Psychology at Aston Admissions Tutor (SH) Nathan Ridout n.ridout@aston.ac.uk Admissions Tutor (JH) Peter Reddy p.reddy@aston.ac.uk
Plan for the Session Overview of psychology at Aston (and why your students should come here to study this amazing subject) Tour of the undergraduate labs Chance to meet some of our staff (Director of Undergraduate study in Psychology, JH admissions tutor and organiser of the psychology labs) and students Plenty of opportunities for questions throughout
What is Psychology? From the neuron to society (and everything in between!)
Psychology at Aston Psychology is based in the School of Life and Health Sciences and has been taught at Aston since 1965 The focus is on human and applied psychology Psychology teaching at Aston... - has a practical and professional orientation (placement year, professional links, final year specialist options) - is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) - is based on cutting edge research Psychology group has 28* full-time members of academic staff (9 professors) and two part-time academics small but perfectly formed! *44 including support staff and psychologists in the Business School
Psychology Courses at Aston BSc Single Honours (SH) Psychology BSc Joint Honours (JH) Psychology (with either Sociology or Business + ) Both degree programmes accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and confer Graduate Basis of Registration (GBR) for the BPS* GBR is vital for students aiming for a career in professional psychology * if student graduates with a 1 st or 2 nd class honours degree + Psychology with Business also accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
Psychology Research at Aston Psychology research at Aston is grouped under two broad research themes Neurosciences and Health Sciences Our specialisms are neuroimaging, health psychology, cognitive & affective neuroscience and ageing Psychology was entered (as part of the School of LHS) into the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF) into Allied Health Professions and Studies where we were ranked 5 th in the UK higher education institutions (above Bath, Surrey, Birmingham and Kings College London). 94% of our research was rated as world leading or internationally recognised ( 9% on RAE in 2008)
The Aston Brain Centre (ABC) Opened in October 2011 the ABC brings together a unique suite of equipment and facilities for related areas of brain research, from child development to healthy ageing. Aston MRI Research Unit Clinical Neurophysiology Unit Wellcome Trust Laboratory for MEG studies Dyslexia and Developmental Assessment Clinic
Why Choose Psychology at Aston? Excellent employment prospects Placement year Strong support for personal development Ranked amongst the UK s leading Psychology Programmes (e.g. 30 th /117 complete University guide 2014) set to rise (due to NSS and REF results) High levels of student satisfaction (e.g. 89% in most recent National Student Survey) SH offers great opportunities to specialise in the final year (wide option choice). JH offers great opportunity to study two subjects in detail Strong commitment to outstanding teaching (National Award winners: e.g. Psychology technician of the year, 2009 ; National teaching Fellowships, 2010, 2013, 2014) highest number of senior and principal fellows of the Higher Education Academy
Innovative Teaching Much teaching is formal 50 minute lectures, but also wide range of seminars, laboratory classes, small group and tutorial work Wide range of assessments (exams, essays, MCQs, SAQs, online quizzes, poster presentations, debates...) Overall about 50% coursework and 50% examination.
Excellent Student Support Flexibility of Contact Time: Office hours system (that can be booked online) and email means that staff, especially your tutor, are accessible to you when the students need them. People who will be there for the students - personal tutor (whole degree), year tutor (each year), academic tutor (1 st Year), placement tutor (3 rd Year), final year project supervisor (final year) and peer-mentors (all years) Psychology Society
2014-15 President Emelie Hasselgren
The sandwich placement year Students take a psychology, sociology or business related professional placement Clinical, forensic, educational, and related placements are unpaid, paid placements in business Typical pay c. 16k Students choose and apply for their own placements (with our support) A key factor in their professional development and career prospects
Advantages of taking a placement year Try a career before you commit to it A dry run at starting your career Pay helps and over two tax years Improves employment prospects Helps to get postgraduate places Clinical placements - get on to the first rung of the ladder Academic development - placement students get better degrees Personal development
but you don t have to work in America Metropolitan Police research and evaluation unit MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit North Birmingham Mental Health Trust * Rampton Special Hospital * Reading Scientific Services St George s Hospital Medical School * Unilever Research B ham Children s Hospital * Warks. Educational Psychology Corus Defence Science Technology Laboratory Deloitte Ford Motor Company Hewlett Packard HM Prison Service (Holloway, Long Lartin) Home Office Marks and Spencer Harvard University British Energy Generation 600+ employers across the University * = clinical psychology contacts
High Fliers Survey 2011 Nearly two-thirds of UK recruiters warn that graduates who have had no previous work experience at all are unlikely to be successful during the selection process a third of this year s UK entry-level positions are expected to be filled by graduates who have already worked for their organisations either through industrial placements, vacation work or sponsorships.. www.highflyers.co.uk 50 years of experience at Aston
BSc (Hons) Psychology UCAS Code: C800 and C801 4 years full-time with integrated placement year or 3 years full-time. Average 1 st year intake: c140 Typical offers: A Levels: ABB (three best A levels) International Baccalaureate: 33-35 points BTEC: DDM Access: 45 level 3 credits (30 distinction, 15 merit) Specific subject requirements: A/AS level: Science subject(s) welcomed but not essential. GCSE: Maths grade B, English, and two sciences or double award science at grade C Please contact LHS Admissions for more information.
BSc (Hons) Psychology with All courses are 4-year with placement Average 1 st year intake c80 Typical offers: A Levels: ψ with business ABB (three best A levels, not GS) Sociology (BBB) International Baccalaureate: 33-35 points BTEC: DDM Access: 45 level 3 credits (30 distinction, 15 merit) Specific subject requirements: A/AS level: Science subject(s) welcomed but not essential. GCSE: Maths grade B, English, and two sciences or double award science at grade C Please contact LHS Admissions for more information.