A foundation programme, foundation program, foundation year, foundation year programme or foundation year program is a one-year introductory course to a full multi-year degree curriculum offered by many universities in the Commonwealth and elsewhere. These programmes may be intended for students not yet in a degree program or may form part of a specific degree course. Some programmes are designed specifically for either domestic or international students.

United Kingdom

In the UK, foundation year programmes, also known as "year zero" or "gateway programmes", are designed to develop skills and subject-specific knowledge to ensure a student to advance to a degree course. They may be offered as stand-alone one-year courses or integrated into degree programmes. Some programmes are for students who have not received suitable grades at A Level or IB while others are aimed at students who did not have the opportunity to take such qualifications.[1][2][3] As of January 2023, foundation year programmes were available at 122 institutions through UCAS.[4]

Foundation programmes in England for home students that are integrated with degree programmes are eligible for student fee support at the same level as degree programmes. As of July 2023, the UK government is looking at whether fee levels (and student loan levels) for foundation years should be reduced. A government-commissioned report in July 2023 found that the cost of running foundation years is similar to, and in some cases could be higher than, the cost of running degree courses.[5]

Lady Margaret Hall - the only Oxbridge college to offer a foundation year exclusively to disadvantaged students

Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford offers a foundation year exclusively to students from poor socio-economic backgrounds. This aims to help them overcome disadvantages that would hinder their application process to the university.[6]

The International Study Centre at Durham University's Queen's Campus

For international students, universities often partner with providers such as Study Group or INTO University Partnerships. Study Group offers international foundation year programmes in conjunction with a number of British universities including (as of January 2023) Aberdeen, Cardiff, Durham, Huddersfield, Kingston, Lancaster, Leeds and Leeds Beckett (jointly as Leeds International Study Centre), Liverpool John Moores, Royal Holloway, Sheffield, Strathclyde, Surrey, Sussex, and Teesside.[7] INTO University Partnerships partners with UEA, Exeter, Newcastle, Manchester, Queen's Belfast, City, Manchester Metropolitan, Stirling and Lancaster.[8] Some universities offer their own international foundation programmes, including Warwick (since 1983)[9] and SOAS University of London, specifically for students who do not speak English as a first language (since 1985).[10] UCL has offered Undergraduate Preparatory Certificate international foundation year courses since 1991.[11]

Elsewhere in the world

At Boston University, United States, the SABIC Foundation Year Program is a university preparation course aimed specifically at Saudi students.[12]

At Salem Kolleg by Lake Constance, Germany, Kolleg students are introduced to many different university courses over a period of three terms as part of their studium generale program.[13]

At Constructor University in Germany, the Foundation Year Programme is a preparatory year.[14]

At Karlshochschule International University in Germany, the Foundation Year Programme (Studienkolleg) is a preparatory year for international students.[15]

At the University of King's College, Canada, their Foundation Year Program is a historical survey of western culture for first-year students.[16]

At Maastricht University, the Netherlands, the Foundation Programme trains motivated international students to make them eligible (to apply) for a bachelor's programme at Maastricht University.[17]

At the University of Queensland, the Foundation Year Programme is a university preparation program for students who are not citizens or permanent residents of Australia.[18][19]

At Vanderbilt University, the Foundation Year Programme aims to prepare students from outside the United States to enter the American university system.[20]

References

  1. ↑ "UCAS Undergraduate: what to study". UCAS. 8 October 2014. 2. Types of undergraduate course: Foundation years. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  2. ↑ "Medicine and allied subjects". UCAS. Entry requirements. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  3. ↑ "The Foundation Year". Durham University. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  4. ↑ "Search". UCAS. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  5. ↑ David Kernohan (18 July 2023). "Cutting fees for foundation years could turn out to be foolhardy". Wonkhe. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "LMH Foundation Year". Lady Margaret Hall. Archived from the original on Jan 13, 2020.
  7. ↑ "United Kingdom". Study Group. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  8. ↑ "Comprehensive Partnerships". INTO Global. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  9. ↑ "About the Warwick IFP". University of Warwick. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  10. ↑ "International Foundation Programme?". SOAS. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  11. ↑ "Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates - UCL's International Foundation Year". UCL. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  12. ↑ "SABIC Foundation Year Program". Center for English Language & Orientation Programs. Archived from the original on 2012-08-05. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
  13. ↑ "Salem Kolleg". www.salemkolleg.de. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
  14. ↑ "Foundation Year Program Description - Jacobs University".
  15. ↑ "International Foundation Year (Studienkolleg)". Karlshochschule International University.
  16. ↑ "Foundation Year Program". University of King's College. 26 August 2016.
  17. ↑ "Foundation Programme". Maastricht University.
  18. ↑ "IES College". foundationyear.com. Archived from the original on Dec 4, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Program Information". IES Foundation Year. Archived from the original on May 18, 2018.
  20. ↑ English Language Center | Vanderbilt University
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