skip to content

Psychological and Behavioural Sciences Tripos

 

Please be advised that the PBS course structure will be changing from the 2024-25 academic year onwards. The information below is split based the year students enter the course.

 

For students who matriculated prior to the 2024-25 academic year

PBS students take four papers in their first year. Two papers are compulsory: PBS 1: Introduction to Psychology and PBS 2: Psychological Enquiry and Methods. The other two papers can be chosen from a varied list of choices which normally includes papers on Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, Evolution and Behaviour, Mathematical Biology, Philosophy, Sociology and Politics.

Resources:

  • Papers: a list of papers available in Part IA for 2023-24.

 

For students admitted to the PBS course from the 2024-25 academic year onwards

In Part IA, you take a total of four papers, three of which are compulsory:

  • Introduction to Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience
  • Social Psychology, Applied Psychology and Individual Differences
  • From Subjective Questions to Objective Science

The remaining paper is chosen from a selection of around nine options. The optional papers available each year may vary but subjects usually include:

  • biological and social anthropology
  • evolution and behaviour
  • politics
  • philosophy
  • sociology

You will be assessed via a range of laboratory reports, and written exams.