Lay the foundations of your success
Our Degrees with Foundation Year offer an alternative and supportive route into higher education. The integrated foundation years are specifically designed to equip you with the knowledge needed for degree-level learning. You will learn new ways to study, gain the skills needed for university study, get a good introduction to your subject area, experience university life and receive a guaranteed place on your chosen degree once you pass.
After you successfully complete the foundation year you will progress on to Year 1 of your full degree course. You’ll be well on your way to gaining a full honours degree, ready to start your career.
Why study a Foundation year?
There may be lots of reasons why you may not feel ready to start your degree-level study right now. In September 2024, over 800 students started a Degree with Foundation Year here at the University of Westminster.
- You may not have the required qualifications for your chosen degree
- Perhaps your interests have changed, and you want to switch to a different subject
- You might be nervous about returning to study after taking a break from education
- You want to make sure a degree is right for you
Whatever your reason, by choosing to extend your undergraduate degree with a foundation year, you can make your dreams a reality and give yourself the edge. You’ll be more prepared and better equipped to deal with the opportunities and challenges of university life. We’ll support you every step of the way and connect you with people like you; people who want a better education, a bigger career and a brighter future.
Why Westminster?
Highly practical, our Degrees with Foundation Year offer a great introduction to the skills and knowledge needed for university studies and the relevant professional learning for your chosen degree. We’ll encourage you to be creative, critical and entrepreneurial. You’ll start to see yourself differently and realise you have what it takes to succeed.
- Build your confidence with positive experiences of guided and independent learning
- Learn academic skills and subject knowledge to smooth your transition to a degree
- Develop personalised study plans to guide and improve your learning
- Receive tailored feedback that identifies your strengths and helps overcome any weaknesses
- Engage with commerce and industry in one of the world’s major cities
What subjects with a Foundation year do we offer at Westminster?
We’ll support you every step of the way
On our Degrees with Foundation Year, you have full access to our support services, facilities and benefits from day one. Here, you come first.
- Bespoke mentoring scheme to support your transition to university.
- Career coaching to nurture academic, professional and personal success.
- Fully trained and experienced counsellors offer one-to-one or group sessions.
- Excellent facilities include 24-hour libraries, state-of-the-art science laboratories, advanced IT services, online learning resources, art, design, film and TV studios, world-class audio recording studios, galleries, sports and recreational facilities, and one of the few Bloomberg Financial Markets Suites in the UK.
International Students Foundation
For international students wishing to study at the University of Westminster, we work in partnership with Kaplan International College London to provide specialised Foundation programmes.
These programmes are specifically tailored to meet the needs of international students who are progressing to the UK, allowing you to advance to the University of Westminster and study with confidence.
These courses include subject-specific academic modules alongside English language tuition at a range of levels. You can find out more about these courses, including how to apply on the Kaplan Pathways website.
Undergraduate open days
Attending an open day is a great way to get a feel for student life at the University of Westminster. You’ll be able to:
- Explore our central London and Harrow campuses on student-led tours.
- Speak with lecturers and attend subject sessions.
- Learn how we support your future career through placements, study abroad opportunities and mentoring.
- Chat with current students.
- Ask questions about accommodation applying, student finance and more.
What our students say
Joseph Vaz
Contemporary Media Practice BA with Foundation - 2019
The Foundation year prepared me for degree-level studies and strengthened my confidence. I was introduced to reading for academic purposes, writing academic papers and providing citations and references in essays, and felt I had an advantage when starting my degree. As a Foundation year student, you will be supported and encouraged to do amazing things!
Daniel Harkins
Business Management with Foundation BA - 2020
As a mature student, doing the Foundation year helped me to refresh my skills, gave me the entry requirements needed for my degree, and improved my confidence. The level of encouragement and support I received as somebody with extra learning needs was beyond anything I would have expected, and I appreciated the friendliness of the Westminster staff and the positive environment.
Athanasia Markou
Psychology and Counselling with Foundation BSc - 2018
Studying a Foundation year gave me time to consider if my degree was right for me. It also prepared me to write in academic language, reference, work effectively in groups and research for projects using academic literature. My favourite thing about the year was the sense of belonging and unity between the students, and the support and encouragement from our tutors.
Chat with our students
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Contact us
Contact our Course Enquiries Team:
0207 911 5000 ext 65511
Opening hours: 10am–4pm Monday to Friday