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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

In the final year, students undertake a research project on a psychology topic of their choice, reported in a dissertation of 7,000 words. They also choose a further three papers, at least one of which must be chosen from the following list:

  • Advanced Topics in Developmental Psychology
  • Advanced Topics in Social and Applied Psychology
  • Cognitive and Experimental Psychology
  • Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience
  • The Family

 

 

 

 

The list of optional papers may vary from year to year but will typically include papers in:

  • Criminology
  • History and Philosophy of Science
  • Philosophy
  • Sociology
  • Biological Anthropology

The optional papers lists for each part of the Tripos will be published in the preceding Easter Term.

 

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

In your final year, you undertake a research dissertation of 7,000 words from a range of topics across the psychological sciences. You also choose a further three papers from a selection available, each of which is assessed via a range of assessments, including written and oral exams. 

The subject of these papers may change from year to year but typically include the following topics:

  • social and developmental psychology
  • cognitive and experimental psychology
  • behavioural and cognitive neuroscience
  • criminology
  • selected subjects from those offered at Part IB

The optional papers lists for each part of the Tripos will be published in the preceding Easter Term.