Foundation Degrees - any views ?

[gingeroots]

I'm guessing that because of their low entrance requirements that these are less academically demanding than an Hons degree .
Anyone any views or experience ?

I am just finishing a foundation degree and will start a top up to BA Hons in September. I think, judging from what my tutors tell me, that the main difference in the 2 is that we have had more help and support to write assignments, because we haven't done A levels. We have learnt to do research and to write critically. The marking criteria has got tougher as we progressed from level 4 to level 5 and expect it to get tougher still on the BA.
Quite a few students dropped out of our course because it was too academically challenging To progress to the BA I need to get a commendation on my foundation degree, which I have (fingers crossed for my last 2 assignments)
A lot of foundation degrees are based on work experiences and are a good way to have that experience validated.

Thank you purepurple - that's really helpful .
DS has dropped out of sixth form with one complete A level ( D grade Biology ) and C grades at AS for Physics and Chemistry .
He really struggles with organisation and coursework and I was wondering if he'd cope with the Foundation Degree place he has been offered .
It's Animal Management .
What is your's in ?

My ds is just completing a foundation degree in art. He has loved it. It has given him a year's practice at being away from home, doing something he likes doing (he didn't like school work very much - too many subjects for a one-track brain! )
He has proved how independent he can be of me (i.e. submitting UCAS forms, writing personal statements, buying train tickets, arriving at interviews on time) and has (to my relief) managed to get himself on a three year BA course (which is exactly the one he wanted) this September.

Doing the Foundation Course has made him more aware of the demands of further education, and he is showing signs (albeit bud-like) of maturity in his decisions.

The foundation course was also very cheap - no tuition fees. Very very worthwhile.

Thanks eggsit - good on your DS !
Though I have a feeling Art Foundation courses are in a category all of their own .

Supervising students on Foundation and honours Animal Management degrees the big difference is that those on the Honours degrees get further people / business management teaching that the foundation students don't get.
The course work requirements are similar for the basic animal care and are really quite large. Can't remember about animal management, but vet nursing is 21 months work experience in 3 year degree.

Thanks lizcat , < not feeling optomistic emoticon >

I did a foundation degree in early years and last year graduated from university with a 2:1 BA (Hons). I am now in employment in my chosen field and in a couple of years will be starting on a Masters in Social Work. I am very glad I did it. I learnt so much, it was great fun and it is has helped me to gain employment

Thanks noodle and congrats !
Do you think there is a difference in teaching on Foundation Degrees compared to Hons degrees ?
Hoping you'll say more support ....

I think there was benefits to both. The pros of the Foundation Degree is there is a lot of support, smaller classes so easier to meet tutor, very good if you didnt do a levels and have no real experience of critical writing.

Pros of uni were you did learn a lot in depth and improved on your skills that you acquired on the Foundation Degree, interesting experience, help with job hunting, cv writing, lots of different things going on to get involve with.

I enjoyed the experience and would do the same again if I had to do it all over again I would do it.

That sounds great and what I was hoping
Thanks so much for posting ,really helpful .