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What is a Foundation Year?

A Foundation Year is a great first step.

You can build your subject knowledge and develop essential academic skills.

Once you complete these year-long courses, you can kickstart your undergraduate studies with confidence.

There are two types of Foundation Year at Bradford: standalone and integrated. With standalone Foundation Years, you can choose the foundation year that matches the degree you want to progress to.

We also offer integrated Foundation Years.

What is an integrated Foundation Year?

It's like a normal Foundation Year. But it's built into a specific undergraduate degree programme.

The course content of your first year - the Foundation Year - will equip you with the skills and confidence needed to progress onto an undergraduate course.

You're guaranteed a place on your chosen bachelor's degree if you meet the progression requirements of your Foundation Year.

A student using optometry equipment

A Foundation Year could be right for you if you:

  • have been out of education for a while
  • are not sure what you want to study at degree level
  • want to build your confidence before starting a degree
  • don't meet the entry requirements for your chosen degree
  • are changing career direction
  • want to develop your academic and study skills
  • want to adjust to uni life before your degree starts

Why choose Bradford?

Find your path

Our Foundation Years open the door to almost all of our undergraduate degrees, helping you get where you want to be.

Build a strong foundation without barriers

We view your application as a whole, considering your work and life experience and professional qualifications.

Be part of Team Bradford from day one

Have an extra year packed with opportunities to meet new people, try something different and make the most of university life.

Access student support throughout your studies

Get ahead of the game both personally and academically with help from our wide range of student support services.

Setting you up for success

Discover how studying a Foundation Year helped our students thrive:

“I chose to do the Foundation Year at Bradford, as I knew I wanted to study Biomedical Sciences at degree level. But I hadn’t studied the A level science subjects I needed to get onto the course. “It was an excellent entry route, and provided me with the skills, knowledge and confidence I needed to go on to do the degree.”

"I started with a Foundation Year which helped me build the knowledge and skills I needed for my degree, from teamwork and creative thinking, to problem-solving and team-leading. "The University isn’t just helping you to achieve a degree but is preparing you to progress in the real world."