DS wants to do a foundation degree, isn't it a bit of a waste?

[willowbush]

DS wants to go into the police. He got some great A-Levels and could literally go and be a doctor if he wanted. Anyway, police is good but he can apply now (he's 19) took a gap year to work in a supermarket and volunteer. He says that he wants to do a foundation degree in public services. Isn't public services one of those degrees that are a bit of a waste? It's a foundation one too... It seems good as in there's work placements with the police force and cool trips away, but seriously? I'm not knocking him, just looking for advice on if it's a waste degree.

This is exactly what my cousin did, right down to the supermarket bit. Did the degree around work, got into being a community officer and ended up a police officer. It doesn't matter that he could do medicine, he wants to do this and the placements etc will assist him. At least he is focused and planning well for what he wants!

There are actual policing studies degrees if he's sure that's the career he wants, which would also offer placements etc. I wouldn't advise a foundation degree, tbh. Go for the full thing.

Doctor, what degrees are they? He thought about a full degree, but he's quite tight with his money! He just wants something that will help him stand out at recruitment

Do you mean a one year foundation course?

A foundation degree is not a lesser qualification. All HE quals are benchmarked against national standards in order to be validated. A foundation degree is levels 4 and 5 with an exit point on completion of level 5. An individual can 'top up' at a later date with a level to obtain a full degree (BA, BSc, etc).

It would be worth asking more about their placements.

• 'Top up' with a level 6

No, it's 2 years. Yes, he can top up if he wants

The actually policing degrees do look good but none locally and they encourage/help you with the local police so it wouldn't be the one he'd want to be in.

Has he rung the Police Recruitment section to ask their advice?

He sounds like he has his head screwed on. Please support him.

I recommend the 'Policing' degree... It's so much more suitable

He should seek advice before he chooses. A Foundation Degree is for someone with very poor A level results and who needs a lot of support in their studies before they can take their full degree.

I would have thought a Law or Criminal Justice degree would be good, or a Forensics degree - has he seen the Computer Forensic courses?

In the end, though, if he takes a degree in a subject he loves and does well in it, that would be by far the best move. It helps keep his options open and allows him to apply to the police with a great degree if he still wants to do it in three or four years' time.

The thing is, those degrees won't necessarily help. The actual 'Policing' degree is really good (for people who want to be in the constabulary)... They help you get into the Specials (something that the courses require you to do) and do the certificate of police knowledge (something you now have to have)... You also get work experience by shadowing a police officer - normally a mentor from the police too.

The foundation degree worked for me but I was actually working full time when I did it - and I went straight on to BA top up. I was a bit of a snob about it myself initially, but I now value the opportunity I had to tailor my studies directly to my specialist area of work and subsequently improve my practice. Also gives you options of diffferent pathways to top up.
Im not so sure if it is as good an option if you are only doing placements.

Agree with others though that you should support him.

If he wants to proceed past Constable in the police then a degree will help him. Yes you've got to perform and pass all the boards/exams, but they have fast track and other criteria also, so I think this is a good idea. The subject matter is of course subjective, but should be something he wishes to do.

Is there any reason he can't do the full degree?

Personally I wouldn't do a foundation degree. Plus even though you can do top ups, most Universities would rather want the student to do a full three years, because the University would get more money rather than topping up the foundation and doing a year of his degree.

I'll advise to go for the full thing.

Isn't public services one of those degrees that are a bit of a waste?

Haven't people on here discussed this course before with reference to people wanting to join the army (and it being a useless course for that as well?). I would do a lot more research and actually ask the people who would hire for what he wants to do what they'd prefer to see.