What Is a Foundation Degree?

A foundation degree is a unique qualification that combines workplace skills and experience with academic achievement. It allows you to receive an undergraduate qualification without committing to three to four years of study for an honours degree.

A foundation degree is typically a two-year course in partnership between universities, some colleges, and industry employers. The ultimate goal is to provide you with the workplace and technical skills you need to work in a given field.  

What level is a foundation degree?

A foundation degree is a Level 5 qualification on the national qualifications framework. It is an undergraduate degreeequivalent to a higher national diploma (HND) or diploma of higher education and the initial two years of an honours degree. 

Subject options

Foundation degrees come with many subject options specific to certain professions rather than more general subjects like biology and English. This is because foundation degrees are typically vocational qualifications. 

Subjects include but are not limited to:

• Nursing 

• Animal care

• Design 

• Retail management

• Hospitality

• Leisure and tourism

• Agriculture

• Music

• Social work 

• Sports science

• Management 

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for a foundation degree vary from course to course and can differ depending on where you study. Quite often, your experience will be more important than any formal qualification. 

APEL (accreditation of prior experiential learning) can be used in many cases. This allows a student to get credit for learning experiences that have not been officially assessed and graded. This is usually for skills gained through the workplace or elsewhere rather than in an academic setting. 

How to apply 

To apply for a foundation degree, you usually must complete a UCAS application if the university you are applying for is listed as a UCAS course provider. However, this isn’t always the case. If the course is part-time, you can usually apply directly via the university or college hosting the course.

Coursework and structure

Foundation degrees are structured to allow you to gain valuable time in the industry and spend time in a classroom setting. Coursework and exams are just some of the means of assessment in this programme. The assessment structure comprises projects, group work, presentations, and practicals.

Cost of a foundation degree

The cost of a foundation degree depends on several factors, including the institution where you study and the subject you choose. Funding is often available, and in some cases, employers may support the costs of the degree if you are already working for them.

Foundation degree courses cost anywhere from £500 to £1,100 per academic year for part-time courses and £1,400 and £2,500 for full-time courses, according to NIDirect [1], although costs can reach more than £7,000 [2], depending on the school you attend. You may also be eligible for funding towards a course and entitled to a student loan. 

How long does a foundation degree take?

The length of a foundation degree is typically two years if studied full-time. You can also find options for part-time study, which can take up to four years to finish. You may also explore online foundation degree options, typically allowing you to study independently. 

Reasons for choosing a foundation degree

You can explore the many advantages of studying for a foundation degree. Benefits include the shorter timeframe, skills gained, and the ability to meet entry requirements. 

• Shorter time frame: A foundation degree is an academic alternative to an honour’s degree, which takes three years at minimum to complete. 

• Flexibility: Foundation degrees tend to be more flexible than bachelor’s degrees. They can be studied at colleges and universities, which often means less travel, and students can live at home. 

• Industry-specific: Foundation degrees give options if you know what field you want to enter and if you want to gain specific experience and workplace skills. 

• Gaining practical skills: The nature of a foundation degree means you learn on-the-job skills that cannot be gained through academic study alone.

• Lower entry levels: The barriers to starting a foundation degree are typically less than an honour’s degree, which means you have more options if you have better work experience than academics. A foundation degree might consider relevant work experience more important than grades.

• Smaller classes: Foundation degrees are often taught in smaller group settings than bachelor’s degrees. 

What can I do with a foundation degree?

Foundation degrees are versatile qualifications that help you prepare to enter the workforce or continue your education. You have various available options once you complete your programme. 

Employment 

As foundation degrees are vocational qualifications, you may use them to go straight into employment or as a stepping stone to further career development within existing roles. You can enter professions such as teaching and law enforcement, while other industries might accept students with a foundation degree for training programmes. 

Degree

Many learners who get a foundation degree continue studying to improve their qualifications and achieve an honour’s degree. Foundation degrees can be an entry into a bachelor’s degree because they are equivalent to the first two years of an honour’s degree. 

Postgraduate courses

While you can’t go on to study a master’s degree straight from a foundation degree, you can top up your foundation degree to achieve a bachelor’s degree and then study a postgraduate qualification in the future. 

Certificates and specialist courses

If topping up your foundation degree isn’t an option, you might consider taking some additional certifications, certificate programmes, or specialist courses related to your field of employment or intended field of employment. Coursera offers many Professional Certificates that will help you boost your technical skills and more subject-specific courses in nursing, design, and hospitality. 

Next steps

Explore whether a foundation course is right for you by looking at related job descriptions or speaking with professionals in the field. For professions requiring additional study, you may wish to continue your learning journey, using your foundation degree as a springboard to earning a bachelor’s degree.