Alternative routes into higher education

Foundation years and semesters

Foundation years or semesters run before some of the University’s degree courses. They form part of the following degree course, and generally don’t result in a separate qualification – they simply qualify you to enter the degree course itself. Not all degree courses have foundation years or semesters available.

Taking a foundation year or semester may be a good idea if your choice of A-levels is a poor match with the subject you would like to study at degree level. A foundation year or semester might also be helpful if you last experienced education a long time ago.