Foundation year routes

Covid-19 information and FAQs for applicants, students and staff >

Foundation year routes

An alternative route into all of the degrees at Keele

Choosing your degree and foundation year

The Keele Foundation Year is one of the longest running of its type in the UK, well known at national level and with a good reputation in the higher education sector. It has been praised in the past – by education experts from Keele and other universities – for offering “an authentic university experience for students”, providing a genuine opportunity for students to join the University who have the potential to succeed.

We offer an integrated foundation year, which means that you will study a foundation year linked to the undergraduate degree you wish to progress to on successful completion. Therefore, in addition to broad-based academic and personal development, course content is tailored to your chosen degree and the relevant broader subject area, which are listed below.

Business fy image 345x240

Our Foundation Year for business courses is a great introduction to studying a business subject at university. You’ll learn how businesses operate and the factors that shape the nature of organisations in a complex, competitive global business world.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

Core topics covered include business and management, business finance and economic data, and the employment lifecycle. Acknowledging the impact of digital developments, we’ll also consider how technology and ‘Big data’ is being used to inform decision-making, improve customer service and create efficiency savings.‌

Your first semester acts mainly as an introduction to university learning and to your subject, which you may not have studied before. Focused on the academic skills, tools and knowledge required for higher learning, it is designed to ease your transition to degree-level study. You will need to pass all modules (minimum 40%) to progress to the second semester. This then develops your knowledge and understanding of Business and prepares you to undertake academic research, which culminates with your dissertation at the end of your degree. On the successful completion of all modules in Semester 2 (minimum 50%), you will progress to your guaranteed place on the undergraduate degree programme within the Keele Business School. The listed progression requirements are for academic year 2021/22 and are for general information only. Progression requirements may be subject to change and are not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of progression requirements.

The Keele Business School is co-located in new state-of-the art facilities and is home for courses such as accounting, business management, economics, finance, human resources management, international business, management and marketing programmes. As well as new teaching spaces the building is unique in also being home to business incubator space, meaning that you’ll study alongside innovative companies that are based in the building.

Studying a Foundation Year in a business subject will give you the skills and knowledge to help you stand out from the crowd, and on progressing onto an undergraduate course within the Keele Business School, you can use these new skills to take opportunities such as a work placement, international year or entrepreneurship year to increase your employability.

Learning outcomes

When you successfully complete this Foundation Year, you will be better prepared for your degree studies and be able to do the following:

Skills and Knowledge

A
C
A
D
E
M
I
C

Obtain, critically select and analyse information from a range of sources to demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of a given subject area.
Select and use a range of research skills, solve problems, take decisions critically and reflectively to achieve planned assessment outcomes.
Write a clearly and convincingly argued, well structured, coherent, purposeful essay in a style conforming to academic conventions.
Acknowledge and evaluate opposing or conflicting information, ideas and data.
Cite and reference source material using the appropriate referencing system.
Select and use a range of communication skills and media to present evidenced outcomes and conclusions in a seminar-based format.

S
U
B
J
E
C
T

Understand and interpret financial statements.
Assess economic models and their impact on stakeholder decision making.
Use a range of techniques, calculations and simply mathematical models to business data to analyse business and economic problems.
Analyse business choices in relation to sustainability and ethical issues.
Illustrate and analyse the impact of digital business and disruptive technology on consumers, businesses and industries.

Explore our Foundation Year programmes

health fy 345x240

Designed to develop your understanding of broad health-related principles, our Foundation Year is a great way of preparing you for your undergraduate health degree.

Our courses allow you to develop skills and knowledge including numeracy, chemistry for health and biology for health. You’ll also look at how health professionals behave in a variety of settings, beginning your preparations for eventual professional practice. With a large range of modules, from active anatomy to physical and inorganic chemistry, your studies will be tailored to your chosen degree programme.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

PROGRESSION

The below progression requirements are for the academic year 2021/22 and are for general information only. Progression requirements may be subject to change and are not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of progression requirements.

Programme	Semester 1	Semester 2
Medicine	40% or above in all modules	70% in the remaining 75 credits
Pharmacy	40% or above in all modules	65% average in the remaining 75 credits plus an interview
Physiotherapy	40% or above in all modules	60% average in the remaining 75 credits
Midwifery	40% or above in all modules	60% average in the remaining 75 credits
Radiography	40% or above in all modules	60% average in the remaining 75 credits
Social Work	40% or above in all modules	55% average in the remaining 75 credits
Pharmaceutical Science, Technology and Business	40% or above in all modules	55% average in the remaining 60 credits
Nursing (all routes)	40% or above in all modules	50% average in the remaining 75 credits
Rehabilitation and Exercise Science	40% or above in all modules	50% average in the remaining 75 credits
Public Health	40% or above in all modules	45% average in the remaining 75 credits

Learning outcomes

When you successfully complete this Foundation Year, you will be better prepared for your degree studies and be able to do the following:

Skills and Knowledge

A
C
A
D
E
M
I
C

Obtain, critically select and analyse information from a range of sources to demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of a given subject area.
Select and use a range of research skills, solve problems, take decisions critically and reflectively to achieve planned assessment outcomes.
Write a clearly and convincingly argued, well structured, coherent, purposeful essay in a style conforming to academic conventions.
Acknowledge and evaluate opposing or conflicting information, ideas and data.
Cite and reference source material using the appropriate referencing system.
Select and use a range of communication skills and media to present evidenced outcomes and conclusions in a seminar-based format.

S
U
B
J
E
C
T

Achieve a broad knowledge and understanding of a range of health related subjects.
Develop appropriate professional standards and values, exploring your future interactions with the public as a health professional.
Analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific information to make judgements and reach conclusions.
Safely carry out and report practical chemistry experiments, using a range of laboratory techniques.
Discuss concepts of health and social care and identify key public health issues and interventions.
Behave in an appropriate manner for a health professional in a range of settings.

Explore our Foundation Year programmes

Humanities fy image 345x240

Studying a Foundation Year at Keele will give you a great introduction to many subject areas. Humanities are academic disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture, such as history, law and politics, philosophy and literature. You will get the opportunity to cover a variety of social and political issues, trends, problems and key concepts, such as power, class, rights and gender, on campus by academic experts.

We’ll also examine some of the major cultural and technical developments in the 19^th century, including the independence of states and societies, industrialism and colonisation.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

Our first semester acts mainly as an introduction to university learning and to your subject, which you may not have studied before. Focused on the academic skills, tools and knowledge required for higher learning, it is designed to ease your transition to degree-level study. You will need to pass all modules (minimum 40%) to progress to the second semester. This then develops your knowledge and understanding of Humanities and prepares you to undertake academic research, which culminates with your dissertation at the end of your degree. On the successful completion of all modules in Semester 2 (minimum 50%), you will progress to your guaranteed place on the undergraduate degree programme. The listed progression requirements are for academic year 2021/22 and are for general information only. Progression requirements may be subject to change and are not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of progression requirements.

Learning outcomes

When you successfully complete this Foundation Year, you will be better prepared for your degree studies and be able to do the following:

Skills and Knowledge

A
C
A
D
E
M
I
C

Obtain, critically select and analyse information from a range of sources to demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of a given subject area.
Select and use a range of research skills, solve problems, take decisions critically and reflectively to achieve planned assessment outcomes.
Write a clearly and convincingly argued, well structured, coherent, purposeful essay in a style conforming to academic conventions.
Acknowledge and evaluate opposing or conflicting information, ideas and data.
Cite and reference source material using the appropriate referencing system.
Select and use a range of communication skills and media to present evidenced outcomes and conclusions in a seminar-based format.

S
U
B
J
E
C
T

Be familiar with the diverse and broad nature of source material across the Humanities.
Discuss a variety of social and political issues, trends and problems.
Explain historical events including Victorian England and the establishment of the US (as we know it today) from competing perspectives and interpretations.
Use appropriate methods to analyse key concepts (power, poverty, class, rights, gender etc.) in the humanities.
Understand and discuss the concepts of colonialism, modernity, modernization and historical change.
Demonstrate awareness of different perspectives and historical/political obstacles and opportunities.

Explore our Foundation Year programmes

Strengthen your scientific knowledge by studying a Foundation Year in core science subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Geography, Geology and the Environment, Maths, Physics and Psychology.

You'll get the opportunity to study areas that interest you with a wide range of modules, while being taught on campus by subject experts and gaining knowledge in a range of areas from numerical and computational skills, to the ability to analyse/interpret data and use mathematical calculations to solve problems.

Throughout your Keele degree you will have access to state of the art science facilities and equipment, giving you the chance to become familiar with bespoke software to present numerical data geographically, developing your analytical, team working and problem-solving skills. You will also be able to familiarise yourself with essential lab techniques, such as sampling, preparing samples, using the microscopes and recording lab notes.

Our facilities provide an enriched learning experience and have been designed to offer new ways to learn, helping you to progress onto your undergraduate degree feeling with your new skills and experiences.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

PROGRESSION

Programme	Semester 1	Semester 2
SCIENCES (EXCEPT VETMED) 50% or above in all modules	40% or above in all modules	50% or above in all modules
VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY	40% or above in all modules	70% or above in all modules plus pass the selection event and complete the appropriate work experience

Learning outcomes

When you successfully complete this Foundation Year, you will be better prepared for your degree studies and be able to do the following:

Skills and Knowledge

A
C
A
D
E
M
I
C

Obtain, critically select and analyse information from a range of sources to demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of a given subject area.
Select and use a range of research skills, solve problems, take decisions critically and reflectively to achieve planned assessment outcomes.
Write a clearly and convincingly argued, well structured, coherent, purposeful essay in a style conforming to academic conventions.
Acknowledge and evaluate opposing or conflicting information, ideas and data.
Cite and reference source material using the appropriate referencing system.
Select and use a range of communication skills and media to present evidenced outcomes and conclusions in a seminar-based format.

Explore our Foundation Year programmes

law students

Studying a social science Foundation Year will allow you to seek to address difficult questions and/or answers that might point the way to a more just and sustainable future for humanity.

On this course, you’ll learn about the history of social and political thought, studying political and social movements in Europe and the modern world. You’ll cover both historical traditions and contemporary developments, developing your questioning and analytical skills, while gaining a greater understanding of the issues and changing ideas in our complex and ever-evolving modern society.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

Your first semester acts mainly as an introduction to university learning and to your subject, which you may not have studied before. Focused on the academic skills, tools and knowledge required for higher learning, it is designed to ease your transition to degree-level study. You will need to pass all modules (minimum 40%) to progress to the second semester. This then develops your knowledge and understanding of Social Sciences and prepares you to undertake academic research, which culminates with your dissertation at the end of your degree. On the successful completion of all modules in Semester 2 (minimum 50%), you will progress to your guaranteed place on the undergraduate degree programme. The listed progression requirements are for academic year 2021/22 and are for general information only. Progression requirements may be subject to change and are not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of progression requirements.

Learning outcomes

When you successfully complete this Foundation Year, you will be better prepared for your degree studies and be able to do the following:

Skills and Knowledge

A
C
A
D
E
M
I
C

Obtain, critically select and analyse information from a range of sources to demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of a given subject area.
Select and use a range of research skills, solve problems, take decisions critically and reflectively to achieve planned assessment outcomes.
Write a clearly and convincingly argued, well structured, coherent, purposeful essay in a style conforming to academic conventions.
Acknowledge and evaluate opposing or conflicting information, ideas and data.
Cite and reference source material using the appropriate referencing system.
Select and use a range of communication skills and media to present evidenced outcomes and conclusions in a seminar-based format.

S
U
B
J
E
C
T

Understand the concepts, policies and practices around social inclusion and how to avoid exclusion.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the social, political and economic contexts that may inform debates on migration and globalisation.
Investigate and analyse the impacts of industrialisation, de-industrialisation and gentrification on local communities.
Apply theoretical and conceptual knowledge to lived experiences.
Evaluate key aspects of theoretical and empirical research on social inclusion, social exclusion, industrialisation, de-industrialisation and gentrification.

Explore our Foundation Year programmes

The mature student experience

In this video, Emily discusses how the Foundation Year provided her with a head start in her academic degree and has given her opportunities to advance her career.