Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
Please note: From September 2026, Foundation Years at Northumbria are changing and will become integrated 'Extended Degrees'. Register your interest to be kept in the loop about 2026 entry.
A psychology foundation year programme is designed to provide students with the academic skills and fundamental knowledge of psychology foundational skills needed to pursue a degree in psychology. The foundation year serves as a preparatory year for individuals who may not meet the standard entry requirements for direct entry into a psychology degree programme.
Throughout the duration of this course you will gain an understanding of the domains, classic studies, career paths, underlying debates, controversies and career paths related to psychology. You will also acquire key transferable skills that will prove invaluable when you enter the workplace.
We cover psychology and its various specialisms including health, occupational and organisational, and sport and exercise.
On successful completion of this course you will possess the qualification required to progress onto BSc (Hons) Psychology or BSc (Hons) Psychology with Criminology
Over 92% of students studying Psychology at Northumbria thought staff were good at explaining things (NSS, 2024).
Northumbria’s research in Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience is ranked 15th in the UK for research power out of 93 submissions (REF, 2021). This is a rise of 28 places from 43rd in 2014.
Psychology at Northumbria is ranked Top 35 in the UK by the Complete University Guide for 2025.
Discover all of our available Psychology Courses and find the course for you.
UCAS Code
C801
Level of Study
Undergraduate
Mode of Study
1 year Full Time followed by a further 3 year or 4 years full-time study
Department
Psychology
Location
City Campus, Northumbria University
City
Newcastle
Start
September 2025
Fees
Fee Information
Modules
Module Information
The British Psychological Society has accredited a number of our psychology courses. We cover psychology and its various specialisms including health, occupational, organisational and sport
Department
Northumbria psychologists support local residents to change energy use behaviours.
Read the news story.
Student wins prestigious award to help improve mental health among farmers and their families.
Read the news story.
Northumbria research on ASMR finds interesting link.
Read the news story.Find out what our Psychology students and staff are taking part in and achieving.
Visit an Open Day to get an insight into what it's like to study Psychology. Speak to staff and students from the course and get a tour of the facilities.
Visit an Open Day to get an insight into what it's like to study Psychology. Speak to staff and students from the course and get a tour of the facilities.
Visit an Open Day to get an insight into what it's like to study Psychology. Speak to staff and students from the course and get a tour of the facilities.
See the world renowned research centres at Northumbria University's psychology department.
At the heart of each Northumbria campus, our libraries provide a range of study space and technology to suit every learning style.
Visit an Open Day to get an insight into what it's like to study Psychology. Speak to staff and students from the course and get a tour of the facilities.
See the areas of research in Northumbria University's psychology department.
Visit an Open Day to get an insight into what it's like to study Psychology. Speak to staff and students from the course and get a tour of the facilities.
You can boost your CV and develop your experience whilst studying at Northumbria.
From first year through to final year and beyond graduation, we are here to help.
We have a fantastic service for students' to use to gain advice and tips on furthering careers and enhancing their employability.
Careers and Employment Services
Visit an Open Day to get an insight into what it's like to study Psychology. Speak to staff and students from the course and get a tour of the facilities.
80 UCAS Tariff points
From a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A-level, T Level, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas, or the International Baccalaureate.
Find out how many points your qualifications are worth by using the UCAS Tariff calculator: www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator
Northumbria University is committed to supporting all individuals to achieve their ambitions. We have a range of schemes and alternative offers to make sure as many individuals as possible are given an opportunity to study at our University regardless of personal circumstances or background. To find out more, review our Northumbria Entry Requirement Essential Information page for further details www.northumbria.ac.uk/entryrequirementsinfo
Subject Requirements:
There are no specific subject requirements for this course.
GCSE Requirements:
Applicants will need Maths and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or an equivalent.
Additional Requirements:
There are no additional requirements for this course.
International Qualifications:
We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above.
If you have qualifications from outside the UK, find out what you need by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry
English Language Requirements:
International applicants shoud have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades in our English Language section: www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications
UK Fee in Year 1: £9,535
* Fees subject to annual increases over the course of the period of study. Students will be liable for payment of any/all tuition fees which are not sponsored by their employer or other third party.
International Fee in Year 1:
ADDITIONAL COSTS
There are no Additional Costs
* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.
PY0300 -
Classic Studies that Shaped Psychology (Core,20 Credits)
On this module you will learn about several of the key concepts and studies that have influenced our formative understanding of Psychology as a subject and importantly how we research psychological processes today. You will cover classic studies in a range of different areas such as behavioural psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, evolutionary psychology and cognitive psychology. In addition to this, you will learn about the development of neuroimaging, discuss ethics in psychological research, and look at classic studies in applied domains such as eyewitness memory.
More informationPY0301 -
Current Debates and Controversies (Core,20 Credits)
Psychology is a relatively new discipline, and is still developing its identity as a science. On this module you will learn about some of the questions that excite researchers right now: what are the boundaries of knowledge and the big questions in areas such as perception, neuroimaging, culture, and consciousness, and which directions are currently being explored?
More informationPY0302 -
Academic Skills for Psychologists (Core,20 Credits)
On this module you will learn academic skills that will assist your learning and development on this programme and your future degree. The skills you acquire will also be transferable to enhance your employability.
You will be introduced to the learning resources that are available to support you. Using these resources you will learn how to conduct effective bibliographic searches and how to evaluate the credibility of the sources. You will learn about the sections of a journal article and how to read journal articles effectively. You will explore what it means to be a critical thinker and begin to learn how to evaluate information. You will focus on writing skills – essay writing and writing for different audiences – and learn the processes involved including referencing and how to avoid plagiarism. You will be introduced to the University’s Assessment for Learning policy and how assessment criteria and feedback can be used to help you develop your skills. Integrated within this you will develop your understanding of research by learning and reading about research, taking part in research studies and reflecting on research activities.
PY0303 -
Psychology for Life (Core,20 Credits)
The Psychology for Life module will primarily focus on developing your knowledge of how psychology is applied in the real world, and supporting you in making longer term decisions about your career. You will be introduced to different chartered routes in psychology, as well as broader professions, in which psychology can be readily applied. This knowledge in the application of psychology will help you to develop your understanding and self-efficacy when it comes to making career-related decisions. In-class discussions will also enable you to develop transferable skills valued by employers, such as communication skills and the role of teamwork.
You will have access to specialist input from the Careers and Employment Service in how to begin your journey in psychology, looking at securing relevant work experience, reflecting on your own skills and interests, CV writing, and interview support. Making use of this service will ensure that you are building your employability from the early stages of your journey in psychology.
Within the department of psychology, we also run invited speakers’ programmes for you to network with a range of practitioners and academics from outside of the university.
PY0304 -
Collecting & Managing Data (Core,20 Credits)
On this module you will learn basic techniques for collecting and managing different types of data. You will learn to differentiate between qualitative and quantitative data and to understand how these types of data are used by psychologists. In taught sessions, you will gain practical experience of collecting both qualitative and quantitative data (e.g., through interviews, questionnaires and experiments). You will then learn how to collate and describe these data by identifying themes or calculating appropriate summary statistics, using appropriate software where appropriate. Towards the end of the module you will be introduced to the concept of inferential statistics, which allow us to make inferences about the wider population based on data from a sample of that population.
More informationPY0305 -
Research Skills for Psychologists (Core,20 Credits)
On this module you will learn research skills that will assist your learning and development on this programme and your future degree (e.g., how to read a journal article, how to find psychological literature, how to form a research question, how to design a psychology study, and how to interpret and communicate results). The skills you acquire will also be transferable to enhance your employability.
You will be introduced to the learning resources that are available to support you. You will learn how to conduct research and how to best report your findings. You will work individually and in groups to test your own abilities. You will explore the psychological theories behind the psychological phenomena and relationships that you investigate. Integrated within this you will develop communication skills by learning how to present information using posters, PowerPoint slides, and learn how to give confident oral presentations. In teaching session discussions, you will develop group working skills and enhance your understanding of the role of teamwork.
To start your application, simply select the month you would like to start your course.
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