Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences>Courses>Foundation leading to BA/BSc Social Sciences

Foundation leading to BA/BSc Social Sciences

Entry Year

Our foundation year in social sciences is an extra year of study at the start of your university degree. After successful completion of your foundation year, you can access the first year of a wide range of degrees from Cardiff School of Sport & Health Sciences and Cardiff School of Education & Social Policy.

The foundation year is intended to prepare you for your following years of studying, offering you the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence.

We welcome you to study a foundation year if you’re from a variety of different backgrounds and experiences, including:

  • If you’re unsure which subject you’d like to specialise in
  • If you don’t have the right combination of subjects for direct entry into Year 1
  • If you don’t meet the expected requirements for direct entry into Year 1
  • If you’re returning to education after some time away​

Course Content

Our foundation year enables you to progress onto the following degrees being delivered within Cardiff School of Sport & Health Sciences and Cardiff School of Education & Social Policy.

HND/BSc (Hons) Health & Social Care
BSc (Hons) Education, Psychology and Special Education Needs
BSc (Hons) Environmental Health
BSc (Hons) Psychology
BSc (Hons) Health & Wellbeing (not running for 2024/25 entry)
BA (Hons) Professional Policing
BA (Hons) Youth & Community Work
BSc (Hons) Criminology
BSc (Hons) Sociology & Social Policy
BSc (Hons) Psychology and Criminology

Regardless of your above chosen degree, you will study the same modules throughout your foundation year before specialising in a specific area.

The course is modular in structure and includes core modules in:

  • Academic Skills
  • Psychosocial Determinants of Health
  • Psychology
  • Research and Numeracy
  • The Person and Society
  • Introduction to Critical Analysis & Reflection

Throughout the foundation year, you will be supported by an assigned personal tutor as well as the module teaching team.

Learning & Teaching

A variety of teaching strategies will be employed to reflect the requirements of the particular topic, the variety of student learning styles, the existence of professional experience within the group and the level and type of study required over the programme.

Approaches include lectures, small group work, practical sessions, use of the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), workshops, tutorials and independent learning.

This is a full-time programme and you are expected to engage through regular attendance at teaching/learning sessions and complete and assigned tasks on time. On average there are 10 hours of taught content a week. Additionally, you are expected to engage in 10 – 15 hours of self-study/independent learning each week as this will facilitate the development of their skills, knowledge and understanding as well as enable them to complete their assessments.

Student learning is supported by a personal tutor system which provides students with both academic and pastoral support.

The teaching team are all actively involved in teaching on the various pathways offered by this programme and are able to provide support and advice to students with regards the opportunities available for undergraduate study.

Assessment

Each module that undertaken is assessed in order to demonstrate, and provide evidence for, student’s academic achievement. The aim of the assessments is to ensure students have developed the skills needed for undergraduate study.

Assessments strategies include:
Examinations - These can consist of academic essays, multiple choice questions and short answer questions.

Coursework - This may include academic essays, research reports, class tests, presentations, posters, case studies, reflective assignments and portfolios.

Specific assessments for each module will be outlined in module handbooks and further supported during teaching/learning sessions.

At the beginning of the year, you will be given their assessment timetable. This will provide details as to the nature and format of the assessment along with the submission dates. More detailed information about each assessment, including marking criteria, will be available in the relevant module page on Moodle.

Assessments will be initially introduced and explained during the relevant lecture. Assessment support will be provided by the module leader with additional support available in the group tutorials.

Feedback on coursework assessments will be provided electronically with further feedback provided during taught sessions and in personal tutor meetings.

Employability, Careers & Progression to Further Study

Our foundation year enables you to progress onto the degrees listed within the ‘Course Content’ section of this webpage.

For specific information on employability and careers linked to these degrees, please refer to the individual course pages.

Entry Requirements & How to Apply

Applicants should normally have five GCSEs including English Language (or Welsh First Language) and Mathematics* at grade C or above / grade 4 or above (for applicants holding newly reformed GCSEs in England) plus one of the following:

  • 48 points from at least two A level qualifications or their equivalent at an appropriate standard for entry into Higher Education at Level 4, but in subject areas which fail to meet the entry requirements for their intended undergraduate degree programme.
  • 48 points from at least two A level qualifications or their equivalent in subject areas relevant for their intended undergraduate degree programme, but at a standard which fails to meet the entry requirements to Higher Education at Level 4.

*For Welsh applicants sitting the reformed Mathematics GCSE, we will accept either GCSE Mathematics or Mathematics – Numeracy.

Prospective students who do not meet the above criteria will be considered on an individual basis and may be called for interview.

For specific information on entry requirements or if your qualification isn’t listed, please either contact Admissions or refer to the UCAS Course Search. Further information on our entry requirements, including qualifications from the EU can be found by clicking here.

Selection Procedure:
Selection is usually on the basis of a completed UCAS application and where relevant an interview.

International Applicants
Students whose first language is not English will need to provide evidence of fluency to at least an IELTS 6.0 standard or equivalent. For full details about how to apply and English Language qualifications please visit the International pages on the website.

How to Apply: Full-time applications for this course should be made online to UCAS at www.ucas.com. For further information please visit our How to Apply pages at www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/howtoapply.

Mature students

A mature applicant is anyone over the age of 21 who didn’t go to university after school or college. Cardiff Met welcomes applications from mature applicants and further advice and information can be found here.

Contact Us

For Admissions enquiries please contact the Admissions Team on 029 2041 6044 or email askadmissions@cardiffmet.ac.uk

For course specific enquiries, relating to the foundation year only, please contact the programme leader, Sarah Taylor:

We endeavour to deliver courses as described and will not normally make changes to courses, such as course title, content, delivery, and teaching provision. However, it may be necessary for the university to make changes in the course provision before or after enrolment. It reserves the right to make variations to content or delivery methods, including discontinuation or merging courses if such action is considered necessary. Please read our Terms and Conditions for the full information.

Key Course Information

​​​​​​UCAS Codes: Each degree has its own foundation year UCAS code. Follow the links to the degree course you want to study listed under ‘Course Content’ for the relevant UCAS code and apply on the UCAS website.

HND/BSc (Hons) Health & Social Care
BSc (Hons) Education, Psychology and Special Education Needs
BSc (Hons) Environmental Health
BSc (Hons) Psychology
BA (Hons) Professional Policing
BA (Hons) Youth & Community Work
BSc (Hons) Criminology
BSc (Hons) Sociology & Social Policy
BSc (Hons) Psychology and Criminology

The course may also be considered for entry to other courses within the University. This can be agreed in advance with the relevant programme directors of those courses.

Place of Study: Llandaff Campus

School: Cardiff School of Sport & Health Sciences

Course Length: One year full-time, with an additional three or four (sandwich) years of full-time study required to complete you chosen degree.​

STUDENT & GRADUATE EXPERIENCE

“I had been out of education for nearly 5 years so my essay writing was a bit rusty. The foundation course was helpful, I hadn’t written an essay for a long time, especially at a university level. It really did give me an insight in how work is expected to be presented, formatted and referenced. And I loved how helpful and supportive the lecturers were. I would recommend the foundation course to anyone.”

Romey Williamson
Foundation leading to BA/BSc Social Sciences & Education, Psychology & Special Educational Needs – BSc (Hons)

“The foundation course has put me in a good stead to start my full university experience. The course covered many learning aspects outside of my chosen pathway that would enhance my university experience, these were from academic skills, where essay writing, effective note taking, and lecture engagement were discussed to develop those skills for university. Going onto the bulk of the course tailored towards my pathway, giving a base knowledge so that the transition into university went as smoothly as I could. The course further widened my understanding of psychology, opened my eyes top the many perspectives within psychology and how there are a lot of research elements that I will have to engage in. All in all, the course provided me with a solid base layer of information as a jumping off point to enrich my experience in the degree programme.”

David Barraclough
Foundation leading to Social Sciences & Psychology - BSc (Hons)