Psychology with Foundation Year
Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behaviour, examining why people think, feel, and act as they do through the methods of observation, experiment, and statistical analysis. It spans an extraordinarily wide range of territory, from the neural mechanisms that underpin perception and emotion to the social forces that shape identity, prejudice, and group behaviour. Studying psychology develops both scientific rigour and genuine human insight, and the questions it raises about consciousness, motivation, development, and well-being are among the most compelling in academic life.
This four-year, full-time programme at the University of Derby is accredited by the British Psychological Society and includes a foundation year for those who need additional preparation before entering the main degree content. The foundation year is designed to build the academic foundations and study skills needed for degree-level psychology. The main programme includes a placement year and a year abroad, giving you significant opportunities to apply psychological knowledge in professional settings and to engage with the discipline in a different cultural and academic context.
The research conducted by Derby's academic staff spans the full range of psychological enquiry, from early development to mental health across the life course, and you will benefit from working with academics engaged in current research.
Psychology graduates with BPS-accredited degrees are eligible to apply for graduate basis for chartered membership, which is a key step toward professional psychology qualifications in clinical, educational, forensic, occupational, and health psychology. All of these professional routes require further postgraduate training after graduation. Beyond the psychological professions, graduates work in human resources, health promotion, social care, research, education, marketing, and public policy.
The placement year and year abroad add professional and international experience that significantly strengthens graduates' employability.