Course summary

Foundation courses A foundation year can develop your skills and make it easier to get started at university. It is an extra year of study at the start of your course that leads in to a full degree programme. It’s a great option if: You don’t have the grades for a full degree course You have non-traditional qualifications or experience You’re starting university after some time away from education You’re looking for more support during the transition into university study. Life as a foundation year student During a foundation year you’ll learn about your chosen subject, develop your study skills and get used to university life. On successful completion of your foundation year, you’ll be ready to progress to the first year of your degree course. As a foundation year student, you’ll be a full student of the University and part of our community. You’ll have access to all our campus facilities and support. Why choose this course -Learn from nurturing lecturers who are active researchers in behavioural, clinical, cognitive, developmental, personality and social psychology, whose work is used by governments, health professionals and industry. -Take advantage of one of the only psychology degrees in the UK with a Professional Training placement scheme, where you’ll gain valuable work experience in a variety of industries, including healthcare, education, human resources and marketing. -Conduct your own experiments in our brain imaging suites, extended reality (XR) labs and other state-of-the-art psychology research facilities. -Select from a wide choice of British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited final-year modules where you will explore topics like neurodevelopmental disorders, mental health, forensic psychology, brain injury, sustainable behaviour and more. -Build your research skills throughout the course, as you learn about research methods related to core psychology subjects such as neuropsychology and cognitive psychology – a unique learning approach that has been commended by the British Psychological Society. What you will study In your first year, you’ll study core areas of psychology and research methods, to develop your foundations of psychological literacy. This will be supported by small-group skills tutorials. Our first year uses a 'supported transition' approach, so you are specifically taught how to learn effectively at university alongside the course material. In your second year, you’ll learn about contemporary issues that impact every area of psychology. You’ll also complete a module that supports your professional skills development, covering placements, job preparation and career options available in the psychology field. In your final year, you’ll study an advanced critical thinking module and select four optional modules, to specialise and delve deeper into your areas of interest. You’ll also receive supervision from a staff member to conduct your own scientific research project, critically evaluating protocols, data and literature.