August 2024

Blog | What is the difference between a foundation year and a foundation degree?

By Sean Madden

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Read time: approx 6 mins

For prospective students unsure whether they are ready to commit to a full undergraduate course or who don't quite have the grades, University College Birmingham offers a wide variety of foundation degrees.

You may have heard of foundation years and foundation degrees and wondered what the difference between the two really is.

In this blog, we take a closer look at both to help you decide whether a foundation degree is the right choice for you.

What is a foundation degree?

A foundation degree is a great option if you don't quite meet the entry criteria to do a undergraduate degree straight away.

To be able to apply for a foundation degree, which combines academia with hands-on skills development, you usually need at least 32 UCAS Tariff points - undergraduate degrees often require you to have higher grades.

What is great about a foundation degree is that, unlike a foundation year, it isn't an entry route into higher education, it is an actual degree qualification. It is equivalent to the first two years of an undergraduate degree (Levels 4 and 5) and after this, you can ‘top up’ to a BA or BSc (Hons) degree (Level 6), with additional study of 1-2 years.

Ultimately, by studying for a foundation degree and then topping up, you can come out with a full honours degree anyway - it's just a different route. You don't have to 'top up' either. Many students use their foundation degree as a stand-alone qualification to improve their job prospects or make further progress in their career.

What is a foundation year?

By contrast, a foundation year is a one-year, Level 3-equivalent course designed to help students who have just missed the entry criteria for undergraduate study to gain the skills necessary to begin a degree.

The foundation year is not a qualification, but a route into a three-year undergraduate degree, which means that your degree would effectively take four years. Please note: University College Birmingham does not offer the foundation year.

It is also worth noting that, if you study a foundation year, you will be using up your student loan entitlement from Student Finance England, which would mean that you may not be able to apply for funding should you decide to study at postgraduate level.

Graduate Jen now runs a successful events business

Student case study: Jen Ellin

A foundation degree is often a career stepping stone for our students, helping to provide the flexibility of learning increasingly valued by students – especially if you are either thinking of a career change, or unsure whether you are ready to embark on a full degree.

University College Birmingham foundation degree graduate Jen Ellin was already running a successful business in Personal Assistance when she decided that the Events Management FdA would give her greater creative freedom and the tools to put her ideas into practice.

After completing her course, she rebranded her business as Jen’s Tailored Events before beginning the one-year top-up to turn her foundation degree into a Business Enterprise BA (Hons). With this, she was able to not only expand her own company, but pass on her experience to the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Read Jen's story

Shanice Hinds on her sports therapy foundation degree

Student case study: Shanice Hinds

The flexibility offered by the foundation degree was particularly useful for Sports Therapy FdSc graduate Shanice Hinds.

She began her course at University College Birmingham in 2018, but after being unable to give the course her full attention, completed her second year in 2022.

After this, she was able to top up her course to the full Sports Therapy BSc (Hons), and after gaining placement experience at Coventry City FC and Leamington Rugby Club, is now a physiotherapy and occupational therapy assistant in neurorehabilitation at a major NHS rehabilitation hospital.

Read Shanice's story

What foundation degrees do we offer?

An extensive range of foundation degrees is available at University College Birmingham, with curriculums developed to provide the academic and practical skills needed to advance your career or learning journey. You can choose from: