What is a foundation year?

A foundation year, sometimes called "year zero" or an integrated foundation year, is an extra year of study added to the start of a degree. Its whole job is to get you ready: to build the knowledge, confidence and study skills you need before the main course begins. Then it flows straight into the degree itself.

Who is it for?

It tends to suit people who:

• do not yet meet the standard entry requirements for the degree they want;
• have been out of education for a while and want a confident restart;
• are changing direction into a subject they have not studied before;
• have qualifications from another country and want to bridge into UK study.

In other words, it is often a great fit for adults returning to learning. Nobody expects you to remember everything from school. The foundation year is designed around that reality.

How is it different from a foundation degree?

These two get mixed up all the time, so it is worth being clear:

• Foundation year, a preparatory year attached to the front of a full degree.
• Foundation degree, a separate, shorter higher education qualification (roughly the first two years of a degree) that can stand alone or be topped up later.

How does the funding work?

This is the reassuring part. When the foundation year is an integral part of a designated degree course, and you enrol for the full extended course, eligible students can usually access Student Finance in the normal way, just as they would for the degree. The tuition fee loan and maintenance loan work the same as we describe in our Student Finance guide.

Is the extra year worth it?

For many people, yes. A foundation year adds time, but it also removes the biggest barrier of all: getting started. It gives you a running start into the degree with the basics already in place. If choosing between a foundation year and another route like Access to HE feels confusing, that is a good thing to talk through with an advisor.