Psychology Online Degree Pathway

Psychology Online Degree Pathway

This Course at a Glance

• Globally recognised online alternative to Year 1 and Year 2 of university
• Get on the pathway to obtaining a BSc (Hons) degree in Psychology
• In partnership with SEG Awards, making degree learning accessible to all
• Complete Year 3 at the London Metropolitan University
• Flexible online study rather than on-campus lectures
• Get on the fast track to your university qualification
• Avoid rising loan repayment fees
• Save on expensive living costs associated with on-campus study

Achieving a degree in psychology can lead you towards a career in counselling, as well as clinical, forensic, occupational, and educational psychology. With our online degree pathway, which consists of the first and second years of a bachelor’s degree, removing in-person lectures and restrictive timetables, you have the option to complete Year 1 and Year 2 in as little as 12 months.

About Your Online Degree Pathway

This undergraduate online degree pathway in psychology is made up of 240 credits and is designed as an online alternative to completing Year 1 and Year 2 at university. Studying with us will fast-track you to the final year of an associated bachelor’s degree, which can be completed with a partnered university.

Our online degree pathway is accredited by the Skills and Education Group Awards. The course is delivered online, through an engaging array of online learning materials. So, you will find your education both interesting and rewarding. As a self-paced online course, you can also work towards your qualification without pressure, around your existing commitments.

What Will You Learn?

You’ll be introduced to a wide range of historical and contemporary approaches to psychology. This includes exploring areas such as biopsychology, social and developmental psychology, systems of thinking, the origins of psychology as a science, and the role of artificial intelligence in cognitive psychology.

Building upon the knowledge gained in Year 1, in Year 2 you delve deeper into other fascinating areas of psychology. This includes the exploration of health psychology, cross-cultural psychology, individual differences, mental health disorders, and psychological therapy.

University Progression

Upon successful completion of Year 1 and Year 2 with us, you will be guaranteed an admissions letter to complete Year 3 of your undergraduate degree at the London Metropolitan University, ranked ninth in the UK for teaching quality and 10th in the UK for student experience (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024).

For example, you could study:

Applied Psychology

Payment for your third-year fee is an additional cost and is made directly to the university.

Study for a Degree Without Expensive Fees

If you want to get a head start on your degree and avoid the rising debt that comes with student loans, we have an alternative that is perfect for you. Our Psychology Online Degree Pathway enables you to study Year 1 and Year 2 online from the comfort of home, and upon completion, you’ll be guaranteed a place at university to do the third year of your degree.

This programme allows you to essentially complete two-thirds of your psychology degree remotely, offering a flexible and convenient learning experience. By liberating yourself from the limitations of scheduled classes and timetables, you can efficiently progress through the course materials and accelerate your journey to the third year in a shorter timeframe.

A More Affordable Choice

Student loan repayments are set to double for university graduates under new student finance rules, while the annual salary threshold for repayments is moving from £27,660 per year to £25,000 per year.

With inflation and interest rates rising in the UK due to the ongoing cost of living crisis, university graduates are affected. For the 2022/23 academic year, there was a risk of student loan interest rates reaching 12%, further hitting the pockets of students.

Due to the current economic uncertainty, a university graduate could end up with an average of £42,900 of student loan debt, with tuition fees costing an average of £9,250 per year.

According to YouGov, 37% of people feel that current tuition fees are unfair, so it’s no surprise that many are looking for alternative options. Here at learndirect, we can offer you an affordable alternative that covers the first and second year of a degree for a fraction of the cost of the traditional route.

Please note, once you complete our online degree pathway, you will need to pay the top-up fee to your select university to study the third year of your course online. You can opt to complete your third year on campus, but prices vary.

Your Living Costs Won’t Be Affected

By studying our Psychology Online Degree pathway, you can complete the first and second years of your degree comfortably from home, without the additional expenses associated with full-term university study. This eliminates the need for student housing costs and travel expenses, allowing you to study at your own pace and integrate it seamlessly into your lifestyle. So, if you’re currently working, you won’t have to give that up for university life.

Securing Final-Year University Admission

In addition to fast-tracking your progression to the final year of a psychology or related degree, we provide you with an admissions letter for university. This letter meets the entry requirements for your chosen university, ensuring that once you have successfully completed our Psychology Online Degree Pathway, you have a guaranteed letter for the final year of your university education.

Modules

Year 1 covers the following units:

Unit 1: Foundations of Psychology as a Science

On successful completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand the origins of Psychology as a science
• Understand ethical issues in psychology
• Understand the classifications of the academic branches of Psychology
• Understand the theoretical approaches to Psychology

Unit 2: Biological Psychology (Biopscyology)

On successful completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand the Human Nervous System
• Understand Sensory Processes in explaining behaviour
• Understand states of Consciousness
• Understand Learning and Conditioning in human development

Unit 3: Cognitive Psychology

On successful completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand the processes of Memory
• Understand the systems of Thinking
• Understand the principles of Language
• Understand the role of artificial intelligence in cognitive psychology

Unit 4: Developmental Psychology

On successful completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand the nature/nurture debate in developmental psychology
• Understand early socialisation and the formation of attachment
• Understand the ways in which children process and use information in cognitive development
• Understand psychological changes that accompany ageing
• Understand the application of developmental psychology theories in the real world

Unit 5: Social Psychology

On successful completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand the concept of Social Identity
• Understand classic and contemporary views of Social Influence and Attraction
• Understand the functions of Attitudes and Attitude Change
• Apply the theories of Altruism and Antisocial behaviour to human nature
• Understand the processes involved in Prejudice and Discrimination

Unit 6: Research Methods

On successful completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand how Psychologists use major research methods
• Understand the purpose of descriptive and inferential statistics
• Understand the ethical guidelines within psychological research

Year 2 covers the following units:

Unit 1: Health Psychology

On successful completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand the role of Health Psychology
• Understand the relationship between the body’s physical systems and health
• Understand the meaning, impact, and sources of stress in individuals, families, and society
• Understand the functions and methods of stress management
• Understand the relationship between nutrition and health

Unit 2: Cross-Cultural Psychology

On successful completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand key aspects of Cultural and Cross-cultural Psychology
• Understand the cross-cultural influences on perceptual development
• Understand the types of infant attachment within, and between cultures
• Understand crosscultural studies on moral development

Unit 3: Individual Differences

On successful completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand the concept of Intelligence
• Understand the psychological definition of Personality
• Understand the role of motivation in human behaviour
• Understand the range of basic emotions

Unit 4: Mental Health Disorders

On successful completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand historical perspectives of mental health disorders
• Understand the criteria used in assessing mental health
• Understand the classifications systems used in diagnosing mental health disorders
• Understand controversy around diagnosis of mental health disorders
• Understand factors affecting mental health disorders

Unit 5: Psychological Therapy

On successful completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand the emergence of psychological therapy as a response to psychological disorders
• Understand theoretical perspectives and concepts within counselling as a treatment for psychological disorders
• Understand the role of pharmacological therapies in the treatment of psychological disorders

Unit 6: Psychological Research Project

On successful completion of this unit, you will:

• Be able to design an appropriate psychology research study to address a specific research question
• Be able to apply ethical considerations when conducting psychological research
• Be able to collect, analyse and present data relevant to a psychological research project
• Be able to report on a psychological research project

Entry Requirements

You’ll need to possess an appropriate level of English.

You will also need a GCE A-Level or equivalent, or an appropriate school leavers certificate deemed to be of a similar level.

Minimum Age Restriction

18

Average Completion Timeframe

This qualification typically takes learners an average of 18 months to complete.

Assessment Requirements

There are no exams included in this study programme, instead, you will complete a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate your understanding.

Course Fees

All course fees, inclusive of all payment plans including our Premium Credit Limited option, must be settled before certification can be ordered.

*You will have access to the course for 24 months.

There are no exams included in this online degree pathway, instead a portfolio approach is used to continuously assess you throughout this qualification. You will study the units included in the course and develop a portfolio of evidence for each unit to demonstrate your understanding.

You will have support from a tutor throughout and will also receive additional guidance in terms of researching, planning, and drafting your work.

SEG Awards

Upon successful completion of this online course, you will have achieved the following globally recognised qualifications:

• SEG Awards Level 4 Diploma in Psychology – (610/4239/0)
• SEG Awards Level 5 Diploma in Psychology – (610/4246/8)

Skills and Education Group Awards offer qualifications and assessments which are regulated by CCEA, Ofqual and Qualifications Wales. They are driven by delivering a high-quality and trusted service to Centres and learners, so that everyone gets the education they deserve.

Skills and Education Group Awards offer qualifications and assessments which are regulated by CCEA, Ofqual and Qualifications Wales. They are driven by delivering a high-quality and trusted service to Centres and learners, so that everyone gets the education they deserve.

Upon completion of this Psychology Online Degree Pathway, you can go on to complete the third year of an undergraduate degree in the subject – or a closely related subject - at a selected UK university. You could also pursue direct employment with this qualification, seeking roles within the psychology and counselling field, but make sure you do your research as many jobs in this space require degrees.

For more insight into what your degree could lead to, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions