Beyond the obvious

A Foundation Year is a year of study prior to the first year of your degree that will equip you with all the skills you need for successful undergraduate study. Our Integrated Foundation Year courses mean that you will be guaranteed a place on your chosen degree course, provided you successfully meet the specified criteria.

There are many reasons students may choose to complete a Foundation Year, including (but not limited to):

• You have not studied the A-Level subjects required for the course
• You do not expect to meet the minimum grade requirement for your course
• You have studied qualifications other than A-Levels
• You would like to enhance your academic skills before starting your degree.

As a Foundation Year student, you will have exactly the same student experience as any other undergraduate student, including access to high quality teaching, leading facilities, our award-winning careers service, over 400 student societies and more. You can also choose to live in halls or commute to campus, just as you would do for the standard course duration.

No, as long as you meet the specified grades and criteria for your chosen degree course, you will be guaranteed a place on your chosen degree course.

Yes, absolutely! You will not be treated any differently because you came through the Foundation pathway.

The only thing to consider is that with a Foundation Year and a Master's, your total degree time will be at least 5 years. That said, most students consider any extra time at university as a bonus!

Unless you also hold a separate offer for your course without a Foundation Year, you will not be able to simply start the first year of your degree, even if you meet the entry requirements.

No, we have limited spaces available on our Foundation Year and it is a very popular route into the Faculty. Therefore, we cannot automatically cascade individuals who miss their grades for entry to first year.

No! It's a common misconception that the Foundation Year is an easier route onto an undergraduate degree, when the reality is that it's anything but! You will spend the year getting a solid grounding in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, ICT and Academic Skills.

Many students report that the Foundation Year is the hardest year of their degree, but the benefit of this is that they have a head start on university studying when they enter first year.

Sadly, we can’t answer that question! It really depends on what you want from your university experience. What we can do, however, is tell you some of the reasons that the Foundation Year might be the right choice for you:

• You’ll get to study the subject you love at a prestigious university with leading facilities, and academics creating world-leading research.
• The Foundation Year will equip you with all the skills you need to excel on your degree, meaning you’ll be completely ready to get started in the first year of your degree.
• You’ll have a full year to adapt to university life, studying and the campus before your first year.
• The Faculty of Science and Engineering covers a huge range of research and expertise, meaning you can explore every nook and cranny of your subject area and find where your passions lie.
• The University of Manchester is one of the most targeted universities by undergraduate employers, so you could be in demand once you graduate.