Everything you need to know...
International/EU: £14,415 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
Course summary
- Prepare for the degree with an extra foundation year at the start.
- Progress to a degree that is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)
- Develop your knowledge and scientific understanding of the core areas of psychology.
- Gain experience in real-life settings through work placements, or applied modules.
Fascinated by human behaviour, curious about thoughts and intrigued by feelings? This is the course for you. It examines what drives us, from brain physiology to learning, genes, environment, social groups, and individual differences in personality and motivation.
If you don’t meet the entry requirements for our BSc (Hons) Psychology course, or if you’re not yet ready for degree-level study, we recommend taking the foundation course to get you up to speed before starting a degree. You’ll share the foundation year with other Psychology, Sociology, Politics, Applied Social Science, Law, Criminology and Policing foundation students, before moving on to your degree.

Come to an open day
Find out more at our undergraduate open days. Book now for your place.
How you learn
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
This foundation year is an entry route if you do not meet the entry requirements for our BSc (Hons) Psychology course, if you are not yet ready for degree-level study, or if you are returning to study and would like to spend time getting up to speed with the demands of learning before embarking on a degree.
You will share the foundation year with other Psychology, Sociology, Politics, Applied Social Science, Law, Criminology and Policing foundation students, before moving on to your degree.You are taught by academics with specialist knowledge and expertise in a range of areas including social psychology, forensic psychology, developmental psychology, health and work psychology.
You learn through
- lectures and seminars
- workshops
- laboratory classes
- individual tutorials
- work placements
There are also opportunities to study abroad at one of our partner universities with the possibility of funding through the Erasmus+ programme (until 2023) or the Turing Scheme.
You can study abroad for one semester in your third year at one of our partner universities. Examples of our current partner institutions include Georgia Southern University in the US, Trent University and Carleton University in Canada, Queensland University of Technology, LaTrobe University and Deakin University in Australia, University of Jyvaskyla in Finland, Tallinn University in Estonia, the University of Warsaw in Poland, and Aahus University in Denmark.
You will be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled, graduate level employment through a number of key areas. These include
- access to our unique student support triangle to help with your personal, academic and career development
- access to our Skills Centre with one to ones, webinars and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments
- industry-specific employability activities such as live projects, learning in simulated environments and networking opportunities
Course leaders and tutors

David Reynolds
Senior Lecturer In Cognitive PsychologyI am a Senior Lecturer in Psychology where I teach the following areas: Cognitive Psychology, Biological Psychology and Research Methods and Statistics

Dr Katie Hanson
Senior LecturerStaff profile for Dr Katie Hanson, Senior Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University
Applied learning
Following completion of the foundation year, and in progressing onto the BSc (Hons) Psychology degree, you will have a range of opportunities available to you to apply your learning.
Work placements
You will have the opportunity to arrange a work-placement in your third year of the course. Examples of settings include schools, mental health organisations, police and other legal services.
Organisations currently offering placements include St Anne's Mental Health Service, The Hesley Group autism care provider, Sheffield Children's Hospital (NHS), Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Drug and alcohol service (RDASH), Sheffield MENCAP, City Hearts human trafficking support service and Cavendish Cancer Care.
You’ll also have the opportunity to take a work placement abroad – currently in Germany and South Africa.
Networking opportunities
You attend lectures from visiting guests such as clinical psychologists, police officers, prison officers, forensic psychologists, health psychologists and speech and language therapists.
We also hold recruitment presentations from psychology-specific employers. Recent guests have included the Cambian Group, Civil Service, Good Days Project and Hesley Group.
Future careers
This course prepares you to complete professional training in
- clinical psychology
- educational psychology
- occupational psychology
- health psychology
- forensic psychology
- counselling psychology
It also prepares you for a career in
- Teaching
- local government
- civil service
- industry and commerce
- education
- careers and counselling
- legal and advice work
- social work
- social research
- personnel and human resources
- marketing
- management
Where will I study?
You study at Collegiate Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
Collegiate campus
Collegiate Campus can be found just off Ecclesall Road, a bustling student district.
Collegiate Campus map | Campus facilities | Keeping safe on Campus

Collegiate library
Collegiate Library can be found just off Ecclesall Road. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
On this course you work with
- an observation suite
- an eye-tracking laboratory
- a BioPac laboratory
- a low-level vision laboratory
- a food laboratory
- electroencephalography (EEG) equipment
We’ve invested over £100m in new facilities, to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries and study spaces designed by our students.
Entry requirements
All students
48 UCAS points, including 24 points from one A level or equivalent, or an alternative qualification such as an Access course.
If English is not your first language you need an IELTS score of 6.0 or above, with a minimum score of 5.5 in each skill.
Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page. You can also watch a video guide on how to apply.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
Module | Credits |
---|---|
Module: Introduction To The Psychological, Political, Legal, Criminal Justice And Sociological Sciences | Credits: 60 |
Module: The Practice Of Psychology | Credits: 60 |
Year 2
Module | Credits |
---|---|
Module: Academic Development And Personal Tuition | Credits: 20 |
Module: Cognitive Processes And Psychobiology | Credits: 20 |
Module: Developmental And Social Psychology | Credits: 20 |
Module: Psychological Research And Design | Credits: 20 |
Module: Psychological Well-Being And Individual Differences | Credits: 20 |
Module: Psychology Practicals And Statistics | Credits: 20 |
Module: Research Participation | Credits: - |
Year 3
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Applications Of Psychology | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Processes In Psychology | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Exam |
Module: Research Methods Training | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Exam |
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Animal Psychology | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Applied Child Psychology | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Applying Psychology | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Disorders Of Language And Reading | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Holistic Perception | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Holistic Wellbeing | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Introduction To Counselling And Psychotherapy | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Psychology In Everyday Life | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Exam |
Module: Psychology Of Art, Communication And Well-Being | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Exam Practical |
Module: Psychology Of Sport And Performance | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Practical |
Module: Witnesses And Victims: Forensic Psychology In Practice | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Exam |
Module: Work Placement (Psychology) | Credits: 60 |
Assessment:
Coursework Practical |
Year 4
Module | Credits |
---|---|
Module: Placement Year | Credits: - |
Final year
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Psychology Research Project And Personal Tuition | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework Practical |
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Addictive Behaviours | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Exam |
Module: Atypical Child Development | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Clinical Psychology | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Counselling And Psychotherapy (Theoretical Perspectives) | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Death, Dying And Bereavement | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Eating Behaviours | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Evolutionary Psychology | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Forensic Psychology | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Health Psychology | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Healthy And Clinical Ageing | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Language And Speech | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Language Learning | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Neuropsychology | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Organisations Work And Psychology | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Exam |
Module: Parapsychology: Sceptics And Believers | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Perspectives On Gender | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Psychology In Critical Historical Context | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Sleep And Circadian Rhythms | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Social And Affective Neuroscience (San) | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework Practical |
Module: The Psychology Of Education | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: The Psychology Of Peace And Conflict | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: The Psychology Of Racism | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: The Psychology Of Sexuality And Gender | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Weapons Of Influence | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2022/23 is £9,250 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
† If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2022/23 is £14,415 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.

Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
Additional costs for Psychology courses (PDF, 220.3KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.

Come to an open day
Find out more at our undergraduate open days. Book now for your place.