UCAS - Foundation degrees

Foundation degrees

Foundation degrees are designed and delivered in partnership with employers to equip people with the relevant knowledge and skills for business.

They are offered by universities in partnership with higher education colleges and further education colleges. The study methods can be very flexible, which means that they are available to people already in work, those wishing to embark on a career change and to those who have recently completed level 3 qualifications (eg A levels, Advanced Apprenticeships or NVQ3).

Search for foundation degrees

How long is a foundation degree?

A full-time course usually takes two years. Part-time courses may take longer, although this is not always the case.

What are the entry requirements?

Universities and colleges set their own entry requirements for each course. Formal qualifications are not always necessary as appropriate commercial and industrial experience can be more relevant. Check with the institution concerned as some courses may have specific requirements.

What options are available if I have a foundation degree?

Foundation degree graduates have a number of options. Employment may be your major focus after gaining your foundation degree. Many graduates choose to combine employment with further study and you will have the opportunity to progress to a full honours degree with around 12 months of further study (the time taken depends on how you choose to study). Alternatively, you may wish to progress to further professional qualifications.

Employer experience of foundation degrees

Tesco
Leadership and management is a particularly popular area for foundation degrees. One of the newest developments is a foundation degree tailored for the retail sector which has been piloted by Tesco, the UK's largest private sector employer.

David Potts, Retail and Logistics Director - Tesco, comments:

'Helping design the Fd to fit the needs of Tesco through student selection, course content and delivery model, students are telling us how it meets their individual needs.'

TUI
Thomson parent firm TUI is confident that its aim to retain more staff, develop the skills of its workforce and create the next generation of talented managers will be boosted by the launch of the Travel Operations Foundation degree. TUI has been actively involved in developing a foundation degree specifically for its employees.

Andy Smyth, Accredited Programmes Manager at TUI comments:

'The aim is for people coming into the industry to recognise it as a gateway to personal development, and for sector organisations to recognise the Fd's value as an industry standard.'

Student experience of foundation degrees

Foundation degree in Business Management
Jan Maiden left school at 16 with a few O levels, she did not have the opportunity to continue her studies at this point. Following a promotion to the post of Project Coordinator at Nowgen, Manchester - a centre of expertise in genetics in healthcare - she found that her work experience to date qualified her to do a foundation degree in Business Management. Jan comments:

'The foundation degree has affected my life in a number of ways. Financially, it has made a big difference, my salary has risen by over 20% in four years and I am now on a pay scale that offers the potential for a 40% rise in salary compared to where I was before I started the foundation degree.'

Foundation degree in Manufacturing Management
John McNeill, a 51-year old man from Scunthorpe, is a shining example of the expression, 'it's never too late to learn'. John always thought he had underachieved at school and went into adult life with a burning ambition to study for a degree. John works for Corus, Europe's second largest steel producer, who supported him in studying for a foundation degree in Manufacturing Management at Grimsby Institute. The programme Manager at Grimsby Institute comments:

'John is a brilliant example of who the foundation degrees are aimed at.'

Case study material provided by fdf (Foundation Degree Forward)

How to apply

I have found a course that I would like to study, what do I do now?

It is a good idea to contact the university or college you are interested in and ask for further information about the course and university/college to make sure it is right for you. Many universities and colleges have an online prospectus, or you can contact them and ask for their undergraduate or foundation degree prospectus.

The courses on the foundation degree course search section also have a course contact telephone number. This person will be able to provide you with specific information about each course and what it involves.

When you are sure you have found a course you are interested in, the next stage is making your application.

How to apply to a part-time course

You will need to apply direct to the university or college offering the foundation degree course. Each university or college will have their own method of entry, but it is likely that you will have to complete an application form.

How to apply to a full-time course

All full-time courses which are taken at a university or college in the UCAS scheme will need to be applied for through UCAS. You can check if the institution you want to go to is in the UCAS scheme by using the list of universities and colleges. If the course is not in the UCAS scheme, you should apply direct to the university or college offering the course.

You can complete a UCAS application using Apply on the website. The course information required to complete a UCAS application can be found on the Course Search and help is available throughout the process.