This discussion is now closed.

Check out other Related discussions

How many UCAS points are foundation courses worth?

username247300

5

How many UCAS points are foundation courses worth? Are they equivalent to 3 A levels like Access courses are?

Reply 1

cheercoach101

6

do you mean a foundation nvq?

Reply 2

never say never

King-Panther

How many UCAS points are foundation courses worth? Are they equivalent to 3 A levels like Access courses are?

None.

Are you asking about the university foundation year ?

They are a preparation for university study and are not graded using the UCAS tarriff.I think they are a bit different as they are subject/field specific and sharply geared towards a prospective/potential course to be studied after completion of the course e.g engineering foundation for eng. degree.

I 'd hazard a guess that they are "theoretically" equivalent to access courses/A levels.

They are somewhat similar to access courses but many/most foundation years are run by the university department hence a more "focused" style of learning.They teach you what you need to know for that degree without wasting time on irrelevant material (e.g A level).
Access seem to be a bit "general" just like A level.

Are you planning on the foundation route ?

Reply 3

cheercoach101

6

could you be more specific about foundation? do you mean foundation access? foundation gnvq? foundation diploma?

Either way, they dont actually have ucas points allocated to them. They are judged differently.

Reply 4

Stettin

I'm doing a foundation year Engineering this September since I did an Access course and didn't really feel like going to a really **** Uni.

From what I've heard it's basically for people who did subjects like History and Arts and don't have a background in Level 3 maths. So everything will be focused on making sure that when the Student enters Year1 they are more then good enough to compete with the other math heads.

A maths teacher told me that if I did really good (didn't specify how good) I can skip Year 1 and move straight into Year 2. I'm not sure that though.

Reply 5

never say never

Stettin

I'm doing a foundation year Engineering this September since I did an Access course and didn't really feel like going to a really **** Uni.

Quite a few decent universities take on access students as well(engineering.). e.g Nottingham,YorK.

From what I've heard it's basically for people who did subjects like History and Arts and don't have a background in Level 3 maths. So everything will be focused on making sure that when the Student enters Year1 they are more then good enough to compete with the other math heads.

People who for whatever reason don't have the required academic grounding/qualifications (mature students,probably studied inappropriate subjects) to get straight on to the first year and have to be brought up to scratch.You can also get that level 3 maths/physics etc on an access course and move to first year.

QUOTE]A maths teacher told me that if I did really good (didn't specify how good) I can skip Year 1 and move straight into Year 2. I'm not sure that though.

How is that possible ?

Reply 6

laura_802

15

Stettin

I'm doing a foundation year Engineering this September since I did an Access course and didn't really feel like going to a really **** Uni.

From what I've heard it's basically for people who did subjects like History and Arts and don't have a background in Level 3 maths. So everything will be focused on making sure that when the Student enters Year1 they are more then good enough to compete with the other math heads.

A maths teacher told me that if I did really good (didn't specify how good) I can skip Year 1 and move straight into Year 2. I'm not sure that though.

My boyfriend is in the exact same position as you. He did an access course and is now doing a foundation year in engineering at a red brick university. I don't think its for people who did humanties subjects, the entry requirements on this particular course specified that a B in a science A Level or equilivant was necessary.

I'm not really sure about skipping a year. I wouldn't have thought this would be allowed as surely the whole point of a foundation year is to prepare for the standard needed at first year degree level.

Reply 7

username247300

OP

5

Well, I've done a foundation course in Architecture, an 'access to science' course and this September I will be doing a foundation diploma in art & design.

Reply 8

username247300

OP

5

Stettin

I'm doing a foundation year Engineering this September since I did an Access course and didn't really feel like going to a really **** Uni.

From what I've heard it's basically for people who did subjects like History and Arts and don't have a background in Level 3 maths. So everything will be focused on making sure that when the Student enters Year1 they are more then good enough to compete with the other math heads.

A maths teacher told me that if I did really good (didn't specify how good) I can skip Year 1 and move straight into Year 2. I'm not sure that though.

Where are you doing your foundation and where do you plan to do your degree?

Reply 9

Stettin

King-Panther

Where are you doing your foundation and where do you plan to do your degree?

At UWE. After the first year I have the option of choosing which engineering field to choose. I noticed something about their Engineering courses. Apparently the first year is the same with different universities. So If your good you can move Unis. Hopefully I might get one closer to London.

Reply 10

username247300

OP

5

Stettin

At UWE. After the first year I have the option of choosing which engineering field to choose. I noticed something about their Engineering courses. Apparently the first year is the same with different universities. So If your good you can move Unis. Hopefully I might get one closer to London.

You should try UCL, I don't know about Imperial as they don't except access courses.

Reply 11

Stettin

King-Panther

You should try UCL, I don't know about Imperial as they don't except access courses.

You know what. I'll keep that in mind. I didn't apply to really good Unis like UCL because I didn't want to waste an offer. However with a access course, a foundation degree and a relevant first year. It should be more then enough to get me in.

Reply 12

cheercoach101

6

Stettin

You know what. I'll keep that in mind. I didn't apply to really good Unis like UCL because I didn't want to waste an offer. However with a access course, a foundation degree and a relevant first year. It should be more then enough to get me in.

Be careful with that one though. I dont know what you mean by **** uni's but even they arent recruiting many transfer students. If you have a place at uni then hold on to it. Letting it go may well be a gamble that lands you with nothing.

At my uni for example, im working clearing hotline and we turned down a girl who had 4 A-D's in her Alevels, had done a social work foundation degree at southampton university and had done a two year placement through social services only because she had a D in gcse Maths.

With the government capping places and the fear from uni's of being fined for going over that cap, uni's are taking exactly the number of people they can and are thining out the herd by taking the people with only the best grades.

So, im not saying you wont get in through transfer, but its hard enough for people to get into 2nd and 3rd year transfers. If you want to transfer into a first year elsewhere, just be aware that unconditionals, internationals and those who meet their conditions are all considered before you.

You will also not the guarenteed accomodation.

I suggest you get on the phone pretty early on the 19th to the uni's you want to go to.

And youre right, you cant skip a year and go into your second for a foundation because it defeats the whole purpose of the foundation degree.

Sorry if this message seems a bit grim but they are just some things we are telling people on the phone and dont want you to end up caught out.

Good luck to you and keep us posted.
xx

Reply 13

tarwe

14

Stettin

A maths teacher told me that if I did really good (didn't specify how good) I can skip Year 1 and move straight into Year 2. I'm not sure that though.

That is only if you do a foundation degree or HNC/D.

Reply 14

School_Stuff1

1

Original post by Stettin

I'm doing a foundation year Engineering this September since I did an Access course and didn't really feel like going to a really **** Uni.

From what I've heard it's basically for people who did subjects like History and Arts and don't have a background in Level 3 maths. So everything will be focused on making sure that when the Student enters Year1 they are more then good enough to compete with the other math heads.

A maths teacher told me that if I did really good (didn't specify how good) I can skip Year 1 and move straight into Year 2. I'm not sure that though.

Thanks for this information. I was planning to do the same route. I really want to do civil engineering but I didn't chose the correct A-levels. I wanted to ask some questions:
Can you change uni after the foundation course?
Is an access course better than a foundation year course?
What uni are you planning to go to or are attending?
Is there anything important to look for within the engineering department?

Thanks for your time.

(edited 1 year ago)

Original post by School_Stuff1

Thanks for this information. I was planning to do the same route. I really want to do civil engineering but I didn't chose the correct A-levels. I wanted to ask some questions:
Can you change uni after the foundation course?
Is an access course better than a foundation year course?
What uni are you planning to go to or are attending?
Is there anything important to look for within the engineering department?

Thanks for your time.

The person you quoted posted this 13 years ago

How many UCAS points are foundation courses worth?

Related discussions

Articles for you