Psychology

Psychology

The School of Psychology extends a warm welcome to you for the 2022/23 academic year.  This is an exciting year for all of us as we see the full return to campus. We hope you have an enjoyable and successful year!

Postgraduate Taught

January 2023

Academic Induction

The Induction Lecture will be the First Lecture of PS55SP on Monday 23rd January at noon in St Mary's G3. All information is in your Timetable and Course Guide.

Key Contacts

Level 5 Convener

Dr Constanze Hesse
Email: c.hesse@abdn.ac.uk@abdn.ac.uk

Administration Contact

Miss Eilidh Mackintosh
Email: psy-pg@abdn.ac.uk

Students will select, or be allocated to, a thesis supervisor in spring term (February/March). Detailed information about the process will be provided in the thesis allocation lecture in week 2 of teaching by the MSc thesis coordinator.

Completing a research-based thesis is a compulsory component of a BPS accredited degree. BPS regulations require students to demonstrate their methodological skills and knowledge by conducting and writing up an independent piece of research. To ensure you can do this, you will get regular and supportive supervision meetings which will provide students with continuous feedback throughout the project.

The format and frequency of these will be decided jointly by you and your supervisor, for example you may decide that you will meet in-person, or online using Microsoft Teams, or even a mix of the two. Whatever format is used, your supervisor will be there for you and will guide and support you in your research. Stay in regular contact with your supervisor and please refer to the thesis handbook for further guidelines and advice.

Reading Lists

We are working with our colleagues in the library so that our required course reading is available online as much as possible. All course books will also be available to borrow from the library. Reading lists for individual courses will be available on course areas in MyAberdeen. In addition, study spaces for students will be available to use. In the meantime, you can brush up your study skills and learn more about the University at our award-winning Toolkit website.

Assessments

All psychology courses in the first term will be assessed through coursework and/or an online open-book exams – there are no in-person invigilated exams. Coursework may include essays, reports, MCQs, presentations, discussion forums, and group projects. This will vary from course to course, and there will be specific details in every course guide at the start of term.

Undergraduate

September 2022

Academic Induction

During Welcome Week we will have the following academic inductions for our new UG students:

Wednesday 14th September

Level 1

  • 11.00 – 12.00  – Level 1 Students – School Welcome and Orientation Talk – Arts Lecture Theatre, William Guild Building
  • 12.00 – 13:00 – Level 1 Students  – Informal Lunch and meet your Course Coordinators, Foyer Arts Lecture Theatre

Level 2

  • 13.00  – 14.00 - Level 2 Students – School Welcome and Orientation Talk – Arts Lecture Theatre, William Guild Building
  • 14.00 – 15.00 – Level 2 Students  – Informal Tea & Coffee and meet your Course Coordinators, Foyer Arts Lecture Theatre

Friday 16th September 

Level 3

  • 11.00 – 12.00  – Level 3 Students – School Welcome and Orientation Talk – Arts Lecture Theatre, William Guild Building
  • 12.00 – 13:00 – Level 3 Students  – Informal Lunch and meet your Course Coordinators, Foyer Arts Lecture Theatre

Level 4

  • 13.00 – 14.00  – Level 4 Students – School Welcome and Orientation Talk – Arts Lecture Theatre, William Guild Building
  • 14.00 – 15:00 – Level 4 Students  – Informal Tea & Coffee and meet your Course Coordinators, Foyer Arts Lecture Theatre
Reading Lists

We are working with our colleagues in the library so that our required course reading is available online as much as possible. All course books will also be available to borrow from the  library. Reading lists for individual courses will be available on course areas in MyAberdeen. In addition, study spaces for students will be available to use. In the meantime, you can brush up your study skills and learn more about the University at our award-winning  Toolkit website

Assessment

Assessment

All psychology courses in the first term will be assessed through coursework and/or an online open-book exams – there are no in-person invigilated exams. Coursework may include essays, reports, MCQs, presentations, discussion forums, and group projects. This will vary from course to course, and there will be specific details in every course guide at the start of term.  

Thesis Supervision

Students will have been allocated a thesis supervisor in Level 3. If you do not know your supervisor, please contact psych-level4@abdn.ac.uk . You should email your supervisor during Welcome Week to arrange your first meeting with your supervisor. The thesis project will be developed via regular meetings with your supervisor.

Completing a research-based thesis is a compulsory component of a BPS accredited degree. BPS regulations require students to demonstrate their methodological skills and knowledge by conducting and writing up an independent piece of research. To ensure you can do this you will get regular and supportive supervision meetings which will provide students with continuous feedback throughout the project. The format and frequency of these will be decided jointly by you and your supervisor, for example you may decide that you will meet in-person, or online using Microsoft Teams, or even a mix of the two. Whatever format is used, your supervisor will be there for you and will guide and support you in your research.  Stay in regular contact with your supervisor and please refer to the thesis handbook for further guidelines and advice.

 

Practicals, fieldwork and placements

A lot of the teaching we value most is carried out in small groups where staff have the opportunity to work closely with students to develop their psychological skills and knowledge. This teaching may involve labs, tutorials and workshops. All teaching will be in person and small groups will be listed in your timetable.

Key Contacts

Role

Contact

Email Address

Director of Education

Dr Jason Bohan

jason.bohan@abdn.ac.uk

Level 1

 

 

Level 1 Theory Coordinator

Dr Jacqui Hutchison

jacqui.hutchison@abdn.ac.uk

Level 1 Methods Coordinator

Dr Mirjam Brady-Van den Bos

mirjam.brady@abdn.ac.uk

Level 1 School Office Contact

 

Miss Stacey Dale

psy-level1@abdn.ac.uk

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 2 Theory Coordinator

Dr Heather Branigan

Heather.branigan@abdn.ac.uk

Level 2 Methods Coordinator

Dr David Sutherland

d.sutherland@abdn.ac.uk

Level 2 School Office Contact

Mrs Yolanda Forero

psy-level2@abdn.ac.uk

Level 3

 

 

Level 3 Convener

Dr Clare Kirtley

clare.kirtley1@abdn.ac.uk

Level 3 School Office Contact

Mrs Catherine Sutherland

psy-level3@abdn.ac.uk

Level 4

 

 

Level 4 Convener

Dr Agnieszka Konopka

agnieszka.konopka@abdn.ac.uk

Level 4 School Office Contact

Miss Karen Forrest

psy-level4@abdn.ac.uk

Postgraduate Research

As well as being a Postgraduate Research Student in the School of Psychology you are also part of a wider PGR community through the Postgraduate Research School.

Orientation

We are looking forward to welcoming you to campus to start your research journey with us. As a Postgraduate Research student you will have the opportunity to attend a University wide induction in addition to your school induction.

The University of Aberdeen Orientation programme has been designed to take you through all of the essential information you will need for your student life. You can get started now by working through the interactive modules.

There are a series of modules that you can work through before you arrive. Once you have registered you can access the remaining modules and complete your mandatory training programme through your bespoke PGR training platform on our virtual learning environment.

There will be a school welcome event for Postgraduate Research students. This will provide an opportunity to meet Postgraduate coordinators and PhD supervisors. There will also be time to answer any questions you may have. Further details regarding the welcome event will follow in due course.

Audit Master‘s Courses

As a PGR student you may have the opportunity to audit Master‘s courses to augment your research training. Please discuss this with your supervisor and check out the postgraduate taught pages above.

The PGR School also offers a comprehensive training programme to support your research journey.

Timelines and Milestones

The PGR School training and development programme offers academic, professional, and personal development through a number of training workshops, resources and opportunities, all intended to support the PGR community at the University of Aberdeen.

Find out more here.