Overview
The Kings Degree Pathways Programme is one of the most highly academic and successful pathways to leading UK universities.
Psychology is an elective module within the Programme, and is ideal for students who are interested in studying this subject at university.
Key Facts
- January
- April (Extended programme only)
- July (Extended programme only)
- September
- Academic: Completed 11-12 years of schooling
- English: IELTS 5.5 or equivalent
- 1 Academic Year (3 terms)
- Extended programme: 1-2 Academic Years (4-7 terms)
- Around 25 hours per week of taught classroom lessons plus tutorials, university counselling, super-curricular, extra-curricular and enrichment activities.
Course content and structure
The Degree Pathways Programme is highly flexible, and able to adapt to the needs and academic aspirations of each student. It does this through a combination of core modules and a series of elective modules which can be combined in different ways to create main subject streams.
The Degree Pathways Programme Psychology is linear, with September and January student cohorts taught separately.
An overview of the syllabus content is shown below.
Term 1
- Memory – models of memory, explanations of forgetting, factors which affect that accuracy of eyewitness testimony, improving eyewitness testimony
- Social Influence – conformity, obedience, resistance to conformity and obedience.
- Research methods – how to carry out research in Psychology, including experiments, observations, self report methods and correlations.
- Assessment: 2 hour written exam on Social Influence, Memory and Research Methods
Term 2
- Approaches in Psychology – Behaviourism, Social Learning, Biological and Cognitive Approaches.
- Research Methods – scientific processes, data handling, analysis and inferential testing.
- Assessment: practical research investigation and report write up.
Term 3
- Clinical Psychology – definitions of mental health/abnormality, explanations and treatments for Phobias, Depression and OCD.
- Comparison of Approaches
- Assessment: 2 hour written exam on Approaches and Clinical Psychology
Sample subject combinations with Psychology
Psychology complements a wide range of science, social science and humanities subjects. In addition, it will be highly beneficial for any career that involves an understanding of others, such as medicine, dentistry, education, marketing, law and forensics.
Common subject combinations include:
- Psychology, Biology and Chemistry
- Psychology, Business Studies, Maths
- Psychology, Politics and History
- Psychology, Economics and Politics
Sample enrichment activities
- History Film Club
- Houses of Parliament visit
- Visit to Hampton Court Palace
- Bletchley Park visit
- Debating Society
- Trinity Arts awards
Sample academic calendar (2026-2027)
| September
|
7th: term starts
Student induction
|
| October
|
23 – 27th: half term
Progress tests
|
| November
|
University fairs and talks
|
| December
|
11th: term ends
End of term exams
|
| January
|
4th: term starts
|
| February
|
11th – 12th: half term
Progress tests
University fairs
|
| March
|
End of term exams
19th: term ends
|
| April
|
5th: term starts
|
| May
|
Progress tests
|
| June
|
Exams
11th: term ends
|
| July
|
|
| August
|
Results out
Places at universities confirmed
|
Recommended reading
Below is a list of text books normally used on this course, as well as books which may help you prepare for your studies prior to arrival. In many cases the textbooks will be supplied by the school, and you may borrow them for the duration of your time at school. However, if you already know what three subjects you want to choose you may prefer to purchase one before you arrive.
- The Complete Companions for AQA A Level Psychology 5th Edition: 16-18: The Complete Companions: A Level Year 1 and AS Psychology Student Book 5th Edition
- The Complete Companions for AQA A Level Psychology 5th Edition: 16-18: The Complete Companions: A Level Year 2 Psychology Student Book 5th Edition
