c8g1 - Psychology and Mathematics BSc Joint Honour
Psychology and Mathematics BSc Joint Honours
UCAS Code: C8G1 (full time: 3 Years)
Course Overview
This BPS-accredited degree provides a thorough understanding of mathematical methods that psychologists use to explain and predict human behaviour.
At a Glance
UCAS Code
C8G1
UCAS Institution Name and Code
NEWC, N21
Degree Awarded
BSc Joint Honours
Course Duration
3 Years
Entry Requirements
A Level: AAA-AAB
IB: 35 points
Opportunities
If you are interested in the workings of the human mind, mathematical skills can be invaluable in unlocking its secrets.
In Psychology you will explore why humans and animals think and behave as they do, with topics including:
- cognitive psychology
- neuroscience
- the psychology of financial decision-making
In Mathematics you will develop a thorough grounding in topics and techniques such as:
- differential equations
- probability
You will have the opportunity to deepen your understanding with advanced topics linked to the research interests of our staff, such as forensic psychology and computational neuroscience.
Quality and ranking
Mathematics and statistics at Newcastle is highly regarded:
- 11th in the UK for research – Research Excellence Framework 2014
Psychology at Newcastle is also highly regarded:
- top 20 in the UK – The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020 and The Complete University Guide 2020
- top 150 – Psychology category – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019
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.
Boost your employability with a work placement
Apply to spend nine to 12 months on an optional professional placement or work placement (subject to availability) between Stages 2 and 3. This extends your degree to four years.
Some placements will be advertised for you to apply for, for example working with clinical psychologists, forensic psychologists, or psychology researchers. Alternatively, we can provide you with support to find your own placement, including help writing applications.
Undertaking a professional placement year will help you stand out in the graduate job market. It provides an invaluable opportunity to:
- apply your knowledge in a practical context
- further develop your graduate skills
- gain demonstrable work experience to showcase your skills to future employers
Find out more about Work Placements.
About Psychology and Mathematics Joint Honours
By studying two subjects, you develop a broad range of expertise and a set of skills that spans two specialist areas, equipping you for a range of careers.
Mastering two subjects together means you are well-prepared for the multidisciplinary challenges of the real world, developing the skills that employers value, such as:
- time management
- organisation
- self-motivation
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. The topics are closely linked to our research expertise, meaning you study at the cutting edge of the discipline.
You receive careers support in the form of a career development module personally tailored to your professional development. There's also excellent support on offer from the University’s award-winning Careers Service.
Facilities
School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
You will spend time in the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, based in the Herschel Building, which includes:
- a number of large lecture theatres
- recently refurbished computer cluster
- reading room for maths and stats students
School of Psychology
You will also spend considerable time in the School of Psychology, offering:
- purpose-built research building
- modern, practical facilities for carrying out experiments
- extensive computing facilities
Support
You will be part of the community in the two schools that deliver your teaching: the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics and the School of Psychology. The School of Psychology is the administrative home of the Joint Honours degree in Psychology and Mathematics.
Support
You will receive support from academic advisers from both of your subject areas and you'll also have an academic member of staff as a personal tutor throughout your degree. They can help with academic and personal issues.
Peer mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer any questions you have. You'll also have student buddies to guide you through the early weeks.
Social activities
The Mathematics and Statistics Society, MathSoc, and the Psychology Society, PsychoSoc, organise a range of social events.
Modules for 2019 entry
Please note
The module and/or programme information below is for 2019 entry. Our teaching is informed by research and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, student feedback, or insufficient numbers of students interested (in an optional module). To find out more read our terms and conditions.
Module/programme information for 2020 entry will be published here as soon as it is available (end of May 2020).
Our degrees are divided into Stages. Each Stage lasts for an academic year and you need to complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each Stage. Further information, including the credit value of the module, is available in each of the module descriptions below.
Stage 1
Compulsory modules
- PSY1012 Introduction to Psychology for Joint Honours Students
- MAS1601 Introduction to Calculus
- MAS1602 Introductory Algebra: Complex Numbers, Vectors and Matrices
- MAS1603 Multivariable Calculus and Differential Equations
- MAS1604 Introduction to Probability
- PSY1004 Cognitive Psychology
- PSY1005 Sensation and Perception
- PSY1006 Instinct, Learning and Motivation
- PSY1011 Research Methods and Skills 2
Stage 2
Compulsory modules
- MAS2502 Introduction to Computing and Problem Solving
- MAS2704 Numbers and Ciphers
- MAS2801 Vector Calculus
- MAS2901 Introduction to Statistical Inference
- PSY2001 Developmental Psychology
- PSY2003 Social Psychology
- PSY2004 Individual Differences
- PSY2007 Biological Psychology: Sex, Drugs, Rhythms and Blues
- PSY2009 Methods in Psychology 2A
- PSY2010 Statistics for Experimental Psychology
If you're studying the Applied Mathematics pathway, you take the following compulsory modules:
If you're studying the Statistics pathway, you take the following compulsory modules:
- MAS2902 Introduction to Regression and Stochastic Modelling
- MAS2903 An Introduction to Bayesian Methods
Work Placement (optional)
You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months on an optional work placement between Stages 2 and 3. You can apply to spend your placement year with any organisation and will receive University support to do so. It will extend your degree by a year and is subject to availability. Find out more on about Work Placements.
Professional Placement
Careers Placement
Stage 3
Compulsory modules
- MAS3091 Group Project Module
- PSY3029 Psychological Enquiry 3 – Psychological Literacy and Professional Skills
- PSY3097 Empirical Project
If you're studying the Applied Mathematics pathway, you take the following compulsory module:
If you're studying the Statistics pathway, you take the following compulsory module:
Optional modules
You take 20 credits of Psychology modules from the following list:
- PSY3001 Evolution and Behaviour
- PSY3006 Consumer Psychology
- PSY3008 Art, Mind and Brain
- PSY3009 Cooperation
- PSY3033 Eating and Weight Disorders
- PSY3018 The Damaged Brain: Case Studies in Neuropsychology
- PSY3034 Perception
- PSY3026 Psychology of Religion
- PSY3027 Disorders of Development: A Psychological Perspective
- PSY3030 Foundations in Forensic Psychology
- PSY3031 The Psychology of Teaching and Learning
- PSY3039 Clinical Sports and Exercise Psychology
- PSY3040 Psychobiology of Drug Addiction
- PSY3041 Sensation and Perception in Atypical Development
- PSY3042 Sex Differences and the Brain
- PSY3043 Making Sense of Scents: Investigating Olfactory Perception
- PSY3044 Cultural and technical intelligence: developmental and comparative perspectives
- PSY3045 The neurobiology of learning and memory processes
- PSY3046 Psychology for Sport Performance
If you're studying the Applied Mathematics pathway, you choose 40 credits from the following list:
- MAS2902 Introduction to Regression and Stochastic Modelling
- MAS2903 An Introduction to Bayesian Methods
- MAS3802 Quantum Mechanics
- MAS3804 Relativity and Cosmology
- MAS3805 Classical Fields
- MAS3806 Partial Differential Equations and Nonlinear Waves
- MAS3808 Instabilities
- MAS3809 Variational Methods
If you're studying the Statistics pathway, you choose 40 credits from the following list:
- MAS2802 Differential Equations,Transforms and Waves
- MAS2803 Fluid Dynamics
- MAS3901 Applied Probability
- MAS3904 Stochastic Financial Modelling
- MAS3906 Generalized Linear Models
- MAS3908 Experimental Design
- MAS3909 Markov Processes*
- MAS3910 Discrete Stochastic Modelling*
- MAS3911 Time Series*
- MAS3912 Survival Analysis*
*These modules are available in alternate years, so may not be available.
All candidates are considered on an individual basis.
If your qualifications are not listed here, please see our additional entry requirements web pages to find out which other qualifications are considered.
The entrance requirements below apply to 2020 entry.
Careers
Mathematics and Psychology careers
In our experience many employers look favourably on students who can demonstrate their abilities in more than one field. Newcastle graduates will have acquired the ability to research, evaluate and communicate information, alongside developing specialist subject knowledge, practical and technical skills.
This provides graduates with a range of educational and career opportunities, especially if the skills you have developed during your degree have been further enhanced by work experience.
Depending on subject combinations, joint honours in science graduates have very broad career options. In the past, our graduates have entered careers in the business and financial sectors or specialised further in their area of expertise such as accountancy and psychology. Graduates who wish to pursue a career in teaching will find that they are suitably qualified to study for a PGCE in either discipline. Those graduates who enter employment outside their discipline find a flexible degree of this nature is highly valued in professions such as management, commerce and the civil service.
Find out more about the career options for Mathematics and Psychology from Prospects: The UK’s Official Careers Website.
What our graduates go on to do: employment and further study choices
See what our recent graduates went on to do and view graduate destinations statistics. These statistics are based on what graduates were doing on a specific date, approximately six months after graduation. The most recent data available is for graduates who completed their course in 2014/15.
The destination data is available in varying levels, beginning with the University and moving through Faculty and School down to individual course reports. This final level may give you some useful ideas about possible options after your course or a course you are considering.
Careers and employability at Newcastle
Newcastle University consistently has one of the best records for graduate employment in the UK.
94% of our 2014/15 UK/EU graduates progressed to employment or further study within six months of graduating.
Of our graduates who entered employment 85% were in a professional or managerial position.
We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through an initiative called ncl+. This enables you to develop personal, employability and enterprise skills and to give you the edge in the employment market after you graduate.
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers.
Applying to Newcastle University through UCAS
To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
UCAS codes for Newcastle University
- institution name - NEWC
- institution code - N21
UCAS buzzword
Ask your teacher or adviser from your school or college for the UCAS buzzword. You need the buzzword when you register on the Apply system. This makes it clear which school or college you are applying from.
All UK schools and colleges and a small number of EU and international establishments are registered with UCAS.
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.
Making your application
On the UCAS website you can also find out more about:
- application deadlines and other important dates
- offers and tracking your application
Application decisions and enquiries
Find out more about our admissions process and who to contact if you need help with your application.