What is a Foundation Year?
A Foundation Year is an additional year at UEA, providing opportunities to develop your academic skills and knowledge before joining your undergraduate degree course. It is designed for students who wish to embark on a degree course at UEA, but may not currently meet the entry requirements for study and would therefore benefit from having extra time to prepare themselves for their chosen course. This extra time to prepare enables our students to develop academically within a supportive and encouraging environment – which then leads them onto a strong platform to progress into their chosen area of study.
Once they pass their course, Foundation Year students are automatically enrolled on one of our BA or BSc courses, meaning that you can move from Foundation Year study to your chosen undergraduate pathway without the need to reapply. Many of our pathways also offer the ability to study other courses within their respective Faculties, meaning you will have a range of choices available to you once you enrol.
This ability to reconsider your options and shape your next steps once you’re actually at UEA is something that many of our students find to be the most beneficial part of a Foundation Year. What’s more, you will have a dedicated adviser that will be able to help you with taking these next steps.
Why you should consider a Foundation Year
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UEA’s Foundation Year courses follow a similar format as subsequent years of study: seminars, lectures, tutorials, lab work – so you get a head start with familiarising yourself with your new higher education learning environment.
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You may be studying with people from different courses at the same institution, as well as people from the subject specific foundation year, providing a sound support system (you’re all in the same boat!).
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Foundation Years give you a chance to get used to university life; assignments, navigating campus, and being a student – these things take time to adjust.
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You’ll feel ahead of the game compared to your peers on your first year of your undergraduate degree
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Foundation Year courses usually begin quite broad about the subject, which means you’ll get a solid introduction to your subject area, allowing you to hone in on the area of interest that you wish to progress in your subsequent degree course – giving you the time to figure out what you are really passionate about!
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You will develop skills that will better prepare you for the subsequent degree course: academic writing, preparing and delivering presentations, exam techniques, report writing and research – all of which are invaluable for the duration of your degree.
“The best decisions I’ve made so far in my academic career.” – Gabriella, Maths Foundation Year student at UEA
Things to consider
Foundation Year students will be eligible for a student loan to cover the one year Foundation Year programme as well as the duration of the subsequent degree course (usually four years in total). Usually when you move from your Foundation Year of study (classed as Year 0) to your main degree (classed as Year 1), you will need to re-apply for Student Finance, so please do ensure you are correctly funded for the duration of your courses.
You will also be eligible for accommodation on UEA campus on your Foundation Year, but this does mean that you won’t be guaranteed accommodation at your Year 1 of your subsequent degree course. It’s always worth checking if you’re eligible for any scholarships or bursaries too – check out our Scholarship finder.
Hear from UEA Foundation Year Students:
What to expect on your Foundation Year at UEA
Top tips for your foundation year at UEA
Our Foundation Year Courses
Mathematics with a Foundation Year
Mathematics is a highly versatile subject, with many different pathways and applications. Our Foundation Year course provides an alternative route into our...
History of Art (with a Foundation Year)
Gain the skills you need to excel on a degree in History of Art with our Foundation Year pathway. Majoring in your chosen subject, you’ll be given a thorough...
Politics (with a Foundation Year)
You can gain the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to excel in a humanities degree with our interdisciplinary Foundation Year programme. At UEA, we...
History (with a Foundation Year)
Our Foundation Year course will equip you with everything you need to dive into the past and uncover the rich history of many different periods, countries and...
Pharmacology and Drug Discovery with Foundation Year
Our Foundation Year will give you a firm grounding in chemistry, biology and mathematics, and introduce you to the key concepts of pharmacology and medicinal...
Pharmacy with a Foundation Year
Our Foundation Year helps you lay the groundwork for a successful degree in Pharmacy. The course will ready you for undergraduate study, and provide a smooth...
Philosophy (with a Foundation Year)
If you have a passion for Philosophy, but for whatever reason you don’t yet have the grades required for the three-year programme, our Foundation Year will...
Film and Television Studies (with a Foundation Year)
Our Foundation Year offers an alternative route onto our undergraduate courses. You’ll be given a firm and thorough grounding in the skills you’ll need to study...
Environmental Sciences with a Foundation Year
Our Foundation Year is a great route onto our Environmental Sciences degrees. The course will give you a thorough grounding in all the skills you need for...
Computing Science with a Foundation Year
Learn to program the future with a degree in Computing Science. From the information systems of banks and businesses, to the creativity of gaming and web design,...
Chemistry with a Foundation Year
The Foundation Year will prepare you for an undergraduate degree in Chemistry, training and equipping you with everything you’ll need to progress to the next...
Biological Sciences with a Foundation Year
Ready yourself with the skills you need to succeed on a degree in biological sciences with our Foundation Year course. Gain a thorough grounding in the study of...
Biochemistry with a Foundation Year
Our Foundation Year programme will equip you with everything you need to excel in a degree in Biochemistry. Alongside students from across our Science Faculties,...
Intercultural Communication with Business Management (with a Foundation Year)
Offering an alternative route onto our BA Intercultural Communication with Business Management, the Foundation Year course will equip you with everything you...
Geography and International Development with a Foundation Year
On this degree, you’ll apply the study of human geography to the most pressing issues and challenges we face in the world today, such as climate change and...
Engineering with a Foundation Year
Engineering is the pursuit of solutions – finding the answers to complex global problems through innovation, imagination and ingenuity. Engineers create, apply,...
American Studies (with a Foundation Year)
Our innovative Foundation Year provides you with the opportunity to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to excel in a humanities degree at UEA....
International Development with a Foundation Year
This degree covers a diverse variety of global challenges, such as poverty, gender inequality, and conflict. You’ll explore the social, political and economic...
Physics with a Foundation Year
Our Foundation Year programme will prepare you with everything you need to study Physics at undergraduate level here at UEA. You’ll be equipped with all the...
English Literature (with a Foundation Year)
Our Foundation Year course offers an alternative route onto our BA English Literature degree, and equips you with everything you’ll need on your journey to...
American Studies (with a Foundation Year)
Start off on the right foot, and gain the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to excel in a humanities degree. If you don’t yet have the grades required...