Course overview

By studying both psychology and counselling you will gain wide-ranging insights into how people behave and how they can be helped to tackle problems.

Psychology is about people, how they think, act, react and interact. Counselling is about listening to people, giving them time and space to explore the issues which are important to them. So with our integrated course, you can explore two complementary and exciting disciplines. 

This course differs from Psychology BSc (Hons) because it includes additional core modules relating to counselling skills, counselling theories and mental health and illness. To allow for this, you will not study some of the broader based modules such as ‘evolutionary psychology’ and ‘psychological perspectives’, though you may be able to choose one of them as an option. 

Our course is accredited by the British Psychological Society and, if you achieve at least a second class honours degree, you will have graduate basis for chartered membership. With further work this can lead to chartered psychologist status, which is the benchmark of professional recognition.

The Psychology department at Sunderland is particularly strong. In 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 it received the highest ratings for overall student satisfaction in the North East of England, according to the National Student Survey.

In fact, Psychology at Sunderland was ranked in the top five in the UK for assessment and feedback, and personal development (self-confidence, communication skills, and problem solving). Sixth for academic support and eighth for teaching quality.