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Social Science Foundation Pathway leading to a BSc(Hons) Degree

2024-25 (also available for 2025-26)

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It’s not too late to apply for September.
It’s not too late to apply for September.

Start date

16 September 2024

Duration

1 year full-time (Year 0 of a 4 year degree)

Entry requirements

A Level - DDE

BTEC - MPP

See full entry requirements

Places available (subject to change)

50

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About the course

Reasons to study

  1. This provides a social science foundation pathway and you’ll have the opportunity to gain the skills, knowledge and support required to progress towards your chosen career.
  2. On successful completion of Year 0, of the Social Science and Psychology with Foundation Year BSc(Hons) you could apply to transfer to study Year 1 of a range of criminology, policing, psychology or sociology related courses.
  3. You’ll be taught by service users and carers, who are part of the Public Partnership Group (PPG), and staff who have expertise in developing your academic skills.

Are you looking for an exciting career in social science or psychology?

Through this pathway you’ll be studying Year 0 (Foundation Year) of the Social Science and Psychology with Foundation Year BSc(Hons) course (a 4 year course).

On successful completion of this year you could apply to transfer onto Year 1 of a range of social science or psychology courses. Alternatively, on successful completion of Social Science and Psychology with Foundation Year BSc(Hons) you’ll have the opportunity to progress to careers in the civil service, public services, and the charitable sector, as well as a range of other employment environments, including marketing or teaching.

Our Social Science Foundation Pathway leading to a BSc(Hons) degree provides the opportunity for you to start your university journey and be part of a vibrant and diverse student community. You’ll have the opportunity to gain the skills, knowledge and support required to progress towards your chosen social sciences career. In this year of study, you’ll complete five modules in the following:

  • Preparing for Study: Foundations for Academic Success
  • Preparing for Study: Research Project
  • Working with People
  • The Context of Health and Social Care
  • Introduction to Studying People and Society

Through this pathway you’ll be studying Year 0 of the Social Science and Psychology with Foundation Year BSc(Hons), however on successful completion of this year you could apply to transfer onto Year 1 of one of the following courses:

  • Criminology BSc(Hons)*
  • Criminology with Law BSc(Hons)*
  • Physical Education and Youth Sport Coaching BSc(Hons)*
  • Policing and Investigation BSc(Hons)*
  • Professional Policing BSc(Hons)*
  • Psychology BSc(Hons)*
  • Psychology with Counselling BSc(Hons)*
  • Psychology with Criminology BSc(Hons)*
  • Sociology BSc(Hons)*
  • Sociology and Criminology BSc(Hons)*
  • Sport and Exercise Science BSc(Hons)*
  • Sport, Exercise and Nutrition BSc(Hons)*

*Progression into Year 1 of the courses listed above is normally dependent on achieving an overall pass of 50 per cent. You must have Level 2 Maths or Numeracy or GCSE Maths at grade 4 or above, or grade C or above if awarded under the previous GCSE grading scheme to progress onto Psychology BSc(Hons), Psychology with Counselling BSc(Hons), Psychology with Criminology BSc(Hons). Please note that progression into Year 1 of Physical Education and Youth Sport Coaching BSc(Hons) is dependent on a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance.

Why study Social Science Foundation Pathway leading to a BSc(Hons) Degree

During this Social Science Foundation Pathway, you’ll have the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge, and receive the support required for academic success in higher education. This will help you gain the skills to work with people in a variety of settings, as well as foundation knowledge of studying people and society.

You'll be taught and supported throughout your degree by a supportive and experienced teaching team, who have worked in a range of social sciences roles. You’ll also be taught by service users and carers, who are part of the Public Partnership Group (PPG), and staff who have expertise in developing your academic skills.

Course detail

Introduction to Studying People and Society

This module will introduce you to key issues relating to the study of society, social structures and systems, and also people as individuals. You'll explore important and topical issues relating to the psychology of human behaviour, how our society is organised and constructed, and how people experience social life. This will include consideration of crime and criminal justice, social structures, inequalities and social difference. This module aims to help prepare you for further study in core areas such as criminal justice and policing, criminology, psychology and sociology.

Preparing for Study - Foundations for Academic Success

This module provides the opportunity for you to develop the academic skills required to progress in higher education and successfully complete your academic studies. This will include a variety of transferable skills as well as life-long learning skills. You’ll learn about essay writing, referencing, numerical representations of data required for university study, and the how to use Summon in searching for scholarly material. You'll also learn how to evaluate sources of information and be introduced to personal development planning (PDP).

Preparing for Study - Research Project

This module provides you the opportunity to apply the skills required in higher education study. This will include finding suitable sources, using the University's search engine summon, and presenting your studies in an academic format. You'll learn how to plan and undertake a project whilst developing skills in the effective engagement with academic literature. You'll also be encouraged to evaluate your own academic skills and participate in peer review and feedback processes.

The Context of Health and Social Care

In this module you'll explore the contexts of health and social care services for physical and mental health, and wellbeing. You'll consider what shapes provision, as well as what impacts on the variations in health and wellbeing outcomes for different groups in society. You'll also learn about key issues such as social and welfare policies, austerity, and social inequalities.

Working with People

This module will explore the importance of effective communication in public services, along with providing insights into the differing individual preferences and needs of patients, clients, service-users and carers. You'll also have the opportunity to develop the basic knowledge, understanding, values and skills to support communication and personalisation when working with people.

Entry requirements

DDEat A Level .

64 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications.

MPP in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma.

  • Pass (D or E grade on core) at T Level.
  • Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits, 15 at Merit, 30 at Pass.
  • 64 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications.
  • NCFE CACHE Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma/Level 3 Extended Diploma at grade D.

GCSE English Language or English Literature and Maths at grade 4 or above, or grade C or above if awarded under the previous GCSE grading scheme, or Ofqual regulated Level 2 Functional Skills in Maths and English.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with a minimum score of 6.0 in writing and no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements pages. If you have alternative qualifications or do not meet the IELTS requirement we also offer a range of Pre-Sessional English Programmes.

For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

Your career

On successful completion of Social Science and Psychology with Foundation Year BSc(Hons) you’ll have the opportunity to progress to careers in the civil service, public services, and the charitable sector, as well as a range of other employment environments, including marketing or teaching.

Alternatively, on successful completion of Year 0, you’ll have the opportunity to apply to undertake a degree in a range of social science disciplines to enable you to undertake a range of social science related roles in, for example, criminology, policing, psychology and sociology. 

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

A wide range of resources are also offered within the School of Human and Health Sciences, which provides you with support in a variety of areas. These include:

Student Hub: a one stop shop for students, studying within the School. Their services include offering advice on extenuating circumstances, extension requests, course progression, suspension and welfare support, organising appointments with academic staff and signposting to other support networks.

Academic Skills Development Team: support students to develop their academic skills and build their confidence in order to improve their grades. The team provide support with academic skills including essay writing, being critical, reflective writing, numeracy, research skills, presentations and group work skills; as well as personal development for example time management.

Learning Technology Support Unit: helps students with any problems they experience with the University’s Brightspace Learning System, including logging on or difficulties experienced when accessing and using modules.

Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

Changes to a course you have applied for

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

Cancellation of a course you have applied for

Although we always try and run all of the course we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants to ensure you have a good learning experience. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will contact you to discuss other suitable courses with us we can transfer your application to. If we notify you that the course you have applied to has been withdrawn or combined, and you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

We will always try to deliver your course and other services as described. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below:

Changes to option modules

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes

We will only make major changes to the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change in this context is a change that materially changes the services available to you; or the outcomes, or a significant part, of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), classes, type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum.

For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but this may not always be the case. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation with affected students. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

Termination of course

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed and we will notify you as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include transferring to a suitable replacement course for which you are qualified, being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered, or claiming an interim award and exiting the University. If you do not wish to take up any of the options that are made available to you, then you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the course without liability to the University for future tuition fees and you will be entitled to a refund of all course fees paid to date. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and disciplinary procedure, fees and finance and compliance with visa requirements (where relevant). It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to abide by them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to. You should read these carefully before you enrol. Please note that this information is subject to change and you are advised to check our website regularly for any changes before you enrol at the University. A person who is not party to this agreement shall not have any rights under or in connection with it. Only you and the University shall have any right to enforce or rely on the agreement.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.