Two people posing together in a set of four photo booth pictures. In each photo, they are smiling and making various hand signs. The background features vibrant graphics with the words

Going from a foundation degree to a bachelor's degree

A selfie of Tofunmi. Close-up indoor portrait of a person with a textured hair style featuring small buns and loose curls, wearing hoop earrings and a dark top, smiling at the camera.

Tofunmi Davies-Awe

Computer Science BSc(Hons)

Hi I’m Tofunmi, and I’m about to start Year 2 of my Computer Science degree. I started at Huddersfield on a Foundation Engineering degree before progressing onto my Computer Science BSc!

Open day banner on desktop

If you’re reading this, there is a strong chance you didn’t meet the entry requirements for your chosen course, but hey it’s not the end of the world, it’s actually the perfect headstart for your degree!

Going into foundation year I went through all the stages of grief, it was so foreign to me, and I thought it meant I’d be behind, but looking back at it, it was a blessing in disguise.

What is a foundation year?

Essentially, it’s like a hybrid between college and university, the curriculum itself was centred around key A-Level concepts, in my case for Computer Science there were things like basic algorithms, binary maths and more.

Even though the topics were familiar, the delivery was completely new, my foundation year was taught with a university schedule and academic style. 

Instead of being spoon-fed information in a classroom, I now had to learn how to navigate:

  • Lectures: where the big concepts were introduced
  • Seminars: where we put those concepts into practice
  • Independent study: learning how to manage my own time, research and coursework outside of class
Sparck Jones student common room. A room featuring a red and white interior with a row of lockers on the left. In the center, there are vending machines, one displaying Coca-Cola products. Overhead, modern lighting is suspended from a wooden ceiling. In the foreground, part of a light-coloured sofa is visible.
On my foundation year, I was on campus a lot, so finding a place to relax during the gaps in my timetable was essential - for me that's the student common room in the Spärck Jones Building.

Comparing the degrees

Compared to my 1st year of study on my bachelor’s degree, my foundation year required a lot of commitment.

We had classes almost every day and depending on the module, we had a tight knit classes of about 12 people and this meant that the lecturers paid a lot of attention to us individually.

This is a big difference to the first year on my bachelor’s degree, where most teaching takes place in massive lecture halls/practical rooms.

Another key difference is your foundation year timetable. It is structured to help you build a routine compared to 1st year where you have more time and have to learn how to manage your time.

Tofunmi at netball. Selfie-style photo taken in an indoor sports hall, showing a person in a light blue sports jersey with long twisted hair. Wooden benches, coats and bags can be seen behind.
My timetable was quite different in Year 1 compared to foundation year, I was able to balance study and hobbies more - and in year one I found time to pick up playing netball more often.

My advice to you

My advice to you if you’re considering if a foundation year is the right path for you is:

  1. If you’re new to the subject (you have no A-Levels or BTECs related to it) this foundation degree would be a massive help to you. It gives you a leg up and ensures that you’re on the same level playing field of those that have prior qualifications. 
  2. Foundation year gives you the year to figure out your study habits and work-life balance. This is the time to learn more about yourself - what works for you and what doesn’t.
  3. Use your foundation degree to build a close relationship with your lecturers. Because of how intimate the classes are you, have the opportunity to talk to the lectures more, don’t be shy, ask questions no matter how stupid you think they are.
  4. You are not a failure and you’re not ‘behind’. Just because you’re taking four years instead of three to get your degree, does not mean you’re falling behind your peers. Thanks to my foundation degree, I actually felt miles ahead of direct entry students when I started Year 1, while they were stressing, I already knew how to write academic essays, use the university library and where to get the best coffee on campus!

Open Days at Huddersfield

What is life like as a student in Huddersfield? Hear it straight from our current students as they write about their Open Day experience when they attended.

Find out more

Which University?

Read more articles from current students at Huddersfield describing how they chose their course and why.

Find out more