Hi there, I'm Luna.
I'm a bit like an AI, except instead of making pictures of people with 16 fingers, I can help you find the perfect course and uni.
Would you like some help in your search?
If you’re already in work, or you know precisely the career you’re aiming for, a foundation degree might be for you. They’re available for a wide range of professions including journalism, food science, nursing and travel & tourism.
What are foundation degrees?
The foundation degree generally takes two years to complete. It's the same level as the first two years of bachelor's level study, so it's worth 2/3 of a bachelor's degree. It can also be topped up with additional study to equate to a full undergraduate honours degree later. If this is the path you want to take, you'll have to apply for 'top-up' courses. These courses typically take a year to complete and you can apply at any point after you gain your foundation degree.
What do you need to get onto a foundation degree?
Entry requirements are flexible, and vary depending on the place of study – you can apply if you’re already in work, are planning a career change, or have just finished your A-levels. Because it's a slightly lower level course than a bachelor's degree, the entry requirements for foundation degrees are often lower than the entry requirements for a bachelor's degree, although this depends on the subject and universities you're interested in.
What's it like to study a foundation degree?
As well as learning about their particular subject, students develop key transferable skills such as communication, team working and problem solving. Courses are generally more flexible than other higher qualifications, incorporating work experience in order to make sure that you have all the knowledge and key skills required for your chosen career. These degrees are designed to make sure you graduate after two years with all the skills you'll need for your chosen career.
What qualification do you graduate with?
The exact degree you will graduate with depends on the subject you study. Some of the options are:
- FdA if you study an arts subject
- FdSc if you study a sciences subject
- FdEng if you study engineering
- FdEd if you study education
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If you think a foundation degree might be the right route for you, you can browse your options, or search for specific courses, using our foundation degree search.
If you're not sure if you want to study a foundation degree, learn more about the different types of undergraduate degree.
