Choices

Hi, I have applied to both the University of Kent and University of Surrey for a BSc in Psychology with a foundation year. I was wondering which of the two you’d consider to be the better option? I also happen to be an Autistic 22 year old student. I have always excelled academically and want to study again after a break!

(edited 2 months ago)

Reply 1

University of Kent

Official Rep

Original post by Cristinapuigb

Hi there

A foundation year is a great way to get back into studying after a break. :smile:

I am a final year law student at Kent, and my experience here has been really positive. :biggrin:

Foundation years are a really good chance for students to improve their academic skills. For example: it will help you get used to how to study, organise your time, arrange independent work. It is also really good in terms of developing specific writing skills for your coursework or exams. Equipping you with the skills that are essential for 1st year and onwards, it can really help to improve your University experience.

There is a lot of support available at Kent, whether academically or other things such as wellbeing and other needs. :smile:

I have made use of both these and found them really helpful. Academic wise: there is the Skills Hub which supports students with essay writing and gives support and advice on researching, referencing which are really essential for achieving high grades. There is also careers support at Kent, where you can get good CV advice and career guidance in general. I find that lecturers and seminar leaders are really approachable and friendly, and I am also comfortable to ask questions during or after lessons.

I hope this provides an insight on studying at Kent.
If you have any others questions, I will be happy to answer them. :smile:

Chloe
University of Kent Student Rep

University of Kent

Canterbury

Visit website

Reply 2

University of Surrey Student Rep

Official Rep

Hi @Cristinapuigb

Glad to hear you have applied to Surrey!

As mentioned by others, doing a foundation is a fantastic way to get a feel of studying at university while also developing the skills necessary for your course. It also gives you a chance to experience university life without as much pressure as in later years.

At Surrey, we have a wide range of support available especially to students with a disability. I am registered with the Disability and Neurodiversity team (D&N) at the University so I can speak from experience. Have you applied for the Disability Student Allowance (DSA)? DSA is a fantastic support package to support you throughout university. For instance, it can fund equipment including equipment to record lectures, a laptop, a printer and much more. You can also receive funding to provide you with a Study Skills and Specialist Mentor who can provide support for your needs throughout your time at university.

The D&N at the university also organise a weekly workshop for those who are registered with them which can be an excellent way to meet new people who share similar struggles and an excellent way to make new friends. We have an excellent range of support outside of the D&N team. We have a platform called SurreyPathfinder which allows you to connect with up to 2300 partnered employers across the UK and globally. We offer all students the option to complete a placement as part of their degree which can be a fantastic way to gain work experience but also have a better understanding of what you want to go for in terms of a career after graduation. With our award-winning careers team, you can book 1-1 sessions to work on your CV, Cover Letter, Linkedin to Mock interviews and much more so you shouldn’t have to worry about finding a job at all! Over 95% of our students are either in further education or work after graduation and you can access our support for up to 3 years after graduation.

Seminar leaders and lecturers are all supportive and flexible with their lessons. You are always welcome to contact them for further support during their office hours if you are struggling with the course material or with any coursework. We have excellent facilities for you to study and work on campus including our library, The Hive, The Nest and much more. We are located within a 10-minute walk from the Guildford Train Station and a 30-40 minute train journey from London.

It’s worth visiting on an offer holder day or open day to find out more about your course and campus. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Wishing you all the best,
Daniel
BSc Accounting and Finance
University of Surrey

Reply 3

University of Kent

Official Rep

Original post by Cristinapuigb

Hi @Cristinapuigb ,

I am a final year Psychology undergraduate student at Kent.

Just adding on to what my friend Chloe said above, doing a foundation year to get back into studying sounds great.

It is great to see you are passionate and motivated too as this definitely helps when doing the degree (sometimes you wont feel as motivated which is completely okay and expected).

Have you been to one of our applicant days before? This are great way to get an insight into what studying Psychology is like and may greatly inform your choice. More information can be found here: https://www.kent.ac.uk/applicants/applicant-days

Course wise - I really enjoy the content but like with any course there will be some parts you like/dislike so perhaps check out and compare the modules between universities to see if you are more in favour of one course over the other.

Staff wise - Whilst I cannot speak for Surrey I can say the staff at Kent are very friendly and approachable. We are encouraged to engage with them to get the most out of our experience. The school regularly takes on board student feedback e.g. a while ago people did not like the fact that in second year there was not much contact with lecturers and they wanted more. So, the school decided lecturers would lead seminars and students responded well to this. You can see how student feedback has improved things and how they actually listen to us here: https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/psychology/2023/01/25/we-are-listening/

Finally, I would say remember to pick what is best for you, not your family or friends as this is your decision. We are simply students who can tell you about what we have to offer but at the end of the day the decision is yours.

I hope this helps and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask them! 🙂

Alia
University of Kent Student Rep

Reply 4

SilverPebble

Original post by Cristinapuigb

I'm not sure how reliable the course at Kent will be given the recent news that they're closing several departments, including Anthropology - might be worth trying to find out if Psychology there will continue for as long as your degree lasts.