Foundation Degree

[BlastedPimples]

We are British. Don't live in U.K.

Ds did really poorly in AS levels (D, E, E). School won't let him continue with A levels in year 13.

Is a foundation degree an option in the U.K.?

If he does a foundation at one university, does he then have to continue with the full degree at that same university? Is that how it's set up?

@BlastedPimples I think he needs A levels. You could look at a HND. Or change schools and start again. Have you looked at degrees with a foundation year in a suitable subject?

Foundation degrees are the first two years of a usual degree. When I did mine, admittedly a few years ago now, you needed 3 a-levels or equivalent. I got on mine because I had 2 NVQ level 3 qualifications but no a levels

What does he want to do? I did foundation degree many years ago then went on to full degree and msc. He needs to get prospectus for college that he wants to go and see what they offer and also which universities he will be able to get into. Not all unis accept foundation years.

He needs to be committed though. It's not an easy route and if you fuck up the chances of a professional job are low.

I didn't need A levels. I left school at 16 and went back at 20 to do my course. It was a 1 year course and the aim was to bridge the gap between GCSEs and uni. I think you need to do some research.

Hi, OP -

At my university, the Foundation Year is sometimes called Year 0 and it is not part of the usual degree. It is for students who have good A Levels in the wrong subjects, or have the right A Levels but need some further work before embarking upon degree study. Overseas students in similar positions are also eligible.

It is quite common to apply to UCAS during your FY, for the usual 5 places. Your offers are typically conditional on your FY results.

Access courses, which can also lead to Year 1 university entry, have lower or more flexible entry requirements than Foundation Years. Your DS might find a suitable Access course. Otherwise he will need either to restart A Levels or begin a similar pathway. Good luck to him

Lots of degrees are advertised as the degree with foundation year. This is a year extra as @poetryandwine says. It’s not a free standing foundation degree. It’s not worth 2 years of a degree. The degree will still be 3 years (or more).

It will depend what the uni think about the qualifications obtained. Low tariff degrees might be ok with the foundation year with his qualifications. Some will want the three A levels as explained.

Eg. Course at Derby is DDD or 72 UCAS points but these unis might negotiate.

Foundation degrees and degrees with a foundation year are two different things. The first is the equivalent of the first two years of a vocational degree, the latter is an extra year at uni to get weaker kids, or those with the wrong A levels, up to standard to go into year 1.

Neither can be accessed with just AS levels. He needs a full level 3 qualification, not half which he has now. Are vocational level 3 qualifications (BTECs, T levels) or Access courses available where you are? Is repeating year 12 an option?

Definitely look at access courses too

Check the entry for foundation degree as they are usually aimed at for those who don't quite have the A levels for a full degree.

Foundation is usually level 3,4 (4 being where a BA degree starts) and 5 so 3 years in length. Then after you have the opportunity to do the 4th year which is level 6 so a full degree.

Access course is a level 3 course with the correct amount of credits to join uni at level 4 (BA degree)

Personally I would look into foundation degree as this is held at the uni and will have more people his own age and can start building relationships.

Access is usually more mature students who will go off to do various different degrees.

Both courses are usually the same in length. One academic year.

It is much cheaper to resit a levels at college. From the university's perspective foundation degrees are good money making devices.

Thats an option. Start again elsewhere?

I agree with others who've said he's likely to struggle to access a foundation year or degree with just AS levels.

Is there any option for him to resit elsewhere? Otherwise, if you were in the UK, the best route would probably be an access course- some of these may be possible via distance learning as well.

If you're in the UK, you can get financial support to pay for the costs of an access course, I'm not sure if that would be possible if you're outside the UK.

Is there no option for him to resit Y12 at his current school?

A foundation year gets you the necessary qualifications to begin the first year of a degree.

It's level 3, basically.

I would investigate him doing Btechs where you are and redoing Year 12.

BTechs are accepted at universities and many people not suited to conventional A level syllabuses do very well in them.

It's worth mentioning that if he wants to do an Art related degree, a Foundation year is the preferred route for many institutions. You apply for a stand alone Foundation course which lasts one year and gives you a diploma at the end (assuming you pass), and during that year you apply for degrees at either the same place (if they run them) or another university/college.