Alternate

Psychology and Language Sciences

We are pleased that you are considering taking up the offer of a place on our Psychology & Language Sciences programme. We have set up these pages to provide you with more information about the course so that you can make the right decision for you.

Overview

The programme is the first of its kind in the UK and offers students a genuinely multi-disciplinary approach to the scientific study of the human mind and human communication, with a strong focus on language sciences throughout. Accredited by the British Psychological Society, the degree draws on world-leading teaching and research expertise in UCL’s Division of Psychology & Language Sciences.

Part of what makes the programme unique is its focus on experiential learning, including hands-on lab sessions with the opportunity to examine a dissected human brain and a second year placement with young children where you will gather your own data for an assignment. Students also hear from people with language disorders about the effects of these difficulties on their lives. Final year students conduct their own substantive research project, and choose from a wide range of specialised modules many of which have particular relevance to research and professional practice.

The fourth MSci year provides an exciting opportunity either to join world-leading researchers exploring, for example, the interface between cognition and language development, the neurobiology of speech, the impact of neurological insult on conversation, or to apply psychological and linguistic theory in the workplace, for example, working with a speech and language therapy team or a clinical psychologist.

You can listen to Caroline Newton, the Admissions Tutor, describe the course in more detail here:

Widget Placeholder

Programme content

As you consider whether this is the right programme for you, use the links below to see more detailed information on the content of the modules taken by students on the degree.

PALS1002 Perception, Attention and Learning
PALS1003 Memory
PALS1004 Introduction to Speech Science
PALS1006 Introduction to Research Methods
PALS1007 Neural Basis of Perception, Memory and Language
PLIN1302 Introduction to Language
PSYC1107 Evidence and Enquiry in Psychology
PSYC1202 Social Psychology

PALS2002 Speech Production and Perception
PALS2005 Development of Cognition and Communication
PALS2006 Research Design and Experimental Methods
PSYC1203 The Psychology of Individual Differences
PSYC2208 Language and Cognition
EITHER PLIN1201 Introduction to Generative Grammar A
OR PLIN7305 Sociolinguistics
OR PALS3010 The Evolution of Vocal Communication
Plus one 0.5 CU elective module

PALS3901 Research project

Plus six optional courses from the following:
PALS3001 Perspectives on Clinical Psychology
PALS3002 Developmental Disorders of Communication and Cognition
PALS3003 Development of Speech Perception and Production
PALS3004 Web Programming for Research in Psychology and Language Science
PALS3005 Neurobiology of Speech Processing
PALS3006 Rehabilitation of Acquired Neurogenic Communication Difficulties
PALS3007 Deafness: Cognition and Language
PALS3008 Conversation Analysis
PALS3009 Laboratory Methods in Phonetics and Speech Science
PALS3010 The Evolution of Vocal Communication
PALS3011 The Psychology of Politics

PSYC3102 Social Psychology
PSYC3104 Psychology and Education
PSYC3108 Organisational Psychology
PSYC3109 The Social Psychology of Risk
PSYC3110 Topics in Developmental Psychology
PSYC3112 Behaviour Change: an interdisciplinary approach
PSYC3209 Cognitive Neuroscience
PSYC3210 The Brain in Action
PSYC3303 Topics in Neurobiology
PSYC3307 Genes and Behaviour

PLIN3003 Semantic-Pragmatic Development
PLIN3101 Phonetic Theory
PLIN7109 Stuttering
PLIN7305 Sociolinguistics
PLIN7308 Psycholinguistics: Stages in Normal Language Development
PLIN7309 Linguistics of Sign Language
PLIN7311 Neurolinguistics

Compulsory modules

Research pathway

- Advanced Research Project (2.0 credits)

- Statistics (0.5 credits)

Applied pathway

- Placement Project (2.0 credits)

- Behavioural Research in Applied Settings (0.5 credits)

Optional modules

You will select either three (Research route) or two (Applied route) optional modules from a wide range likely to include: Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental Disorders of Communication and Cognition, Developmental Language Disorders and Cognitive Neuroscience, Human Learning and Memory, Introduction to Event-Related Potential Techniques, Neuroscience of Language, Second Language Speech Learning, Social Psychology, The Brain in Action.

Staff and students

Although it is situated in a large and varied research environment, the programme itself is relatively small for a psychology degree. Our staff and students really value being part of this small closely-knit community, where people know each other well: we think it benefits the teaching and the support that we can give students.

We are delighted that three of our current students have been awarded prestigious studentships to work with world-leading researchers over the summer:

You can also get to know some of our staff:

Read an interview with Head of Year 3 Rosalind Potts: Bridging the Gap
Learn about research involving Head of PaLS Year 2 Mark Huckvale on a new approach to the treatment of auditory hallucinations (hearing voices): Avatar Therapy

Hear from our first group of BSc PaLS graduates:

Widget Placeholder

Graduates

We are still a young programme. Our first cohort graduated in 2015, and there’s great excitement for us in following the career paths of our former students. Some have used the programme as a foundation for professional training in clinical psychology, speech and language therapy, teaching and medicine. Many of our graduates are pursuing further study at Master’s level or embarking on PhD study. Others are applying the analytical and communication skills developed on this course in graduate training schemes in fields such as auditing, human resources and media.

The first group of students on the Psychology and Language Sciences MSci will graduate in 2018.

Chandler House

The programme is based in Chandler House, just a short walk away from the main UCL campus. Take a short tour of the building with students from a different degree:

Widget Placeholder

Questions

We understand that you or your parents might have questions, so if you would like to speak to staff from the degree, please contact:
Caroline Newton, BSc PaLS Admissions Tutor
David Newton, BSc PaLS Administrator