BA Joint Hons Marketing & Psychology
ApplyKey facts
- UCAS Code: NC58
Study abroad: exchange partnerships with universities worldwide
Second-year entry: may be available to suitably-qualified students
Study with us
- develop skills for a variety of marketing and management careers and benefit from the opportunity to take part in student competitions to win paid internships
- study the science of behaviour and the reasons for differences between individuals, across the lifespan
- work within our purpose-built experimental labs
Why this course?
This course will help you develop the skills for a variety of marketing and psychology careers.
The Department of Marketing at Strathclyde is recognised as one of the leading centres of marketing education and research in the UK.
In psychology, you’ll study human behaviour. Psychological research is motivated by the desire to understand both general behaviour (how we learn, remember, co-ordinate our actions and interact with others) and the reason for the differences between individuals such as personality or intelligence.
Create your own course
Modern business is too complex to be covered by a single subject: modern managers need to have a broad outlook.
You'll follow a broad-based Year 1 curriculum which will introduce you to a wide range of business disciplines, alongside the Business School’s core modules for business knowledge and skills (the Management Development Programme), and academic skills support.
This provides you with the opportunity to try new subjects, some of which you won’t have experienced at school or college. At the beginning of Year 2, you choose two subjects to continue studying in Years 2 and 3, plus further MDP modules in Years 2 and 3.
Triple-accredited business school
What you’ll study
Marketing
Year 1
You'll learn about the basic principles of marketing and explore marketing within an organisation.
Year 2
Students will look at areas including the factors that influence buyers and the challenges that marketers face in the retail and service sectors.
Year 3
You'll learn the fundamentals of both traditional and digital marketing communication along with gaining an understanding formulating a strategic marketing plan.
Year 4
In your final year of study, you'll learn about the value of brands to firms and consumers. Options include International Business Management, Sports Marketing and Social Marketing.
Work placement
Third-year students have the option to study abroad at one of our partner institutions across a number of countries worldwide. This study period can last for one or two semesters.
Student competitions
CIM The Pitch
Each year, students are offered the opportunity to partake in the annual student marketing competition – CIM The Pitch in which students are able to apply theory to practice for a live brief for a major company operating within the UK. Students from Strathclyde have been awarded first place in this competition for three years running (2018, 2019 & 2020). This competition is open to all second, third and Honours year students.
The Marketing Society Awards
The Marketing Society Awards: students write an essay, compete in an ‘Apprentice-style’ day in Edinburgh and shortlisted students attend an awards ceremony in May. The prize is a three-month paid internship.
Target Jobs, Scotland Undergraduate of the Year Award
Target Jobs, Scotland Undergraduate of the Year Award: students must sit a series of online tests, application forms, interviews and assessment exercises, culminating in an awards ceremony in Canary Wharf, London in April. The prize is the chance of a graduate job with a number of leading companies.
These prizes were won by Strathclyde Marketing students in 2018.
Psychology
Year 1
You’ll be introduced to the basic principles of learning and the biological bases of behaviour, thinking, memory, personality, social influences on behaviour (Social Psychology), and changes in behaviour throughout the lifespan (Developmental Psychology).
Years 2 & 3
You’ll develop a greater understanding of human development and interaction, cognitive processes, individual differences and biological influences on behaviour. You’ll take an experimental approach to all classes and research and statistical methods are studied in their own right.
Year 4
You can study an area of psychology in greater depth through a choice of optional classes. You'll also study conceptual and historical issues in psychology and submit a dissertation based upon your own research project.
International placement
There's an opportunity for you to take an optional international research placement through Erasmus.
The School of Psychological Sciences and Health has Erasmus exchange agreements with several European universities. We currently have active exchanges with:
- Humboldt University zu Berlin, Germany
- Universidad de A Coruna, Spain
- University of Twente, Netherlands
- University Tubingen, Germany
- Radbout University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
For general queries about exchanges to and from the School of Psychological Sciences and Health, please email Dr Kellyanne Findlay (kellyanne.findlay@strath.ac.uk).
Major projects
You can undertake an optional summer research project working with a member of staff. In addition, there are opportunities to apply for funding to complete summer internships between Years 3 and 4.
Facilities
Our high-quality facilities include six purpose-built experimental research laboratories:
- driving simulator lab
- memory lab
- perception and action lab
- psychophysiology lab
- psycholinguistics lab
- oculomotor lab
Postgraduate study
Psychology graduates can progress into postgraduate training to become professional psychologists. We currently run a number of post-graduate courses which provide additional research training:
Student competitions
We currently award two prizes to exceptional psychology students.
The Gustav Jahoda Prize founded in 1997 in honour of Emeritus Professor Gustav Jahoda, the first Head of the Department of Psychology, is awarded annually on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners to a psychology Honours student for outstanding academic performance in their final year.
The British Psychological Society Undergraduate Award is also awarded annually for outstanding academic performance in the final year.
Progression requirements
Please note: competitive progression requirements are in place for entry to the Honours year – currently this is a 55% average in the Year 2 and 3 subject modules.
Course content
In Year 1 you'll study a range of business disciplines across four subject modules, plus three core integrating modules in international business, business knowledge and skills (via the Management Development Programme) and academic skills. This will provide you with a foundation in business and enable you to appreciate how your chosen specialism fits with other business subjects. From Year 2 you'll take modules in the subjects in which you choose to specialise.
The Management Development Programme (MDP) is a central element of the undergraduate programme in the Strathclyde Business School. The programme runs for the first three years of the BA degree and is driven by real business problems. The approach to learning is active problem-based, with students working in project teams. The MDP provides an opportunity to integrate the knowledge and experience gained from your business subjects. Each year of MDP focuses on different aspects of business and the content of MDP is constantly evolving and being updated and enhanced.
Alongside the MDP you'll also take an Academic Skills module which will equip you with essential key skills to support your studies.
Marketing
Introduction to Marketing & Entrepreneurship
The aim of this module is to provide you with a solid foundation and understanding of the theories and principles underlying marketing and entrepreneurship. A combination of the subjects will be taught to enhance understanding of the way the two disciplines address issues related to both the macro and micro-environment contexts of markets and entrepreneurship.
Marketing is everywhere in contemporary society. It plays a central role in business as it is concerned with the creation and retention of customers. The module is designed to give you a foundational understanding of marketing and a critical introduction to the topic of marketing in both theory and practice through a series of lectures and workshops.
In your first-year class you will explore the core concepts of value and exchange. You will learn what marketing is and its core principles such as analysing the marketing environment, developing a marketing strategy, and dealing with the marketing mix i.e., product, price, place, and promotion. You will learn how organisations develop a customer centric approach to marketing and how that can create a competitive advantage in a dynamic business environment.
The assessment for this module will involve individual coursework.
In this module, you will be exposed to concepts and ideas from economics, sociology, psychology, geography and other social sciences, all in the context of the competitive business environment.
Entrepreneurship too is a complex process involving many different skills and activities, though it is based upon a 'mindset and process by which an individual or group identifies and successfully exploits a new idea or opportunity. For this part of the module, you'll be working in teams to learn about the ideation process, which forms the foundations of new venture creation, in our Creative Challenge.
Introduction to Economics and Business Analysis & Technology (20 credits)
The module will provide you with a balanced introduction to economics which will be based on a programme of systematic directed reading, supplemented by experiments and exercises undertaken in tutorials.
The module uses the innovative CORE (Curriculum Open-Access Resources in Economics) Econ resources, which provides a complete introduction to economics and the economy. CORE Econ teaches about the economy and economics by starting from a question or a problem about the economy - why the advent of capitalism is associated with a sharp increase in average living standards, for example - and then teach the tools of economics that contribute to an answer. This innovative approach ensures that students understand how the tools of economics can help us understand the modern economy.
The second half of the module is the study of how analytical thinking, scientific method and associated tools can be used to help decision making. This Business Analysis element of the module will provide an overview of where methods and tools are widely used across a large range of industries including the manufacturing, retail, healthcare, financial services, travel, and electronics industries, as well as in local and national government.
Examples of where Business Analysis is put into practice are:
- the management of new building projects
- the design of efficient transport systems and plant layouts
- personnel scheduling
- allocation of resources and financial modelling and forecasting
This area of expertise can help to reduce costs, increase revenues, improve customer service, increase efficiency and can even save lives.
Introduction to Finance and Financial Analysis
This module will provide you with an introduction to finance and accounting, covering the basic concepts and practicalities of corporate finance, the principles of valuation, financial management and business investment, the role and purpose of company accounts and their usefulness, security analysis, risk and returns from investments, and personal finance.
At all times the module content will be linked with financial behaviour and events in the real world.
Introduction to International Business
This module introduces learners to the field and practice of international business and management.
Drawing on classical and recent debates in theory and practice including, but not limited to commercial concerns, learners will be equipped with an understanding of the foundational principles and developments of the subject.
In the module, we consider how international business and management is researched, and facilitate a critical understanding based on real-life case studies in international contexts. This module gives learners the capacity to look at the past, present and future in organisations and provides the foundations for intellectual progression in the subject, and broadly, for year two and beyond.
Introduction to Tourism Studies and Managing People
This module includes two thematic parts which run in parallel across the semester. One part, Introduction to Tourism Studies, introduces tourism management as both, international business and as a global cultural phenomenon.
It provides insights into key concepts and theories to understand the intricacy of this industry in commercial, cultural and environmental terms. The other part, Managing People, focuses on the contemporary and practical issues of how people are organised and managed in the workplace and examines different theoretical perspectives which help our understanding of the complex relationship between the employer and the employee in the contemporary business environment.
Academic Skills
This class aims to support you in developing key skills that are important to both your academic and future career. These include skills associated with:
- research
- data analysis
- critical writing
- team working
- communication
Management Development Programme 1
The ICE Pathway - “Innovation, Commercialisation & Entrepreneurship”, where you'll learn about the Foundations of 'What is Business’. Alongside:
- Personal & Professional Development: Who am I? How Do I learn? How do I lead & work in a team?
- Knowledge & Practice: What is a business/organisation? Why does this matter? How does this affect society?
- Experiential Learning: Real-world cases & clients; team-based and student-centred Learning approaches
Psychology
Psychology 1a
You'll take this class in semester 1 and are not expected to have any prior knowledge of psychology. It explores learning theory, developmental psychology, personality, biological psychology, and the scientific basis for psychology.
Psychology 1b
This class is taught in semester 2 and covers sensation and perception, cognitive psychology, social psychology, abnormal psychology, and research methods.
Management Development Programme 2
Topics
Semester 1 topics include:
- Working in Business Organisations
- Working Business Research & Consultancy
- Working Internationally
- Working in the Third Sector
- Rhetorics & Oratory
Semester 2 is about developing the proposal of Management Development Programme 3; with a presentation and a final report.
Class description
The second year concentrates on developing understanding through industry-specific contextualisation. Sessions are weekly and three hours in length.
The sessions are thematically linked to the pathways for individualised experience in third year whilst also drawing on the theoretical knowledge developed in Management Development Programme 1. In order to develop understanding, organisations will deliver a half-day session. This consists of a one hour plenary introduction where the company and case study are introduced. This is followed by the group sessions where you undertake activities in relation to the case study set by the company.
Marketing
Semester 1
Services & Retail Marketing
The service sector is large and a growing feature of the UK economy. In addition, most manufacturing, and product-based organisations (e.g., IBM) encompass extensive service functions as well as product operations. As consumers, we purchase services everyday- be it retail banking, shopping at a supermarket, going to a restaurant, visiting the hairdresser, using transportation services, or engaging with experiential services such as tourism, sports, theatre. Therefore, it is important to understand the problems and challenges in designing and delivering high quality services for customers and businesses.
This module will encourage you to explore and reflect on real world services. The module will help you understand the unique characteristics of services and how service organisations require a distinct approach to marketing strategy both in its development and in its execution. You will draw upon your foundational learning knowledge of marketing in Year 1 such as the marketing mix and further learn about the extended marketing mix.
The module will also provide you with insight into service retailers. You will learn about key elements of service retailers that influence the development of retail strategies and the interaction between consumers and retailers at both in-store and online operational levels. You will also develop an understanding of the dynamic nature of supply chains and innovative distribution channels. You will explore different retail contexts and the supply chain relationships required to create value alongside strategies for sustainable practices.
The assessment for this module is a combination of individual and group coursework.
Semester 2
Understanding Consumers & Markets
Many of the fundamental concepts of marketing are based on an ability to understand consumers and how these concepts can be implemented more effectively when adequate information about the market and potential consumer behaviour is available.
In this module you will explore factors that influence consumer behaviour and shape consumption practices. The module will draw upon psychological theories to examine how memory, social influence, personality, attitudes and learning influences consumers. You will develop an understanding of consumer behaviour from both managers and consumers perspectives.
The module will also introduce you to key concepts and techniques in market research and how market research can be used to understand consumers changing behaviours. The module will provide you with an in depth understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods and prepare you for practical market research projects.
You will also gain an opportunity to acquire an industry recognised qualification from the Market Research Society.
The assessment for this module is a combination of individual and group coursework.
Psychology
Cognition & Neuropsychology
This class reveals how our understanding of higher mental functions has been enhanced through:
- theoretical and experimental studies of normal human cognition
- neuropsychological studies of how cognitive functions may be damaged as a result of brain lesions
Introduction to Research Design & Analysis
You'll be introduced to the main features of measurement, research design, and statistical analysis in psychology.
Following a general introduction, the course presents fundamental concepts, issues, and debates in the field of research methods.
You'll also become familiarised with the conceptual basis for inferential statistical testing, and introduced to different inferential statistics. Finally, a brief introduction to qualitative research methods takes place.
Social & Health Psychology
This class introduces social psychological theories and research that provide insights into why people believe what they believe, and why they behave the way they do.
Topics covered include attribution theory, aggression, prosocial behaviour, group influence, norms, conformity, obedience, and attitudes.
It ends with an introduction to health psychology, demonstrating how social psychological principles covered earlier in the class are applied to pressing, real-world health issues such as dietary behaviour, smoking/alcohol-use, and suicide.
Management Development Programme 3
The third year of centres on individualised experience in an organisational context through one of the following pathways:
- Internship/Charities - gain practical experience in a private or third sector organisation. You need to negotiate and locate your own organisation and experience – this is one of the key learning points of the pathway.
- Research and consultancy - a facility for local small businesses to gain from the experience and expertise of those within Strathclyde Business School. You work on two live business consultancy projects (one in each semester) and, as a team of six, develop solutions and strategic initiatives for the local SME economy.
- International experience – only available for students who are undertaking an international exchange for either one semester or full year.
- Vertically Integrated Projects - working on a cross-faculty basis to research longitudinal projects (including the ‘Bill Gates Toilet Challenge, Solar Panels for Gambia and Enterprise in Schools) you work with a team of students from all levels of study (first year undergraduate to final year PhD) to further the work of the project.
In addition, you’re required to undertake a social responsibility element (this accounts for one quarter of the overall workload).
These have been designed to provide support to the Curriculum for Excellence and the Widening Access to Higher Education programme. There are no formal classes for Management Development Programme 3 although there is pathway support with the pathway leads and tutor support.
Marketing
Semester 1
Marketing Communications in the Digital Age
Every business, organisation and media outlet relies on traditional and digital communications to communicate their products and services to consumers and businesses. As the change and consumption of different media continues to increase, there is a demand for graduates to embrace new technologies and engage in innovative content creation for traditional and digital marketing communications.
In this module you will explore the various forms of traditional and digital marketing communications. You will gain an understanding of the strategic role of marketing communications and the integration of both traditional and digital communications to develop a marketing communications plan. You will further explore the role of social media marketing and mobile marketing in the digital world and learn how to develop a digital marketing campaign using a range of digital tools such as SEO, PPC, Google AdWords etc.
The assessment for this module is a combination of individual and group coursework.
Semester 2
Strategic Marketing in an International Context
The module aims to equip you for a career in strategic marketing in various industries. It is important for marketers to obtain a good understanding of various perspectives on marketing strategy and to develop the ability to evaluate, design and implement a sustainable and profitable marketing strategy.
In this module you will learn strategy formulation and planning aspects associated with strategic marketing in domestic and international contexts. The module will further stimulate your thinking around questions such as:
- Why some products or services succeed and why others fail?
- What are the challenges involved in designing and implementing a profitable and sustainable marketing strategy?
The assessment for this module is a combination of individual and group coursework.
Psychology
Research Methods in Psychology
This class builds on year 2 and equips you with a broader, more advanced set of methodological and analytic skills. These skills are essential for carrying out the year 4 dissertation and for being able to read and understand articles published in academic journals.
Individual Differences
You're encouraged to think scientifically about conceptual and practical issues related to the study of individual differences, with specific reference to intelligence and personality. You'll gain the chance to put this knowledge into practice by designing your own measurement instrument.
Cognition
You'll be introduced to some of the core topics in cognitive psychology
- Perception and action, particularly how we perceive time and recognise faces
- Memory and learning, including models of episodic and working memory
- Language, including word production, sentence comprehension, and discourse processing
- Thinking, specifically problem solving, deductive reasoning and judgement and decision making.
Development
This class reviews the ways that children develop from infancy right through to the end of adolescence. Key theories are presented and used to explore the extent to which children’s development is continuous or stage-like and whether specific skills develop more quickly than others. Issues relating to infancy, ‘theory of mind’ (understanding others’ thoughts and beliefs), executive function (planning and monitoring abilities), language, and communication form the core themes in the class.
Psychobiology
The purpose of this class is to provide the opportunity for you to learn the basic principles of brain function, and to encourage you to address the implications of this understanding for their own view of how behaviour is generated. It includes coverage of electrophysiology and psychopharmacology, neuroanatomy, research methods in neuroscience. There are focused sections relating to the visual system and the motor system.
Social Psychology
This class allows you to consider current ideas and positions within social psychology. Four themes drive the class
- Attitudes and attitude change, covering the Theory of Planned Behaviour and the Health Belief Model
- Identity, with a focus on social, personal and group identities
- Prejudice, connecting both attitudes and identities, and covering a broad range of areas such as social representations, stereotyping, prejudice and conflict
- Epistemology, where consideration is given to the theory of knowledge, how social psychological knowledge is produced, and to what effect
Marketing
Brand Management
The importance of brands raises significant questions of how to develop brand equity and how to communicate a branding strategy of differentiation, value and identification. The role of the Brand Manager is reviewed along with formulating the necessary communication strategies to build brand equity and secure market share.
More recent approaches in this vein suggest that the traditional Brand Management approach is all too limited, leaving many questions unanswered. Consequently more recent approaches address the co-construction of brand value, through viral branding, using social media, co-branding and brand extensions. In this respect, the principles of branding are now being applied beyond simply new product development, to such strategies as places, communities and countries.
Other key strategies that may be discussed include, luxury branding, nation branding, business-to-business branding and corporate brands.
Dissertation
Elective classes
Social Marketing
This course aims to build foundational knowledge of traditional commercial-oriented Marketing, by examining applications of Marketing in a social context. Each year millions of pounds are spent world-wide to combat health and social problems such as HIV/AIDS, smoking, drug and alcohol abuse and rising obesity levels. At the same time excessive consumptions burdens society with building landfills and increasing pollution. Meanwhile there are still people who consume 'too little' and who suffer from hunger.
The class considers recent research in a variety of Social Marketing contexts and material is continuously updated to ensure that students gain an understanding of the most relevant and critical Social Marketing trends.
Advances in Consumer Behaviour
This class provides you with an understanding of some of the contemporary issues and challenges in understanding consumers. Building on the undergraduate Consumer Behaviour class, this module aims to develop your ability to analyse consumer behaviour in a variety of situations and to explore the complexity of 21st century consumption.
The class reviews consumer trends and the significance of consumer culture, and then explores topics that are the focus of recent research attention. Current topics include:
- consumer identity (possessions and body image)
- consumer vulnerability
- postmodern consumers
- consumer tribes
- consumption spaces
- consumers and celebrities
- consumers and ethics
Managing Customer Relationships
Managing Integrated Marketing Communications: Theory & Practice
The class will create a learning environment in which students can enhance their knowledge of relevant marketing communications theories and develop the necessary analytical, creative and decision-making skills required to effectively manage IMC in a variety of contexts.
International Business Management
This class examines the theoretical underpinnings which help explain the operations of such enterprises, covering both international business strategy and international business management. This will be achieved by exploring contemporary issues in academic thought and international business practice.
Sports Marketing
This class provides you with an opportunity to study and apply marketing principles and concepts to a sector that has gained increasing significance in society world-wide. We’ve witnessed the emergence of a sports culture in many countries. This, in turn, has led to the emergence of sport as a global industry.
Sport is one of the most important sectors in the UK in terms of spectator interest, participation and consumer spending. It is also a varied industry consisting of sports products as well as sports services, spectator sports, sports media and sport-related travel.
Sustainability, Marketing & Society
This class explores sustainability and the role of marketing in society as an agent of change. Marketing as a discipline is often tarnished by the assumption that it focuses on encouraging overconsumption, driving sales for sales sake and is misleading the public. Whilst this is often true, marketing also has a substantial role to play in tackling the biggest challenges in our society, and in particular driving societal discourse and market change towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This class builds from a foundation of evidence-based marketing, driven by systems thinking, understanding full product and service life cycles and fact-led decision-making. Ensuring the claims made and communication approaches employed are substantiated, well-designed and targeted at change for good. A number of different techniques are explored to identify and exploit vectors for change through different approaches to understanding market systems, targeting key stakeholders to drive change, and marketing tactics for reshaping market, organisational and consumer behaviour. The class is an advanced marketing class, assuming a sound grounding in areas of consumer behaviour, branding, strategic marketing and marketing research as a foundation on which more advanced concepts can be built.
Psychology
Dissertation in Psychology
The dissertation is an opportunity for you to undertake an original piece of research, closely supervised by a single member of staff. Planning for the dissertation begins in year 3, and dissertations can be of such high standards that they are subsequently published in peer-reviewed academic journals.
Semester 1 & 2 classes
Psychology Work Placement
This class will support students' development in applying their knowledge and understanding of psychological theory and evidence in a work setting, as well as their ability to articulate the knowledge, understanding, and skills they have developed through the placement, their studies, and other extra-curricular activities.
The class aims to provide students with an opportunity to gain practical, work-based experience in an area that is professionally relevant to psychology. The placement experience should encourage the transfer of academic psychological knowledge, understanding, and subject-specific skills to an applied context. Students will also be supported in developing reflective and professional skills, and the ability to articulate these skills. This class is intended to support students' transition into employment and/or further study after graduation. It is also anticipated that there will be benefits to placement providers in the roles fulfilled by students, and in the longer term in supporting the development of the future workforce.
The placement involves completing a minimum of 60 hours of active engagement within a suitable organisation. An additional 50 hours has been added to account for travel time.
Students will be responsible for setting up a placement with an organisation relevant to their interests. We hope to provide students a list of organisations who have indicated a willingness to receive applications from students seeking a placement.
In the assessment for the class, students are required to submit a 2000 word written assessment that covers:
- An account of their role within the placement organisation, including a critical reflection on the student's professional practice in fulfilling the requirements of the role. The student will also relate back to the self-evaluation assessment written at the beginning of the placement;
- Demonstrate an understanding of the application of psychological theory and evidence relevant to the placement organisation and/or experience in the placement role;
- Discussion of their personal and professional development, following the placement, with a view to their future development.
Advanced Organisational Behaviour
Advanced Organisational Behaviour is an Honours year elective, which runs over two semesters, offered in the degree subject Human Resource Management (within the Department of Work, Employment and Organisation). It is also an elective in Psychology. There is no prerequisite for Psychology students and it is expected that students with no prior experience of HRM courses will be able to fully engage with this class. The class draws from organisational behaviour, work psychology and work sociology to explore current topics within work and employment, and the implications for people management.
Elective
These classes are subject to change year-on-year and may not be the same for each academic year.
Cross-cultural Psychology
This optional class aims to help students gain an understanding of the ways in which human psychology is influenced by cultural context. This class builds upon your third-year psychology classes, attempting to expand the topics covered in these classes by emphasising the role culture plays in the mental life of human beings. This class will start with an introduction to cross-cultural psychology, discussing its various definitions and general theoretical orientations. Then, the class will explore the similarities and differences in social behaviour across cultures, and how culture influences people’s emotions and values. This class will also discuss intercultural contact (i.e., acculturation, cross-cultural competence).
This optional class will be delivered by a combination of lectures and seminars. An experiential/problem-based learning approach is adopted. Relevant theories and empirical research will be discussed, and students will have the opportunity to explore how the knowledge can be used to in real-world scenarios. Overall, this class will enhance students’ understanding of different perspectives on psychology and increase their awareness of cultural differences in psychology.
Psychology of Mental Health
Mental health problems are a growing public health concern worldwide, at both personal and societal levels. This class will explore the application of psychology to the field of mental health, with the consideration of the theoretical, practical and ethical underpinnings of the mental health field. The class will also explore approaches to psychological assessment, formulation and treatment that are commonly used in mental health practice.
- Lectures will cover the following key areas:
- Psychological assessment
- Psychological formulation
- Overview of most common mental health problems (e.g. depression, anxiety)
- Clinical practice and psychological interventions
- Positive mental health
Critical Thinking and Common-sense Reasoning
This class has two broad aims: 1) to provide students with an introduction to critical thinking and review some of the theoretical and empirical literature around critical thinking and epistemological thinking, and 2) to give students the opportunity to practice critical thinking and thereby develop and sharpen their skills in this important area. Literature on critical thinking and epistemological thinking will be reviewed, and both everyday aspects of critical thinking (such as interpretation of articles published in newspapers and on the world wide web) and more technical aspects (such as critiquing journal papers within psychology) will be covered. Following three lectures setting out the theoretical background, teaching will be workshop-based, in which students will work in tutorial groups engaging in critiquing exercises. Different kinds of articles will be jointly critiqued, beginning with ‘everyday’ materials such as newspaper opinion pieces, thence moving on to informal presentations of psychological material in the form of discussion articles published in magazine-style journals such as ‘The Psychologist’, and ultimately building up to the critique of published articles in psychology journals. This will therefore simultaneously broaden the students’ knowledge on a psychological topic of great practical significance (just how good are ordinary members of the public at thinking critically?) and at the same time help to develop their skills in a way that should positively impact their studies of psychology at Honours level.
Belief and Anomalistic Experience
This class introduces students to the scientific study of belief in religion and belief in / experience of ‘paranormal’ phenomena. The content is not concerned with the veracity of experiences or beliefs but rather how psychology can measure associated variables, explain the formation and maintenance of beliefs and examine the effect that holding such beliefs or having such experiences can have, both physically and psychologically. Students will be expected to critically evaluate experimental methodology and theories of cognition in relation to the class content.
Critical Review
This is a one semester class in which students will select an approved psychology topic for intensive, non-empirical study. Students will demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the conceptual and theoretical content of an area of psychology drawn from a list of approved topics. This class affords Honours students an opportunity to develop and demonstrate skills in literature search, information assimilation, evaluation and in depth critical analysis of a chosen topic. The class places emphasis on independent student learning. The course will help the student to develop critical writing skills over a period of time through independent writing and self-directed study. The aims are:
i. to develop an extensive in-depth knowledge of one key topic area in psychology.
ii. to develop critical thinking skills such as questioning the assumptions and conclusions of others and looking at alternative ways of dealing with questions, facts, and arguments.
iii. to develop and refine skills relating to the systematic acquisition of information.
iv. to develop and extend essay writing skills, including discussing and formulating arguments, summarizing, and presenting materials.
Introduction to Sleep Health
This class provides an introduction to the field of sleep health, which is a developing area of sleep psychology that focuses on the evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders by addressing behavioural, psychological, and physiological factors that interfere with sleep. Sleep disorders impair quality of life and contribute to physical and mental health problems. Despite this, they are an under-recognised and under-treated threat to public health. Sleep experts have long recognised the need for greater public awareness of the impact of poor sleep and the importance of promoting the evidence-base for appropriate assessment and treatment. This class will introduce students to the specialist, multidisciplinary area of sleep health with a very clear focus on insomnia disorder, the most common sleep disorder and the one of the most prevalent mental health complaints in Europe.
The Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience of Face Recognition
In this class, we will cover the psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and real world applications of face perception and recognition. The class will cover current theory in relation to face recognition, but importantly we will also assess the critical use of faces in real world and forensic contexts. For example, faces are of critical importance in criminal identification in policing and the justice system (e.g. from CCTV, bystanders, juries and the victims of crime), and in the prevention of identity fraud (e.g. should we put our faces on our credit/debit cards?). There will also be a clinical aspect to this class as we’ll look at individual differences in face recognition, looking at patients with prosopagnosia and Metropolitan Police Super-recognisers. Each of these areas will be explored in detail, to show how our understanding of the science of face perception can inform us about our interest in, and reliance on, faces.
Psychology and Ageing
It is understood that our population is ageing; for example, the fastest growing age group comprises those aged over 85 years. The potential for health, economic, and social burden due to ageing is therefore increasing. With a better understanding of ageing processes, the burden of an ageing population could be minimised, successful ageing and better quality of life promoted, and the contributions of older adults to society celebrated. Contemporary psychological theories of ageing will be presented from a number of perspectives, and the class will draw upon research that has used a variety of methodological approaches. Students will also be encouraged to engage with the material via a range of teaching methods, including traditional lecture content, video clips, and interactive tasks. Typically, we will address: theoretical and methodological approaches to studying psychology and ageing; cognitive ageing; lifestyle factors; emotion in older age; ageing in society, including stereotyping; ageing in the workplace/retirement; wisdom; the positive influences of older adults in society. Teaching delivery is anticipated to be via 5 on-campus sessions and an online peer review task.
Psychological Assessment
This class will build upon knowledge developed in second (Cognition & Neuropsychology C8201) and third year level (Cognition C8304). Specifically, it will provide further understanding on how to apply principles of psychological assessment in broader contexts. The class will pursue three aims: 1) promote understanding and knowledge about the contributions and challenges of psychological assessment in various contexts and settings, 2) familiarise with aspects related to the selection of appropriate testing procedures and 3) the generation of hypotheses to guide such procedures and interpret their outcomes.
The class will offer a critical appreciation of a range of tests, procedures and techniques used to better understand a person’s psychological makeup and behaviour. Knowledge will be acquired on how such tests and procedures are used in experimental and applied settings. Learning will involve case discussions, discussion of commonly used tests, with students investigating cases and procedures. Students will develop an appreciation of the types of psychological testing.
Psychology of Physical Activity
The aim of the class is to facilitate the development of knowledge and understanding of theories and evidence-based research in relation to the psychology of physical activity. This class will provide opportunities for students to develop their critical evaluation skills of theory and research and to gain experience of measurement and behaviour change techniques in this area. The aim is also to give students the opportunity to apply what they have learned to a ‘real-world’ case study by implementing a behaviour change intervention to increase active behaviours. This class extends material covered in previous years in biological, social, cognitive and health psychology but is applied to physical activity behaviour. Level 4 classes are very popular with students as they cover focussed, specialist topics and staff expertise.
Evolutionary Approaches to Human Mate Preferences
This lecture series will critically examine the contribution that evolutionary theories have made to our understanding of human mate preferences. It will cover fundamental questions in the area, such as how mate preferences are shaped by environmental and hormonal factors, and will have a strong focus on recent methodological and theoretical controversies in the literature.
Considering Sleep Through the Behavioural Lens
Sleep is a multidisciplinary field and is relevant for a variety of medical fields such as neurology, respiratory medicine, cardiology, and psychiatry. The focus thereby lies on the physiological aspects of sleep, as well as the organic sleep disorders such as sleep apnoea or narcolepsy. However, sleep is also a behaviour, and examining sleep through the behavioural lens has implications for the field of psychology at the individual and also the public health level. If we can understand how to change sleep behaviour, we can initiate change in the individuals and the public's health and wellbeing. In this class, we will explore the importance of examining sleep at the behavioural level, which can be modified to improve health and wellbeing.
Neuropsychology of Ageing and Dementia
The class will offer you the opportunity to acquire an in-depth understanding of the theories and empirical data that are relevant within the field of neuropsychology of ageing and dementia. It will cover the differences between normal and pathological decline in old age and will provide information on the neuropsychological profiles and pathologies which characterize different forms of dementia. It will provide you with a solid foundation in neuropsychology. You will learn to identify the features which can aid early diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the dementias (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, Vascular dementia and Lewy body dementias). You will become familiar with how different aspects of cognition are distributed within the brain and will be aware of the consequences of impairment.
Different methodologies that are used for the study of the dementias will also be explored (e.g. neuropsychological assessment, functional and structural neuroimaging) and you will learn to critically evaluate the benefits and pitfalls of each method.
Overall, the class will provide you with key knowledge that will be relevant for the study of neurological conditions, for health-based research more broadly, and relevant should you choose to work in academia, healthcare or other industries (linked to older adults or neurological populations).
Theory and practice of learning and cognition
Cognitive Psychology (CP) is central to the understanding processes that are required for memory, attention, and learning. It can also provide insights into cognitive conditions that affect how people function and behave. CP underpins all aspects of psychological theory and practice (synonymous with developmental, social, educational and neuro psychology). The class will explore and critically examine key learning theory and consider transference and application from theory to real life contexts.
Study abroad
International Work Placement
This class is an option which is available to a restricted number of students who'll apply to take part. It involves a placement with a European University partner working in a research team during the summer between years 3 and 4. Additional assessment is to be completed during semester 1 of year 4.
Learning & teaching
Teaching is over two semesters in blocks of 12 weeks. Classes are taught through lectures, tutorials, and seminars alongside team-based projects, online materials, practical labs, online wikis, problem-based learning and interactive sessions using personal response systems.
External contributors from partnership corporate organisations are involved in teaching and/or assessment of student presentations.
Many of our Marketing classes have guest speakers throughout the year from leading experts e.g. Procter & Gamble, Clydesdale Bank, Accenture, Leith Agency, LIDL.
The innovative and highly acclaimed Management Development Programme (MDP) is at the core of our undergraduate degrees in the Business School and comprises a series of classes which you take throughout Years 1 to 3.
You develop knowledge and skills in key areas of management, and team-working, communication and decision-making skills, all of which are highly sought-after by employers.
Major employers and alumni from all sectors are involved in the MDP, participating in group sessions, observing student presentations, and providing feedback. Organisations involved include Barclays, Deloitte, Procter & Gamble and Ernst & Young. In first year the best teams are selected to present to senior staff in one of the sponsoring organisations, and there are prizes for the best projects.
The programme builds your confidence and entrepreneurial capabilities and promotes awareness of globalisation and ethical issues in personal and business decision-making. In Year 3, you develop your own pathway from internships, involvement with business projects, engagement in interdisciplinary activities and business clinics.
Assessment
The majority of classes involve a final unseen exam which is normally at the end of the semester. This is normally supplemented by one or more forms of individual and/or group coursework.
You’ll normally have one opportunity to be re-assessed for a failed class. For exams, this normally takes place during the summer.
Assessment methods are varied and include class tests, essays, practical reports, dissertations, individual presentations, group presentations, and degree examinations.
Individual classes often use more than one form of assessment. These assessment procedures give opportunities for students to excel in different ways and help them to learn how to perform well under different demanding conditions.
Entry requirements
Required subjects are shown in brackets.
Highers |
(Higher English B; Maths National 5 B, or equivalent; Higher Maths A for combinations with Accounting)
(English Higher B, Maths National 5 B) |
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A Levels | ABB-BBB (GCSE English Language 6/B or Literature 6/B, or an essay-based A Level B may be considered in lieu of English; GCSE Maths 6/B; A Level Maths A for combinations with Accounting) |
International Baccalaureate | 32-30 (no subject below 5 and including English SL5, Maths/Maths Studies SL5; Maths HL5 for combinations with Accounting or Maths & Statistics) |
HNC/HND | Relevant HNC/HND, A in Graded Units; for advice on entry to Year 2 contact Business School Admissions: |
International students | View the entry requirements for your country. |
Deferred entry | Not normally accepted. |
*Standard entry requirements
Offers are made in accordance with specified entry requirements although admission to undergraduate programmes is considered on a competitive basis and entry requirements stated are normally the minimum level required for entry.
Whilst offers are made primarily on the basis of an applicant meeting or exceeding the stated entry criteria, admission to the University is granted on the basis of merit, and the potential to succeed. As such, a range of information is considered in determining suitability.
In exceptional cases, where an applicant does not meet the competitive entry standard, evidence may be sought in the personal statement or reference to account for performance which was affected by exceptional circumstances, and which in the view of the judgement of the selector would give confidence that the applicant is capable of completing the programme of study successfully.
**Minimum entry requirements
The ability to customise your degree by gradually focusing your studies each year allows you to develop a strong set of skills that naturally carries through into your chosen career.
Marketing
Contextual Admissions for Widening Access
We want to increase opportunities for people from every background.
Strathclyde selects our students based on merit, potential, and the ability to benefit from the education we offer. We look for more than just your grades. We consider the circumstances of your education and will make lower offers to certain applicants as a result.
University preparation programme for international students
We offer international students (non-UK/Ireland) who do not meet the academic entry requirements for an undergraduate degree at Strathclyde the option of completing an Undergraduate Foundation Programme in Business and Social Sciences at the University of Strathclyde International Study Centre.
Upon successful completion, you can progress to your chosen degree at the University of Strathclyde.
International students
We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 140 countries across the world. Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.
Fees & funding
All fees quoted are for full-time courses and per academic year unless stated otherwise.
Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.
All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.
Annual revision of fees
Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that the majority of fees will increase annually. The University will take a range of factors into account, including, but not limited to, UK inflation, changes in delivery costs and changes in Scottish and/or UK Government funding. Changes in fees will be published on the University website in October each year for the following year of study and any annual increase will be capped at a maximum of 10% per year.
Scotland | To be confirmed. Fees for students who meet the relevant residence requirements in Scotland are subject to confirmation by the Scottish Funding Council. Scottish undergraduate students undertaking an exchange for a semester/year will continue to pay their normal tuition fees at Strathclyde and will not be charged fees by the overseas institution. |
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England, Wales & Northern Ireland | To be confirmed subject to confirmation by the UK government. |
Republic of Ireland | If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status. For more information and advice on tuition fee status, you can visit the UKCISA - International student advice and guidance - Scotland: fee status webpage. Find out more about the University of Strathclyde's fee assessments process. |
International | £21,550 |
University preparation programme fees | International students can find out more about the costs and payments of studying a university preparation programme at the University of Strathclyde International Study Centre. |
Additional costs | International studentsInternational students may have associated visa and immigration costs. Please see student visa guidance for more information. MarketingCourse materials & costsCourse materials comprise both textbooks and course handbooks. All of the compulsory handbooks are available to students free on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Recommended text cost on average £50 to £100 per text. Copies are available free from the library for most core text. Honours students - cost of binding 1 copy of dissertation. The printing costs are four pence per page in black and white in the University and £3 for binding. Other costs
Study abroadTypically, the cost of one semester abroad could be between £6,500 to £8,500 depending on the destination, currency exchange rates and lifestyle choices. Tuition fees are not paid to the exchange institution but continue to be paid to Strathclyde University in the usual way, however students are responsible for their own travel and living expenses i.e. flights, insurance, visa application, vaccinations/associated medical costs, accommodation, food, textbooks etc. Students are eligible to apply for a student loan as usual but must let the award agency (e.g. SAAS) know that they will be studying or working overseas on a compulsory exchange. Students may be eligible for external funding however this is not guaranteed; the University of Strathclyde will continue to participate in the Erasmus programme until May 2023 however are also participating in UK’S Turing Scheme. The Turing Scheme offer contribution towards living costs for students undertaking work or study abroad as part of their degree and is calculated based on length of placement and living costs at destination. Students with an exchange place outside Europe are eligible to apply to the Neil Hood Memorial Fund for a scholarship. Full details of the application process are provided to all eligible students. Other scholarship opportunities may be available through the Alumni & Development department. PsychologyCourse materials & costs All recommended texts and computer software packages are available from the University Library and Pegasus. Other costs Students should purchase a standard calculator. It's required for the duration of the course. |
Available scholarships | Take a look at our scholarships search for funding opportunities. |
Please note: All fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year. Find out more about fees.
How can I fund my studies?
Students from Scotland
Fees for students who meet the relevant residence requirements in Scotland, you may be able to apply to the Student Award Agency Scotland (SAAS) to have your tuition fees paid by the Scottish government. Scottish students may also be eligible for a bursary and loan to help cover living costs while at University.
For more information on funding your studies have a look at our University Funding page.
Students from England, Wales & Northern Ireland
We have a generous package of bursaries on offer for students from England, Northern Ireland and Wales:
You don’t need to make a separate application for these. When your place is confirmed at Strathclyde, we’ll assess your eligibility. Take a look at our scholarships search for funding opportunities.
International Students
We have a number of scholarships available to international students. Take a look at our scholarship search to find out more.
Hear from our students
Thomas Scally, Marketing
I will look back on my undergraduate studies in Marketing with the fondest memories. Having been exposed to a variety of key marketing topics in years 1 to 3 such as consumer behaviour and digital marketing, the flexibility offered by the course has afforded me the opportunity to focus on the subject areas which interest me most in year 4, namely Sports Marketing. Furthermore, the additional skills taught throughout the programme will be incredibly valuable to me in transitioning from university to the world of work. Delivering presentations to large groups and managing diverse teams has become second nature to me thanks to the course assignments and projects.
My time at Strathclyde has been complemented by the support from all teaching staff, who are very approachable after class or during office hours and are willing to go the extra mile to see you reach your full potential.
Careers
Graduates who specialise in marketing have excellent business awareness and can analyse and present information with good communication skills. They find jobs in drinks, finance and service sectors with roles including brand manager, media executives and retail buyers.
Psychology graduates can continue their studies to become professional psychologists and work in areas such as clinical, educational, occupational psychology, or research.
Among the range of other possible careers are teaching, human resource management, careers guidance, social work, market research, recruitment consultancy, counselling, management and professional positions throughout the private and public sectors.
Employers will be particularly interested in your ability to gather, evaluate and communicate complex ideas, to analyse and interpret quantitative data, and to apply psychological knowledge in professional contexts: all skills that the study of psychology will help you to develop.
Glasgow is Scotland's biggest & most cosmopolitan city
Our campus is based right in the very heart of Glasgow. We're in the city centre, next to the Merchant City, both of which are great locations for sightseeing, shopping and socialising alongside your studies.
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Marketing & Psychology (1 year entry)
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Marketing & Psychology (1 year entry)
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Marketing & Psychology (2 year entry)
Start date: Sep 2025
Marketing & Psychology (1 year entry)
Start date: Sep 2025
Marketing & Psychology (2 year entry)
Start date:
Marketing & Psychology (1 year entry)
Start date:
Marketing & Psychology (2 year entry)
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