3-Term Pathway - International Foundation Year in Life Sciences - Continue to Bachelor of Arts - Psychology and Spanish Studies

This program will prepare students to enter Year 1 of an undergraduate degree program at Lancaster University, which ranks 2nd in the UK for graduate prospects in biomedical sciences (The Guardian University Guide 2024).

Exploring a new culture overseas, studying psychology, and developing a working knowledge of Spanish language and culture will teach students to understand and help people, and prepare them for a rewarding career in the UK and abroad.

Through this programme, students will develop a detailed understanding of psychology, while gaining the skills and knowledge to engage with the discipline in preparation for a placement year overseas in a Spanish speaking country. During the four years, students will be able to draw on expertise from two specialist departments: Languages and Cultures; and Psychology. This degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society and provides the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership with the Society.

Students will learn and develop a solid grasp of Spanish language and culture, while studying the main themes of modern psychology:

• Brain and Behaviour: how neural disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease affect behaviour
• Cognitive Psychology: reactions to colours, smells, speech and music
• Developmental Psychology: the ways in which infants perceive space, patterns, objects and events
• Social Psychology: how thoughts, emotions and behaviours are shaped by the presence of others

Students will learn from passionate academics, all of whom are active researchers and world leaders in their field, which allows students to benefit from their insight, expertise and cutting-edge research.

In the first year, students will gain an in depth overview of the main study themes through our Understanding Psychology module. They will explore the theories underpinning these areas, learn to evaluate scientific journals, and develop the ability to construct formal arguments. Running parallel to this, students will also undertake the Investigating Psychology module, which will equip them with important practical skills for conducting research in psychology, such as data analysis and report writing. In addition, students will take language classes, determined by their current level of ability.

Structured Work Experience

Alongside their academic study, students will have the opportunity to gain voluntary work experience through the Psychology Employability Programme, allowing them to develop invaluable skills for either a career in psychology or a graduate programme. They can choose between working part-time in the community with charities and organisations that support vulnerable people, or working alongside staff in the Psychology Department on their ground-breaking research projects. Crucially, every placement will provide students with experience and skills that are valuable to both psychology careers and more general graduate level occupations, strengthening your CV and enhancing employability for life after graduation.

Voluntary work can be an enlightening and rewarding experience, enabling students to make a difference to the lives of others, while having the opportunity to try something new, which may lead students to change or confirm their career plans and is recommended by the BPS.

Beginners Languages

Studying a language from beginners level is somewhat intense in nature so Lancaster only allow students to study one language from beginners level. Please bear this in mind when looking at the first year module options. If students apply to study a degree with a language from beginners level, their optional modules will only include higher level languages and modules in other subject areas.