Foundation Year – a year “zero” at British universities – when and why should you consider it?
If you'd like to start studying in the UK and eventually get a Bachelor's degree in Law, Engineering, Arts, or Science but your qualifications such as a high school diploma don't have grades that meet the requirements of the universities, a Bachelo's degree combined with a Foundation Year may be the best option for you.
Please, remember that not every university and course offer an option to do the Foundation Year.
What kinds of Foundation Year are available anyway?
There are 2 types of FY:
- a so-called standalone 1-year-long course (usually with a title "FDA"); if you want to continue your education within the undergraduate studies to get a Bachelor's degree, you have to apply for it separately. What's more, you won't get any funding for this kind of course, so covering the tuition fees is your responsibility.
- a year zero as part of the Bachelor's degree at the same university; you can get full funding for such a year, and on top of that, passing all the assignments enables you to progress straight to the first year (there's no need to apply again!).
Here, in this article, we’d like to focus on the latter FY.
What kind of classes can you have during your Foundation Year?
During such a year, you will learn the basics of your chosen course and master your English (including writing essays and reports, listening, speaking, working in a team and communicating with other students effectively). You will also have access to all the university’s facilities (such as the library, labs, etc.), just like “older” students.
How many hours per week do you have to study?
You should expect usually around 14-21 hours of classes per week (on-campus and/or online) and, depending on your timetable, you might have them on any working day between 9 am and 5 pm. Also, attendance is crucial so it’s good to bear it in mind when planning all the other activities such as work.
What’s so good about Foundation Year?
- you can start studying at the British university even if you don’t meet their entry requirements;
- every student has their own personal tutor which means individual approach and support;
- classes in groups consisting of max 15 students;
- you study in the same environment and with the same tutors as during the actual Bachelor’s degree;
- you will learn the foundations of your chosen course which will make your transition onto the first year smooth and easy;
- you can get to know the British higher education system before starting the actual degree;
- you can take an active part in all aspects of the university’s life.
What are the entry requirements for Foundation Year?
Every university has its own requirements depending on how prestigious they are. Also, there are some exceptions where you can start a Foundation Year even if you haven’t taken or passed your high school final exams. To get more information, please open this article.
How much does it cost?
Normally, the Foundation Year which is a part of the actual Bachelor’s degree costs between £6,000 and £9,250. Don’t worry, though! If you’re a (pre-)settled EU National, you can up to 3 types of funding from the British government. For more information, read this article.
How to apply for Foundation Year?
It depends on the university – some of them require from applicants to send their applications through UCAS, while others accept direct applications.
Get in touch with us to learn how to apply for your chosen course and university and to get our free of charge support in every step of your application process.