Is a Foundation Degree the right choice for me?

Foundation Degrees are vocational qualifications, designed and delivered in partnership with employers. They combine academic study with work-based learning and experience. They are designed to equally suit both school leavers looking to kick-start their career and those already in work, looking to take a step forward on their career path or to boost their chances of promotion. Employers know that Foundation graduates will have studied with a work-based focus and will be able to competently apply their newly-learned skills in a variety of work environments. This means they are highly sought after by employers. If this is an asset you want, then a Foundation Degree is for you.

What is a Foundation Degree worth?

Academically speaking, Foundation Degrees are roughly equivalent to the first two years of a three-year Honours degree. In fact, the new QCA National Qualifications Framework puts Foundation Degrees at level 5, an ‘intermediate Higher Education qualification’. Honours degrees are level 6.

However, Foundation Degrees are free-standing vocational qualifications that are well-recognised by employers, giving graduates greatly improved employability and opportunities for developing their career.

Can I stay in work whilst I study?

Most Foundation Degree courses can be studied either full-time (usually over a period of two years) or part-time (typically three years), although the details of these study modes vary between providers. Foundation degrees have been designed with the workplace in mind and can be flexible, so it is often possible for students to study part-time whilst remaining in their job. It is even possible to study online through distance learning on many courses, allowing study time to be managed in an extremely flexible way. Around half of Foundation Degree students choose to study part-time.

What are the costs of studying a Foundation Degree? Can I still get a student loan?

The fees for both part-time and full-time Foundation Degree courses are set by the institution providing them. From 2006/7, the fees for a full-time Foundation Degree may be set from zero to £3,000 per year – you will need to check costs with providers. They are usually set at comparable rates with those of a traditional undergraduate degree – in fact, the costs are often lower. Foundation Degree students are entitled to the same financial support as all other Higher Education students – you can still get a student loan, and may be entitled to a non-repayable grant of up to £2700, in addition to several other financial support options. For more information, visit www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance.

What are the entry requirements?

There are no set entry requirements for Foundation Degree courses – they vary from course to course and are set by the institution providing them. They tend to be lower than for Honours degree courses, and are flexible – in many cases, unconventional, non-academic entry criteria may be accepted, such as relevant past work experience.

When I finish the course, what options will I have?

Choosing the Foundation Degree route opens up numerous options for students. The qualification, well recognised and highly regarded by employers, can be used as a fast track into employment, or to take an existing career to the next level. If graduates decide that a further qualification would be advantageous, they can choose to progress to further professional qualifications or straight into the final year of an appropriate Honours Degree course, a process known as “top-up” study.