Psychology with Foundation Year BSc (Hons) - 2024/5
Awarding body
University of Surrey
Teaching institute
University of Surrey
Framework
FHEQ Level 6
Final award and programme/pathway title
BSc (Hons) Psychology with Foundation Year
Subsidiary award(s)
Award | Title |
---|---|
Ord | Psychology with Foundation Year |
DipHE | Psychology with Foundation Year |
CertHE | Psychology with Foundation Year |
Modes of study
Route code | Credits and ECTS Credits | |
Full-time | ULD10003 | 360 credits and 180 ECTS credits |
Full-time with PTY | ULD10005 | 480 credits and 240 ECTS credits |
QAA Subject benchmark statement (if applicable)
Other internal and / or external reference points
For further information relating to FHEQ levels 4, 5 and 6 and the professional training year, including learning outcomes, aims and module information please view the BSc (Hons) Psychology programme specification.
Faculty and Department / School
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences - Psychology
Programme Leader
HACK Sarah (Psychology)
Date of production/revision of spec
10/11/2024
Educational aims of the programme
- Introduce students to a range of psychological subjects and core academic skills to prepare students for access into a psychology degree programme
- Develop cognitive skills that allow for critical thinking, problem solving and analysis of data and information
- Develop key and transferable skills that will help in the assimilation of knowledge and develop autonomy in learning
Programme learning outcomes
Attributes Developed | Awards | Ref. | |
Demonstrate an enhanced understanding of the basics of psychology | K | ||
Discuss the relevance of psychology to the contemporary world | K | ||
Evaluate different sources of evidence | CT | ||
Demonstrate an awareness of methodological and ethical issues in psychology | KCPT | ||
Evaluate the research processes and investigative strategies used within psychology | KCPT | ||
Demonstrate understanding of different approaches to analysing data | KCPT | ||
Demonstrate attitudes and behaviours that support lifelong learning | CPT | ||
Demonstrate skills in communication, interpersonal skills and reflection | PT | ||
Demonstrate confidence and self-awareness in becoming an independent learner | CT | ||
Assess own capabilities against given criteria | T |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Programme structure
Full-time
This Bachelor's Degree (Honours) programme is studied full-time over four academic years, consisting of a Foundation Year and 360 credits (120 credits at FHEQ levels 4, 5 and 6). All modules are based on a 15-credit tariff
Possible exit awards include:
- Bachelor's Degree (Ordinary) (300 credits)
- Diploma of Higher Education (240 credits)
- Certificate of Higher Education (120 credits)
Full-time with PTY
This Bachelor's Degree (Honours) programme is studied full-time over five academic years, consisting of a Foundation Year, an optional professional training year and 360 credits (120 credits at FHEQ levels 4, 5 and 6). All modules are based on a 15-credit tariff
Possible exit awards include:
- Bachelor's Degree (Ordinary) (300 credits)
- Diploma of Higher Education (240 credits)
- Certificate of Higher Education (120 credits)
Programme Adjustments (if applicable)
N/A
Modules
Year 0 - FHEQ Level 3
Module code | Module title | Status | Credits | Semester |
---|---|---|---|---|
PSY0001 | PSYCHOLOGY IN THE REAL WORLD | Compulsory | 30 | 1 |
PSY0002 | ISSUES IN SOCIAL RESEARCH | Compulsory | 30 | 2 |
PSY0003 | THINKING PSYCHOLOGICALLY | Compulsory | 60 | Year-long |
Module Selection for Year 0 - FHEQ Level 3
For further information on FHEQ levels 4, 5 and 6 please view the programme specification for the full-time BSc (Hons) Psychology programme.
Year 0 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 3
Module code | Module title | Status | Credits | Semester |
---|---|---|---|---|
PSY0001 | PSYCHOLOGY IN THE REAL WORLD | Compulsory | 30 | 1 |
PSY0002 | ISSUES IN SOCIAL RESEARCH | Compulsory | 30 | 2 |
PSY0003 | THINKING PSYCHOLOGICALLY | Compulsory | 60 | Year-long |
Module Selection for Year 0 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 3
For further information on FHEQ levels 4, 5 and 6 and professional training year please view the programme specification for the full-time with PTY BSc (Hons) Psychology programme.
Opportunities for placements / work related learning / collaborative activity
Associate Tutor(s) / Guest Speakers / Visiting Academics | N | |
Professional Training Year (PTY) | N | |
Placement(s) (study or work that are not part of PTY) | N | |
Clinical Placement(s) (that are not part of the PTY scheme) | N | |
Study exchange (Level 5) | N | |
Dual degree | N |
Other information
In line with Surrey's Curriculum Framework this programme is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability and Resourcefulness and Resilience. The programme contributes in the following ways:
Digital Capabilities: Throughout the programme students learn to navigate and use SurreyLearn, the University's Virtual Learning Environment. They are also introduced to other digital resources and software, to support their development as independent learners. A key focus of the programme is on developing academic skills, to ensure students develop a strong foundation ahead of joining the undergraduate programme. They are therefore introduced to, and required to use, specific digital techniques, including online searching, using search mechanisms including Google Scholar and the university's search engine, SurreySearch. Students are also required to engage with a variety of digital media, for example, Teams, Zoom, Padlets, Wakelets, Google Jamboard. In addition, students will be required to use cloud/file sharing platforms such as GoogleDocs, SharePoint when working collaboratively. Module assessments require students to draw on their experience of using a wide range of digital platforms and resources. In line with university policy, assessments are submitted through SurreyLearn.
Employability: During the year students are taught by a range of academics from within the School of Psychology and guest speakers, introducing them to a range of applied areas of psychology and raising awareness of other areas of work in which psychologists skills are valued. A key skill which underpins psychology as a discipline, and hence the programme, is a focus on developing the ability to critically evaluate evidence and to discuss the appropriate application of knowledge within the limitations of the research design and data collection methods. Thus specific transferable skills developed that are utilised in many areas of employment include the ability to evaluate sources, to critically engage with material, and to evaluate data. In addition, the tasks and assessments undertaken across modules are specifically chosen both to prepare students for the assessments they will take on the undergraduate programme, and also to prepare them for tasks they might undertake as psychologists, or in other forms of employment. For example, students are required to develop an academic argument in academic essays, but also to provide evidence-based recommendations in a report, requiring research and application of knowledge. They are also required to write reflectively, a skill required in many practitioner-based fields.
Global and Cultural Capabilities: A key issue explored within the programme is that of ethnocentrism within Psychology, the tendency for universal assumptions to be made, inappropriately, from culturally-specific research. Students are introduced to the concept of WEIRD Psychology (research conducted by, and using participants from, Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich and Democratic societies), and the associated notion of the missing 95%, the proportion of the world population not represented in psychological literature. In addition, attention is drawn to examples of research conducted by Black psychologists, for example classic research into racial identification by Clark and Clark (1947), as well as more contemporary research. Students are also introduced to ways of addressing ethnocentrism, including avoiding making claims of universality and conducting cross-cultural research. In addition, students are provided with the opportunity to listen to speakers who have an interest in related areas, for example inequalities in health and educational experiences, or specific research focused on other cultures.
Resourcefulness and resilience: The key aim of the programme is to support the development of students in their journey to becoming resourceful, resilient and independent learners. Over the course of the programme students are introduced to a range of academic skills and positive psychology interventions to support (i) their development as learners and (ii) their overall resilience. A key theme is the importance of wellbeing and resilience for academic achievement, as well as for us all as individuals. The programme adopts an embed, but foreground approach to the development of academic skills, where key academic skills are clearly identified, with opportunities for developing the skills embedded within psychological content. Opportunities to develop these skills are mapped both within and between modules, and chronologically across the academic year. Teaching and learning activities, and assessments (formative and summative) have been developed at a programme and module level to enable students opportunities to develop and demonstrate their capabilities in a learning spiral format. Students are also introduced to a range of psychological interventions so that they will have a repertoire of positive psychology skills and knowledge related to personal and academic resilience. Students are required to reflect on their learning journey in relation to these areas in an end of year summative assessment, thus encouraging engagement with this material. In addition, the programme utilises a programmatic approach to assessment, with the student assessment journey mapped across modules. This ensures students have the opportunity to process and to act on feedback, further strengthening their development as independent learners. Further, students have a dedicated session on engaging with feedback, in which strategies for dealing with the emotional impact of feedback are discussed alongside engaging with feedback effectively. The student assessment journey is shared with students at the start of the academic year to provide clarity, and to support development of time management strategies.
Sustainability: Students are introduced to applied areas of psychology that explore how psychology may be used in ethically, socially and environmentally responsible ways, within the context of the UN Sustainable Goals, to support the development of a more sustainable future society. Students will therefore understand how psychologists might work towards developing potential solutions for the promotion of inclusion, social justice, and environmentally sustainable behaviour. Examples of topics students may be introduced to which support the development of this knowledge and understanding include environmental psychology (e.g. psychology of energy consumption), applied social psychology (issues of gender inequality and leadership), health psychology, and psychology & education. In addition, one summative assessment requires students to produce recommendations for good practice within one of the applied areas of Psychology, thus providing students with the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of how psychology may be used to support the development of a more sustainable future society.
Quality assurance
The Regulations and Codes of Practice for taught programmes can be found at:
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2024/5 academic year.