Psychology and Anthropology

Psychology and Anthropology is a combination that approaches the fundamental question of what it means to be human from two complementary angles. Psychology studies the mental processes and behaviour of individuals, drawing on cognitive science, neuroscience, developmental science, and clinical research to understand how people think, feel, and act. Anthropology, particularly in its evolutionary and biological forms, examines human beings in the context of our species history, asking how our behaviour, cognition, and social organisation compare with those of our primate relatives and how they have evolved over time.

At Durham University, this three-year full-time programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society and is taught by leading researchers in both disciplines. You will study psychology across its cognitive, biological, social, and developmental dimensions, while the anthropology strand uses evolutionary and biological perspectives to enquire into the mind and behaviour of past and present human and primate populations. The two subjects provide both complementary and contrasting perspectives on human nature, and you will develop both quantitative and qualitative research methods.

The programme includes a sandwich placement year, a year abroad, and work placements, giving you the professional and international experience that strengthens your preparation for graduate employment or further study.

Graduates of this combination are well placed for careers in research, healthcare, education, human resources, conservation, international development, and any role that requires understanding human behaviour in social and evolutionary context. The BPS accreditation means that graduates can proceed towards the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, the prerequisite for professional psychology training. Many graduates also pursue postgraduate study in psychology, evolutionary anthropology, cognitive science, or primatology, building on the strong interdisciplinary foundations the undergraduate programme provides.