Psychology and Nutrition
BSc Joint Honours
- UCAS code: C8B4
- Full time
- 3 years
- Next start date: September 2022
This accredited degree offers a fascinating insight into the distinct, yet often overlapping fields of psychology and nutrition.
Fees (per year)
- Home: £9250
- International: £Not set
Entry requirements
- A Level: AAA-AAB
- IB: 35 points
UCAS Institution name and code:
- NEWC / N21
Course overview
This hands-on, Psychology and Nutrition joint honours degree will allow you to develop an in-depth understanding of psychology and nutrition, focusing on key topics such as how psychological factors can impact our perception of nutrition, and the link between diet and health.
Throughout your studies, you'll have access to our brand new building, with purpose-built, state-of-the-art facilities, including a forensic interviewing suite, a nutrition and food preference unit, a media and behaviour lab, medical consultation rooms, and psychological testing cubicles.
You'll study a broad range of topics, such as social and developmental psychology, eating and weight disorders, nutrition and food science, and biochemistry for biologists.
Your course during COVID-19
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption.
Given the changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the commitments outlined are subject to guidelines that may be in place from time to time.
View our COVID-19 Study page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2022-23.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information
Quality and ranking
- 10th in the UK – The Complete University Guide 2023 (Food Science category)
- 20th in the UK - Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022 (Psychology category)
- 21st in the UK - The Guardian University Guide 2022 (Psychology category)
- Top 150 for Psychology – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022
- Top 200 for Psychology - Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2022
- 1st in the UK and 8th in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2022
- 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- Global Top 125 University - QS World University Rankings 2023
Professional accreditation
This degree is professionally accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
This gives you the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (providing you achieve the minimum standard of a lower second-class Honours). Having Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership means you can join the BPS and will be eligible to go on to further training and, if successful, to practise as a professional psychologist. For information on the benefits of studying an accredited course, visit the BPS website.
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.
Modules and learning
Modules
The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
In Stage 1, you'll explore the fundamentals of both psychology and nutrition.
You'll cover human nutrition, agri-food systems, and bioenergetics, alongside cognitive psychology, sensation and perception, and instinct, learning and perception.
Modules
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Food Studies | 20 |
| Introduction to Nutrition | 10 |
| Practical Skills for Nutrition | 10 |
| Cognitive Psychology | 10 |
| Sensation and Perception | 10 |
| Instinct, Learning and Motivation | 10 |
| Research Methods and Skills 2 | 20 |
| Introduction to Psychology for Joint Honours | 10 |
| Bioenergetics | 20 |
In your second year, you'll broaden your depth of understanding across both disciplines.
You'll take modules including Principles of Nutrition, Applied and Experimental Nutrition, and Food Science and Technology, as well as Methods in Psychology, Statistics for Experimental Psychology, and Individual Differences.
Modules
In Stage 3, you'll be able to focus in more on your chosen areas of specialism.
You'll design and carry out your own empirical study in an area of psychology that particularly interests you.
Alongside core modules including Nutrition in Health and Disease, Psychological Enquiry, and Eating and Weight Disorders, you'll also have the opportunity to explore specific areas of interest, including evolution and behaviour, neuropsychology, psychology for sport and performance, forensic psychology, and new food product development.
Modules
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Personalised Nutrition | 10 |
| Nutritional Epidemiology and Public Health | 30 |
| Psychological Enquiry 3: Psychological Literacy and Professional Skills | 10 |
| Empirical Project | 30 |
We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They combine data on the planned delivery and assessments of our courses in 2021-22 with data on the modules chosen by our students in 2020-21.
Teaching time is made up of:
- scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present
- structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision
Teaching and assessment
Teaching methods
You'll be taught through a combination of:
- lectures
- seminars
- lab sessions
- practical sessions
- fieldwork
Assessment methods
You'll be assessed through a combination of:
-
Assessments
-
Assignments – written or fieldwork
-
Case studies
-
Coursework
-
Dissertation or research project
-
Essays
-
Examinations – practical or online
-
Group work
-
Practical sessions
-
Presentations
-
Projects
-
Reflective report/journal
-
Reports
-
Seminar tasks/exercises
Skills and experience
Practical skills
The majority of your Psychology and Nutrition modules will involve practical lab work working with state-of-the-art, purpose-built facilities in our brand new building.
In Psychology, you'll learn how to formulate theories, conduct experiments, use statistical techniques, and write up research reports.
In your Nutrition modules, you'll carry out human nutrition investigations and lab analysis, as well as analysing data and preparing lab reports.
Business skills
Your psychology modules focus on psychological literacy, applying psychology in a real-world setting, while the nutrition side of your programme will involve developing practical skills in the real-world methods used for food processing and analysis.
Between stages 2 and 3, you'll also have the opportunity to complete a year-long professional psychology placement or a nutritional placement in the food industry. Recent placements have included Northumbria Police, Institute of Neuroscience, Marks and Spencer, Nutricia, Tesco, and the NHS.
Research skills
In stages 1 and 2, you'll complete Research Methods and Skills modules, in which you'll develop as an independent researcher.
In your third year, you'll put these skills into practice, completing a comprehensive research project in an area of your choice.
You'll also have the opportunity to gain additional research outside your course, including the School's certified research apprenticeship scheme.
Chat to a student
If you would like to study Psychology you should definitely consider Newcastle! The course ensures you have a good grounding in all areas of Psychology as well as allowing you to focus in more specialised areas in third year.
Opportunities
Work placement
Get career ready with a work placement and leave as a confident professional in your field. You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months working in any organisation in the world, and receive University support from our dedicated team to secure your dream placement. Work placements take place between stages 2 and 3.
You'll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector, putting your learning into practice and developing your professional expertise.
If you choose to take a work placement, it will extend your degree by a year. Your degree title will show you have achieved the placement year. Placements are subject to availability.
Facilities and environment
Facilities
As a psychology student at Newcastle University, you'll be based in the School of Psychology's Dame Margaret Barbour Building, in the University's city-centre campus.
As well as having great access to University facilities like its libraries, student's union and sports centre, the School of Psychology is less than 10 minutes' walk from Newcastle city centre.
You'll also have access to our excellent practical facilities in the School, such as:
- a forensic interviewing suite
- a nutrition and food preference unit
- a media and behaviour lab
- medical consultation rooms
- psychological testing cubicles
Support
You will have an academic member of staff as a personal tutor throughout your degree. They can help with academic and personal issues.
All first-year psychology students join a study group of approximately 10 students, led by an experienced and trained final-year student who will also act as your mentor for your first year.
Your future
As a joint honours graduate, you'll develop a range of skills that are sought by employers. By studying two disciplines, you're well prepared for the multidisciplinary challenges of everyday work, such as:
- time management
- organisation
- self-motivation
Recent graduates have secured employment in areas such as clinical psychology, forensic psychology, nutrition, and educational psychology, in companies such as NHS, Home Office, HMRC, Prison Service, Marks and Spencer, and the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs.
As a psychology graduate, you'll also be incredibly versatile, with plenty of transferable skills, including analytical thinking, research skills, strategy development, problem-solving, and content writing skills. Many graduates go on to careers in teaching, marketing, and financial services.
Make a difference
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Careers support
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Visit our Careers Service website
Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Entry requirements
All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2022 entry.
A Level
AAA-AAB
International Baccalaureate
35 points
Qualifications from outside the UK
English Language requirements
Contextual offers
Through one of our contextual routes, you could receive an offer of up to three grades lower than the typical requirements.
Entrance courses (INTO)
International Pathway Courses are specialist programmes designed for international students who want to study in the UK. We provide a range of study options for international students in partnership with INTO.
Find out more about International Pathway Courses
Admissions policy
This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.
Tuition fees and scholarships
Tuition fees for 2022 entry (per year)
Home Fee Students
£9250
International Fee Students
£24600
The maximum fee that we are permitted to charge for home fee-paying students is set by the UK government.
As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.
Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.
EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.
If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.
Read more about fees and funding
Scholarships
We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our undergraduate scholarship page for more information.
Year abroad and additional costs
For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year.
Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.
Find out more about:
Scholarships
Find out more about:
Open days and events
You'll have a number of opportunities to meet us throughout the year at our on-campus and virtual open days.
You'll be able to:
• explore our beautiful campus
• find out about our vibrant city
• discover what students think about studying at Newcastle
You'll also have the opportunity to speak to academic staff and find out more about the subjects you're interested in.
Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually.
We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University. Visit our events calendar to find out when we're visiting your region.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS
To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:
- the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
- the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
- the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college
If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.
Apply through UCASApply through an agent
International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.
Get in touch
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