With many world-leading universities and highly-regarded research on the subject, it’s little wonder that studying psychology in the UK is a top choice for many international students. According to the Complete University Guide 2023, psychology remains in the UK's top 10 most popular subjects. You’re probably wondering which universities make the list of the best institutions for psychology qualifications. We have the answers and guide you through what they offer.
To give you the most comprehensive overview of the top universities for psychology in the UK, we have used the Complete University Guide Subject League Tables 2024 (CUG), the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2024 (THE) and the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 (QS).
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge has a reputation for being one of the world’s premier institutions. This is also the case concerning its expertise in the field of psychology. CUG places the university at number one for the subject, and THE ranks Cambridge in the third spot globally. The university also scores highly on the THE rankings for international outlook, teaching quality and research environment.
Cambridge is home to over 20,000 students, with 38 per cent being international, and a faculty-to-student ratio of 1:11. The Department of Psychology, part of the School of the Biological Sciences, opened its doors in 1912. The school is known for pioneering work in experimental psychology and neuroscience. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework, 93 per cent of research produced by the department was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.
Prospective undergraduate students aiming to study psychology at Cambridge would have the choice of two degrees. These qualifications are Psychological and Behavioural Sciences (PBS) and Natural Sciences (NST). The British Psychological Association accredits both degrees. The PBS degree is a three-year Bachelor of Arts course. Some of the core modules you will study include:
- Introduction to psychology
- Psychological enquiry and methods
- Social and developmental psychology
- Cognitive neuroscience
- Experimental psychology
For PBS degree completion, you must submit a research dissertation and several optional papers in related subjects or specialisations. For entry into the PBS degree, you must have A*A*A at A-Level or equivalent. This is 40 to 42 points on the International Baccalaureate, with 776 at the Higher Level. You should also have one of maths or biology as a subject. In some cases you may need to attend an admissions interview or submit written work as part of your application.
If you want to study at the postgraduate level, you can select from an MPhil in Psychology or a PhD in Psychology. The MPhil is a one-year full-time research degree, while the PhD is a three-year full-time qualification or a six-year part-time degree. The department does not offer conversion courses, distance learning or educational, counselling, or sport psychology specialisations.
Discover more about some of the famous alumni from UK universities.
University of Oxford
Another university which regularly makes the top ten list in many categories is the University of Oxford. The institution’s reputation for psychology-related courses and degrees is no different. CUG puts Oxford in the second spot overall in the UK, while QS ranks the university in second place globally. The university consists of 44 colleges and over 100 libraries, which gives it the most extensive library system in the UK.
The Department of Experimental Psychology is home to approximately 250 undergraduate students and 150 graduate students and researchers. The department is known for research in developmental psychology, perception and cognition, social psychology and behavioural neuroscience. The department also shares key relationships and collaborations with research institutes and departments at Oxford, for example, the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences.
Studying for an undergraduate degree in psychology at Oxford means approaching the subject from a scientific perspective, emphasising experimentation and practical work. Essential areas of focus include cognitive, biological, social and developmental psychology. You can pursue a degree in the subject with a four-year MSci in Experimental Psychology or a three/four-year BA or MSci in Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics.
For entry into the MSci in Experimental Psychology course, you will need A-Level results of A*AA or equivalent, such as an International Baccalaureate of 39 with 766 at the Higher Level. Your English language level must be IELTS 7.0 with no band lower than 6.5. You must also sit for a pre-admission interview test as part of the process.
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London School of Economics and Political Science
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is ranked in the top 50 universities globally by THE. With just under 12,000 students, 72 per cent of which are international, the university is renowned for its social sciences and research tradition. LSE makes the list of the top five institutions for psychology in the UK, according to CUG. This reputation is also underlined by QS, who rate LSE in the world’s top 25 for the subject.
The Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science (PBS) at LSE prides itself on the real-world application of behavioural and psychological research. Some of the research areas focused on at LSE include:
- Economic psychology
- Organisational psychology
- Social and cultural psychology
- Crisis and conflict
- People, work and organisations
- Planetary health
- Wellbeing
- Inequality
At the undergraduate level, LSE offers a BSc in Psychological and Behavioural Science. This is a three-year, full-time qualification with a social science and policy-oriented approach to the curriculum. Some of the modules and areas you will cover during the degree include:
- Foundations of psychological and behavioural science
- Statistics and research
- Biological psychology
- Cognitive psychology
- Developmental psychology
- Data science for social scientists
The BSc degree at LSE is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). For entry into the BSc at LSE, you will need A*AA at A-Level or the equivalent. You should also have studied one of biology, chemistry, maths or physics. If you apply with an International Baccalaureate, your result must be 38 points, and 766 at the Higher Level.
If you are a prospective postgraduate student at LSE, you can select from various master’s degrees, including:
- MSc Behavioural Science
- MSc Organisational and Social Psychology
- MSc Psychology of Economic Life
- MSc in Social and Cultural Psychology
- MSc Social and Public Communication
LSE also offer MPhil and PhD research degrees.
Explore more on how to apply for a master’s degree.
University of St Andrews
One of the premier institutions in Scotland and the UK, the University of St Andrews is considered a top 200 global university by THE. St Andrews offers over 900 degree courses to its 8,000 students, half of whom are international and from more than 120 countries. The university is rated at number four in the UK (CUG) and the top 150 worldwide for qualifications in psychology.
The School of Psychology and Neuroscience at St Andrews was renamed in 2012 to incorporate neuroscience as a discipline and specialisation. Psychology has been part of the curriculum at the university for over a century, and the institution is well-known for its research in the field. Some key areas of focus include cellular and behavioural neuroscience; perception, cognition and action; social and group processes; and origins of mind.
The university offers several options for students hoping to pursue a degree in psychology. You can study psychology as part of a joint undergraduate degree, as a BSc Psychology (Honours), or a Psychology MA (Honours), the latter being best for students wishing to study psychology alongside arts subjects. The main difference between the BSc and MA are the additional subjects studied in the first and second years. The British Psychological Society accredits both degrees.
If you choose to study a BSc Psychology, you will study modules and specialist areas, including:
- Social psychology
- Developmental psychology
- Evolutionary and comparative psychology
- Perceptual psychology
- Clinical psychology
- Cognitive psychology
About 350 students a year study this degree, and you’ll be taught through lectures, tutorials and small group sessions. To gain entry to study the BSc Psychology degree at St Andrews, you must have an International Baccalaureate score of 36 or above and results of 6,6,5 at the Higher Level. You must have an IELTS score of 6.5, with no band lower than 6.0.
Read more on how to apply to a university in the UK.
University of Bath
The University of Bath is ranked as a top 300 university globally and in the world’s top 125 for psychology by THE. The university also enjoys an esteemed reputation for the subject, placed in fifth position in the UK by CUG. The university is relatively young, having been founded in 1966, and is located within the UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the city of Bath. Despite its youth, the institution has established itself as a research leader across four faculties: engineering and design, humanities and social science, management, and science.
Over a quarter of the university’s 15,000 students are international, coming from over 153 countries. This includes students studying at the Department of Psychology. The department focuses on providing students with a solid grounding in psychology, with particular attention given to cognitive, health, social and clinical psychology. The institution offers two undergraduate courses in psychology, namely a BSc Psychology (Honours) with work placement and a BSc Psychology (Honours). Both cover similar core principles and modules, including:
- Mind, brain and behaviour
- Controversies in psychology
- Psychology of wellbeing
- Cognitive neuroscience
- Developmental psychology
- Social psychology
- Psychology in the real world
- Applied psychology
If you choose a BSc with a work placement component, this will take place in the third year of the degree. You will join an organisation and work with psychologists and professionals to develop your skills and knowledge. In addition, you can use the specialist psychology facilities at the university during your degree, which include labs and suites.
Postgraduate degrees in psychology are also available at Bath. Some of your options include:
- MSc Applied Clinical Psychology
- MSc Applied Forensic Psychology with work placement
- MSc Applied Psychology and Economic Behaviour
- MSc Health Psychology
- MRes Psychology
For more information on course and entry requirements, be sure to download the university prospectus.
What are the top 10 institutions for psychology in the UK?
Now that you have a better sense of what’s on offer at the UK’s top five universities for psychology, let’s take a closer look at the top 10 for the subject according to CUG:
- University of Cambridge
- University of Oxford
- London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
- University of St Andrews
- University of Bath
- University College London (UCL)
- Loughborough University
- University of Glasgow
- Cardiff University
- University of Bristol
If you want to continue to explore studying in the UK, you might enjoy our guide to tuition fees in the UK, the cost of living in the UK, and the top scholarships for international students in the UK.
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