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[Voiceover] Why do we need psychology?

Well, psychology is everywhere. We use psychology in every aspect of our day to day life, from perceiving
and understanding the world around us, to processing and exchanging language and communication with others, and to thinking about our own behaviour and that of other people.

So one thing that characterises Bangor is that staff are very approachable.

Students are given the care and the attention that you would not expect from pretty much
any other place in the UK.

As an international student, Bangor genuinely feels like a second home.

You always know there is someone to talk to about your academic or personal concern.

The research and the neuroscience heavy modules, particularly the developmental
and brain degeneration modules, have really accelerated my desire to follow a career in research.

Each of our undergraduate pathways are BPS accredited. One of the beauties

of having the same curriculum for year one and two in each of our pathways is that you can actually choose to change
pathway partway through your course.

In my first year module, Brain and Mind, I got to work on a real human brain.

Seeing it in real life made what we were learning feel so much more real. 

One of the things we do here at Bangor particularly, is we try and build your confidence, and we do that through our oral presentation training package.

I'm actually not a great public speaker. However, I did manage to stand up in a lecture theatre full of first year students
as a course representative, and that is purely down to the progress made through POPPS.

Graduating from a BPS accredited degree enables you to register for one of the professional psychology professions,
such as educational psychology, clinical psychology, occupational psychology and health psychology.

But actually, graduates of psychology can go on to a range of different professions where we use our skills and understanding
of people and human nature in professions such as marketing, healthcare, education, data analysis, and so on.

During your time with us at Bangor, we give you an opportunity to undertake work experience
or a placement as either a two week placement opportunity during your summer between year two and year three of your degree, or as a full year placement that you can take during that time.

On my placement year, I worked as a learning support assistant in a secondary school. I worked closely with pupils dealing with
emotional and mental health challenges. It really opened my eyes and showed me that I want to make a difference.

That hands on experience is something I will take with me into my future career.

Clearly, the world today is facing unprecedented challenges. Psychologists are the ones that can help
and can find pathways to solutions through research, but also through counselling and seeing situations and how to solve them.

This is the job of psychologists. They are a huge source of hope. And of course you need good psychologists.

And that's what we produce in Bangor.

So come to us.

We'll teach you how to be good psychologists for the world and you'll really enjoy the trip.

The first year of the Psychology programme is designed with the assumption that students have no prior academic or practical experience in Psychology. However, if you want to get a head start and familiarise yourself with some basic concepts, there are several free online resources you can explore:

• Crash Course Psychology - This YouTube series offers engaging and concise video lessons on various psychology topics. It's a great way to get a quick introduction to key concepts in an entertaining format. You can start watching the series .
   
• Research Methods - Routledge offers a free e-book on research methods, which covers essential techniques and approaches used in psychological research. This resource can be used for gaining a solid understanding of research methodology before starting your studies. You can download it from .
   
• Introduction to Statistics - Statistics is a crucial part of psychology research. Khan Academy provides free courses that cover the basics of statistics, including probability, distributions, and hypothesis testing. You can start learning .
   
• Academic Writing - Developing strong academic writing skills is essential for success in university. Purdue Online Writing Lab offers extensive resources on writing academic papers, including guidance on structure, style, and citation. Explore their resources .
   

You can also check out our , which includes a variety of videos featuring sample lectures, module information, and other content designed to answer your questions about studying Psychology at Bangor.

Taking advantage of these resources can help you feel more prepared and confident as you begin your studies in Psychology. However, rest assured that the programme is structured to bring everyone up to speed, regardless of their prior experience.

For the first two years of your degree, students across different degree programmes complete similar modules. You will begin selecting modules for your third year in the second semester of your second year. At this point, you will also choose your third-year project. If you find yourself interested in another psychology course by then, you can request to switch. While spaces aren’t guaranteed, we have typically been able to accommodate such requests in the past.

New students will be sent lots of information about Welcome Week and the arrival process before the beginning of term. During Welcome Week there will be plenty of people, staff and students, to guide you around. These include Peer Guides, who are current students who volunteer to help new students to help during the settling-in process. Peer Guides are familiar, friendly faces in the early stages of university life.

Every student at ����VR��Ƶ is assigned a Personal Tutor, an Academic Staff member who provides personalised academic support and guidance. Your Personal Tutor will meet with you throughout the year to review your grades, discuss employability, and direct you to appropriate student services when needed. They are also responsible for providing academic references for you.

Personal Tutors are dedicated to helping you succeed academically and personally. They can assist with a wide range of issues, from academic challenges to career planning. In addition to regular meetings, you can reach out to your tutor whenever you need extra support or advice.

The Department of Psychology at ����VR��Ƶ is housed across several buildings, each offering state-of-the-art facilities to support your studies and research.

Most of the Psychology staff can be found in the Brigantia Building, making it the place to go for drop-in sessions, or to speak with your personal tutor or dissertation supervisor. Brigantia has several research labs, including one of our most prized facilities, the MRI scanner in the basement, which allows us to conduct cutting-edge brain research right on campus. Our MRI scanner simulator -  which helps participants get accustomed to the experience and sounds of being in the scanner before undergoing actual scans – is also located in Brigantia, as a TMS lab and EEG labs.

The Wheldon Building is where many seminar sessions and workshops take place. It also houses a computer lab used for statistics classes as well as counselling training rooms for students enrolled in the counselling programme to practise their skills.
Another key facility for Psychology students is the Lloyd Building which contains several advanced research labs, including: EEG labs, eye-tracking labs, a motion-capture lab, and audio booths. You’ll likely visit this building if participating in research studies or collecting data for your final-year project.
 

On average, you will have about 10-12 contact hours per week. Contact hours include a mix of lectures, seminars, practical workshops, and more. 

Lectures are delivered in large lecture halls in the Pontio and Main Arts buildings, while workshops and seminar sessions take place across campus. Seminar sessions are usually smaller groups (of approx. 15-25 students), often supported by graduate instructors or student mentors. Each module also offers drop-in sessions where you can simply turn up. Our lecturers are always helpful and willing to assist with any questions you have about the content.

As well as these contact hours you will spend time on private study, reading, consolidating your notes and preparing for assessments. This approach ensures you have plenty of opportunity to deepen your understanding of the material covered during classroom activities. Having free time within the working week also allows you to balance work-life commitments and provides flexibility to manage personal responsibilities and enjoy extracurricular activities.
 

We use a mix of assessment methods to fairly evaluate your skills. You'll get to create posters, give presentations, write essays, blog posts and science magazine articles, and of course, take exams. Most modules will require you to complete at least two pieces of assessment. 

Our diverse assessment approach has been praised by external examiners and the British Psychological Society for effectively measuring student achievement. 
 

In your third year, you’ll have the opportunity to work on a research project for your dissertation. Here are some examples of projects that have been offered in the past:

• Prosthesis design
• Communication difficulties experienced by people with aphasia
• Early childhood experiences and later adult functioning
• Dietary choices of children and adults
• Development of literacy skills in bilingual individuals
• Brain asymmetry
• Moderators of pain perception
• Visual to sound mapping in developmental dyslexia
• Eyewitness testimony accuracy
   

During your second year, you will receive detailed descriptions of available projects. You’ll then have the opportunity to select up to five projects that interest you and five that don’t. If you are enrolled in a straight Psychology stream, you can choose projects from any stream. However, if you are enrolled in a specialised stream (e.g., Psychology with Forensic Psychology), you will need to select your preferred projects from that specific stream. You will then be allocated to a project and a supervisor who will guide you through the process in your final year. The dissertation project will allow you to explore areas that align with your interests and career goals, whilst also applying the knowledge you’ve gained throughout your studies

You will receive your timetable during Welcome Week. Each students personalised timetable is finalised during the enrolment and registration period.

Welsh-speaking students can complete parts of their Psychology degree through the medium of Welsh. Several modules across in each include Welsh-language options. Additionally, any assignment submitted can be written in either English or Welsh, and bursaries are available for students who choose to study part of their degree in Welsh.

Students learning in Welsh benefit from smaller class sizes, excellent peer support, and a Welsh-speaking Personal Tutor. There is also a hall of residence specifically for Welsh speakers and learners, providing a natural Welsh-speaking environment outside of class.