Back to search results

Psychology A Level OCR

Canterbury Academy, The

The Canterbury Academy, Knight Avenue, Canterbury, CT2 8QA

GCE A/AS Level or Equivalent
Level 3
Social Sciences

Available start dates

Available start dates

Tuesday, 01 September 2026
The Canterbury Academy
2 Year(s)
Full time
Daytime/working hours
NULL

Application Instructions

Applications Open – 3rd November 2025

Applications Close – 31st July 2026

Entry Requirements –We do have entry recommendations for some courses, especially A-levels, as we would not want you to start a course that would not be suitable for you. We want to give you the best chance of future success.

The course programmes are flexible: students can mix Level 3 courses with Level 2 courses, or A-levels with BTECs. We provide impartial advice and guidance and seek to put you on the courses you want and are likely to be successful in.

Students are expected to study up to 3 A level equivalent subjects (this can be from either A levels and/or Level 3 BTEC subjects) building their own personalised combination of Level 3 subjects OR a full time Level 2 course.

The sixth form runs on a flexible timetable with some courses running until 6.00pm. This flexibility means we can offer as much as possible, to as many as possible, as often as possible.

How to Apply – Please apply via Kent Choices.

View our courses here

Course Summary

Psychology is the study of the links between the brain and behaviour.

  • Why do we do behave the way we do?
  • Why do human beings love or hate?
  • How do we find out about behaviour?
  • What can we do with what we find out?

Psychology tries to answer these questions, and A Level Psychology is both really useful, and really interesting.

  • Interesting because who wouldn’t want to know why eye-witnesses usually make mistakes in identifying potential criminals, or how we understand what other people think?
  • Useful because psychology can be applied in everyday life and in every aspect of the wider world.

The aims of these qualifications are to encourage students to:

  • Stimulate and develop their enjoyment of, and enthusiasm for, psychology
  • Develop and demonstrate skills, including practical and research skills
  • Develop essential knowledge and understanding of different areas of the subject and how they relate to each other
  • Appreciate how the subject develops and how its applications interact with changes in human attitudes, and with changes in society and technology
  • Recognise the value, use and misuse of the subject in society

Course Details

In their first year students will study a range of core studies from each of the five key approaches (social, cognitive, biological, individual differences and developmental).

The core studies cover a wide range of different topics including obedience, autism, bystander behaviour and brain damage.

Students will become familiar with several different research methods and with analysing data.

In year two students will study modules including forensic psychology, sports psychology and mental health issues.

How will it be delivered and assessed?

Students are assessed with written examinations at the end of year two.

Entry requirements

We would recommend a level 6 at GCSE in English Language and mathematics, and a grade 6 in GCSE science.

Your next steps...

Universities and employers know that students with A Level psychology have a range of useful skills (research, communication, social, organisation).

The course is beneficial to students who want to go on to study psychology at university and those who choose to go on into other areas.


For more courses like this, check our courses page.