Psychology with Foundation Year

Benefit from high-quality teaching, excellent support and specialist facilities as you explore the fascinating discipline of Psychology.

• Take a route which is ideal if you are looking to change career or exploring areas which are new to you: the foundation year gives you a strong platform for success. It is also a great route into the degree if you don't meet the requirements for the 3-year course. 
• Learn from lecturers at the forefront of psychological research – you’ll have opportunities to contribute to their projects and to conduct your own research
• Use specialist facilities, including our psychological observation suite and eye tracker equipment, EEG for recording brain activity, and a Babylab for ethical research with babies and young children
• Take the opportunity to go on an optional work placement and add substance to your CV
• Psychological studies can help shape healthier societies across the world. Our course content links to global initiatives including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals where 'Good Health and Wellbeing' is prioritised
• Gain the undergraduate qualification you need to enter postgraduate training to become a professional psychologist

Expert teaching

As a student at the University of Derby you'll be working with lecturers and tutors who have a wealth of knowledge and experience, and are carrying out research designed to offer fresh perspectives on issues that are significant at every stage of life, from birth to old age. Their wide-ranging work includes research into:

• Maternal health and the cognitive, motor and social development of new-borns, to help improve health care during childhood
• Different aspects of mental health and wellbeing on themes such as maths-induced anxiety, eating disorders, addiction and irrational thinking
• Compassion and mindfulness, delivering findings that can help tackle issues of self-esteem and foster sensitive support for others
• The psychological aspects of pain, anxiety and addiction, and the effects each can have on identity and relationships
• Emotional processing in relation to well-being, compassion and attentional biases and visual attention
• The positive benefits that can be derived from engagement with the natural environment

You’ll benefit from this research as your lecturers bring the latest thinking to your studies, and in some cases you will have opportunities to get involved in research projects yourself. 

Foundation Year - helping you to achieve more

Including a foundation year as part of your four-year study programme will give you a head start in your academic and professional life. The foundation year offers the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence – with extensive support from our expert staff – before you advance to stage one of your honours degree. It could also be beneficial if you are planning a career change and want to get to grips with aspects of subjects which are new to you.

Our degrees with a foundation year are continuous, meaning that you won’t need to apply again once you have successfully completed the first year.

Exciting career opportunities ahead

Psychology is the scientific study of human thought and behaviour. On this degree, we look at the applications of psychology in a wide range of areas and explore the social, developmental, cognitive and biological dimensions of behaviour.

Knowledge of psychology is invaluable in many walks of life and we place a strong emphasis on preparing you for success in the graduate job market or for further training so that you can become a professional psychologist.

Once you graduate, you'll be able to enter a variety of careers thanks to the range of skills you'll gain with a psychology degree - see careers information here.

Draw inspiration from our research

This is a research-led degree, so you’ll have the chance to contribute to the pioneering psychological research projects underway at the University and to conduct your own research too.

You’ll work alongside staff who are conducting influential studies into a vast array of topics including body esteem, maths anxiety, paranormal beliefs, social networking and parenting. You’ll also hear from psychology professionals who deliver regular guest lectures.

Dynamic teaching, supportive staff

This degree is designed to stimulate your curiosity and enthusiasm. We take great pride in delivering a highly interactive learning experience which encompasses not only lectures and seminars but also group activities, practical workshops and innovative use of the web.

You will make full and effective use of online resources such as our virtual learning environment and it is little surprise that quality inspectors hailed our course as being “at the forefront of technology-enhanced learning”.

Exceptional student support is a hallmark of this degree. Our friendly and approachable staff invest significant time and effort in ensuring you have all the guidance you need to achieve at every stage of your studies. We offer a full range of support systems at departmental and University levels, with our programme of academic facilitation sessions proving especially valuable.

An ideal setting for teaching and research

Our excellent facilities include high specification computing labs, dedicated project rooms and a full range of psychological recording equipment such as the latest eye tracker technology for analysing eye movement. Our observation suite features rooms with two-way mirrors and DVD recording equipment.

From the outset of your studies, you’ll be introduced to specialist software for experiment design and will receive training in qualitative research. This equips you will skills to conduct interviews, manage focus groups and undertake effective, meaningful research.

Choose from a broad variety of modules

You can select from a vast range of optional modules covering both the applied and theoretical areas of psychology. This allows you to match your studies to your personal interests and career aspirations.

The optional modules available vary from year to year but they could cover subjects as diverse as cyber psychology, sport and exercise psychology, addictive behaviours, family health, psychology in education, the psychology of pain, the dark side of psychology and psychology, nature and wellbeing. 

They also include an optional work placement where you can gain vital experience in a workplace setting. Placement hours are subject to change.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

Teaching and learning

We use various teaching methods to make sure that this course is interesting and that you'll learn in an effective way. We don't just teach you in lectures and seminars, you'll also take part in group activities and practical work. You'll also benefit from guest lectures from world-class researchers from around the world. 

Assessment

We use a variety of assessment methods, including essays, exams, posters, presentations, and reports. Our assessments enable you to develop a wide range of transferable skills.

You’ll mainly be assessed through assignments, although you may have to take some class tests. For your assignments, you'll need to complete essays on specific topics, but you'll also carry out and write up practical reports in qualitative and quantitative methods and give oral and poster presentations. In exams, you would usually be asked to complete essay questions. However, sometimes exams will include multiple choice and/or short answer questions.

Work placements

Our course includes an optional work placement module, giving you the opportunity to develop skills in real-world settings and further bolster your employability.

“The pleasure in teaching psychology students is that they tend to be highly motivated and open to exploring ideas. A vital part of our role is to help them chart their future career direction as studying psychology opens so many doors to so many different sectors and professions – anywhere that an understanding of people is valued.” Dr Ian Baker - Programme Leader, BSc (Hons) Psychology

Psychological knowledge is invaluable in many walks of life, so your career options will be broad. Our graduates have gone on to successful roles in sectors such as:

• Psychological research
• Scientific or clinical research
• Charity leadership
• Mental health support and management
• Health services and therapeutic care
• Probation service and police
• Human resources
• Health psychology
• Educational psychology
• Occupational psychology
• Forensic psychology
• Clinical psychology
• Teaching

Through our Professional Development Package, you'll gain valuable transferable skills, including:

• Written and verbal communication
• Research and analytical
• Personal motivation, organisation and self-reflection
• Numeracy
• IT literacy
• Critical awareness

This course also prepares you for further training in psychology and provides an essential platform if you would like to become a professional psychologist. You could go on to masters level study with the University of Derby, including our MSc Behaviour Change or MRes Psychology. As an accredited course, the MSc Health Psychology or MSc Forensic Psychology will take you further down the route towards becoming a chartered member of the BPS.

Some of our graduates have advanced to qualify in areas such as clinical and educational psychology or have embarked on PhD study.

2024 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2024 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

2025/26

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to.

Additional costs and optional extras

2025/26

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to.

Additional costs and optional extras

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.

Minimum numbers

Please note that this course is subject to minimum numbers in order to run.