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Course review
Review by: Alicia S
University: Lancaster University
Course: Psychology in Education
Year of study: 1st
Level of Study: Undergraduate
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The course in general
How many contact hours do you have in the average week?
7
Ideally, what 3/4 subjects would you recommend doing in order to be in the best position for your course?
Psychology, English, Biology.
Why did you decide to study your degree programme?
I originally wanted to do Psychology as my major, however one of my A Level grades was below the entrance, and so I was offered the Psychology in Education course as my major with Psychology as my minor, meaning after the first year if I still wanted to study Psychology as my major I could switch.
Not reaching the entrance A Level grade was the best thing that ever happened to me!
Describing your average day
Explain how your day is made up. For example, do you have labs/seminars/tutorials/lectures?
A combination between lab classes, seminars and lectures throughout the week.
Lab classes last at least 2hours if not 3hours.
How much extra work/reading are you required to do out of lectures?
In first year you can get by simply by reading the lecture notes thoroughly however the extra reading isn't difficult and often helps to confirm things in your mind.
Seminars require reading before each one, but once again it's not difficult or long and not always necessary especially as the seminar tutors are excellent and usually explain any doubts in your mind.
The best and worst parts of the course
What do you like best about your degree programme?
Psychology in Education is an applied science. So instead of just learning facts about psychology, you learn to apply those to an educational environment and thus actually feel like you are learning something meaningful! It allows for a lot of discussion and makes you think about situations and how best to deal with them.
At Lancaster University, not many people are on the degree course and the department of Educational Research is very small. People might think this would hinder you, but infact it allows for a lot more support from tutors who are excellent in their teaching (moreso as they are teaching you how best to learn!).
What do you like least about your degree programme?
Personally I don't like the lab classes, just because they are longer and require some mathematics (which I am not good at!). But even the lab classes are taken at a slow and thorough pace and the tutor is excellent and goes over things more than once so it sinks in eventually!
Academics and course content
What do you think of your university's academics and facilities?
Lancaster University is a massive campus university so has tutors on hand the majority of the time and has excellent facilities.
Explain how you expected your course to be and how it compares to how it actually is. Give an outline of the content of the course.
You are expected to understand some psychological concepts but related largely to developmental and child psychology (there are lectures on all of these theories). These theories are then applied to an education/classroom situation. Wider topics such as bullying and children's personalities are also explored in detail.
You will need to write essays, lab reports and sit an exam. All of which you are guided through in your first year.
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University review
Review by: Alicia S
University: Lancaster University
Course: Psychology in Education
Year of study: 1st
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Visit the Lancaster University forum and see what people are discussing right now!
Click here to go back
Describing your university
Sum up your university in one paragraph:
Lancaster is a great university to go to because it has a unique sense of community thanks to the college system and the fact it is an enormous campus university. You will be sure to find like-minded people from all walks of life which in turn leads to an excellent university experience.
What is the academic life like at your university?
Everyone at university is there for a reason; to get a degree. Some work harder than others and some need to work harder than others. There is support at Lancaster whenever you need it (as far as I know from my own course) and 2nd and 3rd students are also often willing to give their assistance.
Describe your Freshers' Week - was it as you expected, better or worse? Why?
Fresher's week is as good as everybody tells you it is! At Lancaster each college has reps. The reps are allocated to a group of Freshers and they take you around the town and pretty much show you everything you need to know: where the good bars are and where the good takeaways are. They do have a bit more of an important role than that though, if you are worried about anything or just generally struggling to settle in and feeling homesick, they are the best people to talk to. They are a friendly, understanding face and a shoulder to cry on and will sort things out for you quicker than you think possible. They've been in your exact situation before, so know exactly what it's like.
Are there any other notes you would like to add about life in general at university or anything else which would be relevant to a prospective student?
Always be open to new things, try and get involved in as much as possible during Fresher's week and meet as many people as you can. Your university experience is what you make of it.
What is the best and worst thing about your university?
The best thing is that Lancaster has a college system. This gives an instant sense of community and everyone within your college has something in common right from the start. Their are 9 bars on campus and numerous shops meaning you wouldn't ever need to leave campus if you didn't want to (though I'd recommend that you did!).
With Lancaster being a campus university, everything and everyone is around the corner. Your tutors are close, your friends are close and the fun is close!
Sport and extra curricular
What are the sport and other activities on offer like at your university?
There are a wide variety of clubs and societies which you can join, all this is shown to you at the Fresher's fair.
The social scene
What is the social scene (and/or nightlife) like at your university? Is it particularly alcohol orientated?
The social scene is very active, there are always things going on somewhere. It can be alcohol orientated or not, whatever your prefer.
What do you think of the city your university is based in or near (as a city)?
The town of Lancaster is brilliant. When I visited on the open day I thought it was a little quiet village and was concerned the night life would not be wild enough for me. How wrong I was! It's not a city so it's only small but because Lancaster has such an enormous university, everything in the town is pretty much centred towards students. It has all the shops you could need (except a Primark) and more than enough clubs and bars to keep you busy.
Accommodation
Do you live in a halls of residence or a student house (or college)? What would you suggest is best in your opinion?
In my first year I lived in halls of residence. At Lancaster there are a number of places to live with separate areas for the different colleges. A lot of the accommodation is new with the option of en-suite. The rooms and kitchens are a lot bigger and better furnished than other rooms I have visted at different universities.
If you are in a hall or college, is it catered or self catered? Which is better for the first year in your opinion and why?
The halls I lived in were self-catered. If you are really bad at cooking or reckon you will spend all of your money on alcohol, it's probably best to go catered if that is an option. However, everybody learns to cook at least something decent at uni, so don't worry too much! Whichever you reckon will suit you best.
Approximately, what is the average cost of accommodation per week in your first year for catered and non-catered halls/colleges?
About £80pw self catered depending on the type of accommodation you want. Your student loan will cover this for 'on campus' rooms. All Freshers are offered 'on campus' accommodation at Lancaster.
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