Psychology

WHY UCLAN?WHAT SHOULD I STUDY?STUDENT QUESTION TIMESUPERB FACILITIESEMPLOYABILITYWHERE ARE OUR GRADUATES NOW?RESEARCHSTAFF Q&A

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WELCOME TOPSYCHOLOGY@ UCLAN

10 REASONS TO STUDYPSYCHOLOGY AT UCLAN

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WHAT SHOULDI STUDY?

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Flexible Degree Routes

Industry Engagement

Whilst our courses challenge and inspirestudents to pursue a range of careers,determining the career that you want tofollow when you choose your degree coursecan be somewhat challenging. Therefore, our flexible degree routes enable you to alter

your psychology degree as your interest,expertise and career aspirations develop.This enables you to graduate with the careerfrom the correct course you need in order topursue your chosen career upon graduation.

We continuously engage with the BritishPsychological Society and employers toensure our curriculum delivers you the skillsand knowledge industry needs. Theseinclude professionals from various sectors,such as NHS trusts including patient groups,medical practitioners and allied healthprofessionals, Her Majesty’s Prison Service,police forces, local education authorities,schools and professional sportsorganisations.

During your degree, you will be taught byacademics that produce nationally andinternationally recognised research, whichhas an impact both in academia and in ourworking and everyday lives. Much of ourpsychological research continues to be rated‘internationally excellent’ and ‘world leading’as per the latest Research ExcellenceFramework (REF), whilst 100% was rated as having real world impact.

PsychologyThe British Psychological Society defines psychology as the ‘scientific study

of people, the mind and behaviour.’ On our psychology degree courses, you

will learn how to apply psychological knowledge to academic and real

world issues. You will learn about the mind and behaviour, enabling you

to understand the way people act, react and interact. Upon graduation

you will have a range of skills that leave you amongst those graduates

with highest employment prospects from UK Psychology degrees.*

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Professional AccreditationAll of our Psychology courses are accreditedby the British Psychological Society (BPS),with all the courses providing GraduateBasis for Chartered Membership (GBC). Thisenables you to enrol upon an accreditedmaster’s degree and ultimately, pursue acareer as a chartered Psychologist.

*Joint 13th Best employment prospects in Guardian League Table for Psychology 2019

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BPS MembershipThe School provides membership of the national bodyfor all students, which ensures that you receive copiesof the monthly magazine and careers bulletins plusaccess to online resources which keeps you informedof the latest developments and career opportunities.

Undergraduate Research Intern SchemeYou will have the opportunity to apply to work with stafffor a 10-week, paid internship during the summer. Thisenhances your research skills and employability as youwork with leading researchers on ‘cutting edge’research projects.

Flexible Course ChoicesDetermining the career that you want to pursue whenyou select your degree course can be somewhatchallenging. Therefore, our flexible programme of studyenables you to move between psychology courses toensure you graduate with the course you need at theend of your study rather than students being bound tothe course they felt they needed prior to arriving atUCLan.

First-Class Learning FacilitiesThe research informed syllabus for our courses willprovide you with first-hand experience of researcheither as participants in the research or as theresearcher.

The laboratories available include:

• Clinical and Health Psychology Suite• Brain Imaging Laboratory• Developmental Cog Neuro • Cognitive Psychology Complex which includes VR,

eye-tracking and Forensic Psychology facilities. • Child Observation Suite • Undergraduate Psychology Labs

All our specialised facilities contain the latestequipment to ensure you graduate with contemporaryknowledge and skills.

Research Active StaffUCLan has a Research Informed Teaching policy thatrequires the courses to be informed by current research.The School approach extends beyond this to all staffbeing actively involved in research. You will learn morefrom research active staff as the information beingconveyed in lectures, workshops, and seminars is up todate rather than simply acquired from the latest classtextbooks.

Professors that TeachThe Professors in the School of Psychology all lectureon their own specialist topics at various points of thedifferent degree programmes. The inspiration andunderstanding that can be gained from listening tothese staff encourages many of our students to seekfurther qualifications either through our taught master'sprovision or through postgraduate researchqualifications.

Dean’s ListStudents who are high achievers academically or haveother indicators of high performance are eligible toapply for inclusion on the ‘Dean’s List’. An exclusive listof exceptional students, which will provide additionalopportunities for research collaborations with staff thatwill improve their understanding of psychology andenhance employability.

Embedded Employability SkillsThe embedding of core skills in the modules you willstudy ensures that the teaching of critical skills iscentral to your understanding and is delivered in anengaging and memorable manner. This wasrecognised by the BPS during their last visit who wereimpressed not only with the integration of this materialinto the courses but also the ability of students toidentify where and when key skills were delivered.

Friendly, Supportive EnvironmentThe ability to ask questions and seek further informationto clarify understanding or stretch your knowledgebeyond the course content is critical to yourunderstanding. The School provides a supportive,nurturing environment in which you can learn and grow.

Specialisms at Undergraduate LevelThere are a range of undergraduate programmes thatwill allow you to study a broad range of psychologicalsubjects or to specialise in a named ‘route’. Eachnamed route reflects further expertise within the Schoolwith the course reflecting those delivered as taughtmaster’s provision.

You will have the opportunity to learn from a BritishPsychological Society (BPS) defined syllabus that will

ensure you cover the core psychological conceptsrequired for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership

(GBC) status. You will have the opportunity to learnin a wide range of facilities that are designed toenhance your understanding of the subject area.You will have the opportunity to engage withresearch and publish work alongside peers andstaff and whilst studying this material, and willreceive support from a passionate large staffbase teaching in their areas of expertise.

The way our courses are delivered will alsoensure that you can apply your knowledgein a variety of domains. Assessments,where possible, are based around theactivities you might undertake in a place

of work helping you to develop skillsand experiences that appeal to

employers. You will have theopportunity to study a broad

range of psychological topicsor specialise and focus uponan area of psychology, such as Clinical, Forensic,

Cyberpsychology,Neuropsychology or the Psychology

of Child Development that may lead you to pursue these areas forfurther study at postgraduate level.

Staff will work closely with you,providing personal support to ensure youmake informed decisions about yourfuture. You will be supported in choosingfrom an extensive range of final year

modules, providing the opportunity for you to shape your final degree content in a

way relevant to your own aspirations and goals.

Why UCLan?

Reasons to choose Psychology at UCLan

We are committed to helping you achieve yourpotential through two important concepts:

opportunity and support.

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Whatshould Istudy?BSc (Hons)

PsychologyHow can we improve our ability todetect lies? What role does exposure tostressful life events have on our health?How can we help rehabilitate thosewith brain injuries? On this course you will learn how to apply scientificmethods to measure, understand andexplain beliefs, decision-makingprocesses and behaviour. We will also teach you how to apply yourknowledge in a variety of professionalsettings. Whilst providingopportunities to pursue a wide range of graduate careers, this degree coursecan also be your first step towards acareer as a Chartered Psychologist.

The course is accredited by the BritishPsychological Society (BPS) and confers Graduate Basis for CharteredMembership (GBC), provided thatsecond class honours degree isachieved. In Years 1 and 2, theprogramme provides a wide rangingcoverage of the main areas ofpsychology and their application to arange of settings. Year 2 also allows you the choice of developing a greaterunderstanding of two specialist areasof psychology, the majority of whichmirror the named, Chartered routes:Forensic Psychology, ClinicalPsychology, Neuropsychology or tounderstand more aboutCyberpsychology or NeurocognitiveDevelopment and Disorders (ChildDevelopment). These specialistmodules enable you to gain a broaderunderstanding of the fields withinpsychology, and help shape your choice from a wide range of final yearoption modules and projects.

BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychology

On our Forensic Psychology degree,you’ll graduate with a broadunderstanding of Psychology relatingto Law and the Criminal JusticeSystem. You’ll have the opportunity toexplore theories that explain offendingbehaviour, and apply this knowledgein interactive workshops run byprofessionals who work withoffenders in prisons and hospitals,including forensic psychologists andprobation officers. Our forensicpsychology team conduct world-classresearch and publish their findingsinternationally, whilst applying theirwork in real-life forensic settings. Aswith the BSc (Hons) Psychology, for the first two years of the course you’llstudy core areas of the BritishPsychological Society curriculum,however, to enable you to specialise inForensic Psychology you will also takeforensic psychology modules. Havingcovered the core BPS syllabus thisleaves your final year to explore arange of forensic psychology topicsand conduct a forensic psychologyrelated project. You’ll be taught avariety of theories and interventionswhich are current, and relevant to thepractice of forensic psychology.Examples include the psychology ofevidence gathering and courtrooms,victimology, antisocial behaviour,criminal psychopathy, life in secureforensic settings, online sexexploitation, stalking, sex and violentoffending.

Foundation Entry

For students who do not meet theentry requirements for our courses,we offer four year versions of eachdegree that includes a foundationyear. The integrated foundation yearprovides an excellent introduction,helping you to gain the knowledge,study skills and confidence to succeedthroughout the rest of your coursepermitting you to progress to any ofthe other psychology courses.

BSc (Hons) ClinicalPsychology

Clinical psychology is the area ofpsychology that offers ongoing andwide-ranging support for the mentaland behavioural health of individualsand families. In a society wheremental health issues are on the riseand a greater acceptance of the need toseek support and assistance in copingwith these issues, the field of clinicalpsychology continues to grow.Working in a wide variety of settingsthis research based disciplineencompasses a range of exciting andchallenging areas. ClinicalPsychologists work with clients whorange in experience from minoradjustment issues to those with severepsychopathologies. The range ofintellectual, emotional, behaviouraland social maladjustments offers astimulating and intellectuallychallenging course that preparesstudents for further study and can be the first step towards becoming aChartered Clinical Psychologist.Consistent with each of our coursesyou will study the core areas ofPsychology in the first two years of the course alongside introductorymodules in Clinical Psychology,leading to a final year where two-thirds of the course is core Clinical Psychology and the remainderrelated, complementary subjects.

BSc (Hons)Neuropsychology

This course will prepare you for acareer working with people with arange of needs - neurodegenerativediseases, tumours, strokes, traumaticbrain injuries. For the first two years,you’ll study core areas of the BritishPsychological Society’s curriculum onthis accredited course, with aspecialist Topics and Techniques inNeuroscience module in Year 2. InYear 3, you’ll develop yourneuropsychological skills further bystudying modules inneuropsychological disorders andtechniques, and brain, treatments and behaviour. Alongside this you will conduct a project from a range of topic areas in neuropsychology.Internships and voluntary positionsare available within the Brain ImagingLaboratory or the DevelopmentalCognitive NeuropsychologyLaboratories within the School thathelp embed a deeper understandingof the discipline and enhance youremployment prospects.

BSc (Hons) Psychology ofChild Development

As well as the core modules that willgive you a BPS-recognised psychologydegree, you’ll take a series of specialistchild development modules in each ofthe three years of the course that willgive you a chance to study children’sthoughts, emotions and behaviour indetail. You will be able to undertake awork placement in a child-centredsetting, and complete an originalresearch study under the supervisionof an active developmental researcher.If you want to see how children playor how they interact with their carersor peers, you have access to ourpurpose-built Child Observation Suite. Alternatively, to understandmore about their brain functions you can work with staff from theDevelopmental CognitiveNeuroscience lab which contains awide range of imaging equipmentdesigned for children of all ages. If you are interested in EducationalPsychology, we have lots of links withlocal schools and other children’sservices, providing opportunities tostudy language development, literacy,peer relations, online safeguarding,antisocial behaviour and bullying.

BSc (Hons)Cyberpsychology

As our lives become more dependenton technology, the way that weinteract is transforming. Digitaltechnologies present vastopportunities for individual users, aswell as industries such as healthcare,business, and education. During thiscourse, you will develop anunderstanding of how technology ischanging human behaviour andinteraction, both for better and forworse. As well as considering thebenefits to health and wellbeing thatcan result from increased connectivity,you will also look at aspects of onlinevictimisation through threats such ascyberbullying and online fraud.

Alongside the core BPS syllabus, whichallows you to meet professionalaccreditation requirements, you willstudy specialised modules inCyberpsychology. These will exploretopics such as social media use, e-health technology, and onlineidentity. As with all of our courses,students are supported in looking for placements and voluntaryopportunities that ensure key skillsdevelopment, allowing you to pursuethe career of your choice.

BSc (Hons) Psychologyand Criminology

Psychology and Criminology providesdiffering but complementaryperspectives upon related areas. Youwill study both together, graduatingwith a degree that gives professionalbody recognition from the BritishPsychological Society and theknowledge and skills needed for acareer in either area. You willexamine psychological andcriminology theory and issues inmore depth and have the opportunityto choose areas of particular interest.Investigating issues that informcurrent research debates in bothPsychology and Criminology willprepare you to select a topic for yourYear 3 project. Whilst most studentscontinue to study both disciplines in Year 2 and 3, you have theopportunity, at the end of Year 1, to take advantage of the flexibilityinherent in all of our courses totransfer to any of our other singlehonours psychology routes, including forensic psychology.

BSc (Hons) Psychologywith Psychotherapy & Counselling

Counselling Psychologists deal with awide range of mental health problemsconcerning life issues includingbereavement, domestic violence,sexual abuse and relationship issues.They understand diagnosis and themedical context to mental healthproblems and work with theindividual’s unique subjectivepsychological experience to empowertheir recovery and alleviate distress.This course provides you with thebenefits of learning the scientificapproach adopted by psychologists,covering the core BPS curriculum,alongside the Person-Centre approachof counselling and psychotherapy.This provides you with two,sometimes contrasting, perspectiveson related issues. Many students feelthat a knowledge of these relatedsubject areas increases theiremployment opportunities. The linksbetween Psychology, Psychotherapyand Counselling enable staff fromdifferent disciplines to provide achallenging, stimulating and excitingcourse. This provides complementaryperspectives on providing support forclients in a range of settings, fromsupporting staff working in variousbusinesses to working within a healthenvironment, towards providingcounselling and support (both one-to-one or in a group setting). You may,should you wish, transfer at the end ofYear 1 to any of the psychology routes(single honours courses) includingClinical Psychology or maintain bothdisciplines throughout your degree.

Our fascinating degrees, which areprofessionally accredited by theBritish Psychological Society (BPS),provide Graduate Basis for CharteredMembership (GBC) and are an idealstarting point for a career inpsychology. We offer a suite ofpsychology degree courses whichshare a common core first year,providing you with a breadth ofpsychology knowledge. In Year 2 youwill cover the core BPS curriculumas well as introductions to twospecialist areas from: Clinical;Forensic; Cyberpsychology;NEUROPSYCHOLOGY; or the Psychologyof Child Development. You cancontinue to specialise your degreeduring your third year of study orretain a breadth of coverage on the BSc (Hons) Psychology.

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Why did you choose to studyPsychology at UCLan?SRI chose to come to UCLan because I feltthe university had a lot to offer me. Thiscame from how impressed I was by thestaff in the psychology department andthe quality of the course that they ran.Furthermore, after being shown round thepsychology department I was captivatedby the facilities available to the students.

What was it that attractedyou to the course specifically?ASThe flexibility and the fact you can get ataster for various types of psychologythroughout the degree before third year.This was especially important for me as I had never studied psychology at allwhatsoever.

DWI really wanted to do something with thestudy of people, so psychology reallysuited this. The course at UCLan gave methe choice to change between the differentareas of psychology if I really wanted. Say I really liked the forensic route I could quitesimply at the end of the year move onto aforensic psychology course. It really attractedme that ability to have that freedom.

RTThe flexibility of the course really attractedme to study at UCLan, being able to try alittle bit of everything before committing toone route. No one really knows what theyare going to be doing in three years, sohaving the flexibility to change and comeout with a degree that I am actually goingto be able to use was important.

What are the facilities like? ASThe facilities are incredible and nothing like I have seen at any other university.They are also easily accessible to studentswhich is great!

DWThe facilities are amazing. I love how wehave so much to offer. For my current yeardissertation, I have the opportunity to use a body analyser machine, which measuresloads of different things within the bodylike the amount of visceral fat. I have also been lucky enough to see the brain-imaging lab in use.

RTThe facilities are amazing, the socialspaces and sports centre are great places

to meet and catch up. The student labs aregreat to book with friends and worktogether on your assignments, nodistractions.

What is the teaching like? SRThe lectures are often engaging mainlydown to the fact that we have passionatelecturers who teach what they know andimportantly what they are interested in.What further helps is that lecturers arehappy to speak to you in their own time andsupport you if you’re struggling with anything.

Have you been involved in any projects?RT One of the best opportunities I foundduring my time at UCLan was the Dean’sList, achieving 70% grade in your first yearmeans you could work closely with alecturer on their own project. I had thechance to work with Dr Anja Harrison on a fascinating project on illness anxiety.

SRI’ve had the opportunity to take part in afew projects run by staff and students.Some of this has included looking atEvofits to help forward research, anotherhas been how aware I was with certainparts of my body like heart rate and itssudden change. As well memory tasks are always fun and insightful even thoughI’m never the best at them.

Did you have any personalbarriers and how did youmanage to overcome those?SROne of the biggest challenges was mainlylearning to be independent. Trying to makesure I look after myself and enjoy my timeat uni but the important task of staying ontop of my work load. This was somethingthat took time but really has been a crucial skill to learn.

Could you please give us anoverview of the work youhave done on placement and how you have found the experience?RT For the placement module I started aLego Based Therapy after school club,working with autistic children to increase

social interaction and communication. It was very rewarding but stressful. I recruited three other students tovolunteer as facilitators. After completinga two-day training course from Bricks for Autism, provided by AS-UK. I created a training course for the volunteers andfound a venue to host the club. Thecohort was very challenging and provided a lot of information for the next cohort.

One memory that sticks out from your time at UCLan so far?DW One memory that sticks out for me isplaying my first game of pool in the newlybuilt social space. It was fun and for meshowed that the university was not justabout education it was there to help yourwellbeing by giving you a space tosocialise and relax in.

RTStanding up and talking to a lecturetheatre full of prospective students for the first time, feeling nervous but actuallyenjoying the rush of adrenaline as you start your talk.

Any tips to prospectivestudents?ASTake every opportunity that is offered toyou and don’t be afraid to step out of yourcomfort zone. Get to know your lecturers,they are not going to bite and they will beable to help you better if they know you.They will also have amazing academic and social opportunities to offer you.

RTTake advantage of every opportunity thatis presented to you, get involved early andvolunteer. Talk to your tutors and lecturers,they are there to help and full of usefulinformation.

SR Never say no to any opportunity that cancome your way, also get to know lecturersespecially if they research an area of workyou are interested in as they can offer youchances to get involved.

STUDENTQuestion

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Robert TeareBSc Psychology

Dominic WalshBSc Psychology

Aimee Sullivan BSc Psychology

Shaun Roberts BSc Forensic Psychology

Our panel answer some of the most frequently asked questions about studying Psychology at UCLan

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The Child Observation Suite is a largeobservation room with mirroredwalls. It is equipped with video andaudio recording equipment, an L-shaped researcher room from whichto observe, including a fully equippedteaching facility with a video editingsuite and remote controls for thecameras. There is also a comfortableand fully equipped waiting roomsuitable for adults and children.

Most UK Psychology degreeprogrammes and indeed some A Levelcourses teach students about theresearch of Mary Ainsworth and her“famous” Strange Situation experiment.For many courses, this will involvedescriptions of the work, or thewatching of pre-recorded footage. At UCLan’s School of Psychology webelieve that the most informativeway to learn about this work is foryou to encounter the research firsthand, by replicating the research inour Child Observation Suite (COS).

The Strange Situation is a researchstudy in which researchers attemptto identify the elements of childhoodattachment to parents determined bythe cultural specific elements of theirnurtured behaviour relative to thosethat are innate behaviours commonto all. Our emphasis on experientiallearning ensures that you will be ableto experience this real-life replication,learning the skills you require to reactto the challenges of observing a child’sbehaviour in a way that simply cannotbe conveyed were we, like manyother courses, to simply demonstratethe experiment via a DVD.

In the COS students operate the videocameras, code the child’s behavioursand indeed act as the stranger. Thusrather than experience the researchthe “way that it should be”, you willlearn to experience the research“how it is”. Learning to react to thechild, their guardians and parents; torespond to the situations a research

study canpose ratherthan to simplywatch, listen andlearn from pre-recordedfootage. The experience that yougain, and the techniques that youlearn could then be applied in theobservation of medics, educators,athletes, and in many other domains.Indeed, one of the underlyingprinciples of the teaching within theSchool is that students will learnmore, in a more engaging manner,and remember it for longer if theyhave actively participated in theprocesses rather than simply andpassively been told about it.

The Child Observation Suite

Our Brain Imaging Laboratory (BiL)houses equipment such aselectroencephalography (EEG),functional Near-InfraredSpectroscopy (fNIRS), functionalTranscranial Doppler sonography(fTCD) and Transcranial MagneticStimulation (TMS) equipment to

enable you to learn the basis ofneuroimaging and relatedtechniques to learn more about the brain and brain function. BiL is complemented by the adjacent DCN lab which replicates many of these facilities but for researchconsidering young children,

adolescents and their families. Bothlabs provide intern opportunities,both voluntary and paid, andfacilitate your understanding of arange of topics from across all thedegree courses.

Brain Imaging Laboratory (BIL) andDevelopmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab (DCN)

Remodelled in 2019, the Clinical,Health and Psychobiology Suite is apurpose-built teaching and researchfacility. It houses a central conferenceroom, for teaching and discussion, withspecialist laboratories off the perimeterof this central room. It is designed sothat you can learn about andparticipate in the activities beingconducted in the adjoining laboratories.Supporting a range of courses,including the Clinical Psychology and

Neuropsychology degrees, the suite oflaboratories includes; aninterview/counselling room; a StressLaboratory housing virtual realityequipment, cardiovascular equipmentand a two-way mirror to permitobservational work to be undertaken;and a Psychobiology laboratoryenabling neuroendocrine research thatis equipped with a range of specialised,state-of-the-art microscopes forneurochemical analysis.

Clinical, Health and Psychobiology Suite

Superb FacilitiesThe School of Psychology, located in the multi-million pound,purpose-built Darwin Building, offers an excellent location to study psychology. Housing over 30 state-of-the-art laboratoriesproviding you with a first-class learning environment.

These fantastic facilities support your experiential learning with laboratories equipped to ensure you receive the skills and knowledge of immediate benefit to you and your potential employers. These include the Clinical and Health Psychology Suite, Cognitive Psychology Complex, and both a Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab and Brain Imaging Laboratories.

Understanding what makes people tickprepares you for a wide range of careers,not just as a professional psychologist -no wonder Psychology is such anincredibly popular degree course.Employability

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A Psychology degree can take you anywhere in the World…Clinicalpsychologist

Sport andexercisepsychologist

Forensicpsychologist

Counsellingpsychologist

Academic andResearchPsychologist

Healthpsychologist

Occupationalpsychologist

Psychologicalwellbeingpractitioner

Furthereducationteacher

Educationalpsychologist

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• Advice worker• Careers adviser• Counsellor• Data analyst• Human resources officer

• Life coach• Market researcher• Play therapist• Probation officer• Psychotherapist

We continuously engage withemployers to make sure ourcurriculum delivers the skills andknowledge industry needs. Theseinclude a number of professionals fromvarious sectors, including NHS Trusts,patient groups, medical practitioners,

allied health professionals, the PrisonService, police forces, local educationauthorities, schools and professionalsports organisations.

Your degree will also provide you witha foundation for a range of careers:

Our IndustryLinks...

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Laura Campbell came to UCLan on the back of enduring a difficult time at anotheruniversity. Three years later, she graduatedwith a first-class Honours degree inPsychology, after enjoying her time at UCLanfar more than she ever thought she would.

At her graduation ceremony in 2017, Laura won threeawards, which recognised her ability and potential. Shewas awarded the Hugh Wagner Memorial Prize for TheBest Undergraduate Project within the School ofPsychology, the School Award for Best Research Projectby a student on the course, as well as the School Awardfor the Best Overall Performance. After gaining anincredible 100% in her Psychology A Level at college, itwas both inevitable and unsurprising that Laura hasachieved all of the above. She firmly believes that herskills developed greatly after coming to UCLan. Laurasaid: “I have developed immensely in all aspects of myselfsince attending UCLan.

“I loved that I was in University every day for a significanttime, which was more than my previous university incomparison. I felt I was engaging more with my studiesand I also enjoyed having the choice of modules, as itmade me feel as though I had a say in my own education.”

The transition from one university to another isn’t a verycommon step to take so understandably Laura wasquite apprehensive at first. However, throughthe support of her tutors and peers she soonrealised that she had nothing to worryabout at all. Laura said: “Due to mynegative experiences at my previousuniversity I was particularlyanxious about having to startafresh, especially as I didn’tknow anyone and I wasworried that I may have thesame experiences as I did theprevious year.

“The transition was mucheasier than I expected, whichI believe is down to thefantastic staff and supportbase I was provided withbefore and upon my arrival. Iwas quickly introduced to anamazing group of friends whohelped me greatly with settling intothe University.”

It’s that same support system which Laura talks about themost about when discussing her time at UCLan, labellingthe support and opportunities she has received at theuniversity as “second to none.” Outside of the course itself,Laura got involved with numerous different things acrossUCLan. In her second year, she became a studentambassador whilst also taking the chance to become aresearch assistant within the Psychology department.

Laura said: “Being a research assistant provided me withvaluable insight and knowledge regarding researchtechniques which later assisted me with my own researchin my third year dissertation project.”

She continued: “Becoming an ambassador has alsoprovided me with the opportunity of becoming aMobility Support Worker over the past year, which hashelped my personal and professional developmentimmensely.”

Having now graduated, Laura is currently workingtowards publishing her dissertation, while she has alsodecided to remain affiliated with UCLan. After initiallygoing into another job, she returned to work at theUniversity in May as an assistant on the Future U projectbefore moving to the Psychology Graduate TeachingAssistant Team in April of 2019.

LAURA CAMPBELLBSc (Hons) Psychology

Dr Leila Eccles chose to study her BScPsychology Degree at the University ofCentral Lancashire (UCLan) and with the helpand guidance of academics, achieved herdream role as a Senior Clinical Psychologist.

During her studies at University, Leila’s aim was to getinto Clinical Psychology, an area which is verycompetitive. Realising her need to get hands on clinicalexperience for her CV, Leila took on the wide range ofopportunities available to her during her course, includingbecoming a Special Support Assistant within a nursery toa child with Asperger’s Syndrome. Leila looks back fondlyon her experiences:

“All this happened whilst I was still doing my degree. Iwould sometimes drive all the little ones to school in themorning on the school bus and then go straight to mylectures, then I’d leave my lectures and go pick them all upback from school at the end of the day!”

After graduating, Leila got further clinical experience andher master's in Counselling Studies before she achievedher Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and qualified as aClinical Psychologist. Her BSc proved to be a realspringboard for Leila and she highly recommends thecourse for students of the future. “I think students are in areally good place for future opportunities. In terms of thedegree itself, it covers all bases; it is very organised andyou come out with all the skills set you require, and I cameout feeling like I had covered all areas of Psychology.”

Leila EcclesUCLAN GRADUATE TO CLINICALPSYCHOLOGIST, NHS ENGLAND

15Where

areour

graduatesNOW?

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Each year, the School of Psychology hosts anannual Darwin Day Celebration Lecture. Thelecture is an important academic event - DarwinDay is a worldwide celebration of science andreason, and the University of Central Lancashirehas hosted 12 previous lectures by distinguishedacademics. The lectures are held in the 450 seatDarwin Lecture Theatre (School of Psychology,Darwin Building). The building was named after Darwin following a vote among academicstaff, to honour Darwin's contribution to ourunderstanding of humanity and our place in the Universe.

Previous Darwin Day Lectures2018 Sophie Scott2017 Hannah Critchlow2015 Sarah-Jayne Blakemore2014 Robin Dunbar2013 Bruce Hood2012 Nicola Clayton2011 Nicholas Humphrey2010 Sir Patrick Bateson2009 Armand Leroi2008 Richard Wiseman2007 Susan Blackmore2006 Richard Dawkins

Darwin Day Lecture

Out and AboutResearch underpins learning throughoutyour study, and you will be encouraged to participate in psychological research. This involvement is not just through yourclasses and final year projects, but alsothrough a range of opportunities. The strength of our Psychology research falls within three broad areas that formour research groups: Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Group, ForensicResearch Group and the Health Research Group. With a focus on real world issuesand an underlying theme of informing practice through evidence-based research,our focus is on multidisciplinary collaboration. UCLan has national and internationalcollaborations in place with NHS Trusts, patient groups, medical practitioners,allied health professionals, Prison Service, police forces, Local EducationAuthorities, schools and school teachers, athletic clubs and charitable institutions.

The Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Group focuses on a range of areas including selective attention and distraction, working memory, executivefunctioning, the social contexts of perception, biases in reasoning, readingdevelopment and aspects of social cognition.

The Forensic Research Group has several key areas of activity including sexdifferences in aggression, physical aggression between young men, family violenceand women’s offending behaviour, interventions for other and self-directedviolence, bullying and attributions towards sexual abuse.

The Quality of Life Research Group has a broad focus on health and wellbeing with three key themes:

• Condition-specific scale development including the development, psychometric evaluation and clinical interpretation of patient-reported outcome measures such as health–related quality of life instruments and measures of emotional functioning.

• Psychological evaluation of chronic conditions including cystic fibrosis, lupus, obesity, eating behaviours and childhood loneliness.

• Psychological and biological responses to stressors.

Around 20 students from a variety of courses includingneuropsychology, forensicpsychology and sports psychologyvisited Brockholes just outsidePreston to learn about ecotherapyand its benefits. The students tookpart in activities such as trustbuilding exercises, teamworkbuilding and working together tolight fires, all with the intention ofhighlighting the positive impact of the environment on the mind. Sarita Robinson, Senior PsychologyLecturer, explained howexperiencing ecotherapy can helpthe students in both their studiesand their daily routines as the timefor exams and deadlines edgesnearer.

She said: “I think it’s a useful tool for some people to help maintaintheir mental health.

“There were a few reasons for thisvisit here. The first thing was tointroduce students to ecotherapy sothat they could see a mental health

intervention in action and thesecond was to show an example ofwhat research they could do fortheir dissertation projects in theirfinal year.

“Obviously the spin-off benefit forthe students is that they will be ableto use what they’ve learnt today tolook after their own wellbeing so it’s a great practical tool for them to

incorporate into everyday life evenafter they leave university.

“I think it gives them an insight intohow psychology actually works inthe real world. You can do a lot ofteaching from journals and booksand within lectures but to actuallysee therapy being carried out in thereal world brings that knowledgeand understanding to life.”

UCLAN Undergraduate Research Internship Programme (UURIP)The UCLan Undergraduate Research Internship Scheme (URIS) is one of the largest paid internship schemes operating in UKuniversities and has enabled our students to earn money whilstgaining valuable research experience, as well as publish workalongside staff in academic journals and present work atinternational conferences.

Rese

archPsychology students spent an afternoon researching

the impact of the environment on mental health.

Can you please tell us alittle about yourbackground in Psychologyand the path that led you to working at UCLan? I have 15 years of experience in the Sport,Exercise and Performance psychologyfield. I started my academic career in myhome country of Brazil where I earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. I received my PhD in the USA, completeda post-doctoral fellowship in Italy, and then landed a job at UCLan.

What was it about UCLanthat appealed to you?UCLan is a big university and I believethere is strength in numbers. Largeuniversities come with resources, a diverse staff and student population,international networks and much more.The location is also great, as Preston isclose to Manchester and Liverpool and is only an hour away from the LakeDistrict, and two hours away by train from London.

What is your careerhighlight to date?I received the Dissertation Award from the American Psychological Association,Division-47 – Sport, Exercise &Performance Psychology. While beingrecognised with an award is always nice,perhaps the most rewarding part is thatthe manuscript derived from my doctoraldissertation has been well received in the literature and has opened up manyresearch collaborations around the world.

Which area of psychologyfascinates you the most and why? Sport, Exercise and PerformancePsychology, and Neuroscience. I find itfascinating to study human excellence andto explore neural markers of emotionaland cognitive states in the brain.

What are your teachingresponsibilities?I teach in a number of different modulesbut my main contributions are in Sport andExercise Psychology, Research Methods,and Measurement and Statistics.

What is the best part ofbeing a University lecturerin general?I love the freedom of being a lecturer. Theacademic life allows you to get paid tostudy, teach and research the subject youlike. It cannot get much better than that.

What would your advicebe for any psychologystudents starting inSeptember?Do your homework and be proactive. Make sure you do the assigned reading,prepare for the lectures, and turn-in yourassignments on time. Also, be proactive insearching for research opportunities,getting involved in social activities, andmaking the best of every opportunityavailable in the University.

Dr Edson Filho Lecturer in Psychology

Staff

Tell us about yourbackground in psychologyand the path that led you to working at UCLan I have studied psychology in Kiel, Germany,before completing my PhD in Hamburg, at the Center of Neuro-immunologicalMultiple Sclerosis research. I have alwayshad a keen interest in the biological sideof psychology as well as working with people with chronic conditions and tryingto increase their quality of life. This led meto complete my first postdoc at King’sCollege, London, where I have worked in agreat team to develop self-managementinterventions for people with InflammatoryBowel Diseases. I went on to become a

lecturer at UCLan because alongside mypassion for research, I wanted to share theknowledge that I have gained with futurescientists, psychologists, and medics.

What was it about UCLanthat appealed to you?UCLan has excellent facilities and is veryresearch-active with many researcherswilling to involve students in real-lifeexperiments and studies. Students atUCLan gain both practical skills as well as theoretical knowledge. UCLan is verydedicated to widening participation, which I am very supportive of as a currentand previous tutor of the Brilliant Club.

What is your careerhighlight to date?The first time that I isolated immune cells from blood to conduct psychologicalexperiments.

Which area of psychologyfascinates you the most and why?I think the bio-psycho-social approach is a very fascinating one. Also I ampassionate about developing and triallingnew interventions to empower chronicallyill people to self-manage and designinginterventions in a way that is ‘reality-proof’.

What are your teachingresponsibilities? I am currently teaching on a wide variety of different modules, ranging from statsworkshops to Health Psychology. I amhoping to get across my enthusiasm forthe topic by offering my personal view,whilst providing enough evidence sostudents can come up with their own ideas, theories and opinions. Teaching how to think critically rather than what to think captures it well.

What is the best part ofbeing a University lecturerin general?The great thing is that you don’t only get todo your own research, but you get to telland teach young aspiring psychologists-to-be about chances, risks and practicalities. I personally have found learning fromthose people that are on the frontline ofresearch most helpful when I went to uni.

What would your advice be for any psychologystudents starting inSeptember?Go to every lecture, seminar and find outwhat you’re not so interested in and whatdoes inspire you to go above and beyondwhat the course requires you to pass -sometimes that can be something you might not have expected. I, for instance,always wanted to become a clinicalpsychologist, but discovered a completelydifferent career path for myself, inspired by an excellent lecture on the topic ofPsychobiology.

Dr. Anja Harrison Clinical Psychology

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