BSc (Hons) Psychology with Integrated Foundation Year

Our psychology students have tremendous opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills necessary for employment in a variety of work settings, from professional psychology, management and teaching, to social services, health services, probation and marketing. Our hands on approach to experiential learning embedded in the course will provide you with the topical skills and experience that you can apply to the wide range of career options open to psychology graduates.

Understanding where your degree subject could take you is an important first step in career planning. Due to the transferrable nature of the skills you gain from your studies, you may discover that there is a much wider range of opportunities open to you within this profession that you may first appreciate. Find out more about where your degree could take you.

• This course is an integrated part of our psychology degree at the University of Plymouth. Successful completion of the foundation year (Year 0) provides progression onto Year 1 of our BSc (Hons) Psychology degree.
• The foundation year is taught entirely within the School of Psychology, specifically tailored to give you the background, skills, and support to progress to our psychology degree.
• You will benefit from the full University experience from day one – taught by the same world-leading psychology lecturers and Professors that support our other courses - providing seamless progression from the foundation year to subsequent years of our degree course.
• Hands-on learning in our psychology experiential learning lab. We embedded practical activities throughout the course, so you can put new knowledge into practice and build practical skills for future careers.
• Shape the psychologist you want to be. Course choices and our option-based final year give the freedom to explore the areas of psychology that interest and benefit you the most.
• As a successful graduate, you are eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership with the British Psychological Society.
• Gain valuable real-world experience by putting your skills and knowledge into practice with an optional placement year, or take part in an international exchange year by studying abroad.

• Year 1

• This year has been designed to provide the theoretical knowledge, study skills and support to provide a foundation for further undergraduate study in psychology, providing instruction on a wide variety of psychological approaches. You will gain an understanding of how psychological theories are evaluated using empirical data, and how they can be applied to everyday experience, with a specific focus on health-related issues. This year will also introduce some of the most common careers in psychology, providing early direction along potential career paths.

  PSYC301: Foundations of Psychology

  An introduction to the foundational theories and approaches to psychology as a discipline. Psychodynamic, behaviourist, cognitive, humanistic, and systemic approaches are discussed, alongside their associated methodologies. Consideration is also given to how an understanding of these theories and approaches can contribute to other modules studied by the students enrolled in this programme year.

  PSYC302: The Psychology of Everyday Experience

  This module introduces psychological research related to various aspects of everyday experience. You will gain an appreciation of how everyday phenomena are related to psychological knowledge and research, allowing you to understand how to apply psychological theory to general life experiences and world events.

  PSYC303: Psychological Influences on Health and Behaviour

  Introducing the psychology of choices and behaviour, this module has an emphasis on health. Here you will examine health behaviours, choices, and risks with a particular consideration of how these are influenced by biological and social factors. You will have the opportunity to design and conduct a small research project in groups, with presentation of this project forming the assessment for the module.

  PSYC304: Career Directions in Psychology

  Here you will engage with some of the most common career directions taken by psychology from different perspectives, including self-reflections, discussions, and inputs by experts. This module provides an exploration of the skills, experience, and motivations to put you on an early pathway to a successful career in psychology and allied professions.

  
  

  Years 1-4

  Details on modules on year 1, 2, (optional) placement year, and the final year of the course are available on the BSc (Hons) Psychology course page.

  Core modules

  • The Foundations of Psychology (PSYC001)

    This module provides an introduction to the foundational theories and approaches to psychology as a discipline. Psychodynamic, behaviourist, cognitive, humanistic, and systemic approaches are discussed, alongside their associated methodologies. Consideration is also given to how an understanding of these theories and approaches can contribute to other modules studied by the students enrolled in this programme year.

  • The Psychology of Everyday Experience (PSYC002)

    Students are introduced to psychological research into various aspects of everyday experience. They gain an appreciation of how life experiences are related to psychological knowledge, and learn how to apply psychological theory to world events. Lectures are supported by workshops and tutorials (or online equivalents) using a blended learning approach.

  • Psychological Influences on Health and Behaviour (PSYC003)

    This module introduces the psychology of choices and behaviour, with an emphasis on health. We will examine health behaviours and risks with a consideration of how these are influenced by psychological factors. Students will design and run a small research project in groups, with project presentation forming the module assessment. Lectures are supported by workshops and tutorials using a blended-learning approach.

  • Career Directions and Applications in Psychology (PSYC004)

    This module introduces common career directions and applications in psychology. Students engage with these career directions and applications from different perspectives, including self-reflection, self-development, discussions, feedback, and inputs by experts. Lectures are supported by workshops and tutorials.

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change:

BSc Hons Psychology with Intergrated Foundation Year programme specification 6526

UCAS tariff

32 - 48

A level/AS level: For level 3 entry the tariff points entry level will normally be 32-48 points from A level or equivalent. Non-standard applicants will normally be interviewed.

BTEC National Diploma/QCF Extended Diploma:  All applications to be referred to the Admissions Tutor.

Access to Higher Education at level 3:  Candidates can be interviewed before an offer is made. Pass an Access to HE Diploma in any subjects with at least 33 credits at Merit/Distinction.

Welsh Baccalaureate:  All applications to be referred to the Admissions Tutor.

Scottish Qualifications: Authority 32-48 points at Advanced Highers.

Irish Leaving Certificate:  Irish Highers, H5 in five subjects equivalent to 32-48 points.

International Baccalaureate:  Normal minimum entry requirements are 24 points overall - refer to admissions tutor. If overseas and not studying English within IB, must have IELTS 6.0 overall with 5.5 in all other elements.

GCSE: English and Maths grade C / 4 or above or equivalent.

We particularly welcome applications from candidates returning to study, who can offer work or other related experience in lieu of formal qualifications. Therefore candidates with non-standard qualifications are assessed on an individual basis, usually via interview. We encourage any candidate who is unsure regarding the suitability of their qualifications or experience to contact Admissions in the first instance, who will then liaise with the Admissions Tutor and Programme Lead.

English language requirements.

We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.