About the day
Sign up for our taster day to discover what it would be like to study Psychology at degree level. You will have the opportunity to meet current staff and students and to explore the campus and the benefits of studying at Reading.
This event is free to attend. Lunch and refreshments will be provided, and eligible students can also receive a travel bursary to attend the taster day.
As an attendee, you will participate in two hands-on sessions:
Session 1: Attachment
This talk explores how our earliest attachment experiences continue to shape relationships across adulthood. Drawing on classic and contemporary research, it examines the ways internal working models formed in childhood influence intimacy, trust, and emotional regulation in adult partnerships and friendships. The session considers evidence for both continuity and change in attachment across the lifespan and discusses the implications of insecure attachment for wellbeing and therapy. By linking developmental theory with adult relational dynamics, the talk highlights how understanding attachment can deepen insight into resilience, vulnerability, and human connection.
Session 2: Eyewitness Research
Do you think that you would easily identify a criminal that you saw in poor lighting or from far away? Research reveals that factors like low lighting, distance, and disguises dramatically reduce our ability to see and later recognise faces, making eyewitness identification less reliable than we often believe. This session explores the fascinating psychology behind eyewitness memory and identification accuracy, using research examples to show how environmental conditions create visual thresholds that can make the difference between accurate identification and potentially life-changing mistakes.
Information
This taster day will be held at our Whiteknights campus and will run from approximately 10:00 to 16:00 (or 17:00 with an optional campus tour), allowing you time to really immerse yourself in the subject and relevant department.
More information will be made available following registration.
Make the most of your taster day
- let us know any accessibility requirements
- check if you’re eligible for a travel bursary
- make sure to arrive with plenty of time! You will be sent a schedule for the day about a week before the event
- think about what you want to get out of the day, and prepare any questions for staff and students.
FAQs
What should I wear for the taster day?
Wear loose, comfortable clothes and appropriate footwear as we will be touring the university campus.
Can I park on site?
You can park on site for the taster day, but you will need to collect a parking permit and display it in your vehicle for the duration of the event. Parking permits can be collected at the registration point.
For more information, please email outreach@reading.ac.uk.
Is there somewhere to buy lunch?
We will provide a free lunch; please make sure you communicate any dietary requirements when you register for the event.
Travel Bursaries
The University of Reading is committed to ensuring that its outreach programmes are accessible to all. We offer a Travel Bursary that prospective students may apply for to attend campus taster events, and if successful, would cover the entire cost of their travel. There is an option to apply for this on each event booking form. Certain eligibility criteria apply*.
*Eligibility criteria for the travel bursary.
Students must fulfil at least one of the following criteria:
- The individual has no parental experience of university.
- The individual lives in a postcode area identified as having low progression into HE (POLAR quintiles 1 or 2).
- The individual lives in a postcode area identified as a social deprivation area (IMD Quintile 1 or 2).
- The individual has a disability. 5. The individual is care-experienced or estranged (read our Care-experienced and estranged students support page for definitions).
- The individual is from a military family.
Get in touch
If you have any queries about the taster day, please email our Outreach team.