What is a Foundation Degree?

For those looking for a degree that will give them a taste of university life and will ease them into a degree, then a Foundation degree is exactly the qualification for you to look at.

What is a Foundation Degree?

A Foundation Degree is a combined degree, twinning both academic and vocational qualifications together. The Foundation Degree is offered by England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Many Scottish universities did not offer a Foundation Degree for a while, although more and more universities have begun to adopt the degree as part of their courses. A Foundation Degree can only be offered by universities and colleges that have Foundation Degree awarding powers, which not every university or college has.

Some universities or colleges work in conjunction with other companies to provide their Foundation Degree, such as Manchester Metropolitan University, which (in conjunction with the fast-food chain McDonald's) offers a McDonald's Foundation degree for students.

What is a Foundation Degree equivalent to?

The degree itself is equivalent to two-thirds of an honours bachelor’s degree. Since it is a Level 4 and 5 vocational qualification, it allows a student to go straight into a role of their choosing, with any Foundation Degrees offering work placements on the course as well.

Many people select a foundation degree that is closely related to the career they want to pursue.

What is a Foundation Degree worth?

A Foundation Degree is worth around 240 credits, made up of 120 credits at Level 4 and a further 120 credits at Level 5. If you only do a one year course, then the course is the equivalent to 120 credits only, not the full 240.

What level is a Foundation Degree equivalent to?

As stated above, a Foundation Degree is a Level 4 and a Level 5 degree. Foundation degrees can take between one years or two years to complete as the length depends on the course itself and on the university or college offering it. For those studying a one year course, it is a Level 4, for those doing a two-year course it is a Level 4 and 5.

A Foundation Degree is at the same level as a HND or a HNC, however, the courses are very different.

What can I do with a Foundation degree?

A foundation degree is an excellent way to begin work for an undergraduate degree. A foundation degree is often studied beforehand and will arm you with a lot of knowledge before you start your university journey.

Sometimes employers prefer their employees to have a foundation degree before they can entrust them with more responsibilities. Upskilling of staff often includes giving workers more chances to further their education, rather like a vocational course or a placement year can.

How much does a Foundation Degree cost?

A Foundation Degree costs considerably less than a normal undergraduate degree. Obviously, the cost can change if you’re doing a degree with a foundation year and can also have different costs if this is run in conjunction with a different degree as well.

However, the overall cost of a Foundation Degree is around £2,600-per-year, although this figure may increase or decrease, depending on where you are applying and what subject you're studying in.

What is the Foundation Degree in Early Years?

A Foundation Degree in Early Years has been offered since 2002. The degree focuses on preparing students for working with young people, specifically, people between the ages of 0 and 7.

A Foundation Degree in Early Years covers a lot of different ground, but it also prepares students for different things over the years as well.

Candidates can study the course full or part-time.

The course prepares students for work

Develops leadership and confidence levels Gives students a chance to practice their skills and develop them further while also learning more about the industry and other things they need to learn.

The childcare system in the UK is getting more and more competitive in terms of allowing students to work in the industry, so a Foundation Degree in Early Years will set you apart from the rest and will help you a lot when it comes to application.

The UCAS Tariff Points for a Foundation Degree are all dependent on how you do in the specific modules of each course.

The Foundation Degree is graded in the same way a normal A-Level would be, which is as follows:

• A * = 56 points
• A = 48 points
• B = 40 points
• C = 32 points
• D = 24 points
• E = 16 points

Can I do an online Foundation degree?

Foundation Degrees can be studied online, but only through select universities. Most universities prefer it if you study a Foundation Degree in-person. It also becomes very difficult for you to receive the full benefit of the work training if you are doing the course online.

What are the Foundation Degree entry requirements?

There are no real black and white entry requirements to study a Foundation Degree, it very much depends on the university itself and what their specific Foundation Degrees entry requirements are.

You will need formal qualifications prior to applying, but while some will require you to have A-Levels, others will only ask for GCSEs, it's best to check prior to applying.

A Foundation Degree is at the same level as a HND or a HNC, however, the courses are very different.

What can I do after a Foundation Degree?

Upon completing a Foundation Degree, you will have the opportunity to choose a number of different routes to decide what you want to do next.

This, perhaps, is what makes the Foundation Degree such an interesting qualification and such a great one to have under your belt as it allows you to explore so many different choices both professionally and educationally.

Many people decide to move and put their Foundation Degree to the test in the working world and begin to look for potential employment, which is a great way to start immediately.

Other people will take their Foundation Degree and will look at studying at another university, where they can now study an Honours degree. Whether you have a Foundation Degree in Education, a Foundation Degree in Nursing, Foundation Medicine Degree or a Foundation Degree in Teaching, it will be enough to get you onto a similar Honours degree.

How long does it take to complete a Foundation Degree?

Candidates can study the course full or part-time. If studied full-time, it would take 2 years to complete, and longer if studied part-time.

What subjects can I study in a Foundation Degree?

Many people select a foundation degree that is closely related to the career they want to pursue. In this instance, we recommend looking at the the entry requirements for that career before selecting the foundation degree you want to study.

• Business courses
• Computing courses
• Design courses
• Education courses
• Engineering courses
• Environment courses
• Social Care courses
• Languages
• Law courses
• Media courses
• Maths courses
• Psychology courses
• Science courses
• Social Sciences courses

Students can then continue their studies to complete an honours degree in a similar subject.

A Foundation Degree is a combined degree, twinning both academic and vocational qualifications together.

How are you assessed?

Students will be assessed through a range of channels, either written work, projects, assignments, group work, presentations and practical elements depending on the subject itself.

This qualification is equivalent to two-thirds of a Bachelor’s degree, and a Higher National Diploma (HND) as well as a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE). An HND is more vocational and practical-based whereas a DipHE features more academic studying.