Are you interested in studying Psychology at BU? Then you may have seen this phrase appear on our website, in our prospectuses, or during one of our open days: “BPS accreditation.”

Some people (like me, for example) didn’t always understand what it meant to have a BPS-accredited Psychology degree. But don’t worry — I’m here to share what I’ve learned and how an accredited Psychology degree can benefit you during and after your studies. 😊

What is Accreditation?

Accreditation is a partnership between a university and an organisation that assesses and approves the quality of the courses they teach. It also makes sure that the university has the needed facilities, resources, and staff to deliver the course effectively, meeting the needs of the students and the relevant industries where their new skills can be applied.

Course accreditation is very important for psychology students because it reassures them that their course has met very specific standards and they will learn areas of interest relevant to the real world.

My accredited Psychology degree:

As a popular degree of choice, almost every university in the UK offers Psychology degrees for undergraduate or postgraduate students. However, I chose to study at BU due to the optional modules and course accreditation, which meant they had to meet rigorous criteria for their accreditation to be approved.

I also felt that the undergraduate courses at BU focused on giving their students a taste of each specialism in Psychology (e.g. clinical, developmental, counselling, biological, cognitive, cyber, forensic, cultural, health, and so on). This meant that every student could spend their earlier studies figuring out what suits them, then work towards a project they are 100% enthusiastic about in their final year, and bring that enthusiasm into their projects.

The courses I’ve listed below at BU are all accredited by the British Psychological Society (or BPS), a UK-based organisation that thrives on uniting the psychology community through support in education, research, and practice:

BPS logo

Undergraduate

• BSc (Hons) Psychology
• BSc (Hons) Psychology with Counselling
• BSc (Hons) Psychology with Forensic Investigation

Postgraduate

• MSc Psychology (conversion course)
• MSc Health Psychology

Attending the BPS Cyberpsychology Section Conference in 2022

Can I get involved in the BPS?

One of the great advantages of getting involved in the BPS is their Student memberships, which give you exclusive access to journals, discounts on events, programs, and conferences (many of which I have attended), and a diverse student community with different branches in every region of the country.

There are also many post-university benefits—once you graduate from a BPS-accredited course, you automatically become a Graduate member and eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the society. This is very important for anyone who wishes to pursue a career in psychology or become a chartered psychologist because you will have already taken that essential first step toward this goal.

So don’t be afraid to take advantage now that you understand how accredited psychology degrees can benefit you in the short and long term. Make the most of networking opportunities, share what you’ve learned, be inspired by others’ experiences, and enhance your employability. Go for it!

Find out more

About BU’s Department of Psychology