Please help me choose where to study for a Psychology Degree

Psychobot

Hiya,

Well, I'm planning to live at home, because I can't afford to move. That's why It's the inner London Universities I'm considering only.

Aphrodite

Hi, I go to Goldsmiths and when I saw you asking about it I had to jump in (with my very first post!) and say how much I love going there. I've just finished my first year and I think it's a really good place to study, especially as a mature student as there are more here than at other universities I've been too and it gives the college a slightly different atmosphere. I don't know too much about the psychology department (because I don't do it) but they are quite active research wise etc as I've found out through taking part in a lot of experiments and they seem to have fairly good facilities. A few of my friends do psychology and they do say it is quite challenging as they have to write a lot of essays etc, but it is quite well recieved as it's the only "science" course that Goldsmiths offers.

I think Goldsmiths has a really good atmosphere, very "arty" and a bit laid back but that's just what I like!

I was going to recommend you asked some more over at the studentroom but I see you've already done that!

So I shall bring this ramble to a close - hope you manage to decide!

pboae

I'd go for straight Psychology, the neuroscience option is unlikely to make you more employable, and may go against you if you don't go into neuroscience. Of the two I would definitley pick Goldsmiths over Westminster, but Goldsmiths is more geared towards the humanities side than the science, so I would pick UCL over either of them.

But Psychology is a very competitive subject, as are the jobs and courses that follow it. If you want to work within the field expect to spend a fair few years after graduation doing further study and assistantship posts with long hours, poor pay, and sometimes no pay at all.

Psychobot

Hiya, well I plan on studying towards a masters degree and Westminster University actually offer quite a few scholarships- whether I'll go there or not, I'm not sure! I just want to make sure I pick the right undergrad course so as not to limit my masters options, although I believe an MSc in Neuropsychology would be possible to enrol onto with a degree in straight psychology.

I've emailed Goldsmiths' and am awaiting a reply regarding the biology content on the course and how it's taught (I guess there's no lab work, so I won't gain those skills). I would like enough to keep my curiosity satisfied.

The biopsychology units offered throughout the course are:

Year 1
PS51006A Biological and Comparative Approaches to Psychology
Theoretical, ethological and comparative perspectives; basic neuroanatomy and neurophysiology; relationships between brain and behaviour and modes of investigating them; chemical communication in the brain and in the body; genes, chromosomes and the inheritance of behaviour; the nature of evolutionary influences on behaviour.

Year 2
PS52001A Biological Substrates of Behaviour
Consideration of sensory processes, arousal, sleep, emotion, motivation, learning, memory, in terms of neurological, neurophysiological, physiological, biochemical and genetic substrates.

Year 3
PS53014A Psychopharmacology
What is psychopharmacology? Overview of drug?receptor interaction and neurochemical anatomy. The major emphasis is on the use of drugs as tools for investigating brain?behaviour relationships. Methodological, theoretical and ethical issues will be considered in the context of a detailed study of addiction; obesity; memory; sleep; altered states of consciousness; and mental illness.

PS53024A Topics in Neuropsychology
A range of issues fundamental to developments in understanding the neuropsychology of both normal and abnormal human functioning. Specific topics will include: causes and psychological sequelae of brain injury; dysfunctions of memory, perception, language, and executive processes; neuroimaging techniques; disorders of motivation, behaviour, and mood; neuropharmacology of cognitive dysfunction; relationship between mood and cognitive function; simulation of cognitive deficits; congenital vs. acquired dysfunctions; neuropsychological assessment and rehabilitation. The course will include a video session in which you will practise systematic observations of cognitive and behavioural deficits in brain-injured patients.

pboae

If the courses have GBR the bulk of the modules are prescribed by the BPS, so the individual Universities don't have much choice for most of it.

The difference shows mainly in the third year when the specialist options, and especially the range of dissertation subjects available, are determined by the interests of the staff.


EDIT: is it neuropsychology or neuroscience you are interested in? They are completely different subjects. I'm not convinced of the value of a neuropsychology MSc, as you need to be a clinical psychologist to work as a neuropsychologist. An assistantship will be more use to get you on a clinical course than an MSc, and you would still need to do the post clinical training anyway.

melancholly

pboae wrote: »

I'm not convinced of the value of a neuropsychology MSc, as you need to be a clinical psychologist to work as a neuropsychologist. An assistantship will be more use to get you on a clinical course than an MSc, and you would still need to do the post clinical training anyway.

it's a bit rubbish, but in general a masters of some sort helps get the RA jobs... which helps get onto the clinical psychology course. too many people want to do it! i'm not sure a specifically neuropsycholgy course would be better than a more general research masters - but i guess there would be more opportunity to get a project which is relevant to clinical psyc. i think it's unfair that a (self funding) masters makes a difference, but that seems to be the way it's going!

Psychobot

This is the advice I have been given by a Neuroscientist regarding the Psychology with Neuroscience degree at Westminster. Could anyone comment on this advice?

"The good thing about this degree is that you can still go off and become a psychologist and possibly specialise in clinical neuropsychology, or walk into a lab and become a scientist/neuroscientist. From my understanding not many "psychology with neuroscience" degrees are available at the moment and you will be spending your study time in labs at the science campus - you'll probably be split between Regent Street (where they teach psychology) and Cavendish (biosciences).

Westminster has Professor Angela Clow based at the Regent street campus, she was once based at the biosciences campus - she is pretty famous as psychologists go, she is known as the "stress professor" and conducts research into the stress hormone cortisol.

The course leader for psychology with neuroscience is Professor Frank Hucklebridge and he is based at Cavendish, but conducts research with Professor Clow"

pboae

Melancholly, you are right, an MSc is probably better than no MSc (although not always, it depends on the course), but I'd also agree a straight forward research masters would be more use. I'm not even sure how much relevant research you would get, as the BPS are really tightening up on non clinicians working with patients, even in a purely research setting.

Psychobot, I'm sorry but at least one part of that quote is nonsense. No-one is going to walk into a lab and become a neuroscientist with just a bachelors degree, no matter what the subject. If the combined course conferred a serious advantage in future academic or professional success everywhere would offer it.

Have a look through the staff list at UCL (and specifically the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience) and compare it with the Westminster staff list. The ICN is like a who's who of Neuroscience and Neuropsychology.

Psychobot

pboae wrote: »

Psychobot, I'm sorry but at least one part of that quote is nonsense. No-one is going to walk into a lab and become a neuroscientist with just a bachelors degree, no matter what the subject. If the combined course conferred a serious advantage in future academic or professional success everywhere would offer it.

Hiya, I think the person I quoted was speaking about the scope and potential to study the neuroscience aspect of the Westminster degree to a higher level rather than advising that I could literally walk into a lab, post BSc and practise as a neuroscientist.

I have no idea how easy it is to apply for an Msc in a Neuroscience related postgrad course with a BSc Psych and very little biochemical lab experience.

Perhaps someone could advise me? I'm curious about the value of 'keeping my options open'.

Ofcourse if UCL accepted me, I'd run there like a shot, but they don't participate in clearing and I don't want to wait another year before starting my degree in order to hike my Human Biology A' Level up to an A grade. I started studying 4 months ago, so a C grade is probably what I'll get. My life has been a little higglety pigglety up until now. Tis sad, but true!

Thank you all for your replies so far!

pboae

A good psychology degree is usually acceptable for a neuroscience MSc. I would be surprised if having a neuroscience subsidiary had much influence.

Other factors, (grade, references, quality of dissertation, etc) would likely carry more weight. Kings and UCL both do a neuroscience MSc so you could phone and ask them what they accept.

If you do call, it would be worth asking them whether your A-Level results will matter as well. They may look at them for evidence of a science background, if your degree is considered too biased towards social sciences.

MSc places are extremely competitive though, especially funded ones (as Neuroscience often is).

I really can understand you wanting to get started on the degree. But if this is going to be your future career, you are making a choice that will influence your options for the rest of your life. If another year's wait means the difference between a C and Westminster or an A and UCL, then there would be no contest for me.