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Are you keen to develop an understanding of society, social dynamics and modern life? Do you want to enhance your skills in research and analysis, and decision-making?

Social sciences help us to identify trends, explore relationships, challenge prejudices and gain a deeper understanding of the societies in which we live and work. This understanding equips us with the tools to question current thinking and inform future social policy.

This foundation year, which covers the areas of sociology, politics, and criminology, prepares you for degree level study in a range of social science subjects.  Through engaging with real world issues, you’ll begin to develop the critical thinking, communication and problem solving skills that are essential for both further study and employment. 

Following successful completion of the foundation year you will qualify to join any of the following degrees:

Are you keen to develop an understanding of society, social dynamics and modern life? Do you want to enhance your skills in research and analysis, and decision-making?

Social sciences help us to identify trends, explore relationships, challenge prejudices and gain a deeper understanding of the societies in which we live and work. This understanding equips us with the tools to question current thinking and inform future social policy.

This foundation year, which covers the areas of sociology, politics, and criminology, prepares you for degree level study in a range of social science subjects.  Through engaging with real world issues, you’ll begin to develop the critical thinking, communication and problem solving skills that are essential for both further study and employment. 

Following successful completion of the foundation year you will qualify to join any of the following degrees:

Course Information

UCAS Code
L3L4

Level of Study
Undergraduate

Mode of Study
1 year Full Time followed by a further 3 years Full Time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad

Department
Social Sciences

Location
City Campus, Northumbria University

City
Newcastle

Start
September 2025

Fees
Fee Information

Modules
Module Information

Department / Social Sciences Foundation Year

Our Department of Social Sciences is a community that equips you to make a positive social change, become a critical thinker, a problem solver, and to challenge what you think, see and hear.

Discover NU World / A virtual journey through everything Northumbria has to offer.

Explore our immersive 360 tours, informative subject videos, inspirational student profiles, ground-breaking research, and a range of life at university videos and articles.

Delve Deeper / Discover more about life at Northumbria

Book an Open Day / Experience Social Sciences Foundation Year

Visit an Open Day to get an insight into what it's like to study Social Sciences Foundation Year. Speak to staff and students from the course and get a tour of the facilities.

Entry Requirements 2024/25

Standard Entry

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 should 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

Entry Requirements 2025/26

Standard Entry

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 should 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

Fees and Funding 2024/25 Entry

UK Fee in Year 1: £9,250

* The maximum tuition fee that we are permitted to charge for UK students is set by government. Tuition fees may increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, these are subject to government regulations and in line with inflation.


International Fee in Year 1: £18,250


Please see the main Funding Pages for 24/25 scholarship information.

 


ADDITIONAL COSTS

There are no Additional Costs

Fees and Funding 2025/26 Entry

UK Fee in Year 1*: TBC

* Government has yet to announce 25/26 tuition fee levels. As a guide, 24/25 fees were £9,250 per year. 



International Fee in Year 1: £19,350


Please see the main Funding Pages for 25/26 scholarship information.

 


ADDITIONAL COSTS

There are no Additional Costs

If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.

* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

AD3002 -

Crime and Society (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will be introduced to the concept of crime and its manifestations within society. You will explore the different types of crime that exist and the platforms on which they take place; consider perspectives that help explain why these crimes occur; investigate ways in which we respond as a society to those who commit crime and look at different approaches used to prevent it. You will also explore the different career and study routes that are available to you within the crime / criminal justice sector.

As well as the above core knowledge areas, you will also be introduced to and will develop key skills needed to understand and talk about crime within society and within a Higher Education environment. For example, you will be introduced to different information sources; academic referencing; essay and report writing and presentation skills. All of these will prepare you to progress to the next level of study.

More information

AD3004 -

Sociological Imagination (Core,20 Credits)

This module will enable you to develop your knowledge and understanding of sociology as a discipline and to begin to develop your own ‘sociological imagination’. Central to this is an understanding of how individuals not only shape the world around them but are also shaped by it. This is the core focus of sociology and will be the focus of this module. It will draw on contemporary social issues and problems to help you understand society and the role of sociology in understanding and seeking to change it.

This module introduces you to key ideas and vocabulary in the in the study of society, such as ‘agency’ and the notion of the structured social world and therefore the foundation of society such as the family, identity, the role of the state, crime and punishment and economic inequality etc. Throughout the module you will be supported to be self-reflective about your place in the social world and to consider if your own attitudes and beliefs are the result of your own free will (agency) or the consequence of pressure from wider social forces, or maybe even both.

The module will introduce and assess a number of important academic skills including writing for academic purposes, accessing and evaluating different information sources, academic referencing, group work and presentation skills. This module will prepare you for further study in higher education and, more specifically, for the study of the sociology and/or other social science subject areas.

More information

AD3005 -

Politics and Decision Making (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will be introduced to the concept of power through which you will gain an insight into the world of politics and how collective decisions are made. As part of this you will investigate who makes decisions, how decisions are made, what factors influence decision-making and what is the impact of decisions. This will be examined through studying a number of real world, contemporary and often controversial issues, which will help you better understand domestic and international politics, political processes and the role of ideas in decision-making.

In addition to the above, you will also be introduced to and will develop key skills needed to communicate your understanding within a Higher Education environment. For example, you will be introduced to different information sources; academic referencing; and writing. All of these will prepare you to progress to the next level of study.

More information

AD3039 -

Big Ideas: Issues and Debates in the Social Sciences (Core,20 Credits)

You will be introduced to some of the key issues and debates in the social sciences such as those around a good life/society, democracy, citizenship, social change, mobilities, solidarities, power, culture and identities/self. These issues will be illustrated through classical and contemporary case studies, demonstrating links to the undergraduate curricula in the social sciences, notably criminology, sociology, politics and international development. A range of social scientists (from criminology, sociology, politics and international development) will also reflect on how their disciplines have developed distinctive professional practices and identities as they have engaged with these ‘Big Ideas’ in recent years.

More information

AD3040 -

Social Sciences Portfolio: Skills for University (Core,20 Credits)

Through this module, you will be supported to develop a range of skills which will be critical to succeeding with the foundation degree and your subsequent undergraduate programme. Specifically, the module will cover: managing the transition to university life; key academic skills, such as referencing, research, communication and team-work; Students will undertake a group research project, demonstrating and evidencing the broad range of academic, professional and personal skills which they have developed through their learning.

More information

AD3041 -

Encounters that shape our worlds (Core,20 Credits)

On this module you will (a) explore the meaning of encounters and the relevance of encounters to the social sciences; (b) consider the ways in which history and our understanding of society have been shaped by encounters and (c) consider the ways in which specific encounters can help us understand actions, events and ideas that have shaped our world.

Encounters offer a lens through which we can look at and understand concepts, ideas, and debates central to the social sciences, including globalisation, colonialism, imperialism, and knowledge itself. Examples of the types of encounters this module looks at include the encounter between Moctezuma and Cortez in Latin America in the 16th Century (that laid the foundations for colonialism and exploitation of the global South), and the more recent example of Australians encountering Uluru in the 1990s, until that point called Ayres Rock, which allows us to explore notions of indigenous knowledge and land rights in former colonies. Other encounters will be drawn from the breadth of human history.

Staff delivering the module will draw on their own knowledge, experiences, and research to develop interactive sessions around a range of known encounters that feature in contemporary literature.

More information

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

AD3002 -

Crime and Society (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will be introduced to the concept of crime and its manifestations within society. You will explore the different types of crime that exist and the platforms on which they take place; consider perspectives that help explain why these crimes occur; investigate ways in which we respond as a society to those who commit crime and look at different approaches used to prevent it. You will also explore the different career and study routes that are available to you within the crime / criminal justice sector.

As well as the above core knowledge areas, you will also be introduced to and will develop key skills needed to understand and talk about crime within society and within a Higher Education environment. For example, you will be introduced to different information sources; academic referencing; essay and report writing and presentation skills. All of these will prepare you to progress to the next level of study.

More information

AD3004 -

Sociological Imagination (Core,20 Credits)

This module will enable you to develop your knowledge and understanding of sociology as a discipline and to begin to develop your own ‘sociological imagination’. Central to this is an understanding of how individuals not only shape the world around them but are also shaped by it. This is the core focus of sociology and will be the focus of this module. It will draw on contemporary social issues and problems to help you understand society and the role of sociology in understanding and seeking to change it.

This module introduces you to key ideas and vocabulary in the in the study of society, such as ‘agency’ and the notion of the structured social world and therefore the foundation of society such as the family, identity, the role of the state, crime and punishment and economic inequality etc. Throughout the module you will be supported to be self-reflective about your place in the social world and to consider if your own attitudes and beliefs are the result of your own free will (agency) or the consequence of pressure from wider social forces, or maybe even both.

The module will introduce and assess a number of important academic skills including writing for academic purposes, accessing and evaluating different information sources, academic referencing, group work and presentation skills. This module will prepare you for further study in higher education and, more specifically, for the study of the sociology and/or other social science subject areas.

More information

AD3005 -

Politics and Decision Making (Core,20 Credits)

In this module you will be introduced to the concept of power through which you will gain an insight into the world of politics and how collective decisions are made. As part of this you will investigate who makes decisions, how decisions are made, what factors influence decision-making and what is the impact of decisions. This will be examined through studying a number of real world, contemporary and often controversial issues, which will help you better understand domestic and international politics, political processes and the role of ideas in decision-making.

In addition to the above, you will also be introduced to and will develop key skills needed to communicate your understanding within a Higher Education environment. For example, you will be introduced to different information sources; academic referencing; and writing. All of these will prepare you to progress to the next level of study.

More information

AD3039 -

Big Ideas: Issues and Debates in the Social Sciences (Core,20 Credits)

You will be introduced to some of the key issues and debates in the social sciences such as those around a good life/society, democracy, citizenship, social change, mobilities, solidarities, power, culture and identities/self. These issues will be illustrated through classical and contemporary case studies, demonstrating links to the undergraduate curricula in the social sciences, notably criminology, sociology, politics and international development. A range of social scientists (from criminology, sociology, politics and international development) will also reflect on how their disciplines have developed distinctive professional practices and identities as they have engaged with these ‘Big Ideas’ in recent years.

More information

AD3040 -

Social Sciences Portfolio: Skills for University (Core,20 Credits)

Through this module, you will be supported to develop a range of skills which will be critical to succeeding with the foundation degree and your subsequent undergraduate programme. Specifically, the module will cover: managing the transition to university life; key academic skills, such as referencing, research, communication and team-work; Students will undertake a group research project, demonstrating and evidencing the broad range of academic, professional and personal skills which they have developed through their learning.

More information

AD3041 -

Encounters that shape our worlds (Core,20 Credits)

On this module you will (a) explore the meaning of encounters and the relevance of encounters to the social sciences; (b) consider the ways in which history and our understanding of society have been shaped by encounters and (c) consider the ways in which specific encounters can help us understand actions, events and ideas that have shaped our world.

Encounters offer a lens through which we can look at and understand concepts, ideas, and debates central to the social sciences, including globalisation, colonialism, imperialism, and knowledge itself. Examples of the types of encounters this module looks at include the encounter between Moctezuma and Cortez in Latin America in the 16th Century (that laid the foundations for colonialism and exploitation of the global South), and the more recent example of Australians encountering Uluru in the 1990s, until that point called Ayres Rock, which allows us to explore notions of indigenous knowledge and land rights in former colonies. Other encounters will be drawn from the breadth of human history.

Staff delivering the module will draw on their own knowledge, experiences, and research to develop interactive sessions around a range of known encounters that feature in contemporary literature.

More information

To start your application, simply select the month you would like to start your course.

Social Science Foundation Year

Home or EU applicants please apply through UCAS

International applicants please apply using the links below

START MONTH
YEAR

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Any Questions?

Our Applicant Services team will be happy to help.  They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901 or by using our Contact Form.

 

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

Accessibility and Student Inclusion

Northumbria University is committed to developing an inclusive, diverse and accessible campus and wider University community and are determined to ensure that opportunities we provide are open to all.

We are proud to work in partnership with AccessAble to provide Detailed Access Guides to our buildings and facilities across our City, Coach Lane and London Campuses. A Detailed Access Guide lets you know what access will be like when you visit somewhere. It looks at the route you will use getting in and what is available inside. All guides have Accessibility Symbols that give you a quick overview of what is available, and photographs to show you what to expect. The guides are produced by trained surveyors who visit our campuses annually to ensure you have trusted and accurate information.

You can use Northumbria’s AccessAble Guides anytime to check the accessibility of a building or facility and to plan your routes and journeys. Search by location, building or accessibility feature to find the information you need. 

We are dedicated to helping students who may require additional support during their student journey and offer 1-1 advice and guidance appropriate to individual requirements. If you feel you may need additional support you can find out more about what we offer here where you can also contact us with any questions you may have:

Accessibility support

Student Inclusion support

If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.

* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

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