Future-ready with Psychology

This year is the centenary year for psychology at the University of Reading in the UK, which is ranked in the Top 100 universities in the world for International Outlook according to the Times Higher Education (THE 2021). While the teaching of psychology began at Reading in 1910, the celebrations this year mark 100 years since the official founding of the department of psychology in 1921. This makes the School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences (PCLS) at the University of Reading one of the most established and oldest psychology schools of its kind.

Best of both worlds at the Malaysia branch campus

The BSc Psychology (R/311/6/0074)(07/2025)(MQA/FA6235) programme is also available at the University of Reading’s branch campus in Malaysia, meaning that students can get the same UK degree closer to home, at approximately 40% of the cost versus studying for three years at the UK campus. Both campuses award the exact same degree, and follow the same high-quality academic standards. Furthermore the BSc Psychology with Professional Placement (N/311/6/0118)(03/2028)(MQA/PA14287), is being introduced this year at the Malaysia campus.

The University of Reading’s branch campus in Malaysia was established in 2013 and is part of EduCity, Asia’s first multi-campus education city located in Iskandar Puteri, Johor. The stunning, state-of-the-art campus is a spacious, modern facility that houses IT-enabled classrooms, lecture theatre, a learning resource centre and student social areas all conveniently under one roof. Students also have access to a range of facilities on EduCity’s sprawling 305-acre complex, such as the 24-hour EduCity Hub that includes food outlets, ATM, convenience store, activity hall, co-working space and a music jamming studio. The EduCity Village offers a range of affordable accommodation options for those wishing to stay near campus. The EduCity Sports Complex has excellent recreational facilities including an Olympic-size swimming pool, running track, football pitch, tennis courts, fitness centre and mult-function indoor arena. EduCity is guarded on a 24-hour basis, ensuring that students have a safe and secure environment for their studies, and free parking is available within EduCity. The nearby Senai International airport means access to KL, Penang and East Malaysia are but a short flight away.

Diverse career options with psychology

A degree in psychology provides an excellent starting point for a career in science, business, and the arts. It equips students with an in-depth understanding of the complexity of human behaviour, knowledge of scientific principles, and provides a fundamental and flexible skill set, needed for the Industrial Revolution 4.0. Although, psychology has traditionally been associated with clinical work and psychotherapy, the field is much broader and diverse in its scope, and offers numerous career options that involve human thought and behaviour in a variety of contexts.

While some psychology graduates pursue further study and training to become professional psychologists, many work in related disciplines. Major destinations of psychology graduates include, but are not limited to:

Human resources departments
Marketing,sales and advertising
Social services
User experience (UX) design
Government and policy development
Educational institutions, including special needs centres
Hospital settings or mental health clinics
Pharmaceutical industry

Throughout their programme of study, students gain a solid grounding in all core areas of psychology, including biological psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, individual differences, social psychology, conceptual and historical issues in psychology, and research methods.

The BSc Psychology with Professional Placement provides an opportunity to develop workplace skills and further enhance the employability of graduates. In their final year, students complete a research project that allows them to apply their theoretical knowledge to a concrete research problem and develop valuable transferrable skills, such as team work, communication, and critical thinking. Many final projects go on to be published in international journals.

During the global pandemic, the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) requires universities in Malaysia to switch to online learning. With its interactive approach, the university is well-prepared to deliver high-quality teaching and learning whether on-campus or virtual. Students at the Malaysia campus benefit from the same advanced and robust digital learning tools available to students studying on the Reading UK campus. This includes access to platforms such as the Blackboard Learning Management System, Blackboard Collaborate and Microsoft Teams. Students also have round-the-clock access to the university’s digital library which contains thousands of journals and e-books.

BPS accreditation

Students can be reassured that the degree programmes offered at the Malaysia campus are accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). This accreditation gives graduates eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered (GBC) Membership and access to postgraduate training courses in the UK and elsewhere. This is particularly important for students who wish to become professional psychologists, where postgraduate and doctoral study is generally recommended.

Study in the UK

All psychology students on the Malaysia campus have an opportunity to study on the UK campus, for one term to two years, with no limits on numbers or constraints. Students based at the UK campus can also study in Malaysia for up to one year.

The University’s main Whiteknights campus in Reading UK is set in 130 hectares of beautiful parkland and has won the Green Flag award ten times in a row, making it one of the UK’s best green spaces. The campus has everything a student could need, including sports facilities, health centre, eateries, a supermarket and on-campus accommodation. A virtual tour of the UK campus is available at the following link: https://www.reading.ac.uk/virtual-experience/

Reading has a bustling town centre, with a lively riverside bar and restaurant area, and has plenty of places to meet with friends, grab a coffee, or just hang out. The Oracle shopping centre in the town centre is a shopper’s paradise with many established retailers offering goods to satisy all price points. Furthermore, Reading town is conveniently only a 25-minute train ride from London, making it ideal for students who are seeking to make the most from their time in the UK.

Admissions

Entry points for new students are in April, July and September each year. Those with A-levels, STPM, UEC and equivalent qualifications can apply for direct admission to the degree programme. SPM, IGCSE and equivalent holders can enrol onto the University’s 12-month International Foundation Programme (IFP) which, upon successful progression, guarantees them a place on the programme in Malaysia or the UK. For eligible students studying in Malaysia, our High Achievers Scholarship is valued at up to RM33,840, or the equivalent of a 30% discount for the entire duration of study (subject to T&Cs). Additional Early Bird discounts are also available.