Blog | What is the difference between a foundation year and a foundation degree?

A foundation degree is a great option if you don't quite meet the entry criteria to do a undergraduate degree straight away. 

To be able to apply for a foundation degree, which combines academia with hands-on skills development, you usually need at least 32 UCAS Tariff points - undergraduate degrees often require you to have higher grades.

What is great about a foundation degree is that, unlike a foundation year, it isn't an entry route into higher education, it is an actual degree qualification. It is equivalent to the first two years of an undergraduate degree (Levels 4 and 5) and after this, you can ‘top up’ to a BA or BSc (Hons) degree (Level 6), with additional study of 1-2 years. 

Ultimately, by studying for a foundation degree and then topping up, you can come out with a full honours degree anyway - it's just a different route. You don't have to 'top up' either. Many students use their foundation degree as a stand-alone qualification to improve their job prospects or make further progress in their career.

A foundation degree is often a career stepping stone for our students, helping to provide the flexibility of learning increasingly valued by students – especially if you are either thinking of a career change, or unsure whether you are ready to embark on a full degree.

University College Birmingham foundation degree graduate Jen Ellin was already running a successful business in Personal Assistance when she decided that the Events Management FdA would give her greater creative freedom and the tools to put her ideas into practice. 

After completing her course, she rebranded her business as Jen’s Tailored Events before beginning the one-year top-up to turn her foundation degree into a Business Enterprise BA (Hons). With this, she was able to not only expand her own company, but pass on her experience to the next generation of entrepreneurs. 

Read Jen's story