Undergraduate

Start here, go anywhere with a foundation year

A foundation year could be your first step towards the future you want. Build the knowledge, skills and confidence to progress to a degree and succeed at university and beyond.

Three of Hull’s students sit confidently together in front of modern lighting and foliage in the student hangout

Everyone starts somewhere

Taking your first step into higher education? Changing direction? Returning to study after time away? There's no such thing as a typical student. Everyone has their own story, their own ambitions and their own reason for choosing a foundation year...

Looking for a fresh start after college or sixth form

Planning a career change and need to reskill

Returning to education after some time away

Exploring a new subject that inspires you

Building your confidence before starting a degree

Why take a foundation year?

2 mins

A year well spent

A foundation year is an extra year integrated into your degree, designed to prepare you for university-level study. But it's much more than a route into university. It's an opportunity to experience new things, explore your interests and open the door to new opportunities.

Build confidence

Ease into university-level study with the support and guidance you need from day one.

Develop your academic skills

Develop the academic knowledge and study skills you'll need before starting your degree.

Explore your interests

Foundation years at Hull introduce you to a family of related subjects, giving you the chance to discover what interests you most before you specialise.

Progress to your degree

Move directly on to the full undergraduate course once you meet the progression requirements.

Real students, real stories

Whatever your reason for choosing a foundation year, you're not alone. Hear from students who started in different places and discovered where a foundation year could take them.

A fresh start

Ruby’s story

After finding college challenging, Ruby chose a foundation year as a route into university. With the right support and a welcoming community, Ruby developed new skills, settled into university life and began to grow in confidence.

University has given me a completely new outlook on life

Read Ruby’s storyRead Ruby’s full story

Foundation year student Ruby walking through campus

Ruby's story: a fresh start

2 mins

Changing career

George’s story

Working in retail left George ready for a new challenge. A foundation year provided the skills, support and confidence needed to return to education and begin working towards a future in historical research.

This career change has opened doors I thought were closed to me forever

Read George's storyRead George's full story

Foundation year student George walking through campus

George's story: changing career

2 mins

Returning to study

Lara’s story

Returning to education felt like a big step for Lara, but a foundation year offered a supportive route into university. With encouragement from lecturers and a welcoming community, Lara developed the skills and confidence needed to begin a degree and work towards a long-held career goal.

I kept asking myself: Could I really go back? Was I smart enough?

Read Lara's storyRead Lara's full story

Foundation year student Lara catting with a tutor in the library

Lara's story: returning to study

2 mins

A new direction

Ramona’s story

Ramona began university studying Business Management but soon realised that Law was the right path. A foundation year made it possible to change direction, build academic confidence and begin working towards a career as a barrister.

I needed to do what I wanted and become a lawyer

Read Ramona’s storyRead Ramona’s full story

Foundation year student Ramona walking through the corridors at the University of Hull

Ramona’s story: a new direction

2 mins

Your foundation year – the Hull way

Our foundation years introduce you to families of related subjects, giving you the flexibility to explore your interests before progressing to your chosen degree. Here’s how it all works...

Apply for the course that most interests you now

When you apply through UCAS, you apply for an undergraduate degree, not just the foundation year. So apply for the course that feels like the one that ignites your spark right now – you can always change this later.

For example...

If you’re interested in a music-related degree and want to take a foundation year, you could get started by applying for our BA Music degree.

You’ll be matched to the foundation year closest to your interest

While on your foundation year, you’ll learn about the subject you applied for, while also being introduced to content from similar fields.

For example...

If you applied for BA Music, you’d begin on our Media foundation year, where you’ll study alongside students interested in subjects such as Graphic Design, Film and Media.

You’ll build your skills and develop your interests

Along the way, you'll study the core topics and academic skills needed for your chosen subject.

From day one, you'll be a University of Hull student with full access to our campus, facilities, support services, clubs and societies.

For example...

On the Media foundation year, you’ll learn the skills that make sure you’re ready to enter the first year of your BA Music degree, as well as academic skills like writing and referencing that are vital for any university degree.

But don’t forget – you’ll also learn skills for other related subjects like Design to give you a well-rounded view of your chosen discipline.

Make your decision

Here’s the good bit: our foundation years give you the flexibility to follow your passion wherever it leads you.

So if your interests change, you may be able to switch to another related degree without starting your foundation year again.

For example...

If you’re studying our Media foundation year, having applied to eventually study BA Music, but you find that Film and Media has really sparked your interest – you could switch to our BA Film and Media degree, and move on to that at the end of your foundation year instead.

Take the next step

Pass your foundation year and you'll progress straight on to Year 1 of your linked honours degree without reapplying through UCAS.

Find the course that’s right for you

Most of our undergraduate degrees are available with a foundation year. Search for a course or subject you're interested in.

See all coursesSee all courses with a foundation year

certificate- in health and social care practice in Allam medical building

Looking for a route into Health?

Planning a career in health, nursing or midwifery? Our University Certificate in Health and Social Care Practice, known as the "Uni Cert", offers a flexible, part-time route into higher education, designed to fit around your current circumstances. This course is ideal if you're returning to study or looking for a flexible route into healthcare.

Find out more

You've got questions. We've got answers.

The cost of a foundation year varies by course, but it’s typically charged at a similar rate to the first year of an undergraduate degree. The best way to find the exact cost is to check the fee information for the specific undergraduate course with a foundation year that you’re interested in.

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Interested? Delve deeper...

How to apply

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Fees and funding

Scholarships and bursaries

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Start here, go anywhere with a foundation year

Everyone starts somewhere