Fascinated by human behaviour, curious about thoughts and intrigued by feelings? This is the course for you. It examines what drives us, from brain physiology to learning, genes, environment, social groups, and individual differences in personality and motivation.

The course is suitable if you donÕt meet the entry requirements for our BSc (Hons) Psychology course, or you are returning to study and would like to spend time getting up to speed with the demands of learning before starting degree-level study. You share the first year with other Business, Law, Criminology and Psychology foundation students, before moving on to the degree.

You are taught by academics with specialist knowledge and expertise in a range of areas including social psychology, forensic psychology, developmental psychology, health and work psychology.

You learn through:

• lectures and seminars

• workshops

• laboratory classes

• individual tutorials

• work placements

In the foundation year, you will study modules in business and social science (including psychology) alongside developing your academic skills.

Your subject interest in psychology as a social science will be established through exploring theory and practice as you learn about professional contexts including the impact of ethical and cultural factors on the client-stakeholder relationship. In addition you will examine a number of contemporary themes and issues relevant to the study of psychology (e.g., conflict, prejudice, relationships and communication).

Throughout the year you will develop your academic skills (e.g. critical analysis, working with a variety of data sources and academic writing) culminating with the planning of a project which provides the capstone of the year and allows you to demonstrate your readiness to progress onto the BSc Psychology.

You will receive face-to-face feedback regularly during your modules in order to prepare you for the completion of the wide range of assessments undertaken. This will be via tasks set for you to undertake in the module seminars or in your independent study time.