January intake

Student sitting outside accommodation, looking at digital tablet, with text overlay: 'January foundation year'

How is it taught? Accommodation Key semester dates Jan start UCAS codes FAQ's

January start Foundation Year - Key information

We offer a January start for some of our Foundation Year courses. Adopting a blended learning approach (with the majority of learning taking place online, and approximately two weeks per semester on campus), the January start is particularly useful for students wishing to return to education following time out of studying, or those who are seeking a flexible approach to their Foundation Year studies. Successful completion of the January start Foundation Year guarantees progression on to a full-time undergraduate programme on campus.

Our January start is available across many of our courses in Health*, Science*, Humanities, Social Science, and Business.*

*Please note: Unfortunately we are unable to offer a January intake for all of our Health routes. We also do not offer a January intake for the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery degree with Foundation Year.

How will the course be taught?

Whilst still being a full-time course, our blended delivery model combines live teaching sessions - both online and on-campus - with self-directed study, enabling you to predominantly study at a time that suits your lifestyle. You will benefit from weekly online taught sessions which encourage you to engage with your teachers and peers.

In addition to online study there will be a series of full study days that you will be required to attend on campus throughout each semester. These sessions may include lab-based activities, group work, or a review of course and assessment materials studied online. They will emphasise opportunities for you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of your chosen route.

Accommodation

As our January start Foundation Year has a blended mode of delivery, with only limited on-campus days, we strongly encourage students not to apply for University accommodation.

January UCAS Codes

To find the UCAS code for your January start Foundation Year, click here.

Explore our courses with a January entry Foundation Year

Key semester dates

Please note, as a January Foundation Year starter, you will undertake Semesters Two and Three only (as Semester One runs from September - December).

	Start	End
Semester Two	January (induction)	April
Semester Three	April	July
Reassessment period	Late August
Progression to year one of degree	September

What will the semester be like?

Pre-Induction

Before induction week, you will be sent some tasks to help get you ready for your studies
These will be independently completed, there are no taught sessions in this period and no specific times where you have to study
The tasks will help you get organised and prepare you for coming onto campus and studying on the programme

Semester Two starts Monday 18 January 2027.

Week 0 (18 to 22 January): Induction. You will be ON CAMPUS for this week. This is an opportunity to meet fellow students, tutors, and your academic mentor. You will also explore your modules and prepare to start your studies
Week 1 (25 to 29 January): Semester Two teaching starts with all learning materials and live sessions ONLINE. You are welcome to come on to campus to study in one of our social learning spaces, but you can study from wherever suits you best

You will be studying ONLINE in weeks 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 and can expect:

4 x 2 hour timetabled sessions per week (science skills sessions may vary)
Self-study materials online to access when it best suits you
Tasks set each week such as practice questions, tutorial preparations, experiments, or working towards assessments
Regular group session with your academic mentor to check in and learn some study skills

Week 5 (22 to 25 February): Back ON CAMPUS.

All your usual sessions are face-to-face this week
You may find some changes to the usual timetable, depending on your modules

Week 6-8: ONLINE (1 March - 19 March)

Your sessions will be back online for this period
Semester 2 will continue after the Easter break

Independent Study Period over Easter (22 March - 9 April)

There is a 3 week period over Easter where there will be no scheduled sessions
Each module will set you some tasks which should take you around two weeks to complete
You can complete these tasks at any point over the period which is convenient for you
We recommend taking a 1 week break during this period

Week 9 ONLINE (12 April to 16 April):

The final week of semester 2

Semester Three starts Monday 19 April 2027.

Week 1 - 3 (19 April – 8 May): Online
Week 4 (10 – 14 May): On campus. Some additional sessions may be scheduled depending on modules
Week 5 - 9 (17 May – 18 June): Online
Week 10 (6 – 10 July): Assessment week on campus only for students with exams
This semester runs until 25 June
It will follow a similar format as Semester Two, with some differences to scheduled sessions depending on modules

January intake entry requirements

Entry requirements for our foundation years start from 40 UCAS Tariff points. However, we will also consider applicants who may not have traditional academic qualifications but have work experience or vocational qualifications.

How to apply

Waiting for your qualifications? Apply through UCAS

UK students who are waiting for qualifications/results should apply through UCAS at www.ucas.com

You will find the UCAS code for the Foundation Course you are interested in in the UCAS codes table below.

Already have your qualifications? Apply direct

If you are a UK student, already have your qualifications, are not expecting any further results and only wish to apply to Keele, please contact the Admissions Office directly on admissions@keele.ac.uk

Subject	UCAS Course Title	UCAS Code
Accounting and Finance	Bachelor's Business Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	BFY1
Accounting with Business Analytics	Bachelor's Business Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	BFY1
Animation	Bachelor's Humanities Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HUFY
Astrophysics with Integrated Master's	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Banking and Finance	Bachelor's Business Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	BFY1
Biochemistry BSc and MSci	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Biochemistry and Neuroscience BSc and MSci	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Bioengineering (Regenerative Medicine)	Bachelor's Health Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HEFY
Biology BSc and MSci	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Biomedical Science	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Bioveterinary Science BSc and MSci	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Business Management	Bachelor's Business Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	BFY1
Business Management and Accounting	Bachelor's Business Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	BFY1
Business Management and Economics	Bachelor's Business Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	BFY1
Business Management and Finance	Bachelor's Business Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	BFY1
Business Management and Marketing	Bachelor's Business Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	BFY1
Business Management with Analytics	Bachelor's Business Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	BFY1
Business Management with Entrepreneurship	Bachelor's Business Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	BFY1
Business Management with Events	Bachelor's Business Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	BFY1
Business Management with Hospitality	Bachelor's Business Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	BFY1
Business Management with Human Resources	Bachelor's Business Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	BFY1
Business Management with International Tourism	Bachelor's Business Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	BFY1
Business Management with Supply Chain	Bachelor's Business Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	BFY1
Business Management with Sustainability	Bachelor's Business Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	BFY1
Business Technology	Bachelor's Business Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	BFY1
Chemical Engineering BEng and MEng	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Chemistry BSc and MChem	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Chemistry with Mathematics BSc and MChem	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Chemistry with Materials Chemistry BSc and MChem	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry BSc and MChem	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Civil Engineering BEng and MEng	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Computer Science BSc and MCOMP	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Computer Science and Mathematics	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence)	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Computer Science (Digital Forensics)	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Computer Science (Software Engineering)	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Computer Science and Music Production	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Creative Writing	Bachelor's Humanities Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HUFY
Criminology	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Criminology and Criminal Justice	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Criminology and History	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Criminology and Sociology	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Cyber Security	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Data Science	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Digital Media	Bachelor's Humanities Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HUFY
Digital Media and Marketing	Bachelor's Humanities Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HUFY
Digital Media and Music Production	Bachelor's Humanities Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HUFY
Digital Media and Sociology	Bachelor's Humanities Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HUFY
Ecology and Conservation BSc and MSci	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Economics BA and BSc	Bachelor's Business Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	BFY1
Economics and Finance	Bachelor's Business Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	BFY1
Education	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Education and English	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
History and Education	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Philosophy and Education	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Education and Sociology	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Electrical and Electronic Engineering BEng and MEng	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Engineering BEng and MEng	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
English	Bachelor's Humanities Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HUFY
English and Creative Writing	Bachelor's Humanities Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HUFY
English and Film Studies	Bachelor's Humanities Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HUFY
English and History	Bachelor's Humanities Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HUFY
English and Philosophy	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Environmental Science BSc and MSci	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Environmental Science and Geography BSc and MSci	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Esports Business Management	Bachelor's Business Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	BFY1
Film Studies	Bachelor's Humanities Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HUFY
Film Studies and Creative Writing	Bachelor's Humanities Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HUFY
Film and Media Studies	Bachelor's Humanities Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HUFY
Film and Music Production	Bachelor's Humanities Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HUFY
Forensic Biology BSc and MSci	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Forensic Chemistry BSc and MChem	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Forensic Psychology	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Forensic Science BSc and MSci	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Forensic Science with Criminology	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Game Design	Bachelor's Humanities Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HUFY
Geography (Human) BSc and MSci	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Geography (Physical) BSc and MSci	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Geography (Human and Physical) BSc and MSci	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Geography with Business Management BSc and MSci	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Geology BSc and MSci	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Geology (Applied Geophysics) BSc and MSci	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Geology (Environmental Geoscience) BSc and MSci	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Geology (Volcanology) BSc and MSci	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Geology and Physical Geography BSc and MSci	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Graphic Design	Bachelor's Humanities Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HUFY
Health and Social Care	Bachelor's Health Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HEFY
History	Bachelor's Humanities Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HUFY
Psychology with Human Biology	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Human Anatomy	Bachelor's Health Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HEFY
International Business Management	Bachelor's Business Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	BFY1
International Relations	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Politics and International Relations	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Law	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Law with Business	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Law with Criminology	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Law with Politics	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Law with Professional Legal Practice	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Marketing	Bachelor's Business Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	BFY1
Mathematics BSc and MMath	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Mathematics (Applied Mathematics)	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Mathematics (Pure Mathematics)	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Mathematics (with Statistics)	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Mechanical Engineering BEng and MEng	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Mechatronic Engineering BEng and MEng	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Media and Communications	Bachelor's Humanities Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HUFY
Media with Business Management	Bachelor's Humanities Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HUFY
Microbiology and Immunology BSc and MSCi	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Modern History and International Relations	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Modern History and Politics	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Music Production and Sound Design	Bachelor's Humanities Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HUFY
Music Production with Business Management	Bachelor's Humanities Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HUFY
Neuroscience	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Neuroscience with Artificial Intelligence	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Neuroscience with Psychology	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Nursing Adult	Bachelor's Health Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HEFY
Nursing Mental Health	Bachelor's Health Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HEFY
Nursing Children's - FULL	Bachelor's Health Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HEFY
Pharmaceutical Science	Bachelor's Health Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HEFY
Pharmacology BSc and MSci	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Philosophy	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Philosophy, Politics and Economics	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Philosophy and Politics	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Psychology with Philosophy	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Physics	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Physics with Artificial Intelligence	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Physics with Astrophysics	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Physics with Mathematics	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Physics with Renewable Energy	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Politics	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Politics and Sociology	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Politics with Economics	Bachelor's Business Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	BFY1
Psychology	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Psychology with Criminology	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Psychology in Education	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Psychology with Sociology	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Psychology with Counselling	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Psychology with Placement Year	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Psychology with Neuroscience	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Psychology with Sociology	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Rehabilitation and Exercise Science	Bachelor's Health Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HEFY
Social Sciences	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Social Work	Bachelor's Health Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HEFY
Sociology	Bachelor's Social Sciences Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SSFY
Sport and Exercise Psychology	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1
Sport and Exercise Science	Bachelor's Health Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	HEFY
Sports Business Management	Bachelor's Business Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	BFY1
Sustainability and Environment Management BSc and MSci	Bachelor's Science Degree with a Blended Learning Foundation Year	SFY1

Frequently asked questions

Please read the FAQ section below for advice and guidance on any specific questions you may have relating to the Foundation Year January intake.

Digital Learning gives students access to a variety of high quality, on-demand digital resources that students have access to, including Microsoft Sway, OneNote and PowerPoint.
Asynchronous Lectures are learning resources such as lecture videos that are made available for students to engage with prior to the associated taught session(s).
Online or in-person lectures involve the live broadcast of a lecturer providing a framework for learning of module content with the aid of PowerPoint presentations, whiteboards and other visual aids. Many lectures will have some interactive aspects and may involve activities for the students to undertake. There are usually opportunities to ask questions.
Tutorials and seminars are small group sessions with a member of staff. There is usually much more participation by students than in lectures. There is often opportunity for students to suggest the topics to be discussed, to ask questions and even to lead part of the session. Tutorials and seminars usually support the material delivered in the lectures, often allowing students and/or staff to introduce supplementary material.
Workshops are small group sessions based around an activity. These may be individual or group activities. A member of staff facilitates the session, but the learning comes through the undertaking of the activity. Some 6 workshops will complement the material delivered in the lectures rather than build on it directly. Students are expected to play a full part in - and occasionally to lead - these activities.
Seminars and online discussions provide opportunities for students to ask questions about, and suggest answers to, questions arising from their learning and present their own ideas using an appropriate medium of communication.
Laboratory classes provide opportunity for students to perform experiments and other practical work under supervision.
Team-based learning and problem-based learning are group work classes that are facilitated by a tutor. Students complete a series of tasks to actively learn about a subject.
Directed learning activities are set by tutors and completed by students independently, or as part of a group.
Independent study includes revision, wider reading around the subject, preparation and writing of assignments, preparatory reading, preparation for seminars and tutorials, and developing skills to complement the material delivered in class. Reading lists are provided to help students direct their reading.
Apart from these formal activities, students are also provided with regular opportunities to talk through areas of difficulty and any other special learning needs they may have with their Academic Mentor.

The fee for the Foundation Year is set for an academic year. See F oundation Year course fees for 2025/26 for more information.

Following successful progression on to undergraduate programmes, course fees for UK students are set by the UK government. Tuition fees for September 2025 entry are £9,535.

We currently offer January Foundation Year routes into degrees across *Science, Humanities, Social Sciences and Business. Students wishing to study a health related subject can only apply for a September intake.

*We are currently unable to offer a January intake for the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery with Foundation Year degree.

Please see our January entry Foundation Year A-Z for the full list of courses that offer a January start Foundation Year.

All of the degrees run by the Schools listed below can be accessed via a January Foundation Year route.

Faculty of Natural Sciences:

School of Computer Science and Mathematics
School of Life Sciences
School of Geography, Geology and the Environment
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
School of Psychology

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences:

Keele Business School
School of Humanities
School of Law
School of Social, Political and Global Studies

The January and September programmes are very similar, and both cohorts study a total of 120 credits. Modules will be determined by your degree choice, although modules delivered from January may differ from the modules delivered in September. Both cohorts will take a combination of subject-specific modules and study-skills modules which will provide you with a solid grounding in your subject area.

If you commence your course in January, for the purpose of calculating your maintenance loan entitlement, January will be used by the Student Loans Company (SLC) as the start month for each year of your maintenance loan. You will receive each year's maintenance loan, paid into your bank account, in three equal instalments, paid in the following months:

Year 1 (Foundation Year and first semester of Level 4) - January, April and September

Year 2 (Remainder of Level 4 and first semester of Level 5) - January, April and September

Year 3 (Remainder of Level 5 and first semester of Level 6) - January, April and September

Year 4 (Remainder of Level 6) - January, February and April

Your maintenance loan entitlement will be calculated based upon the number of teaching weeks in each of the above years. Since Year 4 (Remainder of Level 6) will finish in May, there will be fewer teaching weeks than in years 1 to 3, so your maintenance loan entitlement will be lower to reflect the shorter period of teaching. However, this will still be paid in three equal instalments, in the months noted above.

UK students who are waiting for qualifications/results should apply through UCAS at www.ucas.com

You will find the UCAS code for the Foundation Course you are interested in on the relevant main undergraduate course page, under the "Foundation Year" section.

If you are a UK student, already have your qualifications, are not expecting any further results and only wish to apply to Keele, please contact the Admissions Office directly on admissions@keele.ac.uk

Applying for University accommodation is usually not necessary as the majority of this programme is delivered online, enabling you to study from wherever suits you best.

If you are starting your Foundation Year in January, and do wish to apply for accommodation on campus, there will be limited rooms on campus available.
Please note that you may be placed in a household of students who arrived at the start of Semester 1.
If we are unable to offer you a room on campus, we will support you in finding a room off campus with one of our accredited landlords.
You can find out more about living off campus at www.keele.ac.uk/discover/accommodation/otheraccommodation/livingoffcampus