Foundation Courses

Foundation degrees can take one to two years studying full time to complete, and most people enrol onto a foundation course after their A-Levels or further education qualification such as a diploma. However, there are some foundation certificate courses which take less time to complete and are more specific to certain careers, such as the ATT Foundation Award in Accounting Software which takes two months to complete. Other foundation courses you can study online or in class, include:

• PRINCE2 Foundation And Practitioner 6th Edition
• M_o_R Foundation (Management of Risk)
• ATT Foundation Certificate In Bookkeeping (Level 2)
• Business Management University Foundation Programme
• Project Management for Beginners – PRINCE2 Foundation and PMF Course

Foundation courses are also popular for more hands-on subjects such as art and design, mechanical engineering and computer science. For those wanting to go into degree-level study in a subject with high entry requirements such as biomedical sciences or social sciences, foundation courses can be a great way to add to your qualifications.

What are the entry requirements?

The entry requirements vary depending on whether you are studying a university foundation course or a foundation certificate. Most foundation courses either don’t require any previous experience or knowledge or require certain GSCE or A-Level grades such as English language and maths at grades A*-C.

Who should study a foundation course or foundation year?

Foundation courses are run by universities, institutes and colleges all over the UK, with the opportunity to study online or in class. Due to the variety of courses out, and the various ways to learn, anyone can study a foundation course. However, it is recommended for those who want a career change and need to learn the basics before jumping into a new job or school leavers who want to go down a vocational learning route which takes less time than a traditional undergraduate course. 

Due to the lower entry requirements on foundation courses, it can also be a great way for those without good GCSEs or A-Levels to gain a professional qualification. Foundation degrees are also viewed as a cost-effective alternative to a full degree, as they have lower tuition fees. 

Upon successful completion of your foundation course, there are also plenty of opportunities open to you. For those who have undertaken a foundation year, going on to complete an undergraduate degree course is the path which many students take. This helps expand your knowledge and you will gain a higher education qualification upon completion, plus, most universities allow direct entry into a degree programme in the second year as you have already completed a foundation degree.