Foundation programme
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
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 prepare a student for 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
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,[update] 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, 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]
International foundation years
For international students, universities often partner with providers such as
In January 2024, universities offering international foundation years were accused by the
Elsewhere in the world
At a number of universities in the United States, the SABIC Foundation Year Program is a university preparation course aimed specifically at Saudi students that will return to work for SABIC after completing a bachelor's degree in the US.[18]
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.[19]
At Constructor University in Germany, the Foundation Year Programme is a preparatory year.[20]
At Karlshochschule International University in Germany, the Foundation Year Programme (Studienkolleg) is a preparatory year for international students.[21]
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.[22]
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.[23][24]
At Vanderbilt University, the Foundation Year Programme aims to prepare students from outside the United States to enter the American university system.[25]
References
- ^ "UCAS Undergraduate: what to study". UCAS. 8 October 2014. 2. Types of undergraduate course: Foundation years. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- ^ "Medicine and allied subjects". UCAS. Entry requirements. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- ^ "The Foundation Year". Durham University. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- ^ "Search". UCAS. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- ^ David Kernohan (18 July 2023). "Cutting fees for foundation years could turn out to be foolhardy". Wonkhe. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ "LMH Foundation Year". Lady Margaret Hall. Archived from the original on Jan 13, 2020.
- ^ "United Kingdom". Study Group. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- ^ "Comprehensive Partnerships". INTO Global. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ "About the Warwick IFP". University of Warwick. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- ^ "International Foundation Programme?". SOAS. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
- ^ "Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates - UCL's International Foundation Year". UCL. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- ^ "Cash for courses: top universities recruit foreign students on low grades". Sunday Times. 27 January 2024.
- ^ David Kernohan (28 January 2024). "The Sunday Times on international foundation years". WonkHE.
- ^ David Kernohan (2 February 2024). "QAA to the rescue on international foundation programmes". WonkHE.
- ^ Josh Freeman (12 March 2024). "How much of a problem are international foundation years?". Higher Education Policy Institute.
- ^ "Universities UK responds to the Sunday Times article about international student recruitment". Universities UK. 30 January 2024.
- ^ "Russell Group response to Sunday Times article on international student pathways". Russell Group. 27 January 2024.
- ^ Kayla Johnson (6 July 2023). "SABIC Foundation Year Students Embrace Service-Learning in Puerto Rico". Texas Global. University of Texas at Austin.
- ^ "Salem Kolleg". www.salemkolleg.de. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
- ^ "Foundation Year Program Description - Jacobs University".
- ^ "International Foundation Year (Studienkolleg)". Karlshochschule International University.
- ^ "Foundation Programme". Maastricht University.
- ^ "IES College". foundationyear.com. Archived from the original on Dec 4, 2022.
- ^ "Program Information". IES Foundation Year. Archived from the original on May 18, 2018.
- ^ English Language Center | Vanderbilt University