Newcastle University

Biology and Psychology BSc Honours
UCAS Code: CC18 (3 Years)

• Course Overview
• Modules
• Entry Requirements
• Careers
• Finance

This degree is part of our Joint Honours in Science scheme and allows you to study the complementary subjects of biology and psychology. By studying two subjects, you develop a broad range of expertise and a set of skills that span two specialist areas, preparing you for a wide range of careers.

Dividing your study equally between your two subject areas, you select from the same range of topics as Single Honours students and achieve the same high academic standard, but you cover fewer topics in each subject. 

On this degree, you benefit from the expert teaching of both the School of Biology and the School of Psychology, and will enjoy the facilities and student community in both Schools. Both Schools enjoy a friendly atmosphere and are located in the Ridley Building, near the Medical School, on our city centre campus.

You will also enjoy strong support from the School that provides the administrative home of the Joint Honours in Science scheme.

The challenge of mastering two subjects produces graduates who are well-prepared for the multidisciplinary challenges of the real-world, drawing on and developing skills in time management, organisation and self-motivation that employers value.

You will also receive careers support as part of your degree, including a bespoke career development module personally tailored to your professional development, and excellent support from the University’s award-winning Careers Service.

Teaching and assessment

Research-informed teaching plays an important role at Newcastle. It shapes the content of our undergraduate degrees and makes sure that you have the chance to cover the most up-to-date theories and discoveries in your subject.

Our teaching is strongly informed by the research we are doing in the School of Biology and the School of Psychology.

Teaching is a combination of lectures, laboratory and field practical classes, computer sessions and field trips. You will be taught the skills essential to carrying out research such as conducting experiments, analysing and interpreting data, and writing up research reports. 

Assessment is by course work, examinations and written assignments which continue throughout the course. Teaching and assessment methods may vary from module to module; more information can be found in our individual module listings.

Visit our Teaching and Learning pages to read about the outstanding learning experience available to you at Newcastle University.

Student support

The School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development is the administrative home for your degree. This means that, although you will not be studying modules delivered by the School, you will receive support from the staff based there, including a senior tutor from within the School.

To ensure you are fully supported during your degree:

• we have an active system of student support in place, with student buddies to guide you through the early weeks and a dedicated academic support team
• you will be individually supported by a personal tutor, as well as advisers for both of your subject areas
• you will join a strong student community in the School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, as well as in the Schools that deliver your teaching

Facilities

In the School of Biology, you will have access to purpose-built teaching laboratories. We also have a number of unique facilities on campus and in the surrounding area to support your practical teaching. These include:

• the University’s Botanical Gardens, which house an extensive collection of desert and rainforest plants, glasshouses simulating winter and summer temperatures and plants of commercial and medicinal interest
• an ecological field station which has a glasshouse complex, a fumigation system for studying the effects of air pollution on plants and a dedicated teaching laboratory
• two University farms in Northumberland, which are used as demonstration facilities for students
• the University-led Great North Museum, adjacent to campus, which houses many interesting and important biological collections

Take a virtual tour of our facilities.

You will also spend considerable time in the School of Psychology. It is housed in a purpose-built research building and offers a range of modern, practical facilities for carrying out experiments and extensive computing facilities.