Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Psychology with English Literature (Accelerated)

at University of Buckingham United Kingdom

Our BA in International Studies lets you see the world and study from other perspectives: political, economic, historical and legal. This course does just that. It enables you to understand the interconnectedness of everything. A graduate in International Studies will have a sophisticated grasp of our shared world and the flexibility to find solutions. This is an asset prized by major employers.

A key feature of the global economy is the rapid adoption of new technology. Technology has proved to be an agent which encourages cooperation across national boundaries. Technological developments in transport, telecommunications and computing have encouraged economic changes such as the decline in barriers to trade, the internationalisation of financial markets, the rise of global companies, and a massive increase in the volume of international trade in goods and services. These trends have been accompanied by political developments such as the rise of regional trading groupings of countries, international efforts to agree about common legal and technical rules to govern business dealings, arguments about ‘tax competition’ between countries, as well as increasing concern about the environmental consequences associated with world economic development. Enormous social tensions arise as these international forces come into conflict with long-established ways of doing things in every country. Political and social systems are in a continuous process of adjustment to an increasingly open world.

Our BA in International Studies course at Buckingham gives you an opportunity to learn about these fundamental problems. With students coming to Buckingham from over 80 countries, it is an ideal environment to learn about matters of international concern and to discuss them with people from differing cultural backgrounds.

The degree provides a firm grounding in diplomatic theory and practice. It covers the history and operation of diplomacy; the causes of conflict and strategies for conflict resolution; the nature and operation of international organisations, including the United Nations and its agencies; the development and global role of supranational organisations, especially the European Union (with an emphasis on its external policies); global political communication, including the media and new forms of communication; the practice of great power politics. It is taught from the Centre for United Nations Studies.

The Director of the of the Centre for UN Studies is Mark Seddon – a former Senior Communications Adviser to the President of the UN General Assembly, Maria Fernanda Espinosa and former speechwriter to UN Secretary-General, Ban ki-moon former & Director of Communications, UN Special Envoy, Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown. He is also a former UN Correspondent for al Jazeera English TV. The Deputy Director is Dr. Paul Graham – Previously taught at Glasgow University and has published work on John Rawls (Rawls, Oneworld Publications, 2016) and an important textbook – (with John Hoffman), Introduction to Political Theory (Routledge, 2015). He has an interest in questions of global justice and conflict resolution.

The Centre’s Deputy Director is Dr. Paul Graham. Paul previously taught at Glasgow University and has published work on John Rawls (Rawls, Oneworld Publications, 2016) as well as “Introduction to Political Theory” (with John Hoffman) (Routledge, 2015). He has an interest in questions of global justice and conflict resolution.

This postgraduate research degree is offered by the Cyber and Interpersonal Behaviour Research (CIBR) hub at the University of Buckingham. The main focus of this research hub is the exploration of human behaviour, emotions and experiences in relation to technology and the impact of technology on individuals both online and offline. We are engaged in a number of external collaborative projects with colleagues at other universities, organisations and schools. Key topic areas we explore include:

• Cyberbullying, cyberaggression and other online risks
• Parental and school mediation strategies in relation to online safety
• Motivations and social effects of gaming
• Media consumption and influence on attitudes and beliefs
• Individual differences in online expression and self-presentation
• Bystander behaviour, prosocial behaviour and social identities

This programme leads to the award of an MSc (Research) in the area of Cyberpsychology. In addition to completing a 25,000 word thesis within a topic area relevant to Cyberpsychology, you will gain wide knowledge of the broader field through guided self-study topic areas and research skills workshops. This will mean that you develop an in-depth knowledge of the area, which is informed by current issues and advanced research.

As a result of your studies, you will develop a strong knowledge base and core transferable skills which will enable you to become an independent researcher in your field, and will provide you with a solid foundation for further study and/or employment.

You will complete your MSc studies in 12 months (full-time; 24 months part-time), and we will support you to achieve timely completion by setting out key progression milestones such as submission of the research proposal, comprehensive literature search, completion of self-study topics, ethics application etc. Full milestone details will be sent to you when we invite you for interview.

Our new flagship MBA programme takes advantage of Buckingham’s unique student-centred pedagogical approach, to give you an unparalleled opportunity to work closely with expert-faculty to develop considerable specialised and general business knowledge. It will help you achieve a more rewarding career and lucrative lifestyle.

On the programme you will:

• Develop knowledge and understanding of organisations, their management and the changing internal and external contexts in which they operate.
• Build knowledge and understanding of the complexity of business management in order to improve the effectiveness of decision-making in organisations.
• Develop as managers who can contribute a balanced outlook which incorporates an understanding of the economic, environmental, social and ethical concerns in the context of managing organisations.
• Develop enduring skills and an appreciation that these skills can be enhanced and developed through life-long learning.
• Develop the necessary knowledge and skills to improve your employability in an increasingly competitive environment.

Modules are designed to enhance your employability by developing your capacity to make high-quality decisions, undertake organizational analysis, lead others and communicate effectively. In particular, the MBA project provides you with the opportunity to develop, but also demonstrate your business acumen through a significant piece of original organizational research or consultancy-style project work.

This cutting-edge programme is unique to Buckingham. A course with wide appeal, it is aimed at anyone who has an interest in biography or in researching and writing a biography for themselves. The varied mix of backgrounds and interests that students bring to the course, the experience and commitment of the programme director and the friendly small-group setting allow a lively, enjoyable and intellectually rigorous exchange of ideas. Graduates have gone on to publish their own books, and to win prizes. Some have embarked on further research for the PhD in Biography.

When it was founded in 1996, the Biography MA was the first of its kind. Since then Life Writing has become part of the postgraduate menu, but the Buckingham course has kept its distinctive edge. Unlike most Life Writing degrees, it is not linked to Creative Writing, and there is a strong emphasis on research and historical biography. The programme is consistently rated ‘excellent’ by external examiners and inspectors.

Course structure

Students have a choice between following the taught MA or opting for the MA by Research. The taught MA gives an opportunity to produce written term papers on a variety of topics as well as a dissertation of up to 20,000 words. Students accepted for the MA by Research are required to produce written work which includes an extended dissertation of up to 40,000 words. All students produce coursework for the Research  Methods module: an annotated bibliography and a short biography, with supporting material, produced according to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography format.

Guest seminars on the course are led by leading biographers, critics, publishers and agents. Teachers and speakers on the course have included Andrew Motion, Kathryn Hughes, Frances Wilson, Frances Spalding, Caroline Dawnay, Andrew Lownie, Miranda Seymour, Anne Wroe, Angela Thirlwell, David Lough and Ophelia Field.

BA History is one of the five most popular subjects among UK university students, and with good reason. Having a historical perspective enables people to make sense of today’s rapidly changing world. Employers like it because history teaches you to think for yourself, to work under pressure, and to construct a coherent argument from the evidence. Historical research has never been more exciting than it is today, with the internet making available so many treasures from the archives.

This BA History programme has been carefully designed and fine-tuned by Buckingham’s team of experienced and high-calibre historians. It offers an outline and conceptual modules which concentrate on the period from 1800 to the present day – though we do study some earlier periods too from the 1500s onwards too.  It covers, in particular, empires, the rise in political polarisation, World Wars and the shaping of our modern political systems, whilst considering the relationship between ideology and the historical process.

Students progress to study the history of history and to reflect on historical method. In the last part of the course, we study historical documents and texts and develop research and writing skills through a long essay and a dissertation. So the programme not only teaches history; it also teaches you to think historically and to research and write history.

History Flexible (BA) Honours option
Make your degree as unique as you! If you choose BA History (Flexible Honours) you’ll have the freedom to tailor your History degree to reflect your interests and passions by combining it with a wide range of other subjects taught here at the University. This means that when you graduate you will have a highly personalised degree that will suit you and your aspirations perfectly.

If you choose Flexible Honours you have the freedom to select up to a third of your modules from the whole range of what is taught at the University. This means you can mix and match lots of different subjects ?with History. At every stage, your Personal Tutor will be on hand to advise and guide your choices.

The University of Buckingham’s one-year MA by research in the History of Art: Renaissance to Modernism gives an overview of the development of Western art and its leading artists and movements and offers students the chance to study in depth an approved topic of their choosing. A supervisor will oversee each stage of the research, whether that be into such subjects as Renaissance portraits, aspects of the Baroque, Impressionist techniques or postwar British art, offering not just art historical guidance but information about research techniques and dissertation structure. The aim is to produce a 25,000-word dissertation that sheds new light on the topic.

This groundbreaking programme is London-based and directed by the art historian Michael Prodger. The course will be supplemented by a series of ten guest seminars presented by an internationally distinguished group of art historians, artists and gallerists.

The guest speaker seminars will be held at the Society of Antiquaries, Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1J 0BE.

Each seminar (approximately 70 minutes, beginning at 18:30) is followed by a post-seminar dinner, for those who wish to attend, where there will be an opportunity to continue the seminar discussion in an informal environment. The cost of the post-seminar dinners is included in the tuition fees.

The programme explores how sport developed into the third biggest industry in the world, driven by paternalist institutions as well as market forces. The MA interrogates how technology has influenced spectator sport, and how sport became an agent as well as beneficiary of globalization. Students will study the biases that can work against good decision-making, and how effective leaders build consensus and effect change. The programme explores the relationship between data analytics and human judgment.

The MA examines the challenge of sustaining fair competition (cheating, doping, match-fixing) and best practice on how to retain and improve public trust. The programme explores the social function and value of the sporting event. Students will be introduced to sport’s reach and impact, its influence on local identity, as well sport’s role as an agent of cosmopolitanism. The sports event is always in flux: from the fan in the stadium, to the fan listening on the radio or watching on television, to the fan hooked into the digital world of social media. Students will study the power of sport as a projection of nationhood, and the wider issue of “sports diplomacy.” Students will be introduced to the influence of sport on race, gender and homophobia.

The BSc Computing with foundation year programme will benefit those individuals who wish to study an undergraduate degree but have non-standard academic qualifications.

Year one of BSc Computing with Foundation will follow the Foundation Pathway programme with the addition of the Access to Computing programme introducing students to key concepts and study skills. This is followed by a pre-university access programme specially designed for Applied Computing. The overall aim is to equip students who have not achieved the minimum entry requirements for BSc (Hons) Computing with the fundamental knowledge and essential skills required for the intensive study of the undergraduate degree programme at Buckingham.

These preparatory modules include mathematics, fundamentals of computing as well as web computing. Students must pass all modules before being allowed on to the BSc Computing degree portion of the programme.

In years two and three students will build on these skills and enhance their knowledge, understanding and practice in core subjects following the BSc Computing programme structure. Throughout the three years, a student will be equipped with the skills to reach their potential in academic studies.

Computing and communications technologies lie at the heart of modern society. They include hardware, software, networks, tools, telecommunications equipment and required standards that provide the technological framework on which the delivery of information services is based. The IT industry is reporting a widening gap in software skills while hard technology is developing and diversifying fast.

The overall aim of this programme is to enable all students to develop their potential so that they can apply what they have learnt to deal with computational problems and develop solutions in a real-world environment. Through studying this programme, students learn how to specify, design, develop and operate efficient and innovative computer-based systems and gain up-to-date knowledge of the relevant computing technologies at an advanced level within a shorter space of time.

Our BSc Psychology degree is designed to give you a head start in your career as a psychologist or in people-centred employment; covering all the core content you would expect from a British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited degree, in addition to exciting optional modules in the second year.

By choosing to study BSc Psychology at the University of Buckingham, you’ll benefit from a committed team of lecturers who genuinely care about the people they teach. Students will learn through Buckingham’s unique tutorials, which are in addition to lectures and seminars. These sessions ensure that you are not just a face in the crowd, your tutors will get to know who you are and encourage you to engage in debates and discussions. During tutorials you will develop your knowledge about psychology and regularly practice skills that are important for employability. If you’d like to try out a tutorial, come along to one of our free taster sessions.

As a student, you will learn core theory and have the opportunity to study the eight areas of practitioner psychology, enabling you to make an informed choice on your future career as a psychologist. In addition, we have modules in distinct areas of study such as creativity and cyberpsychology. As one of the only two-year BPS accredited BSc Psychology degrees in the UK, you’ll be able to fast track your career within this popular field, or opt to consolidate your learning through postgraduate study once you have graduated.

This programme is accredited as conferring eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the BPS (British Psychological Society), provided the minimum standard of a Second Class Honours is achieved.