Psychology and Business

Course overview

Our dual accredited Psychology and Business BSc (Hons) is an ideal combination of complementary disciplines; psychology provides you with an understanding of why people behave in the way that they do by considering the complex interplay between biological, psychological, environmental, cultural, and social influences on behaviour

This understanding can then be applied to business contexts, such as managing and motivating the workforce, making effective business decisions, and communicating effectively with customers. Likewise, studying business will enable you to understand psychological knowledge and theories in the context of real-world settings.

You will be taught by experts from Aston Business School which is part of an elite group of global business schools that hold the gold standard of ‘triple-crown’ accreditation from AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS.’

The programme is accredited as conferring eligibility for the Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS) if students gain at least a lower second-class honours degree classification. This accreditation is the first step you’ll need to become a Chartered Psychologist if you wish to take this path.

Upon successful graduation from the course, you will also be eligible to become an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). As a member, you will be able to use the designation Assoc. CIPD after your name.’

"The staff are very supportive and are always happy to help. We were taught a range of transferrable skills for roles in the academic field as well as clinical. The lectures were engaging and incorporated real-life examples that we were able to understand how skills and theory are used in practice."

Magda Skubera

Psychology BSc and Health Psychology MSc

Why Psychology at Aston University?

Gold standard teaching

Aston University was awarded Triple Gold - the highest possible rating for the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF, 2023)

Dual Psychology Accreditation BPS and CIPD

Dual accreditation

This course is dual accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD)

Student experience

Excellent student experience: 95% of our students felt that staff were good at explaining things (NSS, 2024)

Excellent prospects

Top 5 in the UK for Graduate Prospects in Psychology (Complete University Guide, 2024)

Future career

Our graduates go on to secure work in top organisations such as Our graduates go on to secure work in top organisations such as the BBC, HSBC, Jaguar Land Rover, local Government, PwC, private care companies, and the NHS.

Earn more

Our graduates are among the highest paid in the country, earning on average £36,100 five years after graduating (Longitudinal Education Outcomes, 2023)

Hear from Psychology graduate Grace

Psychology graduate Grace discusses her time spent at Aston and how it led to her starting a graduate scheme working for Rolls Royce.

The Aston University 2030 strategy

What makes us Aston?

Course description

Psychology and Business BSc

Investigate the links between the theory and practice of two exciting and complementary disciplines. Our focus on psychology enables you to understand why people behave in the way that they do by considering the complex interplay between biological, psychological, environmental, cultural, and social influences on behaviour. Alongside this, studying business will provide you with a breadth of business knowledge including the functions of management and the science of decision-making.

What we will provide
First-class teaching in the UK's second-largest city, delivered by a diverse array of staff who will inspire and excite you, fantastic facilities that will bring your course to life through hands-on, practical experience; years of close industry collaboration that is harnessed to provide you with learning based on real-world needs.

What you will provide
It is important you learn how to apply a growth mindset to your studies - understand that intelligence and success come from applying yourself, you must be able to demonstrate critical thinking and have ambition and drive to excel.

What skills we teach
Our Psychology and Business (Hons) BSc graduates leave with a wide range of transferrable and marketable skills, such as excellent communication and teamwork skills, problem-solving, insight into motivation and behaviour, understanding of relationships and group dynamics, the ability to critically analyse information, problem-solving and leadership.

Placement year
Our course includes an integrated placement year in the UK or even overseas. A placement year gives you valuable life experience in the context of working alongside professionals in a working environment. Recent students from our suite of psychology courses at Aston have completed a range of fascinating placements with Aston Villa Football Club, British Energy, The Civil Service, Ford, The Home Office, Marks & Spencer, and GlaxoSmithKline

Career prospects
Our Psychology and Business degree is valued by some of the best-known companies in the world. Recent graduates have successfully secured careers with employers such as The BBC,The Civil Service, Co-operative Bank, Deloitte, The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, HSBC, IBM, Jaguar Land Rover, KPMG, Local government, Marks & Spencer, NHS Trusts, Private care companies, PwC, and Tesco

How you will learn

Our teaching style is modern and innovative, with a hands-on approach that bridges the gap between theory and practice. This enables you to apply your skills as you progress through your course, marrying your learning with practical examples, all designed to prepare you for the world of work. Working with experts from both psychology and business, you will gain a deeper understanding of each subject area, allowing you to apply theories and practices learned in one subject to the other.

At the start of your course, you will be allocated a personal tutor who can offer individual study advice and guidance. You will also benefit from access to the University Library's extensive collection of over 25,000 books and electronic journals.

What you will learn

There is a huge range of possibilities for how you could explore psychology and business at Aston University, thanks to our leading facilities, expert course leaders, and mutually supportive student community.

Year 1

In your first year of the Psychology and Business BSc course, you will establish a strong foundation in the key principles and concepts that underpin both psychology and business. This year is designed to introduce you to fundamental knowledge and skills essential for your academic journey and future career.

Year 2

With the foundational knowledge from your first year in place, you'll progress to more advanced concepts and applications in the field of psychology and business.

Placement year

The third year of the programme is dedicated to a unique and invaluable opportunity - the integrated placement year. This year allows you to gain real-world experience and apply what you've learned in a practical working environment alongside professionals. The Aston placement year is a mandatory component for all home students, and we strongly encourage international/EU students to complete it whenever possible. This year forms an integral part of your educational journey, offering an authentic taste of your future career in psychology and business.

Final year

Select from a range of specialist topic modules that fit your interests, and conduct a research project in a specialist area with support from our expert business and psychology staff.

Facilities

Students on our Psychology and Business programme have access to a range of specialist facilities that reflect the hands-on learning within the field. In these settings, you gain practical experience alongside like-minded students, with workshops and lectures guided by industry professionals.

Psychology specialist facilities

An observation suite (with audio-visual recording).
Equipment and tools for psychophysiological measurement, such as eye tracking and motion capture.
Experiment labs for cognitive experiments.
Larger labs for focus groups and audience-based experiments.

Course objectives

Provides you with the opportunities to realise your academic potential through a range of learning experiences.
Encourages you, through a practical approach, to have a passion for Psychology and Business and an enthusiasm for learning.
To deliver you a programme of a standard which satisfies the accreditation requirements of the British Psychological Society and confers the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the BPS, and that meets the intermediate-level knowledge requirements for Associate Membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
To provide you with an intellectually rigorous and contemporary education in and understanding of the theory, practice, and methods of psychology and business, which will help them to identify and achieve their personal, academic, and professional goals and aspirations in both fields.
To produce highly employable graduates who can bring qualities of critical analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and personal interpretation to their chosen occupation, and who are capable of applying and disseminating knowledge.
To produce graduates with skills and abilities in research and enquiry, information literacy, personal and intellectual autonomy, and ethical, social and professional understanding in order to tackle effectively the contemporary issues facing people, organisations, and society.
To provide you with a learning environment that responds to the needs of a wide range of entrants from a variety of routes, that allows students to pursue individual interests, and one in which staff’s research activity and involvement inspires and informs students’ learning.

Modules

Modules and learning outcomes

Year 1 modules

In your first year, you will study the following core modules:

Module Title	Credits
Key Skills in Psychology I - Gain a solid foundation in key skills vital for today's psychologists. Delve into critical thinking, research methodologies, data analysis, and ethical considerations. This module provides essential tools for understanding human behaviour, fostering effective communication, and applying psychological theories in practical settings.	15
Key Skills in Psychology II - Obtain practical experience in various research scenarios by using innovative software to make online questionnaires and experiments, analyse quantitative data, and write compelling research reports.	15
Biological and Cognitive Psychology - Learn about core topics in neuroscience and cognitive psychology, including how the brain develops and functions in health and disease.	15
Developmental and Social Psychology -An introduction to the main theories of cognitive and perceptual development and attachment, as well as the theories, findings, and methods in cognitive-experimental social psychology.	15
Introduction to Organisational Behaviour	15
Introduction to Marketing Management	15
Introductory Accounting for Business	15
Introduction to Human Resource Management (HRM)	15
Total	120

Year 1 outcomes

On successful completion of the first year, you will be able to:

Communicate an appropriate understanding of the scientific method, a range of research designs and qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and a selection of basic descriptive and inferential statistics.
Articulate knowledge of a range of theories and concepts in core areas of psychology (as defined in the British Psychological Society’s GBC curriculum) and business.
Competently use information technology for word processing, data handling, communication, and information gathering.
Communicate accurately, effectively, and appropriately, presenting structured and coherent arguments in a range of formats and demonstrating awareness of professional norms.
Evidence a range of transferrable academic skills, including an ability to reflect on own learning and development, to engage effectively with feedback, and to work effectively and collaboratively with peers.
Describe a range of possible career pathways that graduates of the programme might pursue, and able to articulate the employability skills and attributes required in these careers.

Year 2 modules

In your second year, you will study the following core modules:

Module Title	Credits
Research Methods and Data Analysis - Research Methods and Data Analysis - Learn how to conduct and analyse quantitative research in psychology. Gain hands-on experience of designing questionnaires and experiments and learn a range of advanced data analysis methods.	15
Applied Psychology and Professional Skills - Develop an understanding of your transferable professional skills and knowledge by exploring how they have been, and are, applied towards the improvement of practice within and across applied professions. Prepare for your post-graduate future by improving your employability through an authentic assessment on the application process.	15
Individual Differences and Personality - Learn about how intelligence and personality measures can be used to understand real-world behaviours. We will also cover theories and the history of these concepts.	15
Cognition and Cognitive Neuropsychology - Learn about different types of reasoning, decision making and problem-solving. Develop a basic understanding of cognitive impairments arising from brain damage.	15
Employee Resourcing	15
Psychology and Work	15
Developing Creativity	15
Effective Teamwork	15
Total	120

Year 2 outcomes

Critically evaluate a variety of research designs and methodologies.
Use a wide range of basic and advanced descriptive and inferential statistics for analyzing data appropriately.
Communicate appropriate critical thinking and to question received wisdom.
Articulate advanced knowledge and understanding of historical and contemporary theories and concepts in core areas of psychology (as defined in the British Psychological Society’s GBC curriculum) and business, and of how these link to practice in both fields.
Identify and discuss the most appropriate research evidence and methods for addressing research questions.
Convey a strong understanding and application of formal academic communication styles in their own work.
Synthesize, explain, and critically evaluate different paradigms, concepts, theories, and evidence to form compelling arguments.
Articulate, explain, and reflect critically upon their own employability skills and attributes, and be able to map these against possible graduate career pathways.

Placement year modules

In your placement year, you will study the following core module:

Module Title	Credits
Placement year - This module aims to provide a framework for students on placement (including working or studying abroad, working or volunteering in the UK in a variety of contexts) to demonstrate the learning they have achieved through their placement experiences and relate these to future employment opportunities.	120
Total	120

Placement year outcomes

On successful completion of the placement year, you will be able to:

Demonstrate increasing personal and professional development through a placement.
Articulate key personal, cultural, professional, and disciplinary knowledge and skills relevant to the placement experience and reflect on performance.
Clearly communicate the ways in which placement-related skills can be transferred to support ongoing personal, professional, and academic development.

Final year modules

In your final year, you will study the following core modules:

Module Title	Credits
Final Year Project - Working closely with an experienced academic, you will showcase and build on research skills taught earlier in the course by designing and conducting a study that adds new knowledge to psychological literature.	30
Critical Social Psychology - Explore different topics in social psychology, for example, stereotypes, norms, prejudice, relationships and identity. You are encouraged to approach social psychology from a critical perspective, for example, considering how social psychology is culturally and socially situated, and to engage with qualitative methods of data collection.	15
Child Development - You will develop your critical understanding of research into development across the lifespan including research into antenatal development, parenting, language and literacy, and cognitive development and theory of mind.	15
Strategic HRM	15
Employment Law for HRM	15

and two of the following optional modules:

Module Title	Credits
Employee relations	15
Learning and Development	15
Critical Issues in HRM	15
Consumer Research and the Customer Experience	15
Theories and Practice of Leadership	15
Total	30

*Availability of any optional modules will be subject to staff availability and a minimum number of students who express an interest in studying the optional modules.

Final year outcomes

On successful completion of the final year, you will be able to:

Identify a research question and hypothesis and thereupon design, execute, and report a sustained and independent empirical research project, with clear consideration of ethical practice.
Create and present sustained arguments backed up with evidence that reflects a contemporary understanding of the field.
Communicate a detailed, integrated, and critical understanding of issues in – and theories of – psychology and business.
Synthesize and critically evaluate concepts, theories, and research evidence.
Use different qualitative approaches for analyzing data appropriately.

We may update our courses to reflect best practices and academic developments. If we do, we’ll let you know of any changes at the earliest opportunity by updating our course webpages. If you have already received an offer, we’ll write to you directly to let you know of the changes.

Entry requirements

A Levels
- ABB in any three A Levels.
- BBB in any three A Levels plus grade B in either Core Maths or Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).
- BBC in any three A Levels for contextual offer students.*

The following subjects will not be considered as one of the core three A levels - General Studies, Critical Thinking, Citizenship Studies. We welcome applications from students who have tried to improve their examination grades by taking resits and only your latest grades will be accepted. We treat these applications in exactly the same way as other applications.

Contextual offers
Aston Ready is our contextual offer scheme that could reduce your undergraduate offer by one or two grades. Assessed at the point of application, there are no additional forms to fill in.

Contextual offer criteria

We accept the following BTEC subjects and in some cases you may be required to take additional A Levels as listed in the grid below.

Subjects accepted: Applied Science, Animal Care and Veterinary Science, Art, Design and Media, Business, Administration and Law, Child Development and well-being, Computer Science and ICT, Design and Technology, Drama, Theatre Studies and Performing Arts, Economics, Education and Training, Engineering, English, Finance and Accounting, Geography, Government and Politics, Health and Social Care, History, Languages, Mathematics and Statistics, Medicine and Dentistry , Music, Religious Studies, Science, Social Sciences.

BTEC Qualification Name	BTEC grades required	A-Level Requirements
Extended Diploma (QCF/National)	Distinction, Distinction, Distinction (DDD)	Not applicable
Diploma (QCF)National Diploma	Distinction, Distinction (DD)	With this BTEC you must also achieve a grade B in one A Level subject
Subsidiary Diploma (QCF) National Extended Certificate	Distinction (D)	With this BTEC you must also achieve grades BB in two A Level subjects
90 Credit Diploma (QCF)	Distinction, Distinction (DD)	With this BTEC you must also achieve grades BB in two A Level subjects
National Foundation Diploma	Distinction (D)	With this BTEC you must also achieve grades BB in two A Level subjects

International Baccalaureate Diploma

Standard offer: 32 points overall and must include grades 6, 5, 5 in Higher Level subjects. You must also have Standard Level grade 5 in both Mathematics and English Language.

Contextual offer: 29 points overall, three Higher Level subjects at 5 5 4. You must also have Standard Level grade 5 in both Maths and English Language for contextual offer students.*

We accept the QAA-recognised Access Diploma which must consist of 45 credits at Level 3. You must obtain a minimum of 30 distinction and the rest must be at merit or distinction. Please note that we do not accept the English and Maths components within the Access qualification and you must meet the GCSE entry requirement.

We accept grade Distinction in any of the below subjects:

• Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction
• Digital Production, Design and Development
• Education and Childcare
• Building Services Engineering for Construction
• Onsite Construction
• Digital Business Services
• Digital Support Services
• Health
• Healthcare Science

Five GCSEs all at grade C/4 and must include Maths and English Language or English Literature. Please note we do not accept Key skills or Functional Skills in place of these.

International students

Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students on many of our undergraduate programmes. Students from over 120 countries choose to study with us every year. Based in the centre of Birmingham, Aston is not only a great place to study, it’s also a great place to live.

Qualifications in your country

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of an English language qualification.

English language requirements

Aston University provides a range of opportunities for international students to join our community and study on our campus. A key part of our strategy is our relationships with teaching partners, providing multiple pathways to Aston.

Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities and, as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career. One of the great things about Aston is our focus on employability. Our close links with businesses, industries and professions make this possible.

Find out more about applying

Post-study work visa

Aston University welcomed the creation of a new Graduate Immigration Route which enables international students to remain in the UK for two years after you complete your studies to find work. This new post-study work visa applies to international students completing full-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Graduate Immigration Route

Pathway Programmes

If you don’t meet our entry requirements, we have a range of pathway programmes offered by our partner, ONCAMPUS Aston, which you can complete to progress onto one of our degrees.

Other

Degree

Year 1:

We consider applicants for year 1 entry who are undertaking a degree elsewhere. You must meet the GCSEs and A Level (or equivalent) requirements as listed. Alongside this you must have gained (or be expected to gain) 60% overall and 120 credits with no fails at another recognised university. In order to be considered you will need to submit a UCAS application as we do not accept direct applications, and this must include an academic reference.

Year 2:

We are not taking applications for second year transfers.

Year 3/final year:

We do not accept any transfers into year 3 or final year of this programme

View our Transfers Policy

Age of qualifications

Applicants must normally have achieved their eligible academic qualifications for entry onto this course within the last three years. Applicants presenting qualifications older than three years will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Academic Admissions Lead.

External Foundation Programmes

We consider external foundation programmes for entry into our year 1 programmes on a case-by-case basis. We will always require applicants to have met the following criteria prior to application:

5 GCSE’s at grade C/4 or above including Maths and English
CCC at A-Level

Any conditional offers made will be based on meeting a specific grade in your foundation programme. In order to be considered you will need to submit a UCAS application as we do not accept direct applications.

Fees and scholarships

Course fees

UK students
(2024/25)

Annual tuition fees:	£9,250
During placement year:	£1,250

International students (2024/25)

Annual tuition fees:	£20,700
During placement year:	£2,500

More information on fees

For Home students: Tuition fees for UK/Home students may change in line with government policy.

For International students: The International students fee is a fixed annual fee for the duration of the Programme, except whilst on placement when a placement year fee applies.

Scholarships

At Aston University we are committed to supporting the most talented and hardworking students to achieve their potential by providing a range of scholarships to help lower tuition and living costs.

Explore our scholarships

Assessment

Our Psychology and Business BSc curriculum utilises a range of different assessment types and the assessment strategy reflects the national educational requirements in the Framework for Qualifications of Higher Education. You will encounter a variety of assessment methods, including:

class tests/end-of-year examinations (unseen essay, short answer or multiple-choice questions)
essays
research reports (group and individual)
presentations (group and individual)
statistics assignments

Career prospects

Our Psychology and Business programme will prepare you for a range of careers across the public, private and third sectors. Our graduates are among the highest paid in the country, according to the 2023 Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO). This data shows that five years after graduation, employed Aston University graduates have the 15th highest median salary among all UK Higher Education Institutions, with a median salary of £36,100.

As much of the UK economy is based around delivering services, graduates who understand the link between business success and human cognition behaviour are increasingly sought-after. Psychology and Business graduates have important skills that employers value very highly, such as:

insight into motivation and behaviour
understanding of relationships and group dynamics
excellent communication and teamwork skills
the ability to critically analyse information
problem-solving
leadership.

These attributes make our graduates excellent candidates for careers in occupational, educational and clinical psychology, as well as for careers in areas such as human resources, social services, management consultancy, and creative industries (for example, advertising and marketing).

Recent graduates from our psychology courses have gone on to work in organisations such as:

The BBC
The Civil Service
Co-operative Bank
Deloitte
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office
HSBC
IBM
Jaguar Land Rover
KPMG
Local government
Marks & Spencer
NHS Trusts
Private care companies
PwC
Tesco

Be part of our community

Once you have joined us at Aston University, you’ll always be part of our community, even beyond graduation.

Alumni services

Frequently asked questions

How will studying psychology and business benefit my personal development?

You will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of human behaviour, and how this affects how businesses and organisations act and make decisions. By understanding what makes effective teams perform to a high level and how to persuade and negotiate with people, you’ll have a range of great qualities that future employers are looking for.

Why is a placement useful for psychology and business?

Being able to not only demonstrate that you have industry-ready understanding of a subject through accreditation but also significant work experience, gives prospective employers confidence in your capacity to transfer your skills within the work place. It also brings what you’ve learnt in lectures to life, and gives you a great opportunity to better understand the kind of career you want to develop once you graduate.

Is Birmingham a good place to study?

Our campus is based in the centre of Birmingham, the youngest major city in Europe and a great place to live, work and study.

Great music and entertainment with a vibrant nightlife. Bars, clubs, pubs, live music, festivals, concerts. Whatever your tastes, there's something here for everyone.
Fantastic food. Birmingham's diverse community means you can try anything from the famous Balti triangle, the Chinese Quarter, high street chains, halal and vegan food, and Michelin-star dining.
World-class shopping. The Bullring and Grand Central is a shopper's paradise. From the world's biggest Primark to luxury brands at the Mailbox.
Arts and culture. Museums, galleries, theatres, concerts and Birmingham's art collection is as wide as it is impressive - not to be missed.
Green, open spaces. One of the greenest cities in Europe, Birmingham has hundreds of publicly accessible parks and green spaces across the city.
Sporting action. Birmingham has some of the most exciting venues for watching or participating in sport in the UK.

Discover Birmingham

Why should international students choose Aston University?

Study at Aston University and you will be part of a multi-cultural community located at the heart of the dynamic city of Birmingham. Our courses are practical, inspired by industry and many have internationally recognised accreditations. Renowned for our employability prospects and connections to business and industry, we provide outstanding career support, advice and placement opportunities.

For those interested in working in the UK after they have graduated, the UK Government has created a new post-study work visa.

Why should I choose a joint honours course?

Joint Honours degrees are a true mix of two subjects, working with experts and academics from both sides to gain a deeper understanding of each subject. It also provides you with the opportunity to apply the theory of each in practice, meaning that you get a very broad, but also in-depth insight into the subjects. Being able to apply this theory to real-world issues is something that you’ll need to do in your future career, so this course gives you a unique insight into how this works in practice.