Shape your future with a foundation year
Foundation Years are the ideal path to help you progress to your chosen degree. Learn about fees, entry requirements and offered courses.
The start of something extraordinary
A Foundation Year is your stepping stone to a life-changing degree – perfect if you’re just shy of meeting the entry requirements or looking for a new direction.
Whether it’s been years since you earned your qualifications or you’re switching from arts to sciences (or anywhere in between), a Foundation Year bridges the gap, giving you the skills and confidence to thrive at degree level.
How do foundation years work?
A Foundation Year at Hull gives you a solid grounding of knowledge, so you can progress on to your chosen 3-year programme with confidence.
The foundation course you enrol on may not be an exact match to your chosen three-year degree, but don’t worry! Our foundation courses combine content from multiple related courses, giving you more flexibility and choice about the degree path you take. You’ll be matched to the Foundation Year closest to your interest, whilst also being introduced to content from similar fields.
For example, if you apply for a Music Foundation Year, you’ll join our Media Foundation course. his approach allows you to explore different subjects, so if you decide to switch -say, from Music to Graphic Design - you can do so without restarting your foundation year.
At Hull, we make sure you’re ready for your degree and the possibilities beyond.
Fees and Funding
There are two different fee structures for our foundation years. These depend on whether your foundation degree is classroom based (£5,760) or non-classroom-based (£9,535). See our course pages and select the 'with a Foundation Year' option to see what each foundation year costs.
Student Finance
When applying for student finance, submit an application just like you would for any undergraduate degree on Student Finance England – but make sure to include the Foundation Year in your course choice (e.g. Mathematics with Foundation Year) and note that you're in Year 0.
When you're near the end of your Foundation Year, you'll need to reapply for finance for the next year, keeping the ‘Foundation Year’ in your course selection. Remember to select 'Year 1' of your degree (not Year 2).
Entry requirements
Your entry requirements depend on your background and experience. We’d typically ask for at least 80 UCAS points from three A levels (or equivalent). If you don’t quite meet the UCAS points needed for direct entry, we also consider qualifications in subjects related to the degree.
If you’re making a big change - like switching from arts to science - you may need to take a Foundation Year, even if you have more than 80 points.
Not sure where you stand? If you’ve been out of education for a while or are unsure about your options, our admissions team is here to help.
HEALTH COURSES
Two pathways. One great career.
If you want to get on to a degree related to health, nursing or midwifery, there are several pathways you can choose that fit around your current circumstances.
University Certificate in Health and Social Care Practice
The University Certificate in Health and Social Care Practice (Level 4, 60 credits) is a part-time course delivered through a blend of online and in-person learning. This flexible program provides a practical and accessible introduction to academic study, with 'bite-sized' modules that focus on vocationally relevant topics.
Alternative Route into Health and Social Care
This Level 4, 60-credit course is ideal for those looking to switch careers or who don’t meet the entry requirements for our health and social care degrees, e.g. nursing, midwifery etc. Delivered through online evening classes (Tuesdays, 6–9 pm), it provides a practical introduction to academic study with a focus on vocational relevance.
Foundation Year FAQs
Your complete step-by-step guide for applying to Hull
Take a look at out handy guide for students from England applying to study a full-time undergraduate degree for all you need to know.
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