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Psychology and Language Sciences BSc

London, Bloomsbury

Become the next generation of psychology and language sciences experts by studying UCL's Psychology and Language Science BSc course. We are ranked 4th in the world for Psychology in the Shanghai Ranking Global Ranking of Academic Subjects for 2024. Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), this is a dynamic and engaging course that explores psychology through the prism of human interaction and communication - an integral aspect of what it means to be human.

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
Duration
3 academic years
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£9,535
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£39,800
Programme starts
September 2026
Application deadline
14 Jan 2026
UCAS course code
CB86
Apply via UCAS

Entry requirements

A levels IB Diploma Other qualifications
Grades
AAA
Subjects
To include one subject from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology.
GCSEs
English Language, Mathematics and two Sciences (double award acceptable) at grade B or 6.

Contextual offer information

Grades
ABB more about contextual offers
Subjects
To include grade A in one of either Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology.
GCSEs
English Language, Mathematics and two Sciences (double award acceptable) at grade B or 6.
Points
38
Subjects
A total of 18 points in three higher level subjects to include grade 6 in one subject from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology, with no higher level score below 5. If Mathematics is offered at higher level, the programme will accept either 'Analysis and Approaches' or 'Applications and Interpretation.

Contextual offer

Points
34 more about contextual offers
Subjects
A total of 16 points in three higher level subjects to include grade 6 in one subject from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology, with no higher level score below 5. If Mathematics is offered at higher level, the programme will accept either 'Analysis and Approaches' or 'Applications and Interpretation.

UK applicants qualifications

For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:

Equivalent qualification

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

D3,D3,D3 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects, including one subject from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology.

A,A,A at Advanced Highers (or A,A at Advanced Higher and A,A,A at Higher), including A in one subject from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology at Advanced Higher.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

International applications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

Access and widening participation

UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. If you are eligible for Access UCL you do not need to do anything in addition to the standard UCAS application. Your application will be automatically flagged when we receive it.
Check your Access UCL Scheme eligibility

Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates

The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who don’t have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.

Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.

For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.

English language requirements

The English language level for this programme is: Level 3

Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.

A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.

Course overview

Communication and language are fundamental to human behaviour, how we perceive the world, and how we interact with one another. By studying Psychology and Language Sciences, you will gain a unique perspective and education that opens up a wide variety of further study and career destinations.

The Psychology and Language Sciences BSc is a three-year course, accredited by the British Psychological Society, that develops students’ knowledge and expertise in psychology, language sciences, linguistics, and communication. We also offer a four-year integrated Master's course which includes a workplace (applied) or research placement.

Year 2 students have the option to complete a weekly observational placement with children in an early years’ setting as part of the Development of Communication and Cognition module.

The course is an excellent platform from which you can pursue further research or follow Master's level professional programmes. For example, many students pursue careers in clinical and educational psychology, teaching, speech and language therapy, or audiology.

Our departments continuously produce innovative, cutting-edge, and highly cited research. Students are encouraged to engage with our research community and will be invited to research lectures throughout the year, as well as there being opportunities to apply for research internships.

Additionally:

  • We are top in the UK for research power in Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, with more than 90% of our research rated as world-leading or internationally excellent (UK Research Excellence Framework 2021).
  • UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2025).
  • We are ranked 6th in the world for Psychology (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025).
  • UCL is 2nd in Europe and 3rd in the world for Psychiatry / Psychology in the National Taiwan University Rankings for scientific papers (2024).

What this course will give you

The UCL Division of Psychology and Language Sciences is known worldwide for its teaching and research in the fields of psychology, speech sciences, and linguistics. The work of our staff appears in internationally acclaimed journals and books. You will be joining a community of academics and researchers whose own research contributes to the subjects that they teach.

This course provides experiential learning in our research specialisms, emphasising the complementary nature of psychology, speech sciences and linguistics, and providing special insights into the human mind, language, and communication. 

Reflecting the many transferable skills, you gain, 86% of graduates are working or in further study 15 months after graduating, with many in diverse fields including therapy, IT, business, and teaching (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020-21).

You benefit from excellent resources including our virtual learning environment (VLE), which makes all teaching materials (including course outlines, lecture presentation slides, handouts, video recordings of lectures) available to all students. UCL runs a Language and Speech Sciences Library in which students can access relevant materials, for example, tests of language and cognitive capacity used in clinics and in education.

The Division of Psychology and Language Sciences is also home to the departmental Psychology Society and the PALS Programme Society which are both student-run and have many social activities as well as external guest lecturers and talks presented throughout the year. You are living and studying in London, the world’s best city for students (QS Best Student Cities 2024). 
 

Teaching and learning

In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

Upon successful completion of 360 credits, you will be awarded a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and Language Sciences.

Modules

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Years 1 comprises mainly compulsory modules taken by all students, as well as research methods modules, lab classes and Academic Tutorials. 

In Year 2, you take five compulsory modules and choose two additional modules, one from a selection of psychology and language options and another that can be taken from a wide choice of modules belonging to other UCL degree courses. You also have the option to complete a weekly observational placement with children in an early years’ setting. You continue having research methods modules, lab classes and Academic Tutorials in Year 2. 

In Year 3, you choose a research project (similar to a dissertation in other courses) to be completed under the supervision of an expert in your chosen field. Alongside your research project, you select six optional modules from a broad range of specialised areas. Academic Tutorials complete the Year 3 diet. 
 

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

Compulsory modules










Compulsory modules







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Your learning

Your learning will be dynamic and engaging, making use of different study modes. You will attend lectures (sometimes shared with students on other courses), smaller laboratory classes, and back-up classes. Regular group tutorials with a member of academic staff will provide an opportunity to integrate your learning and discuss the topics you have studied in more detail. Each student has regular meetings with a personal tutor to discuss academic progress.

A core component of the second year of the degree is a weekly placement with young children. Students observe and take part in classroom activities as well as carry out tasks with individual children. These activities enable you to relate university-based learning on the development of communication and cognition to real-life observations – bringing to life your studies and developing several transferrable skills (such as critical thinking, reflection, and communication). As the placement involves working with children, all students are required to undergo a check with the UK Disclosure and Barring Service.

Depending on the year of study and module choices, the number of contact hours typically averages 10 hours per week and ranges between 8-12 hours a week and includes lectures, tutorials, lab sessions and practice-based activities. Students will be expected to spend 25-30 hours per week in independent study for example, by engaging with key topics and required readings in preparation for the discussions promoted in the programme.

Assessment

Each module is examined separately, often by a combination of essays, data exercises, and examinations. Your performance is always assessed in the same academic year in which you take it. Progression to the second and third years is dependent upon your achievement in Year 1 and Year 2.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Virtual Open Event: Psychology and Language Sciences BSc/MSci information session (April)

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During this online session you'll get to hear from the programme Director, Vitor Zimmerer, about the course structure, modules, career outcomes and life as a student in the department, UCL and London more widely. We'll also have student ambassadors who are current students on the course in the session so you'll be able to pitch your questions to them and gain their valuable insights into why this is the course for you too.

Online - Open day

Virtual Open Event: Psychology and Language Sciences BSc/MSci information session (May)

—

During this online session you'll get to hear from the programme Director, Vitor Zimmerer, about the course structure, modules, career outcomes and life as a student in the department, UCL and London more widely. We'll also have student ambassadors who are current students on the course in the session so you'll be able to pitch your questions to them and gain their valuable insights into why this is the course for you too.

Online - Open day

Undergraduate Psychology at PALS - Virtual Discovery Session

Join the UCL Division of Psychology and Language Sciences to find out more about studying one of our undergraduate psychology courses. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about studying Psychology BSc/MSci and Psychology and Language Sciences BSc/MSci at UCL. You will get to hear from academic staff who teach on our programmes and get an opportunity to ask them questions.

Watch on demand event

The foundation of your career

The knowledge and experience gained on this degree provide an excellent foundation for further specialised training in a range of careers including audiology, clinical and educational psychology, teaching, speech and language therapy, medicine as well as PhD study.

While many of our graduates have gone on to work in the National Health Service (NHS), others have gone on to work for management consultancies, charities, the civil service and more. Our graduates have gone on to work as psychologists, data analysts, researchers, marketing professionals and management consultants.

Knowledge of people and how they communicate, as well as the analytical and communication skills you will develop on this degree, are valuable more widely in a range of careers including market research, social care, management, consultancy and teaching.

Data is from the Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates from 2017-18 to 2021-22.

Employability

The cutting-edge experimental, empirical, and statistical/computational tools employed in this degree will enable you to develop and evaluate ideas across the areas of human psychology and communication, providing you with an exceptional base for further research in these areas.

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society. UK applicants for graduate membership and the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) require a minimum of a lower second-class Bachelor's degree. Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership is required for entry to all accredited postgraduate and doctoral programmes as part of the route to becoming a chartered psychologist.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £9,535
Tuition fees (2025/26) £39,800

Fees are for Undergraduate 2025/26 entry and are for the first year only. Fees for subsequent years may be subject to increase: Student Terms and Conditions. UK fees are in line with the Government announcement on fee cap increases and are subject to the passing of secondary legislation. Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2025/26 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.

Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.

Additional costs

This programme has no additional costs. If you require a DBS check, the cost for this will be paid by UCL.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).

Funding your studies

Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Scholarships

The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.

Next steps

Your application

Aside from meeting the entry requirements for this course, we particularly welcome applications from students who are passionate about understanding the intersectionality of psychology and language. As our students learn statistical analysis of data, we require our applicants to be ready to engage with quantitative methods.

If you have work experience that you want to include in your personal statement, we recommend that you include this, but it is important you make this relevant to the fields of psychology and language sciences. Applicants are also encouraged to consider the current research output of the department.

How to apply

Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.

Selection

For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.

We invite all applicants who are offered a place to attend an applicant open day. This is intended to allow candidates to make an informed decision about whether the degree programme is right for them. We recommend attending the open day at the university. However, students unable to attend will be offered a virtual open day.

Applicants may be asked for additional information, including the completion of a questionnaire, prior to a decision being made.

Apply via UCAS
Application guidelines
Download prospectus

Got questions? Get in touch

Division of Psychology and Language Sciences
Division of Psychology and Language Sciences

bscpals.admin@ucl.ac.uk

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.