Why study this course?
The Psychology (including foundation year) BSc (Hons) is an alternative route into higher education if you don’t meet the necessary Psychology degree requirements to enter the three-year undergraduate course.
The foundation year will equip you with the vital study skills to progress on to more rigorous study at undergraduate level, including skills in research, data analysis, essay writing and critical thinking.
More about this course
On our bachelor’s psychology (including foundation year) degree you’ll develop an in-depth understanding of core areas of psychology, while gaining a range of academic and transferable skills that are vital for postgraduate training, study or future career.
The foundation year will prepare you for more rigorous study at Level 4 by equipping you with fundamental knowledge of scientific methods relevant to the study of psychology. You’ll also gain skills to research, critically analyse and present your findings.
Part of your foundation year will include study of interdisciplinary disciplines, you’ll also be joined by students from other foundation year degree courses. This will allow you to expand your network beyond your course and discuss the topics you study with students that have different academic perspectives.
Further to your lecturers and seminars, you’ll be able to access further support to improve your academic ability through various workshops that will help you practise your study skills. Your academic tutor will also lead one-to-one sessions, where you’ll discuss your progress and talk about your work.
In the subsequent three years of your studies, you’ll join students on our Psychology BSc (Hons) course, learning the same content and having the same choice of modules. You’ll also graduate with the same award and title as those students.
If, at the end of your foundation year, you decide that you’d like to change your specialism, there will be flexibility to allow you to do this.
Accreditation of Prior Learning
Any university-level qualifications or relevant experience you gain prior to starting university could count towards your course.
Modular structure
The modules listed below are for the academic year 2022/23 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.
Year 0 modules include:
Being a Psychologist: Scientist and Practitioner (core, 30 credits)
Foundations of research in psychology (core, 30 credits)
Key Studies that Shaped Psychology (core, 30 credits)
The psychology of everyday life (core, 30 credits)
Year 1 modules include:
Biological Bases of Behaviour (core, 15 credits)
Child Development and Behaviour (core, 15 credits)
Cognition and Behaviour (core, 15 credits)
Introduction to Research in Psychology (core, 30 credits)
Personality (core, 15 credits)
Social Influences on Thinking and Behaviour (core, 15 credits)
Study Skills for Psychology (core, 15 credits)
Year 2 modules include:
Cognition (core, 15 credits)
Development Across the Lifespan (core, 15 credits)
Individual Differences (core, 15 credits)
Psychobiology (core, 15 credits)
Psychology and Employment (core, 15 credits)
Research Design and Data Analysis in Psychology (core, 30 credits)
Social and Cultural Understanding of Us and Others (core, 15 credits)
Year 3 modules include:
Psychology Project (core, 30 credits)
Clinical Neuroscience (option, 15 credits)
Clinical Psychology (option, 15 credits)
Coding for Psychology (option, 15 credits)
Cognition and Emotion (option, 15 credits)
Counseling Psychology (option, 15 credits)
Cyberpsychology (option, 15 credits)
Drug and alcohol counselling (option, 15 credits)
Forensic Psychology (option, 15 credits)
Health Psychology (option, 15 credits)
Qualitative Research Methods in Psychology (option, 15 credits)
Sex and Sexuality (option, 15 credits)
Special Topics in Personality and Social Psychology (option, 15 credits)
Specific Learning Differences (option, 15 credits)
Work Psychology (option, 15 credits)
Where this course can take you
On graduation you’ll be able to enter further training to begin a career as a psychologist in clinical, counselling, educational, health or occupational fields. There will also be options to study at postgraduate level including the Psychology of Mental Health MSc or Counselling Psychology Professional Doctorate.
