SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY

The Degree in Psychology is framed within the branch of knowledge of Health Sciences. By conceiving health, in a positive sense, as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity" (WHO definition), the overall goal of this degree is to train professionals who are specialized in analysing, understanding and explaining human behaviour. These professionals will have acquired the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to examine, evaluate and operate in the diverse contexts, personal and/or social, of the human the lifecycle, in line with established ethical values and the Psychologist's Code of Ethics.

In addition, Psychology is a basic and applied science. As a basic science, it involves the scientific analysis of human activity, applying rigorous research methodology to obtain valid, verifiable and scientifically sound results that describing and explaining all aspects of human behaviour, studying basic psychological, psychobiological and psychosocial processes, as well as personality, in both healthy and pathological circumstances. As an applied science, Psychology use this knowledge to design and test interventions in the fields of health, education, social sciences, and occupational and organizational psychology, as well as in new emerging fields such as community psychology, cognitive science, neuropsychology, sports psychology, legal and forensic psychology, psychogerontology, traffic psychology and road safety, disaster and emergency management, addictions, substance abuse, advertising, marketing, etc.

Dean of the School of Psychology,  Professor Alejando Higuera Matas

A degree in Psychology qualifies graduates to practice professionally as psychologists in the fields of health, education, social sciences and organizational management. Likewise, this title gives access to Master's degrees Research in Psychology; Prevention of Occupational Risks; Methodology of Behavioural and Health Sciences; Psychology of Social Intervention; Compulsory Teacher Training for Secondary and Baccalaureate Education, Vocational Training and Languages); and Doctorate programmes (see Official University Master's Degrees and PhD Programmes at the UNED).

The training gained by the students during the Degree course in Psychology's fosters a series of skills, both of a general and specific nature. "Competences" are understood as the knowledge set, abilities, skills, attitudes, values and motivations that help the psychology professional function adequately in any theoretical or practical scenario, professional or of any other type.

Basic and general competences

1. Work management and planning: initiative and motivation; planning and organization; good time management.
2. Development and use of superior cognitive processes: analysis and synthesis; decision-making and putting knowledge into practical use in new or unknown environments; creativity and critical thinking.
3. Management of processes driving improvement, quality and innovation: follow-up, monitoring and assessment of one's own work and that of others; implementation of improvement measures; innovation.
4. Being able to communicate properly and to effectively use the tools and services of the knowledge society: verbal and written communication in Spanish and in other languages; mathematical, scientific and technological expression; selection, evaluation, transformation and treatment of information, and its presentation.
5. Teamwork: coordination with the work of others; effectively negotiate and resolve conflicts; coordinate and lead working groups.
6. Commitment to university activities' and regulations, and to professional ethics standards: to be aware of and put into practice rules governing academic work; respect and promote the fundamental values of democratic societies.

Specific competences

1. Knowledge of the essential historical framework and concepts in the field of Psychology.
2. Recognition and interpretation of the basic laws and models governing the different psychological processes.
3. Interpretation of the human anthropological and social dimension.
4. Identification, discrimination and relevant use of the different research designs, formulation procedures in the field of psychological science, including hypothesis testing and the interpretation of results.
5. Knowledge of the concepts and fundamental historical framework implicated in the field of Psychology in relation to the human psychological make-up.
6. Ability to analyse the context in which individual behaviours, group and organizational processes are expressed.
7. To be able to recognize and evaluate the different areas in which Psychology can be applied, both those that are consolidated and those that may arise in response to new social and professional demands.
8. Knowledge and use of the different methods of evaluation, diagnosis and treatment in the different areas of applied psychology.
9. Contemplation of health in a positive sense and incorporate contributions from any field into the promotion and maintenance of personal and social psychological well-being.
10. Evaluation of psychological programs and interventions, products and services.

Applicant profile

Although admission to the Degree in Psychology is possible from any of the four branches of the Spanish Baccalaureate, those students who complete the Baccalaureate of Sciences have the profile best suited to this degree, given the importance of a basic understanding of Biology and Mathematics. Likewise, for those students entering from the Access Course, it is highly recommended to have studied the subjects of Biology and Mathematics.

In any case, there is the possibility of taking Zero Courses - Open UNED to update or reach the level of basic knowledge in these areas of knowledge:

• Fundamentals of Biology for Psychologists Zero Course

• Methodology of Behavioural Sciences Zero Course

This background knowledge is essential because, as a health professional, you will need to know how the nervous system works and understand the close interactions between biology and behaviour. Knowledge of scientific and mathematical methodology ensures the candidate has the tools necessary to carry our research in the different areas of basic and applied psychology: from research design to the relevant statistical analysis with a view to drawing up a scientific report. Likewise, this knowledge facilitates the design, generation, evaluation and implementation of instruments to obtain measurements in the field of Psychology. In addition, other zero courses are offered in open and self-study learning format to provide other basic background knowledge, such as pre-university Mathematics.

It is also necessary to have an adequate level of English in order to understand the scientific literature that will be handled, as recommended and examinable learning material in this language could be used. Specifically, a minimum recommended level is that equivalent to A2(+) of CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). In the event that a subject teaching team uses material in English, the percentages related to a mastery of such material that contribute to the final mark may sum to a maximum of 10% for 1^st and 2^nd year subjects, a maximum of 20% for 3^rd and 4^th year subjects, and up to 50% for the Final Degree Project.

Please note that the UNED also offers various resources to its students to improve their language skills through the CUID (www.cuid.uned.es): free English level tests that will allow students to assess whether they have the level of English required; educational courses in both blended and entirely online learning formats; free level exams for accreditation of foreign language competences (with ACLES certificates, recognized in the Spanish and European university system); etc.

Acceso a la Universidad

• Esta titulación no dispone de Curso de Adaptación.

SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY

PRACTICALS

The School of Psychology offers its students the possibility of completing their training with professional practical placements. These internships, called External Internships in the Degree curriculum, are mandatory and take place in the last year of the Degree studies. The operating guidelines for the Psychology Degree regarding these internships are adapted to current legislation and to the General Guidelines (Directrices Generales) for the organization of professional internships approved by the Governing Council of the University. All the regulations and procedures related to internships (agreements, insurance policy, benefits for the collaborating entity's tutor, etc.) are available for consultation at the Internship Office. You may also consult the Basic Orientations and Enrolment Requirements ( Orientaciones básicas y requisitos de matrícula).

The internships are managed by the Associated Centres and the School, and they can be carried out each year at various collaborating entities distributed throughout the national territory. The offer and allocation of internship positions is updated each academic year and is coordinated by the subject's tutor at the Associate Centre, through the internships App. For more information, see the Guide for External Internships Subject for the current academic year.

Students may also carry out voluntary professional internships (extracurricular) during their undergraduate studies and more information in this regard is available at the Internship Office.

• Procedimiento para el reconocimiento de créditos
• Impreso de solicitud de reconocimiento de créditos
• Trámites administrativos en la Facultad de Psicología. Reconocimiento de créditos.

Contacto: convalidaciones_psicologia@adm.uned.es.  Tel: 91 398 88 90 - 91 398 62 08

Desde la Licenciatura en Psicología, en la UNED

•  Desde la Licenciatura en Psicología de la UNED (Plan 2000)
•  Desde la Licenciatura en Psicología de la UNED  (Plan 1979)

Desde otros estudios de la UNED

• Desde licenciaturas y diplomaturas de la UNED al Grado en Psicología
• Desde otros grados de la UNED al Grado en Psicología

Desde títulos de educación superior no universitaria (CFGS y otros)

El Vicerrectorado de Grado y Posgrado y las Facultades y Escuelas Técnicas Superiores de la UNED, están trabajando en el análisis de la relación entre los diferentes títulos oficiales españoles de Educación Superior no universitaria y los Grados de la UNED, así como en el posible reconocimiento de créditos a los titulados en enseñanzas superiores no universitarias. De esta manera, se pretende facilitar el acceso a los estudios universitarios de Grado cumpliendo con lo dispuesto en la disposición adicional primera de la Ley Orgánica 4/2011 y en el Real Decreto sobre convalidación y reconocimiento de estudios en el ámbito de la Educación Superior aprobado el 11 de noviembre del 2011 en Consejo de Ministros.

Durante este curso académico, se avanzará en la concreción de los reconocimientos de créditos (convalidaciones) aplicables para cada título y a través de qué asignaturas de los planes formativos de los Grados se realizará dicho reconocimiento. Esta información será publicada en el espacio web de cada Grado, en este epígrafe, con el fin de que los estudiantes puedan planificar adecuadamente su matrícula.

• Tabla provisional de reconocimientos de CFGS a grados
• Normativa para el reconocimiento de Títulos propios

Información (+)

Normas de carácter general para el reconocimiento de créditos/convalidaciones

• Normativa de permanencia en Grados (C.G. 28-6-2011). Modificado por el Consejo de Gobierno de 14 de octubre de 2014, art. 8.4 y art. 9. Modificado por el Consejo de Gobierno de 6 de octubre de 2015, art. 8.2 y art. 8.4
• Normativa reconocimiento de créditos (C.G. 23-10-2008, modif. C.G. 28-6-2011 y C.G. 4-10-2016 y actualizada en CG de 10 de octubre de 2017, y en CG de 5 de marzo de 2019)
• Criterios generales para el reconocimiento académico en créditos por la participación de los estudiantes en actividades universitarias culturales, deportivas, de representación estudiantil, solidarias y de cooperación (Aprobado en Consejo de Gobierno de 28 de abril de 2010 y modificado en C.G. de 4 de octubre de 2016)
• Reglamento del tribunal de compensación
• Modificación Normativa sobre revisión de exámenes (C. G. 2 de julio de 2019)
• Procedimiento para la obtención de la nota media en el expediente académico (CG 26706/2012. modif. CG 25/06/2013 y CG 5/05/2015)
• Reglamento para la realización y defensa del Trabajo Fin de Grado en la UNED. 
• Acuerdo sobre el empleo de textos en inglés como material de estudio en el Grado en Psicología
• Normativa en secretaría general de la Uned

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

The Degree in Psychology guarantees a solid scientific training that qualifies individuals for professional practice in different areas mentioned earlier in this Guide (see Presentation), as well as other regulated professions related to health, occupational risk prevention and education. In addition, career opportunities related to basic and applied research are also an option.

There are two regulated healthcare professions related to psychology in Spain: Specialist Psychologist in Clinical Psychology and General Clinical Psychologist, which are accessed with the aforementioned Bachelor's degree in Psychology. Among other requirements, with the qualification of Specialist Psychologist in Clinical Psychology and with the Master's Degree in General Clinical Psychology, graduates are entitled to practice the regulated profession of clinical psychology, as described in below in this Guide.

Alternatively, the title of Bachelor of Science or Graduate in Psychology gives access to other professions regulated in the field of Occupational Risk Prevention. In the field of education, the aforementioned degree give access to specialist official Master’s courses that enable individuals to become teachers at all levels of Secondary Education and Vocational training, and specialist Foreign Language teachers.

In addition, there is a wide variety of professions not specifically regulated that are open to a graduate in Psychology. More information in this regard can be found through a collection of videos in the Series "First Hand Psychology", Canal UNED (Coordinator of the series: Raúl Cabestrero Alonso). These videos bring us closer to the different fields in which Psychology may be relevant. The vision offered by the different professionals in their daily activities highlight the different specialist areas in which psychologists can develop their professional activities through their personal experience.

Grado en Psicología – Salidas Profesionales COIE (uned.es)

PROFESSIONAL ATTRIBUTES

Although there are many professional areas in which psychologists can work, perhaps it is in the area of healthcare where the regulations applied to this profession are most advanced. The seventh regulatory provision of the 33/2011 General Law of Public Health, 4^th October, regulates the situation of psychology in the field of healthcare, establishing in point 3.a that: a Degree in Psychology itself does not capacitate one to act as a psychologist in the healthcare sector, although it is a requisite to be able to enter onto the Master’s course of General Clinical Psychology.

The main points contained in this law are:

• Graduates holding a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychology who act professionally as employees or freelance agents in the healthcare sector will be considered regular healthcare professionals, with the denomination of General Clinical Psychologist, as long as they hold a Master’s degree in General Clinical Psychology as well as the aforementioned Bachelor’s degree.
• Through article 12.9 of the RD 1393/2007, 29^th October, the Government will establish the conditions for the study programme to obtain an official General Clinical Psychology Master’s degree.
• The General Clinical Psychologist is responsible for carrying out psychological studies, evaluations and interventions in relation to behavioural issues and an individual’s activities, any of which influence the promotion and improvement of their general state of health.
• Psychologists that are active in centres, establishments and services within the National Health System, or concerted to them, must be in possession of the official title of Specialist Psychologist in Clinical Psychology referred to in section 3 of annex I of the Real Decree 183/2008, 8^th February, which determines and classifies the speciality as Health Sciences, and establishes the areas in which specialist healthcare personnel must be trained.
• To inscribe the psychology units/departments in the corresponding general Register of healthcare centres, services and establishments, the Healthcare Administrations of the distinct Autonomic Communities demand that the interested parties must count on personnel who have obtained a Master in Clinical Psychology or the title of Specialist Psychologist in Clinical Psychology.

In addition to the provisions in the aforementioned paragraph, the transitory procedure laid out in the second clause of the sixth additional provision of the Social Economics Law 5/2011, 29^th March, applies during a period of three years from the date that the aforementioned law enters into force.

The “unregulated” professions, which cover wide and diverse areas, can be carried out by holders of a Bachelor’s or Masters degree in Psychology. This title does not itself indicate that the profession is regulated, nor is it clinically recognized, yet it does permit the holder to work in distinct non-clinical professional areas in which the capacities acquired in the degree (or postgraduate) course are appropriate, as determined by market forces.

Alternatively, the Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Psychology paves the way to two official professionalizing Master’s titles that are required for two regulated professions:

• The Official University Master’s in "Secondary Education, Vocational training and Foreign Language Teacher Training", for which the Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Psychology is one of the possible titles that gives access to some specialist Master’s (e.g. Educational Orientation).
• The Official University Master’s degree in "Occupational Risk Prevention" that opens the way to enter the regulated profession of Senior Technician in Occupational Risk Prevention.

Registro de Universidades, Centros y Títulos (RUCT)

VERIFICACIÓN / MODIFICACIÓN

• Memoria verificada
• Informe de verificación de la ANECA
• Resolución de verificación del Consejo de Universidades
• Inscripción del título en el RUCT
• Publicación del Plan de Estudios en el BOE
• Informe/s de modificación del Plan de Estudios

SEGUIMIENTO

• Informe/s de seguimiento de la ANECA

ACREDITACIÓN

• Informe de renovación de la acreditación de la ANECA 2017
• Resolución de la acreditación del Consejo de Universidades 2017
• Informe de renovación de la acreditación de la ANECA 2023
• Resolución de la acreditación del Consejo de Universidades 2023

INTERNAL SYSTEM TO GUARANTEE THE QUALITY OF THE DEGREE

The UNED has an Internal System of Quality Control (SGIC-U in Spanish) that covers all the official Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate degree titles, as well as the services offered, the design of which has been certified by the ANECA – National Agency for the Evaluation and Accreditation of Quality).

The SGIC-U contemplates all the processes necessary to ensure the quality of the professors, the resources and of the services offered to the students: access, admission and reception, external practical experience, mobility programmes, academic orientation and incorporation into the workplace, follow-up and evaluation of the training results, the attention to suggestions and reclamations, and adaptation of support personal, among others.

The people responsible for the SGIC are:

• The UNED’s Quality Control Commission
• The Centre’s Quality Control Commission
• The Dean’s office or the Management Team
• The Commission Coordinating the Degree Title (approved by the Faculty board, 9^th July 2008)

The Commission coordinating the Degree Title:

The mission of the Commission coordinating the Degree Title is to supervise the implementation and development of the degree course’s study plan with a view to guarantee its accreditation, as approved by the Governing Council, 8^th Abril 2008, BICI No. 22, ANNEX II of 26th March 2009).

The composition of the Commission based on the document approved by the Governing Council, 8^th Abril 2008:

• President: Dean or a person delegated by them.
• Vice-president: Coordinator of the course.
• Person Responsible for Quality Control at the Centre.
• A professor from each Department that contributes teaching duties and obligatory material to the degree course.
• A student representative.
• A representative of the professors/tutors.
• The Head of the Student Services Section.

Coordinator of the Degree Course: Isabel Gómez Veiga

Through the Statistical portal, the UNED provides information to the entire university community regarding both the results of the training/teaching, as well as the degree of satisfaction of the distinct collectives implicated.

TEACHING STAFF

Through the following link, information can be obtained about the professors that are responsible for imparting the subjects on this course:  Teaching Staff.

Click on the lecturer’s name to reach their individual web page.

The number of places made available for new students to sign on to the degree course is estimated based on the number of students already enrolled, given that article 19 of the UNED Statutes rules out any other criteria for admission than those legally established to enrol on a university course and that the demand is variable. This estimation refers to full-time places, such that the actual number of students admitted can be greater given that most of the students at the UNED enrol part-time. Specifically, in the academic year of 2020-2021, the number of students that enrolled full-time was 6,400.

Con objeto de poder recibir los avisos, notificaciones y cualquier otro tipo de comunicaciones enviadas por los Equipos Docentes de las distintas asignaturas de la titulación, es imprescindible que el estudiante haya activado su correo electrónico de alumno, que será el medio de comunicación oficial desde la UNED.

Evaluations of Teaching activity and services

CENTROS ASOCIADOS Y AULAS UNIVERSITARIAS

FINAL YEAR PROJECT (FYP)

To complete the Final Year Project (FYP) of the Psychology degree course, the following requirements must be fulfilled:

• Enrolment on all the courses that offer the credits that the student needs to obtain the Bachelor’s degree title.
• Enrolment on the July-October call to sign up for the FYP requires the student to have obtained at least 180 credits, of which 168 must correspond to the courses in the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd years. That is, the student can only enrol on the FYP if they have a maximum of 12 credits pending that correspond to courses from the three first academic years.

In the February-March call, and in accordance with the indications set out in the instructions for enrolment of said call, those who have pending on annual course or two semestral courses, and who are enrolled in all of these, will be allowed to register on the FYP in order to terminate their studies.

• Due to the characteristics of the FYP, it is recommended that the student has an adequate knowledge of English (at least at the level of reading), given that part of the material provided by the Academic Supervisor could be in this language.

The areas of study offered for the 2023-2024 course:

1. Research and Interventions in Basic and Applied Psychology (Dept. of Methodology in Behavioural Sciences)

2. Psychobiology and Psychological Processes (Department of Psychobiology)

3. Cognitive and Behavioural Processes in Healthcare (Department of Basic Psychology I)

4. Basic Psychological Processes and Healthcare (Department of Basic Psychology II)

5. Personality, Individual Differences and Health (Department of Psychology of the Personality, Psychological Evaluation and Therapy)

6. Psychopathology, Evaluation and Treatment of Psychological Disorders (Department of Psychology of the Personality, Psychological Evaluation and Therapy)

7. Evolutionary and Educational Psychology (Department of Evolutionary and Educational Psychology)

8. Research and Interventions in Social Psychology and the Psychology of Organizations (Department of Social Psychology and of Organizations)

Specific Lines of work. In exceptional cases, the student could come to an agreement with a professor or supervisor in the Faculty to carry out a specific FYP beyond those offered. When the student presents a specific proposal for a FYP to a supervisor, they should include a copy of their request to the Coordinator of the FYP. This agreement will be presented by the professor/supervisor to the FYP Commission to be approved before the registration period ends.

Reglamento para la realización y defensa del Trabajo Fin de Grado en la UNED. 

TEACHING MODEL

The mode of teaching on the Psychology Degree course is “distance learning”. However, there is an in-person component associated with the practical courses and the exams, and through the attendance (not obligatory) of tutorials at the Associated Centres. In-person and on line Tutorials are offered.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

This section aims to respond to some of the basic questions related to the Psychology Degree course at the UNED in a simple manner.

Is the Psychology degree course at the UNED an official university title?

Yes. The Psychology Degree is an official university course that is valid across the entire national territory and in all the countries of the European Higher Education Space (EHES).

To what field of knowledge is the Psychology Degree imparted at the UNED ascribed?

The degree course is ascribed to the Health Sciences area and as such, on completing this course individuals will attain the basic professional capacities to contribute to the promotion and maintenance of personal and social well-being in diverse fields of activity.

What profile is recommended for registration?

Although access to the degree course is possible from any of the Spanish Baccalaureate modality, the educational profile that best fits with the course is the Baccalaureate in Sciences. For students that enrol through an Access Course, it is highly recommended to have completed the subjects of Biology and of Mathematics. For those who may need to update or reach the level of basic knowledge in these areas of knowledge, there are courses available at UNED Open, Zero Courses (MOOC) in Fundamentals of Biology for Psychologists and in Methodologies in Behavioural Sciences. More information can be found in the section "Registration Profile".

Can I take the courses on the Study Plan in any order?

It is recommended that students enrol on courses following their established sequence to ensure that they have an adequate knowledgebase. The distribution and sequence of the subjects in each different year and semester is not established by chance but rather, it is set-up to take into account the knowledge required to progress through the degree course. As such, it is recommended that each academic year is planned by registering for courses having consulted the Study Plan and the Guide to the courses, with the goal of passing certain courses before registering for others.

Do any courses establish requisites to be able to enrol on them?

Yes. Some courses establish requisites for registration, in particular, the External Practical’s and the Final Year Project.

Is there any curricular itinerary or speciality related to a specific professional area?

Yes. The obligatory courses on the degree course are associated with obtaining the Specialty in Clinical Psychology. In addition to obtaining this specialty, each student can obtain a second depending on the optative courses chosen, or by opting for the free choice options of the degree course, whether or not they are related to any specialty. The specialties offered are: (1) Clinical Interventions for Mental Health Disorders and of Behaviour; (2) Psychology of Education; (3) Occupational Psychology and of Organizations.

On what courses should I register?

It is very important to plan your selection and to register on suitable courses. Once you have decided to enrol, it is important to evaluate the time and resources you have available. Consult the requirements and recommendations in the course guidebook in order to be able to follow the courses with ease, and to elaborate a plan for registration that takes into account the estimated workload (No. of credits and equivalence in hours) and the prior knowledge recommended in each case. Consult the guidelines to plan your course selection well – INDUCTION PLAN

What are the professional and academic opportunities associated with this degree?

The Bachelor’s degree in Psychology guarantees a solid scientific training that capacitates one to work as a professional in the diverse areas mentioned previously in this Guide (see presentation), and in other regulated professions related to healthcare, occupational risk prevention and education. In addition, professional opportunities may also arise in the areas of basic and applied research.

Degree in Psychology: professional opportunities: Grado en Psicología – Salidas Profesionales COIE (uned.es)