News

Online learning students cross borders to attend UK psychology residential

9 July 2015

Online students from across the world travelled to Derby last week to attend a residential as part of their psychology course.

Students studying for the BSc (Hons) Psychology degree with the University of Derby Online Learning (UDOL) gathered at the University’s Kedleston Road site in Derby, for a week’s long residential on Monday (June 29, 2015).

The residential is held annually and forms part of the ‘Psychology in Practice’ module, which aims to develop students’ skills by providing them with practical experience in conducting psychological investigations.

During the week students attended lectures on constructing a research project and statistical analysis. They also met with their project supervisors and online tutors for the first time.

Boaz Feldman, 31, from Geneva, Switzerland, is a second-year award-winning psychology student with UDOL. He attended the residential at the University last week.

Boaz, who works as a consultant trainer, supervisor, coordinator and researcher for humanitarian organisations such as the International Medical Corps, United Nations and World Health Organisation, enrolled with UDOL in January 2014.

Boaz outside the front of Kedleston

He said: “I always had a strong motivation to self-study. I decided to study for an undergraduate degree in psychology as I had become interested in psychoanalysis, psychotherapy and the psychological aspects of meditation practice. Before I started my degree I completed a three year course in Geneva on psychosomatic trauma counselling, and I trained for many years in person-centred counselling . I have now been working in this field for four years.”

Boaz just finished a three-month self-care training programme for psychiatrists and psychologists at the Kabul Mental Health Hospital in Afghanistan, as part of his work for the International Medical Corps. 

He added: “I wanted to formalise my studies by completing an accredited course. I chose to study for my degree with UDOL as their BSc Psychology is accredited by the British Psychological Society.

“My work involves a lot of travelling. I knew that online learning would give me more flexibility.”

James Hallam, Academic Lead for BSc (Hons) Psychology with UDOL, added: “Prior to the residential students choose a specific area of psychology that interests them which they then study in depth during the week. The options include biological, social, health and cognitive psychology.

“Many of our online students have never visited the University of Derby. The residential provides them with a chance to see the University and the city.

“This module has not only increased academic output on the programme but also social interaction as we hold a number of social events throughout the week. We consider the residential a vital step in the students’ journeys to becoming professional chartered psychologists.”

Find out more about University of Derby Online Learning's BSc (Hons) Psychology.