Psychology: New students
Undergraduate students
Undergraduate students
Undergraduate students
Undergraduate students
We will be updating this page regularly as new details of induction and welcome activities are released. Please ensure you check back here frequently for updates, as well as your personal email account, new University of Exeter email account, and your My Timetable for the most up-to-date information from us. (Please note you need to register with the University and activate your IT account to access My Timetable.) If you have any questions about your induction or starting your studies, please contact your Info Point using the details on this page.
Congratulations on your achievement of obtaining a place to study Psychology at the University of Exeter. We look forward to welcoming you to Exeter and working with you over the coming few years.
This page contains some useful information about induction and welcome activities in Psychology. Please also refer to the new students’ website for information about other non-discipline-specific events.
On this page: Welcome from the Head of Department | Important information | Module selection | Your tutors and pastoral care team | Contacts and support
Welcome to the Department of Psychology at the University of Exeter!

You are joining one of the top universities in the country, a member of the Russell Group of top research-led universities, with an outstanding record of employability. As a consequence, you can expect our standards to be very high, our teaching to be excellent and your experience to be one of the best available in higher education.
What you will experience here represents a step up from anything you will have experienced prior to this at school or college. You will be taught by people who don't just use textbooks, but write them—researchers who know exactly what it's like to establish a new finding, discover a new effect, or construct a new theory. They will expect you to learn to operate at the same level as them, and eventually to be capable of doing what they do.
You have time to make this journey, but you cannot afford to waste any of that time. The first year is introductory, and as such does not contribute (in terms of assessment) to your final degree (though you must pass the modules to progress). I encourage you, however, to take full advantage of this introduction, to learn to deal with the change in standards that will apply in your subsequent years. So the first year is for you to practise your skills, to discover the areas of your course that you enjoy the most, and to learn how to think and communicate in the context of your subject. Use it well, and above all engage with your tutors, lecturers and other members of staff. Become part of the discipline and attend our seminars and talks and you will feel the full benefit of studying at Exeter.
We look forward to working with you.
Professor Celia Morgan, Head of Psychology
Important information
Freshers’ Week runs from Monday 13 September – Sunday 19 September 2021.
Please note that event times and locations are subject to change - please check your timetable in iExeter for the most up-to-date information and to access online events.
Time |
Event |
Location |
Who should attend? |
---|---|---|---|
Tuesday 14 September |
|||
09:00-09:30 |
Welcome meeting A formal welcome by the Head of Psychology and an introduction to your studies, the registration process and key tutors. |
Alumni Auditorium, The Forum | All students |
09:30-10:00 |
PsySoc Committee Welcome Introduction to the Students' Guild Meet your subject chairs |
Alumni Auditorium, The Forum | All students |
10:00-10:30 |
Meet your Personal Tutor (Tutor surnames A-F) |
WSL 219, Washington Singer Building | All Students – except INTO |
10:30-11:00 |
Meet your Personal Tutor (Tutor surnames G-L) |
WSL 219, Washington Singer Building |
All Students – except INTO |
11:00- 11:30 |
Meet your Personal Tutor (Tutor surnames M-R) |
WSL 219, Washington Singer Building |
All Students – except INTO |
11:30-12:00 | Meet your Personal Tutor
(Tutor surnames S-Z) |
WSL 219, Washington Singer Building | All Students – except INTO |
12:15-13:15 |
Q&A with current Psychology students
|
Newman Purple, Peter Chalk Centre | All students |
13:30-14:30 |
INTO International Year One in Psychology Welcome Meet your Programme Coordinator, Lamprini Psychogiou |
WSL 219, Washington Singer Building | INTO International Year One in Psychology students only |
13:30-14:30 |
Director's Welcome & Personal Tutor Meeting for BSc Psychology with Sport and Exercise Science* Meet your Programme Director, Dr Aureliu Lavric, and choose your optional modules |
WSL 105, Washington Singer Building | BSc Psychology with Sport and Exercise Science students only |
15:00-16:00 |
Induction Session - Not to be missed! Topics covered will include studying at Exeter, new philosophy of learning, Exeter Psychology ethos, and sources of support. |
Alumni Auditorium, The Forum | All students |
Wednesday 15 September |
|||
10:00-11:00 |
Welcome talk for Inbound Study Abroad students Meet your Programme Director, Cris Burgess |
WSL 205, Washington Singer Building | Inbound Study Abroad students only |
11:00-12:00 |
Welcome talk for BSc Psychology with Study Abroad students Meet your Programme Director, Cris Burgess |
WSL 28, Washington Singer Building | BSc Psychology with Study Abroad students only |
Thursday 16 September |
|||
11:30-12:30 |
How to learn well If you engage with one lecture during your time at Exeter – engage with this one. (More info below) |
Alumni Auditorium, The Forum | All students |
How to learn well - Thursday 16 September
11:30-12:30 Forum Auditorium
If you engage with one lecture during your time at Exeter – engage with this one. This lecture will help you make the most of other lectures – not to mention Tutorials and Practicals as well. This lecture will challenge your assumptions about the best way to study, and potentially double your effectiveness as a student. And it won’t just tell you how to do this, it will tell you why it works.
You will see this on your timetable under module code PSY1907.
*BSc Psychology with Sport and Exercise Science
BSc Psychology with Sport and Exercise Science students must attend the Psychology Welcome and induction talks and not the Sport and Health Sciences induction. However, you will need to make yourself familiar with your Sports and Exercise Science reading lists and any specialised clothing that you will need to purchase - please see the Sport and Health Sciences new students page.
You must register with the university at the start of each academic year. By registering, you agree to observe the University’s rules and regulations, including the payment of tuition fees and other charges by the deadlines. Most students will be asked to register online.
The registration webpage can be found here.
To register, you need to:
- Activate your IT account.
- Use your IT details to go to the iExeter app and log in.
- Follow the ‘Registration’ link.
You must register by 9 October 2021. If you have any problems registering online or your course details are not correct please contact the Student Information Desk on 01392 724724 or submit a SID enquiry.
More information about things you'll need to do before arriving at Exeter can be found in the New Students Guide.
Your detailed personal timetable will be available to view and download in iExeter from Monday 13 September. Teaching commences on Monday 20 September 2021. How to understand your timetable guide (Word doc)
All timetabling is organised centrally by the Timetable Team. Staff are available to answer any queries that you may have via student.timetable.peterchalk@exeter.ac.uk.
For further information about your timetable, please see the timetabling webpages.
Basic reading lists for each first year module can be found in the module descriptors. All recommended reading should be available through the university library.
Please do not buy any books before you arrive, as guidance will be given in the first lecture of each module.
Find out about the overall teaching and learning approach on your course here, and please be aware that this information may supersede the specified teaching and learning activities within individual modules.
Learning environments
Your teaching sessions are likely to involve a mix of one or more of the following:
Lectures
A presentation or talk on a particular topic, led by a Module Tutor, and often involving some interactive tasks or opportunities for discussion.
Tutorials
On some modules you’ll have small group tutorials where a tutor supports your learning on a specific topic. These will likely be delivered face-to-face on campus.
Practicals
Many modules will have associated practical sessions. These may be on campus, or they may be a desk-based exercise for you to complete in your own time.
Assessments
Assessments can include:
- essays
- lab reports
- multiple choice exams
- short answer exams
Selecting your optional modules
The first year provides you with a broad foundation of knowledge and specialist skills for research and undertaking statistical analysis.
You will take 90 credits of the core Psychology modules:
Core modules (90 credits)
Module code | Module title | Term |
---|---|---|
PSY1203 | Introduction to Social Psychology | Term 1 |
PSY1204 | Introduction to Clinical Psychology | Term 1 |
PSY1206 | Introduction to Research Methods | Term 1 |
PSY1205 | Introduction to Statistics | Terms 1 & 2 |
PSY1202 | Introduction to Biological Psychology | Term 2 |
PSY1207 | Cognition, Emotion and Development | Term 2 |
Optional modules (30 credits)
We will automatically register you for 2 x 15 credit Psychology modules listed below and they will appear on your student record when you register:
Module code | Module title | Term |
---|---|---|
PSY1105 | Introduction to Behaviour and Evolution | Term 1 |
PSY1126 | Classic Studies in Psychology | Term 2 |
Changing your optional modules
You can request to change the optional modules which are currently on your student record. You can take up to 30 credits from another discipline or you may decide to swap one of your current option modules (PSY1105/PSY1126) for PSY1208 Work Experience (Psychology).
Changing to Work Experience (Psychology)
If you would like to take PSY1208 Work Experience instead of PSY1105 Introduction to Behaviour and Evolution or PSY1126 Classic Studies in Psychology, then please contact us at psychology@exeter.ac.uk by 5pm on Friday 17 September 2021. There is no module change form.
Changing to modules in another discipline
To request a change outside Psychology you must complete a module change form. Links to the module change forms and other relevant information regarding module change can be found on the When can I change a module? hub page.
Any changes are subject to approval and are timetable permitting. The deadline for module change forms is Friday 1 October by 12 noon. It is preferable to register for your modules before the deadline date so you do not miss any scheduled teaching.
- Download this information as a Word doc: Selecting your optional modules 2021/22
You will choose your optional modules at the Director's Welcome & Personal Tutor Meeting with Dr Aureliu Lavric on Tuesday 14 September 2021 at 1:30pm. This meeting will take place online - please see your timetable in iExeter for details.
- Descriptions of Psychology modules can be found here.
- Descriptions of Exercise and Sports Science modules can be found here.
In year 1 you will take four 15 credit compulsory modules and four 15 credit optional modules.
Core modules (60 credits)
Module code | Module title | Term |
---|---|---|
PSY1206 | Introduction to Research Methods | Term 1 |
PSY1205 | Introduction to Statistics | Terms 1 & 2 |
PSY1202 | Introduction to Biological Psychology | Term 2 |
PSY1207 | Cognition, Emotion and Development | Term 2 |
Optional modules (60 credits)
You will choose one 15 credit Psychology module from:
Module code | Module title | Term |
---|---|---|
PSY1203 | Introduction to Social Psychology | Term 1 |
PSY1204 |
Introduction to Clinical Psychology | Term 1 |
PSY1208 | Workplace Learning | Terms 1 and 2 |
and three 15 credit Sport and Exercise Science modules from:
Module code | Module title | Term |
---|---|---|
ESS1006 | Human Anatomy and Kinathropometry | Term 1 |
ESS1605 | Foundations of Exercise and Sport Psychology | Term 1 |
ESS1703 | Bioenergetics | Term 1 |
ESS1007 | Human Physiology | Term 2 |
ESS1606 | Nutrition and Metabolism | Term 2 |
Your tutors and pastoral care team
Let’s introduce you to some of the key people in our department who’ll be supporting you through your programme of study.
- We are here to help – via email, phone, Skype, or in-person appointment.
- Please come and see us before an issue gets too big.
- Because of our team-based approach, there should always be someone you can speak to for help.
You can find a list of all academic staff in Psychology here, including office locations and contact details.
As soon as you arrive, you’ll be allocated your own dedicated Personal Tutor who will be your first point of contact if you have any queries or concerns about your overall progress and wellbeing. They will see you either on an individual basis or in your tutor group several times across the academic year, to discuss your transition to uni, attendance, progress and ambition. They will set up appointments, and attendance is compulsory and is monitored. You might discuss: generic aspects of studying such as marking conventions, essay/exam technique, planning for your future career.
You can consider your Personal Tutor also as a friendly triage/signposting service – if there is an emerging issue you need help with, they can advise you where to get it and refer you on to the right person. You can make an appointment with them at any time by email, phone, Skype, or by visiting them during their weekly office hours.
The relationship you build up with your tutor is an important one, not least because they will sometimes be the person who writes references for you when you start applying for jobs or other positions such as internships.
This short video outlines some of the benefits of our tutoring system:
Ioanna (Anna) Kapantai is First Year Tutor.
If a personal tutor requires additional input about a tutee, they will usually contact Anna (or Louise, the Senior Tutor) for advice.
Where you may have more complex issues that require ongoing monitoring and support, Anna can help (liaising with our Welfare Advisor, Tim Harris).
If your personal tutor is unavailable, Anna may be able to help.
Louise Pendry is the Senior Tutor.
Personal Tutors and Year Tutors report to Louise. If your Personal or Year Tutors are unavailable, and Washington Singer Information point doesn’t have the answer, Louise may be able to help.
Louise attends Level 2 Health, Well-being and Support for Study Meetings (with our Welfare Advisor, Tim Harris, who chairs them).
If you have any queries regarding your Personal Tutor or Year Tutor feel free to contact Louise: l.f.pendry@exeter.ac.uk.
Tim Harris is our Welfare Advisor in Wellbeing Services.
Tim works in liaison with tutors to assist students to access support for managing health/wellbeing and impact on studies.
Tim can offer telephone, skype and face to face appointments. To contact him, please email: welfare.peterchalk@exeter.ac.uk
Your degree is made up of a number of different short courses called ‘modules’. Each module is led by a named academic member of staff, but most are taught by a team of tutors who share the lectures and seminars.
Your Module Tutors can be contacted in the same was as you would contact your Personal Tutor to seek help and advice. Your Module Tutors will let you know how to contact them to arrange a meeting, with this information also displayed on the module’s ELE page*.
*ELE is the Exeter Learning Environment, and each module has a dedicated page. On here you will find the information and materials you need to complete the module.
The Director of Undergraduate Studies is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day running of the undergraduate programmes. This may include helping students make choices about their studies, or meeting with individuals who are having difficulties at university. The Director of Undergraduate Studies in Psychology is Dr Aureliu Lavric.
In addition, the Directors of Education have overall responsibility for all the programmes and modules within Psychology. Dr Hazel Mycroft and Dr Tim Fawcett are the Directors of Education for Psychology, and can be contacted at psychologyDoE@exeter.ac.uk.
Contacts and support
Info at Washington Singer: Your Psychology Hub
If you have any Psychology-specific enquires please contact Info at Washington Singer by email psychology@exeter.ac.uk or telephone +44 (0)1392 724626.
Psychology is based in the Washington Singer building on Perry Road. You can take virtual tours, complete with 360º panoramas, to see what the campus really looks like.
For essential information relating to Psychology please go to our ELE (Exeter Learning Environment) page.
General enquiries
For all general and IT enquiries please contact SID (Student Information Desk) online or via the iExeter app: log on to iExeter, click on the ‘SID Helpdesk’ tab and select the link to ‘log a new enquiry’.
There is a huge range of information available about accessing support at Exeter – please see the student services directory.
Psychology ELE Hub
For essential information relating to Psychology please go to our ELE (Exeter Learning Environment) page.
Access and wellbeing support
If you have declared a disability on your application form pre-arrival or on a medical form, we would advise you to contact AccessAbility and Wellbeing services by logging an enquiry through the SID helpdesk. They will ensure that you get the additional study support you require e.g. extra time in exams, specific software etc.
Wellbeing services offer mental health support and counselling, as well as self-help resources you can access here.
Services and support
Societies
If you are interested in joining any societies, you can look out for the Psychology Society during Freshers’ Week.
The new students guide includes everything you need to know about starting University, with a handy checklist of tasks to help you through your first term.
» New students guide
Support with studying in English
The Insessional Programme is provided by INTO University of Exeter. It offers a range of courses, workshops and tutorials to international students at the University of Exeter. It is designed to enable students to develop their academic English and provide help and support for studying in English. Further information about the INTO Insessional Programme is available here.
International students' website
Visit the international students' website for information on preparing for your studies and the support available to you, including our airport collection service and mentoring scheme.
We are committed to enabling all students to communicate their views and to receiving suggestions to influence changes to our policies and procedures.
Psychology has an undergraduate and postgraduate Student-Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC), which gives you the opportunity to voice your opinions about studying with us and to comment on a wide range of issues and possible developments.
The SSLC is presided over by Subject Officer (a student elected by the Students’ Guild) and composed of elected student representatives from each year and programme, and appropriate staff representatives. Training for Subject Officers is provided by the Students’ Guild. A standard agenda is provided by the Taught Faculty, and an action log is taken by the discipline Administrator.
If you are interested in becoming a representative for the UG SSLC please sign up to volunteer through the Students' Guild.
The Buddy Up scheme is designed to help you settle into University life more quickly by networking with and learning from a year 2+ student in the same discipline.
You will be matched with a Buddy who can answer any questions you have and help you meet new people and feel confident in your first year.
Find out more about the scheme here, or if you’d like to request a buddy, email cles-studentcommunity@exeter.ac.uk with your:
- Full name
- Discipline
- University email address (if you have it)
- Student number (if you have it)
College online induction
This induction course for CLES students is all about helping you to feel confident and happy during your first couple of weeks with us.
Your student experience during Covid-19
Find out about our plans to provide a safe studying and campus experience on our dedicated Coronavirus webpages.
Welcome from Professor Richard Winsley
Richard is Associate Dean for Education in the College of Life and Environmental Sciences.