Psychology BSc

with Integrated Foundation Year

Start date
September 2023
Duration
4 years
Campus
Dubai
Course Type
Undergraduate, Foundation, Single Honours
Fees

September 2024 entry:

The foundation year fee of your programme is AED 114,602. Following successful completion of your foundation year the annual tuition fee is AED 126,309 per year of study which can be paid in instalments.

Scholarships available for all students up to 40%

Our Foundation Pathways combine the highest standards as one of Britain's leading global universities with a fully integrated student experience.

BSc Psychology is accredited by the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education
Choosing to study on the Integrated Foundation year provides an opportunity to enter the university environment before starting Year 1 of your Psychology undergraduate degree programme.

As a Foundation year student, you will be fully immersed in student life and you will be a greatly valued member of the student community, studying alongside our undergraduate and postgraduate students.

We offer a Psychology curriculum that covers the breadth of contemporary psychological theory and practice, from child development to psychopharmacology, from social psychology to human neuroscience. 

Psychology is often defined as the study of behaviour, brain and mind, but this simple explanation doesn't truly capture the tremendous variety of things that you will actually encounter when studying psychology.

The University of Birmingham is home to one of the largest and most active psychology schools in the UK. Ranking among the top 100 in the world for Psychology (QS World Rankings, 2023), we are renowned for the cutting-edge research that improves people's lives on a personal, social, and political level, as well as the knowledge and skills we instill in our graduates.

The topics that you will study range from apparently simple acts like learning, to much more complex skills like language and social interaction. These behaviours are studied at different levels by considering their social context, development, biological basis, and what happens when they go wrong. In this way, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of normal and abnormal human behaviour.

Our four-year undergraduate programme includes an integrated foundation year, which you may need to take depending on your previous studies.

Foundation Year

As part of your Foundation Year, you will study the core areas of psychology e.g. cognitive psychology, social psychology etc., as well as biology, maths for life sciences, and academic English and study skills.

These modules have been designed to provide you with a solid foundation in relevant subjects while supporting your English language and study skills, preparing you to move on to the next stage of your chosen degree programme. We will ensure you are fully prepared for your undergraduate programme, immersing you in the University environment.

Because the study of psychology encompasses a biological level of understanding, as well as statistical research methods, a fundamental grounding in biology and maths is the ideal preparation for Years 1-3.

Years 1 – 3

Our Psychology degree is structured so that you follow a common programme in all of the areas that make up the core of contemporary psychology. In addition, in the third year you are offered a range of specialist modules which will allow you to focus on the forefront of the discipline in some selected areas.

First and second years

In your first two years you will study the core theories and methods of psychology, covering child development, learning, cognitive psychology, perception, personality, social psychology, and brain and behaviour. You will also learn how to design experiments and collect and analyse data. 

Third year

Year 3 is designed to allow in-depth coverage of a more limited range of topics. You will also engage in the research process in a more extensive and in-depth manner, which may include an independent Research Project.

Meet our staff

See their profiles

What attracted me the most was that when I looked at the modules, there were many different areas of psychology offered. This has exposed me to new things and indirectly helps me to choose an area in which to specialise in the future.

Ku Nurul Izzah Ku Seman, BSc Psychology

Why study this course?

  • University of Birmingham is ranked in the top 100 for Psychology (QS World University 2023 rankings by subject) and 23rd in the UK of 118 universities (Complete University Guide 2024)
  • The world-leading research we do feeds directly into our undergraduate programmes, which means you will be learning from academics who are experts in their fields.
  • The University of Birmingham is the first of the UK’s prestigious Russell Group universities to open a campus in Dubai
  • The University of Birmingham Dubai is accredited by the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education and approved by KHDA (Knowledge and Human Development Authority)

Modules

Foundation Year

  • Introduction to Biology and Mathematics for Psychology
  • Introduction to Psychology 1 
  • Introduction to Psychology 2
  • History, Culture, Society and Economy in the UAE

Like all UAE Ministry of Education Higher Education Institutions, we run the below listed compulsory modules. These modules are designed to support talented graduates in the region, with the skills to aid and further employability. 

  • Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Sustainability (EIS)
  • Arabic Language 1

Please note these modules must be completed and passed, in addition to your core programme modules, during the course of your degree. 

Find out more about EIS and Arabic modules

Year One

Year Two

Final Year

  • Research Project
  • Contemporary Issues in Social Psychology: Media, Body Image, and Prejudice
  • Crime and Antisocial Behaviour: Theory, Research and Practice
  • Brain health across the lifespan

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. Unless indicated otherwise, the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2019. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to compulsory modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

Fees

September 2024

The foundation year fee of your programme is AED 114,602. Following successful completion of your foundation year the annual tuition fee is AED 126,309 per year of study which can be paid in instalments.

 

Scholarships

We have a number of scholarships available. Find out more.

How To Apply

To find out more information about our application process please visit our 'How to apply page' before starting your application.

Apply now

 

International Requirements




Foundation Pathway entry requirements

Undergraduate English language requirements

International Students

Depending on your chosen course of study, you may also be interested in one of our foundation pathways, which offer specially structured programmes for international students whose qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to UK universities. Further details can be found on Birmingham International Academy web pages.

In 2017, we received a Gold rating by the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), demonstrating our commitment to providing our students with outstanding teaching. The University of Birmingham is proud to count 11 Nobel Prize winners among our staff and alumni, including three prizes awarded in 2016.

We use a range of teaching methods to help you become an independent and self-motivated learner. You will have access to a comprehensive academic support system that will assist and encourage you, including a welfare tutor who can provide guidance on all academic and non-academic needs.

Your learning will take place in a range of settings, from scheduled teaching in seminars, lectures and small group tutorials, to peer group learning where you may be asked to prepare and deliver a presentation with your classmates.

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Psychology is a broad discipline and you will develop a range of transferable analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills. Our graduates are very successfully working in a range of sectors both in the UK and overseas. They are highly regarded and successful in finding careers both within psychology/neuroscience and in the wider professional, commercial and industrial world.

Your Birmingham degree is evidence of your ability to succeed in a demanding academic environment. Global employers target Birmingham students for their drive, diversity, communication and problem-solving skills, their team-working abilities and cultural awareness, and our graduate employment statistics have climbed at a rate well above national trends.

What do Psychology graduates do?

As a Psychology graduate you may enter a career in which your knowledge of psychology is a useful foundation, including but not limited to: business management, journalism, human resource management, teaching, marketing and market research, social work or government. You may wish to pursue a career in a psychology profession such as clinical, forensic or educational psychology. Many graduates go on to further study (Masters and PhD) either at Birmingham or at other universities across the globe.

96.8% of our graduates are in employment or further study within six months of graduating - 2016/17 Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey.

  

“The course provided a wide range of research and analytical skills that I was able to apply to a range of professional jobs”

Gagandeep - BSc Psychology