Study Abroad

Our new Study Abroad programme - BSc/BA (Hons) Psychology Hons (Study Abroad Year) - has been designed to provide students with a thorough grounding in the key areas of contemporary psychology, complemented by the benefits of living and studying abroad.

Why study abroad?

• You will experience living and studying in a different culture
• You will have exposure to different methodologies, research and teaching practices
• You will widen your academic network
• You will find that your employment opportunities are enhanced

What you will study

In first and second year, you will examine the core areas of psychology in line with the existing BSc/BA degree:

• cognition
• neuropsychology
• social psychology
• developmental psychology

For your third year, you will further your studies overseas, and will have the chance to choose some of your own study areas.  Of the 8 modules that you will be required complete during this year, 4 of them must be psychology related but the remaining modules can be whatever subject you like.  The course has been designed this way to encourage you to broaden your scope of learning, and our Study Abroad tutor will help you to choose areas that will best complement the psychology elements. 

When you return to Lancaster in your fourth year, you will continue with your studies as per the existing BSc/BA Hons structure.  We hope that your year abroad will have inspired you embrace your own research project with vigour and that you can draw on your experience to produce outstanding results. 

How you will be assessed

When you successfully complete all 8 modules during your year overseas, a total average mark will be converted back into the Lancaster system and will count towards your final degree classification. 

You will be assessed in accordance with your host university's own methods - be it exams or essays.  This may impact on your preference on where you would like to study, so discuss this with the Study Abroad tutor before you make your selection.

In order to graduate with the BA/BSc (Hons) in Psychology (Study Abroad Year), you will need to pass all 8 modules.  If you fail, you will be converted to the standard BSc/BA Hons classification. 

Please note that there is a difference between the marking system in the US and that in the UK.  You will appear to have achieved a lower grade when your mark is converted back into the Lancaster system.  Don't be alarmed - this does not devalue your work nor does it impact on the final outcome.  We feel that we should mention this know so as to manage your expectations. 

Where can you go?

Our Study Abroad tutor, Dr Neil McLatchie is currently in talks with prospective host universities and this site will be updated once the details are finalised.  If you would like to be contacted once we have our partner institutions confirmed, please email us. 

The places that we hope to offer are:

• America
• Canada
• Australia
• Hong Kong
• Netherlands

How to apply

If you have already started your Psychology degree at Lancaster University in 2015 and are interested in joining the Study Abroad programme - don't panic!  You can still switch over and we will help you through this process.

If you are planning to begin your studies in 2016, you will be able to apply directly for the course. 

How much it costs

Tuition fees are 15% of your normal Lancaster tuition fees and are paid to Lancaster, not to your host institution.

If you are eligible for a UK Student Financen loan, you will be entitled to extra money for your Study Abroad year:  in 2014/15 this figure was a maximum of £6,600.00

For advice and guidance on the cost of a year abroad, see here.

Entry requirements

As with the existing BSs/BA degree programme, you will require AAA - AAB to study abroad.  In order the spend the third year overseas, we will ask you to average the equivalent of a 2:1 in your first two years of study.  Likewise, should you wish to transfer from the standard BSc/BA degree onto Study Abroad, you will need to achieve the same.