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The Psychology with Foundation Year programme combines a foundation year with the three year Honours Degree to create an integrated four year programme. The programme provides an excellent introduction to studying a science subject at university and will provide you with the knowledge, skills and confidence required to study at degree-level.

The Psychology with Foundation Year programme is ideal for applicants who do not quite meet the entry requirements for the three year degree or who would benefit from further a further year’s study in relation to studying a science subject. Successful completion of the Foundation Year will see you progress to Year 1 of the BSc Psychology programme. You can also choose to transfer onto one of the other psychology degree programmes – BSc Psychology with Clinical & Health Psychology, BSc Psychology with Neuropsychology or BSc Psychology with Forensic Psychology.

As you progress from the foundation elements to the main degree elements of this course your horizons will be broadened by learning all of the exciting and diverse areas that a psychology degree has to offer. You’ll learn about human development through the lifespan and the myriad of influences upon people from their biology and physiology to how parenting and socialisation influence us. You’ll learn not only about the intricacies of what makes humans tick and how we are able to navigate such a complex internal and external environment but also the mechanics and effects of what happens when these complex systems stop working well.

You’ll also learn from a wide range of modules about some of the tools that psychologists use to support and understand human behaviour and will have access to exciting research tools to understand brain activity, developing interventions for people in distress, and many other opportunities to develop into a well-rounded psychologist. This degree will give you a broad foundation in psychology that you can tailor to your own interests and provide you with a stable base from which to dive into a varied number of career opportunities.

Psychology at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ×ÊÁÏ was founded in 1963 and is one of the UK's oldest and largest psychology departments. We regularly rank among the top 10 in the National Student Survey for overall student satisfaction and with over 1,000 students we're also one of the largest departments in the UK. Not only are we highly ranked for our teaching but we also have a global reputation for the quality of our research. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework, 85% of our research considered either 'Internationally Excellent' or 'World-leading'. This research feeds directly into our teaching ensuring a fresh, vibrant learning experience and a large and varied range of modules studied with academics who have an international reputation in their specialist area.

We have a cosmopolitan feel and a global outlook that attracts staff and students from all over the world to work and study with us. A key aspect of our success is our focus on both the academic and pastoral sides of the student experience and this effort is led by academics in the teaching team who provide high levels of support to our students. All of this combines to provide you with what we believe is a uniquely supportive, exciting and rewarding environment in which to study psychology.

Additional Course Options

You’ll learn through a variety of lectures, seminars, tutorials, and practicals as well as self-guided learning. As an undergraduate student, you’ll gain an excellent grounding in various research methodologies used in the field by participating in current cutting-edge research being conducted in the school. We make extensive use of technology in order to enhance the learning experience including recording podcasts, and an innovative range of online assessments that, amongst other advantages, provide instant feedback. An increasing number of our modules can be followed through the medium of Welsh and students can choose to have a Welsh speaking tutor and complete their project in Welsh.

There is a wide range of continuous assessment on offer across the modules including essays, weekly homework, multiple choice tests, presentations, blogs, quizzes etc. throughout each semester and many modules include end of semester examinations.

The Foundation Year component of the programme is designed to prepare you for degree-level study. You will study a range of modules focused on your developing your academic skills and subject-specific knowledge, ahead of progressing to Year 1 of the programme. You will complete modules focusing on IT and Communication Skills, Essential Mathematics and Biology and develop a range of skills through a subject specific research project.

In subsequent years, you will follow the same modules as BSc Psychology or whichever route you transfer to if you decide to pursue one of the other Psychology degrees.

What will you study on this course?

Each year you study a total of 120 credits and the modules build up over the years to provide both breadth and depth of understanding in wide-ranging areas of psychology, ultimately tailored by you to your interests and career plans.

All graduates who achieve at least a 2:2 will be eligible for Graduate Based Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Modules for the current academic year

Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Psychology (with Foundation Year) BSc (Hons) Modules page.

Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.

General University Costs

Home (UK) students

• The cost of a full-time undergraduate course is £9,250 per year (2025/26).
• The fee for all integrated study abroad years is Ìý£1,385 (2025/26).
• The fee for an integrated year in industry as part of a sandwich programme is £1,850 (2025/26).

More information on fees and finance for Home (UK) students.

International (including EU) students

• International Student Tuition Fees
• International Student Living Costs and Scholarships

Additional Costs
There are also some common additional costs that are likely to arise for students on all courses, for example:

• If you choose to study abroad or take the International Experience Year as part of your course.
• If you attend your Graduation Ceremony, there will be a cost for gown hire (£25-£75) and cost for additional guest tickets (c.£12 each).

Course-specific additional costs
Depending on the course you are studying, there may be additional course-specific costs that you will be required to meet. These fall into three categories:

1. Mandatory Costs: these are related to a particular core or compulsory module that you’ll be required to complete to achieve your qualification e.g. compulsory field trips, uniforms for students on placement, DBS Check.
2. Necessarily Incurred Costs: these may not be experienced by all students, and will vary depending on the course e.g. professional body membership, travel to placements, specialist software, personal safety equipment.
3. Optional Costs: these depend on your choice of modules or activity and they are shown to give you an indication of the optional costs that may arise to make sure your choice is as informed as possible. These can include graduation events for your course, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.

This foundation year is integrated into BSc Psychology but you can also use it to access other psychology degrees and you can find career information on those course pages depending on which degree route you intend to follow.

Opportunities at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ×ÊÁÏ

The University’s Careers and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions.Ìý

Internships

Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ×ÊÁÏ runs a paid internship scheme within the university’s academic and service departments.

Student Volunteering

Volunteering widens your experience and improves your employability. Find out more about volunteering on the .