Your teen might be looking into their options for after sixth form and mentioned doing a foundation degree. But what is it? We’ve covered all of your top questions to help you get to grips with foundation degrees and what they can do for your teen’s further study.
What do we mean by a foundation degree?
A foundation degree is a level 5 qualification in the UK. It’s equivalent to 66% of a bachelor’s, or the first 2 years. They cover the fundamental aspects of a subject area and give students a good base for future roles in that industry, including practical knowledge and contextual understanding. There are no entry requirements to study at foundation level, making it an accessible choice for students at any level.
How long is a foundation degree?
The amount of time it takes to complete a foundation degree will depend on whether your teen enrols for full time or part time study. Full time takes around 2 years, whereas part time can take around 4 years to finish. Additionally, some bachelor’s degrees have an integrated foundation year, which is usually 4 years. This could be a good route if your teen would like to study a more in-depth degree to further develop their skills, or scope out a subject before taking on a full bachelors.
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Does a foundation degree help with university applications?
UCAS points for a foundation degree add up to 240 credits, which can be put towards applications for an undergraduate degree.
They are hosted by universities, so your teen will be able to find full course descriptions on their chosen university website. Once they’ve found a course they’re interested in, be sure to look into open day dates. Visiting a university open day gives your teen the chance to meet faculty staff and ask them questions about the course. It’s also a great opportunity to look into the university’s resources, such as libraries, IT equipment and course-specific tools. For example, if your teen is studying Art & Design (Foundation), they might like to see the university’s printing facilities to develop their craft.
The cost of doing a foundation degree will vary between institutions, but your teen will be entitled to student finance. They can apply for student finance online, the same way they’d apply for a bachelor’s. On top of financing, they might be eligible for extra funding if their chosen university has a scheme in place. It’s worth getting in touch with the university to explore funding options. There are a variety of helpful schemes, so it’s always worth exploring what’s available to support your teen’s studies.
What jobs can my teen get with a foundation degree?
Depending on your teen’s chosen area of study, a foundation degree can open the door to a range of careers. Many industries accept them as part of applications for entry level roles alongside bachelor degree graduates. For more specialist sectors, further study for a bachelors or masters degree might be needed. As foundation degrees target specific areas, it’s likely that your teen has an idea of what they’d like to do afterwards. However, whether your teen knows exactly where they’d like to go next, or they’re not quite sure, it can be a good idea to encourage talks with their careers advisor or mentor to discuss their career options post-study.
Foundation degrees are a good option for students who would like to explore their chosen industry before committing to a bachelor’s degree or job applications. As well as this, they help teens to build strong foundational knowledge to support their future.
If you’re looking for support for your teen, get in touch with our Tutor Experts on +44 (0) 203 773 6020. We’ll be able to help your teen find the right foundation degree tutor that’s relevant to their chosen course.