The popular Psychology degree course offered at Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln has been awarded accreditation by the British Psychological Society.
BGU introduced Psychology as a new subject course in September last year, and it has proved to be a highly popular choice among students.The university aimed to recruit 20 first-year students but actually enrolled 37, almost double the target figure.
BPS accreditation is essential for any student planning to pursue psychology-related further study or professions. Accreditation takes effect immediately so both current students and those starting their course this September will benefit.
Graham Meeson, Head of Education and Learning at BGU, said: "This has been a fantastic year for the subject, beginning with excellent recruitment and ending with this well justified recognition. "We were all taken aback by the popularity of the subject as the student interest and intake exceeded all our expectations."
The Psychology course at BGU is offered as a combined honours degree, allowing students to study the subject alongside a range of other subjects such as Special Educational Needs and Inclusion, or Early Childhood Studies. The university will be offering Psychology as a single honours programme for 2015 entry, specialising in area of the arts therapies, community engagement and wellbeing.
Dr Olivia Sagan, Academic Co-ordinator for Psychology at BGU, said: "I am delighted Bishop Grosseteste University has received the BPS stamp of recognition and approval, but this is just the beginning. "Our focus is now set on maintaining the excellent standards we have set, growing our student body, developing a national reputation for the development of student-centred psychology learning and developing a research profile."
The launch of the new course brought a number of new facilities including a PsychLab and interview area, high-end computers for carrying out quantitative and qualitative analysis and facilities for digitally recording, editing and analysing observation and interviews.
The British Psychological Society (BPS) is the national representative body for psychology and psychologists. Its accreditation is a mark of educational quality recognised by students and employers. The university went through a year-long process with the BPS before being awarded the official accreditation.
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