BSc (Hons) Psychology with Foundation Year

Course Overview

Our British Psychological Society accredited BSc (Hons) Psychology degree with Foundation Year will introduce you to a wide range of contemporary research and support you in developing key knowledge, skills, and abilities that are essential in pursuing a career within psychology. The course has been designed with your future career in mind. You’ll have the option to tailor the focus of your degree and specialise in areas that match your career aspirations. This provides you with control over your learning and gives you the opportunity to discover and experience ideas and concepts from a range of different areas within psychology.

With such a wide range of areas in psychology to choose from, this course gives you the time and flexibility to decide where you want to focus. Studying this new undergraduate psychology course with Arden will provide you with multiple future career and study options, and you’ll have access to modern, digital learning tools as you study. You’ll also have full support from our dedicated academic team, who are internationally respected industry practitioners, published authors, and PhD holders in the psychology field.

Entry requirements

At Arden University we consider applications on a case by case basis. If you have significant work experience, have qualifications you have gained elsewhere, or a degree or qualification that isn’t a clear pathway to this degree – we are more than happy to discuss your application.

Course fee

Blended	Fee
Fee Per Year	£ 9,250

Distance Learning	Fee
Fee Per Year	£ 6,935

Please note: Fees quoted relate to the intake that you enrol on (i.e. when you start your course), NOT your application date.

Eligibility

To be able to study this course, we need to see that you have:

At least 3 x GCSEs or 45 credits at Level 2 or equivalent. If your qualifications are more than 3 years old we may also ask to see your professional CV.
Applicants may be considered based on a minimum of 12 months of professional work experience evidenced with a CV and Reference if they do not meet the qualification requirements.
We also offer this course as a standard bachelor’s degree without foundation year.

Candidates are required to submit a personal statement (of between 350-550 words) or attend an interview demonstrating an ability to study for the programme. This statement should include:

Your motivation for undertaking the programme
Why you’ve chosen your particular course
Any long-term goals or career aspirations

Apply for the Course

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English proficiency

IELTS 6.0 (no less than 5.5 in any element); or TOEFL iBT 80; or equivalent
Alternatively, evidence you have previously studied in English, such as a letter to show that the Medium of Instruction was in English, can be accepted.

Before you start studying

Whilst you can read your study materials on your smart phone or tablet, to make the most of your learning experience, you will need access to a laptop or computer (we recommend one running the latest version of Windows), and a good stable internet connection.

Course details and modules

On the course you’ll study a variety of interesting and stimulating subject modules that have been designed to engage you in fascinating topics within psychology, enabling you to develop sought after and career focused skills. Your studies will culminate with choosing an area of psychology on which to focus and produce your own research project at the end of your final year. By the time you graduate, you’ll have the confidence and ability to apply your knowledge of psychology to a range of exciting career paths and further learning opportunities.

Throughout the course you’ll have one-to-one support from your lecturers and academic skills tutors, as well as frequent invitations to online coffee mornings with your fellow students and staff and personal academic tutor support sessions. Above all, our academic team, who come from a range of professional and cultural backgrounds, will help you learn through real-world context, helping you understand how your new skills are best applied in practice.

Modules

You have between 4 to 12 years to complete this course, which means you can take up to 3 years to complete each level. Most of our students, however, aim to complete the course within 4 to 6 years.

Foundation year

Using Numeracy, IT and Data
Research Skills and Using Information
Values, Ethics and Working Collaboratively
Developing Academic Skills
Crime and Law in Context
Psychology of Everyday Life

Level 4

Core modules
Introduction to studying Psychology (20 credits)
Social Psychology (20 credits)
Introduction to Research Methods (20 credits)
Developmental Psychology (20 credits)
Biological Psychology (20 credits)
Cognitive Psychology (20 credits)

Level 5

Core modules

Qualitative Research Methods (20 credits)
Quantitative Research Methods (20 credits)
Personality and Intelligence (20 credits)
Positive Psychology (20 credits)

Elective modules (select two)

Forensic Psychology (20 credits)
Sport and Exercise Psychology (20 credits)
Occupational Psychology (20 credits)
Clinical and Health Psychology (20 credits)
Child Development and Educational Psychology (20 credits)
Coaching Psychology (20 credits)

Level 6

Core modules

Professional Development (20 credits)
Research Project (40 credits)

Elective modules (select three)

Counselling Psychology: Mental Health and Illness (20 credit)
Advanced Research Methods (20 credits)
Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience (20 credits)
Political Psychology (20 credits)
Cyber Psychology (20 credits)
Gender and Sexuality (20 credits)

Please note that our elective modules will run subject to sufficient demand and resources. That means if necessary, we may need to cap numbers or change or discontinue modules to account for this.

Career prospects

Your course will set you up with a range of universal skills that will allow you to apply your knowledge in a huge variety of sectors. This means that when you graduate you’ll have the confidence to make life-changing decisions about which professional career path is best for you to take.

What can I do after Arden University?

After successfully completing your BSc Psychology with Foundation Year degree, you’ll have acquired a range of skills that will be appealing to employers across almost all industries. Around 15 to 20% of psychology graduates in the UK choose to complete postgraduate training to become professional psychologists. Employers across industries know that successful psychology graduates can write coherent and logical reports, understand statistical forms of evidence and data handling, and have a good understanding of human behaviour in the workplace. The majority of graduates therefore go on to work in careers where these skills developed during an undergraduate degree are highly desirable.

As well as graduating with the possibility of continuing on to further study at master’s degree level or entering training to qualify as a professional psychologist, you’ll also have career options in front of you which could include:

Psychotherapist
Data analyst
Support Worker
Nursing
Mental health professional
Human resource manager
Careers adviser
Counsellor
Journalist
Marketing/advertising
Police officer
Social work

What will the BSc (Hons) Psychology with Foundation Year do for me?

Employers who have provided input into this course’s development include independent psychology practitioners, counselling psychologists, clinical psychologists, independent consultants, the UK Fire Service, and previous alumni who are now working across many varied professional areas. Because of this input, you’ll find that your course content has been tailored to help you fill current skills gaps in a range of careers and professions worldwide.

With such a wide choice of topics to learn about, and different skills to master, you’ll graduate with knowledge and abilities in diverse academic and professional areas including:

Communicating effectively in challenging situations
Retrieving, comprehending, and using data
Handling primary source material appropriately
Problem solving and abstract and scientific reasoning
Make critical judgements and evaluations
Applying sensitivity to interpersonal factors
Use effective personal planning and project management skills

What is Blended Learning in Arden University ?

Do you want to study for a Degree, but feel like you just don’t have the time to fit it into your life? Arden University’s Blended Learning courses combine innovative online learning with traditional, face-to-face classes to give you a more flexible way to study.

How does it work?

The face-to-face hours are delivered as a part-time course would be, but with the additional independent online learning, you can still complete your Degree in 3 years*. This Blended approach means you can study anytime, anywhere and your tutors and support teams can be contacted outside of the classroom, online or over the phone.

When can I study?

Requiring just 8 hours of classes a week at your chosen UK study centre, you will have the opportunity to select when you want to learn: weekdays or evenings .

Weekdays: 2 days per week either 9.00–13.00 or 13.30-17.30
Evenings**: 2 evenings per week 17.30–21.30

Where can I study?

With Arden study centres across Birmingham, London , Manchester and Berlin, we believe we can offer a study option that suits most lifestyles.

So, whether you’re a full-time parent, striving to be employee of the month, or just don’t want the traditional study methods offered by other universities, Blended Learning at Arden University offers all the flexibility and support you need to fit study around your life.

Take a look at the courses on offer and talk to one of the Ulearn’s course advisors through our Live Chat function, or complete an enquiry form and someone will be in touch.

*4 years if taken with a foundation year.
** selected centres and courses only.

Flexible Intake Dates

At Arden University you don’t have to start your Degree in September like most other universities. We offer 6 different intakes throughout the year so you can start your course at a time that suits you and fits around your commitments.

Undergraduate Intake Dates

September
November
February
April
June

How much will it cost?

We believe costs shouldn’t be a barrier to personal development which is why the cost of studying with Arden is lower than traditional universities. If you are looking for a smart, value for money option then look no further – you can stay in control of your finance and focus on your learning.

You can choose to pay for your course in full, in installments or through employer sponsorship. For UK students, you can also choose to pay with a student loan, if you’re eligible. For more information and for up-to-date fees please visit: https://arden.ac.uk/studying-with-us/fees-and-funding

Part time online learning

How does it work?

Studying the BA (Hons) Business Management with Foundation Year online gives you the ultimate in convenience. You can enrol with Arden from anywhere in the world and study your degree from the comfort of home, without the requirement to attend classes in a physical location.

Our online students study their degree through iLearn, Arden’s university campus in the cloud. iLearn provides everything you need to study at University. It offers an integrated virtual learning experience, including your virtual classroom, lecture theatre, and access to our Library Portal. The portal includes an extensive digital library including thousands of journal titles, eBooks, and academic and industry databases which you can use to research your assignments and projects. All of these materials are provided to you free of charge, and contain all the research information you’ll need to complete your degree with us.

iLearn is also integrated with Zoom, making it easier to chat with your course tutor during your scheduled seminar sessions. You can even integrate our study materials into your Kindle, making it possible to study wherever you have you Kindle handy.

Studying online does not mean studying alone. As well as receiving regular feedback and guidance from your course tutor, you’ll be studying with likeminded students who you can meet with through our Unitu community, and you’ll have access to community message boards to discuss your course and the topics being raised within it. We have even set up community boards embedded into each of the course modules so you can have discussions with your tutor and classmates on the topics you are currently learning.

Online learning students resident in the UK can apply for a Maintenance Loan if they cannot attend their course in person because of a disability. Please find more information on our fees and funding page. If you’re a student from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland you can find information on Living Cost Loans from your student finance body.