--- title: "Psychology Set To Remain Students' Most Popular Choice" url: "https://www.bsfc.ac.uk/news/2016-05-03-psychology-set-to-remain-students-most-popular-choice" school: "Birkenhead Sixth Form College" --- [![Birkenhead Sixth Form College](https://files.schudio.com/birkenhead/images/logo/BSFC_FC_RGB(1).png)](https://www.bsfc.ac.uk/) - [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/birkenheadsixthformcollege) - [X](http://www.twitter.com/BSFC) - [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs0mV-sqmiu8V_19dpFY3Zw) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/bsfc_/) - [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@bsfc_college) [Apply Now](https://www.bsfc.ac.uk/application-form) ![OFSTED](https://www.bsfc.ac.uk/theme/birkenhead/img/ofsted_new.png) # Psychology Set To Remain Students' Most Popular Choice 3 May 2016 ![Image of Psychology Set To Remain Students' Most Popular Choice](https://files.schudio.com/birkenhead/images/news/Psych_Collage_PS.jpg) It was the subject chosen by more of our students than any other last year and figures so far for September 2016 show that the popularity of studying [Psychology](http://www.bsfc.ac.uk/courses/as-a-level-level-3/psychology) at The Sixth Form College is not for waning. Only [Law](http://www.bsfc.ac.uk/courses/as-a-level-level-3/law-1) was more frequently chosen by our 2015 leavers for their degree course than [Psychology](http://www.bsfc.ac.uk/courses/as-a-level-level-3/psychology): testament to the national climate which places [Psychology](http://www.bsfc.ac.uk/courses/as-a-level-level-3/psychology) as the second most popular of all undergraduate programmes after Nursing. [Trips to London conferences](http://www.bsfc.ac.uk/news/latest/2016-03-24-psychology-inspiration-and-exhilaration-in-london), [brain dissections](http://www.bsfc.ac.uk/news/2016-01-28-brain-day-2016-gets-students-grey-matter-going), [creepy-crawly phobia days](http://www.bsfc.ac.uk/news/latest/2016-03-24-psychology-inspiration-and-exhilaration-in-london) and talks on the criminal mind may have a bearing on choosing [Psychology](http://www.bsfc.ac.uk/courses/as-a-level-level-3/psychology) at the college, along with the commercial success of TV programmes like the ‘CSI’ series and ‘Silent Witness’, but in one of life’s convenient coincidences, a psychologist can best explain why the subject often sells itself. ![](https://www.bsfc.ac.uk/images/Most_Popular_Subjects.jpg) Head of [Psychology](http://www.bsfc.ac.uk/courses/as-a-level-level-3/psychology) at The Sixth Form College, Rob Myatt, believes that the challenge of a subject previously unstudied in secondary school can have enormous appeal, but also the decision lies in answering the question ‘why?’. Rob said: “Students will look into what studying Psychology entails and find that we’re discussing experiences and behaviour that they can relate to. Take phobias, for example. Even if it’s not an extreme phobia, most people will have a genuine fear of something, so they can empathise and want to understand why they might have that particular fear. Another instance is how we behave in groups compared to individually – people can relate to behaviour being different when at a party rather than in smaller groups. That grabs their interest; they want to know why it happens.” Trying to answer that all important question of ‘why?’ may be a harder task than it seems, however, but one which can aid students on their future paths in both study and career. ![](https://www.bsfc.ac.uk/images/Brain_Close_Up.jpg) Psychologist Rob explained that mathematical, scientific and literary abilities all help to make a successful student, and said: “It may be that we have to examine multiple pieces of research and weigh them against each other to draw conclusions, rather than having a definitive answer. That process can feel extremely rewarding, and is one which gives students the transferrable skills for studying any number of subjects in university outside of Psychology.” On a national level, the growing emphasis on mental health means that there are major growth areas in careers for those with a psychological knowledge base, but that adds to a multitude of vocational job options that put [Psychology](http://www.bsfc.ac.uk/courses/as-a-level-level-3/psychology) students at a distinct advantage, as Rob describes: “Take marketing, for example, where psychological and positive association techniques are used to sell your product; even the colours that are used in adverts and signage are chosen because of Psychology. Social services, police, human resources – all of these areas benefit from people with an understanding of the subject, and that’s not even mentioning the more traditional fields associated with Psychology, like education or research. It opens many doors for people.” To learn more about studying our most popular subject, [Psychology](http://www.bsfc.ac.uk/courses/as-a-level-level-3/psychology), click [here](http://www.bsfc.ac.uk/courses/as-a-level-level-3/psychology). **Tags:** [Psychology](https://www.bsfc.ac.uk/news/tag/psychology) [Brain](https://www.bsfc.ac.uk/news/tag/brain) [London](https://www.bsfc.ac.uk/news/tag/london) - [ previous](https://www.bsfc.ac.uk/news/2016-04-27-2016-invictus-games-selection-honour-for-student-laura) - [next ](https://www.bsfc.ac.uk/news/2016-05-05-student-ambassador-team-named-for-2016-17-academic-year) ### [Latest News](https://www.bsfc.ac.uk/news) [![Image of Halloween Fest brings spooky fun to College](https://files.schudio.com/birkenhead/imagecache/750x480c/news/Halloween_Fest_26_-_Photo_Montage.jpg)](https://www.bsfc.ac.uk/news/2026-10-26-halloween-fest-brings-spooky-fun-to-college) 26 October 2026 #### [Halloween Fest brings spooky fun to College](https://www.bsfc.ac.uk/news/2026-10-26-halloween-fest-brings-spooky-fun-to-college) ### [Upcoming Events](https://www.bsfc.ac.uk/events) [![Image of Open Evening](https://files.schudio.com/birkenhead/imagecache/750x480c/events/Edited_Top_3.jpg)](https://www.bsfc.ac.uk/events/2026-11-26-open-evening) 26 November 2026 #### [Open Evening](https://www.bsfc.ac.uk/events/2026-11-26-open-evening) ### [Blog](https://www.bsfc.ac.uk/blog) [![Image of Students Secure 3rd Place in Merseyside Police Cyber Challenger 2025](https://files.schudio.com/birkenhead/imagecache/750x480c/blog/IMG_0394.jpg)](https://www.bsfc.ac.uk/blog/2025-03-06-10-26-00-students-secure-3rd-place-in-merseyside-police-cyber-challenger-2025) 6 March 2025 #### [Students Secure 3rd Place in Merseyside Police Cyber Challenger 2025](https://www.bsfc.ac.uk/blog/2025-03-06-10-26-00-students-secure-3rd-place-in-merseyside-police-cyber-challenger-2025) [Tweets by BSFC](https://twitter.com/BSFC) ![Top 3](https://files.schudio.com/birkenhead/images/partners/Top_3_Footer.jpg) ![Educate Awards - Most Inspirational Sixth Form](https://files.schudio.com/birkenhead/images/partners/Most_Inspirational_Winner_-_Banner_Rounded_Corners(1).jpg) ![Educate North College of the Year 2023](https://files.schudio.com/birkenhead/images/partners/College_of_the_Year_Badge_-_Banner.jpg) [![Ofsted](https://files.schudio.com/birkenhead/images/partners/Ofsted_Outstanding_OP_Colour.png)](https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50248883) [![TES Shortlist](https://files.schudio.com/birkenhead/images/partners/For_Website_Partner.jpg)](https://www.bsfc.ac.uk/news/2018-02-26-college-wins-national-sixth-form-college-of-the-year-award) [![Quality in Careers](https://files.schudio.com/birkenhead/images/partners/Quality_in_Careers_Standard_-_JPEG.jpg)](https://www.qualityincareers.org.uk/) ![CE Certified](https://files.schudio.com/birkenhead/images/partners/new_ce_badge.png) [![Sixth Form Colleges Association](https://files.schudio.com/birkenhead/images/partners/SFCA.jpg)](http://www.sixthformcolleges.org/) ![AoC](https://files.schudio.com/birkenhead/images/partners/Without_Border.jpg) [![Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award](https://files.schudio.com/birkenhead/images/partners/DofE-logo-gunmetal-full-RGB_(504x800)_(403x640).jpg)](http://www.dofe.org/) ![Birkenhead Sixth Form College](https://files.schudio.com/birkenhead/images/logo/logo-white(2).png) © Copyright 2011–2026 Birkenhead Sixth Form College All rights reserved. **Birkenhead Sixth Form College** Park Road West, Claughton Wirral, Merseyside, CH43 8SQ Tel: 0151 652 5575 Email: School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://www.bsfc.ac.uk/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)