage of points obtained) is converted to an exam grade using a standardised scale. This transformation from raw score to exam grade is necessary to map the linear raw scores onto the non-linear exam grades.
The standardised scale sets a 50% pass criterion for MCQ examinations, meaning that a raw score of 50% is converted to a grade of 40 (the University’s standard pass grade). The table below outlines the conversion of raw scores (percentage of points obtained) to exam grades. Please note the same scaling is applied to all Blackboard term time quizzes

 

Raw score (Percentage of points obtained)	Grade awarded
0	0
10%	8
20%	16
30%	24
40%	32
50%	40
60%	48
70%	58
80%	68
90%	84
100%	100

 

Coursework

Different marking criteria exist for each type of coursework assessment you will be asked to complete on the degree (e.g., essays, lab reports, posters). Markers will refer to those criteria when deciding what grade your work should be awarded. The criteria outline the different elements that markers will be considering when assessing your work (e.g. structure, argument, style) and provide qualitative descriptors for the award of grades in each band. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these criteria before submitting assessed work. You can find the marking criteria via Blackboard (on the BSc Psychology community space and in Blackboard spaces linked to individual units).

The grades applied to individual pieces of work are based on a categorical marking scheme, which was originally based on a lettering system (e.g. B+, B, B-). This means that we do not use all the possible numbers between 0 and 100, but (in most cases) restrict grades to a 17-point scale. This scale is applied across the University and helps to ensure consistency across markers. The table below details the 17 grades it is possible to be awarded using this scale.

Degree Classification Grade Letter-based Equivalent

Degree Classification	Grade	Letter-based Equivalent
First Class	100	A++
	90	A+
	80	A
	74	A-
Upper Second Class	68	B+
	65	B
	62	B-
Lower Second Class	58	C+
	55	C
	52	C –
Third Class	48	D +
	45	D
	42	D –
Fail	38	F +
	32	F
	20	F –
	0	X

 

Coursework Submission

The main coursework deadlines are issued at the beginning of each semester and are published in the Syllabus booklet, on Blackboard and it is your responsibility yo manage your deadlines. Unit leads will also make you aware of specific deadlines relating to the submission of smaller pieces of assessment (for example online quizzes). Please ensure that you make a note of these dates and times, as we have strict rules for the submission of all assessed coursework. The majority of coursework will be submitted electronically via the relevant course unit space on Blackboard.

Coursework must be submitted to Blackboard by 2pm on the day of the submission deadline. Instructions on how to submit your work on Blackboard will be available within each submission area. All work is submitted to Blackboard via either Cadmus or Turnitin. The interface that you will be using to submit assignments will be indicated on the unit page on Blackboard.

Please be aware that we do not read drafts of assessed work. However, you will have opportunities to ask for guidance via dedicated Discussion Boards and/or DropIn Sessions. You should also take the opportunity to raise any queries or concerns about specific assessments during class time, particularly seminars and lab classes.

Once you have submitted your work, you should immediately receive a Turnitin electronic receipt. If you do not receive a receipt please follow the instructions within each submission area for downloading your Turnitin receipt manually. Please keep this receipt safe as it is the only valid form of proof of having successfully submitted your work, without this we will not be able to prove that you submitted your work. If you are certain that you have submitted your work, but you are unable to obtain a receipt, please contact the Assessment team

(shs.assessment@manchester.ac.uk) before the end of the submission deadline.

Cadmus (Year 1 Coursework)

When using Cadmus for coursework, the work is written directly into the Cadmus interface and there is no need to prepare a Microsoft or Adobe document to upload to a submission portal. There is no requirement to include a title page or first page for the assignment. YOUR NAME MUST NOT APPEAR ANYWHERE on the coursework, unless you are told otherwise, as it will be marked anonymously.

[Information about formatting requirements and word limits in Cadmus.]

Turnitin (Year 2 & Final Year Coursework and Written exams)

Turnitin is a submission portal where you manually upload documents containing your coursework. Electronically submitted coursework must be prepared using either Microsoft (e.g. Word, PowerPoint, Excel) or Adobe software. Documents submitted using any other packages (including those created using Apple software) cannot be read once uploaded to Blackboard. Submitting work in any format other than Microsoft or Adobe will result in a mark of zero.

The title page or first page of your script must appear as follows (and should not contain any other info):

YOUR NAME MUST NOT APPEAR ANYWHERE on the coursework, unless you are told otherwise, as it will be marked anonymously. Your Student ID is the number that appears on the front of your library card. All pages should be numbered, starting from this title page.

Page and word Limits

All assessed coursework submitted via Turnitin is subject to strict page limits, specified along with the individual assignment details.

A penalty of 20 marks will be applied for every page or part thereof that exceeds the page limit.

All assessed coursework completed in Cadmus is subject to strict word limits, specified along with the individual assignment details.

A penalty of 20 marks will be applied for every 500 words or part thereof that exceeds the word limit.

There are several reasons for this policy. (1) One of our objectives is to encourage you to acquire the skill of expressing ideas in clear and concise written prose. Writing within a page/word limit imposes a discipline on your work. (2) For any given type of work we can only apply fair and consistent marking standards when everyone is writing within the same constraints. If we were to allow over-length work then people who had kept to the page/word-limit would be disadvantaged. (3) Imposing page/word limits communicates clear expectations (4) page/word limits are commonly encountered in the world you enter following graduation, so this is preparation for real-world tasks.

Formatting of work in Turnitin Page layout is A4 portrait with margins of at least 2.54 cm on all four sides of the text

Arial text, 10 point in size

1.5 line spacing

All supporting materials (figures, tables, text boxes, etc.) must be included in the main body of the text and be sufficient in size to allow for ease of reading. Any such materials are included in the page limit. The only items excluded from the page limit are the title page, the reference list (which should start on a new page), the abstract (for final year reports) and any appendices (e.g. for raw data, rough notes, transcripts, or similar), which are necessitated by the nature of the assignment.

Formatting of work completed in Cadmus

There will be details about formatting guidelines in individual assignment briefs. Work will be required to be formatted according to APA guidelines unless otherwise stated.

The marker will alert the moderator if they suspect that any of these formatting rules have been breached and this will be investigated before the release of marks. The appropriate penalty (20 marks for every page/ 500 words or part thereof that exceeds the page/word limit) will be applied to your work, at this time, if it is found that using the correct formatting rules results in your work exceeding the set page/word limit.

There are no penalties for ‘under-length work’ (much shorter than the specified page/word limit). However, it is reasonable to expect that such work would be unlikely to gain high marks for other reasons.

For the final year project, you are expected to write a report that is of an appropriate length for the investigation reported and which is concise and well focussed. The page-limit is 16 pages for both quantitative and qualitative reports. However, project reports may be significantly shorter than this, and writing a concise report is an important part of the marking criteria, so shorter reports can receive higher grades. You should discuss the appropriate length for your project report with your supervisor.

 

SECTION 6 – PROGRESSION &  THE AWARD OF DEGREES

 

Guidelines for the Award of Degree Classifications

At the end of each year of study, your ‘Year Average’ mark will be calculated. This mark is the average of the marks achieved for each of your course units (including both examination and coursework components), weighted by their credit ratings. Your final ‘Weighted Average’ mark is then calculated by combining the average of the second year marks and that of the third year marks in the ratio 33:67.

British Psychological Society: Accreditation Requirements

In order to gain a degree that confers the British Psychological Society’s Graduate

Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) status, you must pass the Final Year Project* (achieving a minimum of 40% for this unit) and obtain an overall degree classification of lower second class honours (2.2) or higher.

Progression and Assessment Regulations

Full details of assessment and compensation arrangements are outlined in detail in the programme handbook. The School operates standard University degree regulations for the awards of Bachelor’s degrees. The University’s degree regulations can be found online at:

http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=13147

Classification Criteria (as per programme handbook)

The board may take into account any information (for example concerning illness or personal factors) which might have possible led to under-achievement.

In general terms your calculated final overall average mark corresponds to your degree class as follows:

Class I 70 or above

Class II(i) 60-69.9

Class II(ii) 50-59.9

Class III 40-49.9

Date of original production January 2012

Date of current version July 2024

 

 

SECTION 7 – STUDENT SUPPORT

 

What if things are not going well with my advisor or I have questions or concerns about advising more generally?

Your Senior Academic Advisor is Dr Rebecca Champion

(rebecca.champion@manchester.ac.uk). If you have any issues with your Academic

Advisor you should email Becky and she will meet with you to discuss it. It is our policy to help you to engage effectively with your advisor, but should you feel, for any reason, that you would like to be allocated to a different person, please email her.

Peer Mentoring

The Psychology programme has a mentoring scheme in place which ensures that all Year 1 students are assigned a mentor. Mentors are 2^nd and Final Year students who provide support and guidance to new students on personal and social issues, or issues related to study. Year 1 students will be assigned to a mentor during Welcome Week, and will have an opportunity to meet their mentor and raise any questions or concerns. Following that, there will be regular opportunities to meet which are organised by the mentoring team throughout the academic year. At the end of the 1^st year of study, students will have the opportunity to train as a mentor, and use their experiences to support new students and further develop the scheme.

http://www.peersupport.manchester.ac.uk/

Psychology Society

Students on the Psychology degree run the Psychology Society, which arranges social events and is a great way to make links with your peers on the course. The Society will be in touch to tell you about their activities in the first few weeks of the year.

Navigating Sensitive Content

As a student of psychology, you will encounter a wide array of topics that reflect the full spectrum of human experiences. This involves exploring complex and sometimes difficult and upsetting subjects. We recognise that each student brings their unique lived experiences to their studies, and certain topics may be particularly triggering or sensitive for some individuals.

If you find yourself struggling with any material, we strongly encourage you to reach out to your Academic Advisor or other Support Services across the University. These include the Counselling and Mental Health Service – https://www.counsellingservice.manchester.ac.uk/ and the Wellbeing Advisors. You can book an appointment with a Wellbeing Advisor by emailing studentsupport@manchester.ac.uk and including your student ID number in your email. These services are equipped to provide support and guidance tailored to your needs.

Our teaching staff are mindful of the potential impact of certain topics and may use content warnings to alert you to material that may be distressing. They will typically signal this in advance of the next lecture or before a scheduled break during a lecture. If you feel uncomfortable during a session, it is perfectly acceptable to step out during a break and engage with the content in a setting where you feel more at ease and supported.

However, it is crucial to remember that learning about all aspects of the curriculum is a requirement for obtaining your degree. While we strive to support your well-being, it remains your responsibility to ensure you have learned and understood the course content.

 

SECTION 8 – LEARNING RESOURCES

 

BSc Psychology Resources

Coupland PC Cluster

A small number of computers are available in the Coupland 1 building which are exclusively for use by Psychology students.

Student Spaces

The ground floor in Booth Street East is kitted out with tables for working at, open social seating areas and booths.

Additionally, the ground floor of the Jean McFarlane Building is where the School of Health Sciences Student Support Hub is situated. There are tables to work at and vending machines housed near the entrance to the building.

Twitter

Psychology at Manchester has its own twitter feed: http://twitter.com/psychmanchester

This will be used to communicate news of what is happening in the School, including upcoming talks, social events etc. If you have any news that you would like tweeted then please e-mail Dr Leone Buckle(leone.buckle@manchester.ac.uk).

Please bear in mind that this twitter feed is viewable by the outside public and that you should keep in mind the usual rules of conduct when engaging in social media.

Appendix – Programme Specification

What are Programme Specifications?

Programme specifications focus on single programmes of study (or courses), and outline the intended knowledge, understanding, skills and attributes of a student completing that course. A programme specification also gives details of teaching and assessment methods as well as linking the course to the framework for HE qualifications and any subsequent professional qualification and career path. The University of Manchester has programme specifications for the courses that it offers.

General Information

 

Aims of the Programme

The School operates within the mission of the University in its aim to provide international excellence in learning and teaching. In particular, the BSc (Hons) Psychology programme aims to:

1. attract students who will benefit from studying in a research-enriched environment

2. provide an environment that will allow students to explore the core topics of the discipline of Psychology as outlined by the British Psychological Society, Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC)

3. provide recent and advanced knowledge and research evidence coming from four themes that represent the modern discipline of Psychology: Evolution and Development; Mind and Brain; Psychology in Society; and Adaptability and Wellbeing; and to demonstrate the complex interactions between them

4. provide opportunities to study a range of research-led, specialist topics in Psychology

5. address the contested nature of knowledge in Psychology, and provide an opportunity for students to develop skills in integrating ideas and evidence from different perspectives

6. enable students to evaluate research critically and to provide them with the opportunity to develop basic skills in research

7. deliver course units in ways that will encourage students to become independent, active learners

8. widen participation within the body of students studying Psychology

9. provide students with a skills-set that will enhance their future employability

Intended Learning Outcomes of the Programme

At the end of the undergraduate programme in Psychology, it is expected that students will:

A. Knowledge & Understanding

B. Intellectual Skills

C. Practical Skills

D. Transferable Skills and Personal Qualities

 

The Structure of the Programme

Programme Structure and Credits		Credits
To meet the requirements of the BSc (Hons) programme, all students must complete course units totalling 120 credits in each year, totalling 360 credits over the three years of the degree. Year 1 course units are compulsory with the exception of PSYC11402 Group Dynamics, which can be replaced with one 10-credit course unit from the University Language Centre. The following course units are compulsory in Year 2: PSYC21061 Statistics & Data Analysis, PSYC21081 Cognition, PSYC21032 Interventions to Improve Mental Health & Wellbeing, and PSYC21042 Individual Differences in Mental Health & Wellbeing. Students must also complete at least one of PSYC21021 Topics & Issues in Developmental Psychology and PSYC21031 Evolution of Behaviour & Cognition; and  PSYC23000 Employability unit. For the remaining five 10 credit units, students can opt to swap up to two of these for permitted non-Psychology course units. Year 3 comprises four 20 credit option choices plus the compulsory final year project (40 credits). Students can opt to swap one of the 20 credit option choices for permitted non-Psychology course units (earning a maximum of 40 credits from permitted external course units across Years 2 and 3). There are four themes that run across all years of the programme: Evolution & Development, Psychology in Society, Mind & Brain, and Adaptability & Wellbeing. These themes represent the current discipline of Psychology, and map onto the research expertise of the staff teaching on the degree. Students study course units from each theme in Years 1 and 2, and can choose options from all four themes in Year 3.

 

Year 1
PSYC10100	*Research Methods and Statistics	20
PSYC10460	*Professional Development	10
Evolution & Development Theme
PSYC10211	*Introduction to Developmental Psychology	10
PSYC10311	*Lifespan & Ageing	10
Psychology in Society Theme
PSYC11402	Group Dynamics	10
PSYC10711	*Introduction to Social Psychology	10
Mind & Brain Theme
PSYC10421	*Introduction to Cognition	10
PSYC11212	*Brain & Behaviour	10
PSYC11312	*Sensation & Perception	10
Adaptability & Wellbeing Theme
PSYC11412	*Foundations of Mental Health and Distress	10
PSYC11512	*Foundations of Health Psychology	10
*Compulsory course units For the remaining 10 credit course unit, students can replace this with a course unit from the University Language Centre (https://www.languagecentre.manchester.ac.uk/learn-a-language/courses-for-all/)

 

Year 2
PSYC21061	*Statistics & Data Analysis	10
PSYC21151	Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology	10
PSYC23000	Employability unit	10
Evolution & Development Theme
PSYC21021	‡Topics and Issues in Developmental Psychology	10
PSYC21031	‡Evolution of Behaviour and Cognition	10
Psychology in Society Theme
PSYC21701	Topics and Issues in Social Psychology	10
PSYC21072	Forensic Psychology	10
Mind & Brain Theme
PSYC21081	*Cognition	10
PSYC21022	Cognitive Neuroscience	10
PSYC21012	Perception & Action	10
Adaptability & Wellbeing Theme
PSYC21042	*Personality & Individual Differences	10
PSYC21032	*Interventions to Improve Mental Health & Wellbeing	10
*Compulsory course units†Either/or ‡One or both Students can replace a maximum of two optional course units for permitted units from University College for Interdisciplinary Learning (http://www.college.manchester.ac.uk/aboutucil/) and/or the University Language Centre (https://www.languagecentre.manchester.ac.uk/learn-a-language/courses-for-all/)

 

Final Year
	Option Course Unit 1	20
	Option Course Unit 2	20
	Option Course Unit 3	20
	Option Course Unit 4	20
PSYC30920	*Project	40
*Compulsory course unit Students can replace a maximum of one optional course units for permitted units from University College for Interdisciplinary Learning (http://www.college.manchester.ac.uk/aboutucil/), Business and Management for all Programmes (https://ughandbook.portals.mbs.ac.uk/Non-AllianceMBSstudents/BMaPcoursesandapplicationprocess.aspx), Manchester Enterprise Centre (https://ughandbook.portals.mbs.ac.uk/Non-AllianceMBSstudents/MECcoursesandhowtoenrol.aspx) and/or the University Language Centre (https://www.languagecentre.manchester.ac.uk/learn-a-language/courses-for-all/)
Exit Awards Award of the Certificate of Higher Education requires 120 credits, with at least 100 credits at level 1 or above (level 4 in the FHEQ*). Award of the Diploma of Higher Education requires 240 credits, with at least 100 credits at level 2 or above (level 5 in the FHEQ). Award of the Ordinary Degree of Bachelor for a programme of standard length (three years full-time study) requires 300 credits, with at least 60 credits at level 3 or above (level 6 in the FHEQ). Award of the Degree of Bachelor with Honours for a programme of standard length (three years full-time study) requires 360 credits, with at least 100 credits at level 3 or above (level 6 in the FHEQ). For more information about the University’s degree regulations see   http://www.tlso.manchester.ac.uk/map/teachinglearningassessment/teaching/degreeregulations

 

Student Induction, Support and Development

A. Student Induction Information regarding induction activities and registration processes is available to prospective students electronically before the start of the first semester. Before the delivery of the programme’s course units begins, students undergo a weeklong period of induction. During the induction, students attend orientation lectures by those responsible for the delivery of the programme in which the expectations and aims of the programme are explained. Also in this first week, students attend introductory sessions to the University’s library, careers, sport and computer facilities. The programme team also put on sessions concerning academic matters – more details are in section B below. Students are signposted to the programme handbook, in which all aspects of the programme are comprehensively outlined. In the orientation lecture, the importance of the programme handbook (as a point of reference throughout their time on the programme) is underlined to students. The programme handbook is available electronically on the School’s virtual learning environment (Blackboard) throughout the year.

B. Student Support Each student meets their Academic Adviser within, or shortly after, welcome week. Academic Advisers can offer support and advice on academic and pastoral matters, and are key to the School’s student support structure. Academic Advisors meet with their advisees for one-to-one meetings through the semester to discuss academic progress, steps taken towards career planning and their professional and personal development. All first year students are assigned a peer-mentor in welcome week, who is a current second or third year student who has been trained to offer support and guidance to first year students on academic and non-academic matters. The School has a dedicated staff in the Student Support Hub (ground floor Jean McFarlane building), who are available to see Psychology students without appointment, and who can offer advice and support on all aspects of academic and pastoral matters. The Student Support Hub has excellent links with University level support services, including the Disability Support Office (DSO) and can refer students on for extra support if need be. Psychology students are able to attend essay-writing and statistics drop-in clinics, which are run by staff and postgraduate students for those who would like extra support in these areas.

C. Teaching, learning and assessment methods A range of different types of teaching delivery are used across the degree programme. Core first and second year courses are typically delivered by large lectures containing demonstrations and interactive elements, which are each supported by small group teaching (e.g. seminars, practical classes) and by discussions, quizzes and other material on the virtual learning environment (Blackboard). Third year option courses typically involve smaller lectures supported by smaller group teaching (e.g.seminars, reading groups) as well as by the virtual learning environment. All course units are supported by Blackboard, which is a virtual learning environment. Course materials including lecture slides, journal articles, webcasts, podcasts, quizzes and web-links are posted onto the site, and each unit has a discussion board where students are encouraged to post and answer questions, but which are also monitored by staff. IT support is available on the IT Services web site. The training materials cover many of the popular IT applications used at the University. They can be accessed from: https://www.itservices.manchester.ac.uk/help/training-courses/ Psychology students have access to dedicated PC clusters with 35 PCs and printing facilities, with access to a further 1300 machines across campus, available weekdays 8:30 – 5:00. 10% of these available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in term-time. Student representatives are chosen at the beginning of the academic year. The representatives are invited to the Staff Student Liaison Committee where they can feed back to staff any issues or problems that have arisen. The Programme Team then respond to these, and these responses and any action taken are fed back to staff and students via a newsletter.

Mechanisms for Programme Revision

The Psychology programme is annually monitored through both the Faculty

Undergraduate Teaching and Learning Committee (UTLC) and the Programme Committee. The annual review of programmes is a regular agenda item. In addition, students complete course unit questionnaires (a detailed evaluation form for each of the course units delivered). The results of these questionnaires are reviewed by the Programme Director and, when required, action is taken based on the evaluation results. Additionally the programme is reviewed by the British Psychological Society every 5 years (last review 2016) and goes through the University’s Periodic Review process every 5 years (last review 2014).

Criteria for Admission

Entry requirements for the Psychology degree are as follows:

A-level

We require grades AAB including a science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology) and we are likely to require specific grades in specific subjects. General Studies is welcomed but not included as part of the standard offer. You are required to obtain a pass in the practical element of any science A-level taken.

 

GCSE

We require at least five GCSEs at minimum grade B/6, including English Language and Mathematics

Applications from returners to education are encouraged and considered on an individual basis.