A Foundation Degree is a vocational higher education qualification, which equates to the first two years of a Bachelor鈥檚 degree.聽These courses are a聽qualification in their聽own right and聽cover the levels of study聽known as levels 4 (year one) and 5 (year two).
Once you complete your Foundation Degree, you can choose to continue onto a Top-up degree to gain a full Bachelor鈥檚 award (known as level 6 -聽Bachelor鈥檚).
Foundation Degrees are flexible in the way they are taught and you can study most of them on a part-time or full-time basis.聽They are focused on preparing you for the world of work, so you can expect plenty of work-based learning alongside your time in the lecture theatre.
A Foundation Degree is聽not聽the same as a聽Foundation Year. A聽Foundation Degree is a standalone qualification equivalent to two years of a three or four-year degree, whereas successfully completing a Foundation Year gives you access onto a degree course.
After your Foundation Degree
You have two main options once you鈥檝e completed your Foundation Degree - you can go straight into the world of work or you can move on to a one-year Top-up degree.
Foundation Degrees at BU and our partners
We offer a range of Foundation Degrees, many of which are delivered through our partner colleges. Even if you don鈥檛 study at a BU campus for your degree, your final award will still be from BU.