School of Psychology & Counselling

The School of Psychology & Counselling is Europe’s largest provider of university-level education in psychology. We offer undergraduate, taught postgraduate and research qualifications. Our teaching builds on the innovative research activity taking place in the School. This introduces our students to the topics and problems that currently interest psychologists; the investigative skills required for psychology research; and the fundamental conceptual and philosophical issues in psychology, demonstrating the different ways in which psychological knowledge can be constructed and applied.

Our academics

Our academic staff have a broad range of research and teaching specialisms in psychology and counselling. Our research has considerable reach and external impact, including through the professional practitioner work of our academics, their contributions to BBC/OU co-productions and their provision of expert evidence to Government and policymakers.

Our research

The vibrant research culture of the School feeds into our teaching. We have particular strengths in critical, cultural and psycho-social psychology, forensic psychology, and counselling, psychotherapy and mental health. This reflects our concern with the impact of psychology outside academia, addressing ‘real world’ social, political and personal issues.

How we work with others

The School’s academics are part of cross-disciplinary research centres and collaborations, including the Harm & Evidence Research Collaboration (HERC), the Networking Families Research Group, the Culture and Social Psychology Group (CUSP), the Health and Wellbeing Priority Research Area, and the Centre for Policing Research and Learning. Members of the School collaborate on teaching and curriculum provision with psychologists from other Open University faculties: the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies, the Faculty of Business and Law and the Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.