Foundation Degree/regular undergraduate degree

[RalphtheMouth]

My son is applying to university to start Sep 2022. His predicted grades are slightly under the entry requirements. Is it worth applying for a foundation degree for the same course as one of his options just to ensure he is offered a place?

Thanks in advance.

My friend's DD had the same dilemma in fact her teacher recommended for her to apply for the foundation option, but she didn't follow. Applied for 5 universities for Architecture, got 3 conditional offers and 2 no condition but wanted portfolio. The conditional offers were below her predicted grades (BBC), condition is (DDD) hope this helps.

Are his predicted grades below the entry requirements at every uni he's looking at?

Usually the entry requirements vary slightly from one uni to another so you'd choose an aspirational choice (grades above what you're expecting) three more realistic ones, and an insurance choice (this could be the foundation degree)

One of my DD's housemates did a foundation degree, it certainly didn't do her any harm as she finished with a first.

What's his subject choice?

Subject will matter a lot. If the course is under subscribed and regularly goes into clearing, he might be ok.

The best advice is possibly to have 2 at a stretch and add a foundation into one of these. Then do 2 he really should get into.

A friend’s DD didn’t get onto an Vet course but did get onto the foundation at Nottingham. Same outcome just took a year longer. However she had great grades but hadn’t rerun the best sciences for the course. If he’s not got the grades for a highly competitive course it can be difficult to get a foundation.

Thanks all, subject is law.

Law is a tricky one because the best universities really do ask for high grades and students do get them! However he needs to think about his future plans. What does he want to do post degree? University will matter with some law careers. Less with others.

Therefore double check that he qualifies for the foundation course and aim for RG university (plus a few others) if he can. Law has around 18,000 grads with 5500 solicitor training places and around 500 barrister pupilages. All are open to non law grads after they convert to Law. So getting the best degree you can from the best university you can is important.