BSc (Hons)Psychology with Sociology
Apply on UCAS- 3 years
- 4 years with foundation year
Why study a psychology with sociology degree at Solent University
Explore the fascinating behaviours of individuals, as well as the cultural and political issues that shape collective experiences, on this BPS accredited degree.
- Top0%for teaching quality, out of 131 institutions (Times Good University Guide, 2025)
- 0thUK uni for sustained employment (Longitudinal Educational Outcomes 2022)
- 0thin the top 20 best student cities (StudentCrowd, 2023)
- Solent ranked in the top 25% of UK universities for satisfaction with assessment in psychology (out of 116 institutions) (The Guardian University Guide 2025).
- Our academic team has vast industry and teaching experience, and thanks to our close industry links and guest lectures, your teaching will always be guided by research, and real-world knowledge.
- Access our range of specialist facilities, including experimental cubicles, psychophysiological recording equipment and eye-tracking facilities.
- This degree emphasises the practical application of psychology, with real-world assessments integrated throughout, and the option to undertake work-based learning as part of your studies.
- You will have the opportunity to present at psychology conferences, and professional organisations, with mentoring, training, and live briefs for students.
- Through research-informed teaching, you will cover key areas of psychological study, including education, crime, sport and exercise, social behaviours, therapy, and counselling.
- You will also carry out intensive study of scientific approaches to psychology. These topics, which include research methods, problem-solving and manipulation of data, provide useful tools for careers in healthcare, law enforcement, finance, research and IT.
- Social research focusses on improving individual and community wellbeing through practice, provision, and policy including social prescribing, gender and sexualities in sport and physical education, and policy and evaluation of services promoting health and wellbeing of children, younger adults, older adults.
- You’ll be assigned a personal tutor who can assist you with pastoral support to help you make the most of your learning.
Course overview
The curriculum includes key areas of psychology and sociology, you will study subjects such as education; crime; social behaviours; therapy and counselling, power, politics and identity; education; media; social inequalities; migration; and race and ethnicity. You will develop scientific approaches to researching key issues from a sociological and psychological perspective. These topics, which include research methods, problem solving and manipulation of data, provide useful tools for a range of careers in healthcare, public sector, leadership, organisations, law enforcement, finance, research and IT.
This degree emphasises the practical application of psychology and sociology, with real-world assessments integrated throughout. You’ll also have the option to undertake work-based learning as part of your studies. In sociology modules you will reflect on real issues such as community empowerment, equity in the workplace, applied sociology in work environments.
To reflect the wide range of careers that are open to graduates, the course can be tailored with optional units that suit your specific ambitions.
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
Email: admissions.international@solent.ac.ukCall: +44 (0)23 8201 5066Accredited by:
Course features
Foundation year available
If you're not quite ready for a full undergraduate degree, there's alternative entry through one of our foundation years
Specialist facilities
Undergraduate psychology students have exclusive use of specialist facilities.
Further studies
After successfully completing your studies, there's an opportunity to continue your studies at Solent
Study abroad
You have the opportunity to study abroad in one of our partner universities for a semester on this course
Who is this course for?
Solent's BSc (Hons) Psychology with Sociology degree is ideal for those interested in human behaviour and everyday social interactions and those who want to ask critical questions about the communities they live in. By studying both psychology and sociology you will develop a diverse set of skills and knowledge that are transferrable to a range of careers.
What does this course lead to?
Solent psychology and sociology graduates can be found in a wide range of different roles and industries. Recent graduates have gone onto careers in mental health support, clinical psychology, therapeutic practice and children’s health.
Graduates who wish to go on to become chartered and registered psychologists would need to undertake postgraduate study in their chosen field.
Meet the team
The psychology with sociology teaching team, made up of academics with extensive industry and research experience, will guide you as you apply your newly founded research skills to a range of experiments and projects. This hands-on training eventually leads to a final applied psychology project, acting as the perfect springboard into graduate employment or further study.
Mei Mason-Li
Course Leader
Dr Brian McDonough
Senior Lecturer
Lara Webber
Lecturer
Dr Greg Neil
Research Fellow
Dr Jenny Josephs
Lecturer
Dr Darren Britton
Lecturer
Dr Craig Allison
Lecturer
Dr Lin Bailey
Lecturer
Dr Shakiba Moghadam
Lecturer
Dr Rory Magrath
Associate Professor of Sociology
Dr Delphine Nguyen
Lecturer
The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.
Facilities
As you learn, you’ll benefit from access to Solent’s dedicated psychophysiological recording equipment, eye-tracking facilities and psychology labs.
Our vibrant campus brings state-of-the-art facilities to enhance your learning and elevate your student experience. Our award-winning teaching building, The Spark is centred around students and offers a stimulating study environment with flexible learning spaces. Away from studying, why not try out the gyms, fitness studios and sports halls in our £28 million Sports Complex, or watch a blockbuster film at our student-run cinema with Dolby Atmos audio.
International opportunities
Broaden your horizons by adding an international dimension to your CV – essential to achieving success in today’s fast-changing, global environment.
Studying, working or volunteering in another country could be the experience of a lifetime. Enhance your degree by developing important global skills such as knowledge of other countries, language skills, intercultural awareness, adaptability and confidence.
For more information, please email international.mobility@solent.ac.uk.
What you'll study
Core modules
Thinking and Writing Psychologically
Why do people, think, act, and feel the way they do? In this era of unreliable news and abundance of untested theories, any serious attempt to answer this question would have to take a careful and measured approach. Often described as the scientific study of mind and behaviour, Psychology is an attempt to do just that. This module will begin to get to grips with what is meant by the ‘mind’ and ‘behaviour’, and – crucially – the reasons why Psychology adopts a scientific approach in trying to answer the big questions about the mental processes and behaviours of our own species and others. Ultimately, the emphasis of this module is on getting you to think and communicate like a Psychologist.
Beginning as a Researcher
In our day-to-day lives we tend to make judgements about human behaviour in a subjective manner using anecdotal evidence. You will be introduced to qualitative and quantitative research approaches used in psychology to study human behaviour in an objective and systematic way. This will enable you to make informed decisions as to people’s actions and motivations.
Developing as a Researcher
By knowing more about the research process that is used to study psychology and the basic steps that are used, you can better understand the process researchers go through to arrive at conclusions about human behaviour. This module will develop and enhance your skills in conducting data analysis from both a qualitative and quantitative perspective.
Sociological Imagination
By challenging some of your own preconceptions about the social world, this module will provide you with an introduction to the discipline of Sociology, enabling you to begin thinking sociologically.
Social Inequalities
This module introduces social inequalities related to topics such as gender; ethnicity; social class; disability; health; age; nationality; religion, and sexuality by investigating social problems connected to topics such as poverty; homelessness; migration; unemployment; youth crime; gang violence and educational attainment.
Perspectives within Psychology
You will be introduced to major perspectives which exist within psychology, for example psychodynamic, behaviourist, cognitive and biological perspectives. This will enable you to establish an understanding of the origins and history of research within psychology and have awareness of the fundamental assumptions that each perspective holds. You will be able to see the continuity and development of psychology as a scientific disciple over time and understand the places of differing perspectives in psychology today.
How you will learn and be assessed
You will learn by:
You may be assessed by a combination of:
- Lab reports
- Essays
- Research projects
- Group presentations
- Individual presentations
- Reflective accounts
- Group work
- Case studies
Solent’s curriculum framework builds on our unique, creative and applied approach to teaching. The transformation of students’ lives is at the heart of our mission as a university, and our curriculum – informed by the latest theory – reflects this shared educational vision.
Find out moreStudy support
The student achievement team are on hand to help you succeed during your studies at Solent. They aim to contact you at key times during your time here with personalised information, advice and guidance, by email or phone.
Access Solent provides information, advice and guidance for disabled students.
All students can access Succeed@Solent, Solent's online guide to getting better grades. It offers extensive, practical information and advice on topics such as academic writing, research and presentations.
Why choose the industry?
Students studying psychology with sociology might pursue careers in public sector industries, such as public sector and private sector research, social policy, social work, and charity organisations (e.g. Mind), as well as teaching, working with vulnerable groups (young, old, disabled), and marginalised groups (for example, the youth sector). Skills include being able to plan, carry out, and deliver research; create strategies to support vulnerable people; behavioural management; and other associated skills.
You could earn:
Psychotherapist
Typical salary: £43,742 to £50,056
Starting salaries for trainee psychotherapists* in the NHS usually start at around £35,392 (Band 6 of the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay rates). Qualified NHS psychotherapists typically earn £43,742 to £50,056 (Band 7). Rates for practice work are typically between £40 and £100 per session.
*To practise as an adult psychotherapist, you should complete an accredited psychotherapy training programme. The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) accredits a number of postgraduate psychotherapy training programmes.
Equality, diversity and inclusion officer
Starting salary: £18,000 to £28,000
Equality, diversity and inclusion officers typically start on salaries of £18,000 to £28,000 depending on employer, qualifications and experience. With significant experience, at a management or head of department level, salaries of £35,000 to £50,000 can be achieved.
Community development worker
Starting salary: £16,000 to £26,000
Community development worker salaries for those with two or more years' experience can rise to £36,000. For public sector posts, there are national pay scales and sometimes an allowance is awarded as compensation for unsocial hours. In the voluntary sector, pay varies considerably and often depends on experience and location.
The stated salaries are published on prospects.ac.uk.
Solent Futures
The Solent Careers team is committed to getting students into great careers.
While you are studying, the team can help you with finding work experience or placements, link you with a mentor, check your CV, or offer one-to-one guidance.
If you're in your final year, we also have graduate job opportunities just for Solent graduates.
6th
UK uni for sustained employment
Longitudinal Educational Outcomes, 2022
Accreditations
Accredited by:
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2025/26 academic year are:
- UK, EU (settled status) and Channel Island full-time fees: £9,250 per year
- International full-time fees: £17,750 per year
For further information, please visit our tuition fees page.
Extra course costs
While most course costs are covered by your tuition fees, some essential resources and optional extras may need to be paid for separately. For advice on budgeting and managing your money, please contact student.funding@solent.ac.uk.
Bursaries, scholarships and financial support
Solent University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships that provide financial assistance or waive fees for tuition or accommodation. Each bursary or scholarship has specific eligibility criteria. Check out our bursaries and scholarships pages to find out more.
Cost of living support
At Solent, we understand that the cost of living crisis may be of some concern. To help, we've put together some detailed information to show what support is available and how to make your money go further.
Graduation costs
There is no charge to attend graduation, but you will be required to pay for the rental of your academic gown (approximately £45 per graduate, depending on your award). You may also wish to purchase official photography packages, which range in price from £15 to £200+. Graduation is not compulsory, so if you prefer to have your award sent to you, there is no cost. Extra guest tickets will go on sale after results publication and will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis. The cost per ticket is currently £15. Please note, we do not guarantee there will be any extra tickets available to purchase.
Student finance videos
Entry requirements
Please select an option below:
Key entry requirements
104-120 UCAS tariff points
- A minimum of two completed A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma at DMM or BTEC Diploma at D*D*, a T-Level Merit, or equivalent, which comply with the minimum entry requirement of 104 UCAS points.
- For further information about UK qualifications, please contact admissions.
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about EU qualifications, please contact admissions.
For international students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, our trusted partner, QA Higher Education offers the following pathway programme designed to develop your academic and English language skills:
- International Foundation Year - for progression to the first year of an undergraduate degree
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about international qualifications, please contact admissions.
For international students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, our trusted partner, QA Higher Education offers the following pathway programme designed to develop your academic and English language skills:
- International Foundation Year - for progression to the first year of an undergraduate degree
Note to all international students requiring a visa
All international applicants need to be aware that the English language requirements to attend Solent University, and the English language requirements to obtain a visa from the Home Office, may be different. This means that if you meet the Solent University language requirement to gain a place on the course, you may still have to meet additional requirements to be granted with a visa by the Home Office.
We strongly advise all applicants to visit the Home Office website which outlines all the requirements for a successful visa application and to take a look at our 2023 course entry statement document.
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
Email: admissions.international@solent.ac.ukCall: +44 (0)23 8201 5066How to apply
Full-time
Any student applying for the first year of a full-time/sandwich undergraduate course must apply through UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Service). This includes mature, overseas and EU students.
Nearly all schools and colleges offer their students the facility of applying electronically through the UCAS website using 'Apply'; it may also be used by those applying independently in the UK and overseas. This facility and all course information can be found on the UCAS website: www.ucas.com.
Your application should reach UCAS by 31 January if you hope to enter a course the following autumn. Early application is advised for the most popular subject areas. Late applications may be made until the end of June. The UCAS Code for the University is S30, code name SOLNT.
Find out what happens after you apply
Contextual offers
Solent endeavours to offer learning opportunities to students from all backgrounds. When we receive and review an application, we take into consideration the context and personal circumstances of applicants when making a decision, which means our advertised entry tariff could be reduced.
Alternative entry options
Applications for part-time courses are made directly to the University and can be made at any time prior to the start of the course. Please contact the admissions office for further details.
Language requirements
Applicants who do not have English as their first language will be required to demonstrate an approved level of proficiency in the use of the English language. The agreed minimum requirements for this course are:
- IELTS minimum 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each individual component
- TOEFL IBT minimum 80 with a minimum of 20 in each individual component
- Duolingo English Language Test - 115 overall with minimum of 95 in each component or equivalent.
Qualifications are checked before enrolment, and international students must bring their original certificates or certified copies when coming to study at the University.
Pre-Sessional English programme
The University also offers a pre-sessional English programme for international students who wish to improve their level of English before starting a degree course.
Make your application
- 3 years
- 4 years with foundation year