Foundation degree courses

[bendmeoverbackwards]

Has anyone’s dc done a foundation year at uni and how did they find it? What were the entry requirements and what did they do next?

From the research I’ve done, it says ‘no formal entry requirements’ for foundation courses, this doesn’t sound right. I’m talking about an 18 year old rather than a mature student.

DD2 is just finishing a foundation year but can't comment on entry requirements.
She was offered a foundation when she missed the grades slightly.
It's worked out amazingly well for her because she's a late august baby so had just turned 18 a few weeks before going away to uni.
She's also benefitted from a lot of tutorials on things like referencing and essay writing.
Her foundation was spent doing about 50% of her subject and the rest learning skills that will make her first year undergrad studies so much easier.

DD1 went straight into her undergraduate studies and found the first term pretty full on learning skills they needed to succeed.
Several of her friends did a foundation year and they all felt they benefited.

TBH I think it's a good idea. All it means is DD2 is doing a four year degree as opposed to three years

Also it gives students the opportunity to make sure their chosen subject is right for them and gives them the opportunity to change

What degree course are they hoping to study @bendmeoverbackwards ? If it's art, most unis recommend or insist on a foundation course first.

Currently no idea. Wondering if there are any liberal arts courses that would give her a flavour of different subjects.

There is a difference between a foundation degree which is a 2 year Level 4/5 year course and a foundation year which is when you start at Level 3.

Both of my two are doing/will be doing a degree with integrated foundation year.

Ds did it because he studies music and was a late starter. Where he wanted to go you have to be grade 8 standard but they offer a foundation year for those who are not yet Grade 8 (it is also offered to those who don't have the required music theory standard or enough UCAS points.)

Dd will be doing one because she has had a change of mind and now wants to study a science based subject but she does not have science A levels. The Foundation year will get her up to standard on the science.

I don't know any foundation year courses where you don't need any formal entry requirments. Ds's course was 64 UCAS points (instead of a standard 96) & dd's course is 96 UCAS points instead of 128

64 UCAS points would be 2 Cs at A level?

Yes, but be aware that ds is at a conservatoire where they usually have low entry academic requirements.

The foundation year dd will do asks for BCD or AA (if not eligible fotr a contextual offer)

If it's anything art related it's better to do a foundation/diploma at a local college if they offer it. Will be free if she's under 19. They usually do a variation of different things like art, ceramics, textiles, pottery, graphics etc.

We looked into foundation years closely for my DS who has SENs and we felt might benefit from the extra year learning study skills etc and we were worried about his grades. All of them did have entry requirements, albeit lower than the normal year 1 grades. Some unis have an integrated course where you go straight through in one subject, some we found had a generic foundation year in either science or humanities then you moved onto year 1 of a normal three year degree.

Then there are foundation degrees, these are a two year course equivalent to the first two years of a degree, with the option to top-up to a full degree in a third year course, I think these are mainly vocational, they do have significantly lower entry requirements and work experience etc is considered. My DS did end up doing one of these (because the subject and uni were exactly what he wanted, rather than for grade related issues, his actual grades significantly exceeded his offer which took a lot of pressure off in the summer of A levels) and is about to move onto the third year top up stage, it has suited him perfectly.

@EasilyDefined what sort of subjects can be studied with foundation degrees?

Early Years Education, Child Development, Nursing, Counselling, Graphic Design, Mechanical Engineering, Music Technology, Computing, PE/Coaching.

Thank you all. Dd is 17 and should be in year 12 but has been out of school this year. No A level study at all yet. She’s rejected any suggestions of alternatives to A levels and is due to start at a small private college in September. Most sensible thing would be for her to start year 12 again but she’s desperate to stay in year group so I was wondering if that’s possible.