Before you arrive

Our School of Psychology is a thriving community of students, scholars and support staff and we look forward to welcoming you to it.

To help you here is some useful information about starting university and studying with us.

It is a pleasure to welcome you to the School of Psychology. Psychology is one of the broadest, most exciting, highly relevant, and rapidly changing fields of science there is. It encompasses the perceptions, thoughts, feelings, and actions of people from infancy to old age, as well as comparable phenomena and interactions in groups, societies, animals, and computers.
Professor Claire Gibson, Head of School

1 Get set up

Follow the instructions on the university's central Welcome pages to make sure you have completed what you need for registration. You’ll then be able to get your student ID when you arrive, get your university email address and IT account set up. It will also let you know what to do when you arrive at your accommodation.

2 Complete the onboarding module

This module explains the basic concepts and knowledge on cultural backgrounds, identities, views, and practices that impact individuals and communities around you. The topics will inspire you to think, learn with your peers and develop necessary skills for your personal and professional development.

Complete the onboarding module

3 Prepare for your Science degree

Begin your university journey with our 'Prepare for your science degree' MOOC on FutureLearn. This free course introduces you to Faculty of Science staff and students, presents essential academic skills, and explains how university study differs from school or college. Self-guided content is released weekly and can be completed at any time before you begin your studies. Get ready for success in your science degree!

Complete the course here

4 Consider your optional modules

Students studying BSc Psychology and BSc Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience must select 30 credits of optional modules. We recommend you register for Psychological Approaches to Therapy (PSGY1009) and Addiction and the Brain (PSGY1005) which cover additional psychology related topics, but you also might want to consider language modules or modules related to your previous study.

You will select these modules after you arrive in Nottingham, but it may be helpful to look at possible module choices via the Module Catalogue.

5 Prepare for Welcome Week

This Moodle page will contain information about Welcome Week. You will be able to access this after you have completed online registration.

Reading Lists

When you enrol on your modules, you will see a reading list that contains various textbooks and other sources. You are not required to buy any textbooks as they are all available in the library. Lots of the textbooks are available as eBooks.

It could be useful to buy the textbook for research methods (estimate £40-50) and the leader of the practical methods module will give further guidance on this.

Equipment

The School of Psychology has several computer rooms available for students, so it is not necessary to purchase a laptop; however, many students do and find it useful to have their own device.

If you do choose to purchase or bring a device with you then please check the minimum specification for Windows PCs here.

Any Apple Mac/Macbook will meet the minimum specifications.

We advise not to purchase Chromebooks, iPads, tablets or similar as they cannot run the apps required on the course.

The university offers a laptop loan service and other support for students who do not have access to personal devices.

Access guide

A guide to accessibility of University Park Campus, including the Psychology Building is available on the Accessible app or on the AccessAble website.