University Foundation Year

MrJJ2024

Can you leave your studies fully once you have completed your foundation year or are you obliged to stay and go on to your chosen degree I have type 1 diabetes and many mental health conditions I have ASD (Autism) and I am finding myself doubting myself almost all the time even when I'm at home and not on campus so this is why I'd like to know the answer to this question who knows I may gain more confidence or even prove myself wrong but I'd still like to know the answer just incase I find myself in the situation needing the answer to this question.

Reply 1

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post by MrJJ2024

You can drop-out of university whenever you like - one day or one year into the course, of 1 day before completion. However, you'll still have to pay back any student loan and will likely be without a qualification (depending on exactly when you dropped out).

A better option would be to request a leave of absence, whereby you temporarily withdraw from the university, with the intention of returning after (for example) a year.

Note that a foundation year is not a qualification in its own right, and is intended to be a "stepping-stone" to the main degree at that same university. So if you did leave after the foundation year, and then wanted to restart, you may well have to do the foundation year if you wanted to study elsewhere instead.