What is a Foundation Year?
Find out everything you need to know about studying a foundation year at the University of Winchester.
View contentA Foundation Year is an extra year of study at the start of your course (Year 0) which leads onto a full degree programme (Years 1, 2 and 3).
In Year 0, you study a set of modules from across your Faculty which are designed to develop your academic and practical skills. This broader focus in your first year introduces you to studying at university level and provides you with a better understanding of your own degree pathway and related disciplines. You will experience a variety of teaching methods including lectures, discussion-based seminars and independent study. You will also receive support to boost your academic skills to prepare you for onward study at Winchester.
In Years 1-3, you specialise in your chosen subject area and can begin to choose optional modules to further tailor the course to your interests.
We have around 40 Foundation Year courses to choose from – take a look at the options below.
Courses with a Foundation Year
In the Faculty of Arts
We hope to spark your creativity and unleash your potential as we help equip you to confidently pursue your passions and a career in the arts and creative media industries.
The Faculty of Arts has extensively grown its family of cultural partners across the city and further afield providing a range of exciting opportunities. We currently have partnerships with Theatre Royal Winchester; Blue Apple Theatre; the Hat Fair, the city’s outdoor performance festival; Winchester Film Festival; and Winchester Poetry Festival.
In Year 0, you study a broad range of modules from across the Faculty of Arts which are designed to develop your academic and practical skills. In Years 1-3, you specialise in your chosen subject area and can begin to choose optional modules to further tailor the course to your interests.
BA (Hons) Creative Writing (with Foundation Year)
BA (Hons) English Literature (with Foundation Year)
In the Faculty of Business, Law and Digital Technologies
We are proud to be a United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) Champion, helping to build the next generation of business leaders capable of managing the complex economic, environmental and social challenges faced in the twenty-first century.
Across the Faculty of Business, Law and Digital Technologies, we constantly build links with the professional community to ensure our teaching is relevant and that you will graduate possessing essential employability skills ready for a successful future.
In Year 0, you study a broad range of modules from across the Faculty which are designed to develop your academic and practical skills. You will become acquainted with good business practices along with relevant legal and ethical frameworks. In Years 1-3, you specialise in your chosen subject area and can begin to choose optional modules to further tailor the course to your interests.
BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance (with Foundation Year)
BA (Hons) Business Management (with Foundation Year)
BSc (Hons) Computer Science (with Foundation Year)
BA (Hons) Event Management (with Foundation Year)
In the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Join our thriving community where our team of dedicated lecturers and active researchers will inspire you for the future. We hope to equip you to enter your chosen profession with advanced subject expertise, highly relevant transferable skills and the confidence to interrogate the big questions of the past, present and future.
In Year 0, you study a broad range of modules from across the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences which are designed to develop your academic skills and expose you to a wide range of disciplines. In Years 1-3, you specialise in your chosen subject area and can begin to choose optional modules to further tailor the course to your interests.
BA (Hons) Anthropology (with Foundation Year)
BA (Hons) Archaeology (with Foundation Year)
BA (Hons) Classical Studies (with Foundation Year)
BA (Hons) Criminology (with Foundation Year)
BA (Hons) History (with Foundation Year)
BA (Hons) Medieval History (with Foundation Year)
BA (Hons) Philosophy (with Foundation Year)
BA (Hons) Politics with International Relations (with Foundation Year)
In the Faculty of Education
Study education in its broadest sense and graduate with a set of skills which will enable you to thrive across a range of professions and be an advocate for positive change. We believe education can be a force for good in society, and we believe that you can be the one to make it happen.
In Year 0, you study a broad range of modules from across the Faculty of Education which are designed to develop your academic and practical skills. In Years 1-3, you specialise in your chosen subject area and can begin to choose optional modules to further tailor the course to your interests.
BA (Hons) Education Studies (with Foundation Year)
BA (Hons) Education Studies and Early Childhood (with Foundation Year)
BA (Hons) Education Studies and Special Educational Needs (with Foundation Year)
BA (Hons) Education and English Literature (with Foundation Year)
BA (Hons) Education and Youth Studies (with Foundation Year)
Learn more about the Foundation Year at Winchester
Why study a Foundation Year?
A Foundation Year at Winchester may be the right choice for you if you:
- Are returning to education after a break in your studies
- Have not quite achieved the entry qualifications required for your chosen undergraduate course
- Are wanting more support during the transition to university study
- Are not quite sure which subject you wish to pursue
It is the perfect way to boost your academic skills, build your confidence and develop your wider subject knowledge at the start of your university experience, so you can reach your full potential and succeed at Winchester.
Don’t just take our word for it – hear from Winchester students who loved their Foundation experience.
What happens after Year 0?
Successful completion of your first year, Year 0, automatically guarantees you a place on the relevant linked undergraduate degree course – so you progress onto the next level, Year 1.
Many of our Foundation Year courses also offer you the option to change course after Year 0 if you wish; for example, moving from completing Year 0 on the Creative Writing (with Foundation Year) course to starting Year 1 on the Media and Communication course.
When you start Year 1, some students will have also completed a Foundation Year and some students may be starting directly at this level. Many students who have already completed a year at Winchester find this advantageous as you will be familiar with the University learning environment.
Succeeding at University
All students studying a Foundation Year benefit from the ‘Succeeding at University’ module which helps build your self-awareness and confidence in your academic ability. You will identify your own preferred learning style, and how to use this to your advantage, and learn how to search, identify and understand suitable academic resources. You will develop your academic writing and strategies for approaching assessments. There are opportunities to engage in discussions and debate, as well as giving/receiving constructive feedback.
Academic Skills support
Whether you are beginning your university journey or returning to education after a break, we are here to help you develop your academic skills throughout your time with us. There is no need to feel daunted at the thought of taking your studies to the next level.
Our Academic Skills Advisers support all students – regardless of your study level, ability or course – to help you achieve your full potential. We cover a wide range of topics including academic writing; assignment planning; critical thinking and analysis; exam revision; grammar; presentation skills; proof reading; punctuation; referencing; reflective writing; report writing; research skills; and time management.
You can access support via group workshops; one-to-one appointments with an Adviser; and SkillsNet, our bank of online resources. We also have an Academic Skills mentoring scheme where you can be paired with a student ‘SMART Buddy’ who you meet with on a weekly basis to build your confidence and to help you to study efficiently and effectively.