Students studying Hartpury University’s new psychology degrees will be able to take an important first step towards becoming professional psychologists after both programmes received accreditation from the British Psychological Society (BPS).
The University’s BSc (Hons) Psychology and BSc (Hons) Psychology with Sport and Exercise Perspectives have been accredited by the BPS, providing students with a professionally recognised route towards a wide range of psychology careers.
Students who successfully complete either accredited programme and meet the BPS requirements will be eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society.
GBC is an important milestone for those wishing to progress towards becoming a professional psychologist and is an entry requirement for many BPS-accredited postgraduate training programmes and professional doctorates.
For Hartpury graduates, this could open pathways towards areas including sport and exercise, clinical, forensic, health, counselling and occupational psychology, depending on the relevant postgraduate study and professional training undertaken after their degree.
The accreditation provides independent recognition that Hartpury’s new programmes meet the BPS standards required of undergraduate psychology degrees, while giving students confidence that their studies can provide a foundation for further professional training.
Professor Tracey Devonport, Professor of Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology at Hartpury University, said:“We’re delighted to receive British Psychological Society accreditation for both of our new psychology degrees.
“For students, this is particularly important because it means they can study psychology at Hartpury knowing that their degree provides a recognised first step towards a professional career in psychology.
“Psychology offers an incredibly diverse range of career opportunities, and we’ve designed these programmes to give students a strong grounding in the discipline while helping them understand how psychological knowledge can be applied to real-world situations.”
Hartpury’s applied approach gives students opportunities to explore psychology in the context of areas in which the University has established specialist expertise and facilities.
The BSc (Hons) Psychology with Sport and Exercise Perspectives draws particularly on Hartpury University’s high-performance sporting environment, allowing students to consider psychological theory and research in relation to performance, participation, health and wellbeing.
Students can explore real-world questions relating to sport and exercise while studying on a campus that is home to nine competitive sports academies and specialist facilities supporting athletes and applied learning.
Teaching is also informed by practising Sport and Exercise Psychologists registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), alongside specialist guest lecturers, giving students insights into how psychology is applied professionally.
The BSc (Hons) Psychology will explore the applications of psychological theory and research across a range of contexts offering insights into varied psychology professions such as counselling, educational, forensic, health, and occupational psychology.
The launch of the new degrees has been supported by further investment in psychology facilities at Hartpury, including the creation of a dedicated Psychology Lab. The specialist space provides students with an environment in which to develop their practical research skills and explore psychological concepts beyond the classroom, supporting Hartpury’s emphasis on applied and experiential learning.
Professor Devonport added: “Our ambition is for students not simply to learn about psychological theory, but to develop the confidence and practical skills to investigate questions, evaluate evidence and understand how psychology can make a positive difference to people and communities.”
The two new degrees broaden Hartpury University’s academic portfolio and provide students with opportunities to study psychology within the University’s distinctive specialist environment.
