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Foundation Study

Foundation level study offers an accessible route into undergraduate study if you don't quite meet our regular entry requirements, earned your qualifications a long time ago, or want to follow a new career direction.

Why study a degree with a foundation year?

A degree with a foundation year opens a clear pathway to your desired degree. With an extra year of study at the beginning of your course, you can acquire the essential subject knowledge and study skills necessary for the first year of your honours degree. This ensures you're fully prepared to hit the ground running and make the most of your academic journey.

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Who can apply?

Consider a degree with a foundation year if:

  • You achieved qualifications in the past and wish to refresh your study skills and subject knowledge to boost your confidence before starting your degree course.
  • You are changing career or pursuing new passions and want to make sure you have relevant knowledge in a new subject area.
  • Your qualifications do not meet the entry requirements for your desired honours degree.

For full entry requirements, please refer to our degree with foundation year courses.


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What can I study?

We offer degrees with a foundation year in a wide variety of subject areas from business and engineering to psychology and sciences.

Explore our course pages to see if your chosen degree has this pathway, or browse the complete list here. If not, don’t worry. Reach out to us via our live chat, and we may be able to discuss other similar courses that align with your goals. We're here to help you find what’s right for you.


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Can I receive funding?

Doing a degree with foundation year does not impact your eligibility. You will have the opportunity to apply for tuition fees and maintenance loans through Student Finance England.

However, it's important to note that if after successfully completing your foundation year, you choose to continue your degree at an institution outside the Coventry University Group, you may be liable for the course fees. This means that you would be responsible for paying the tuition fees directly to the new institution. For example, if you transfer to another university or choose to study abroad, you might need to arrange and finance your education independently.


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Where will I study?

If you choose to pursue a degree with a foundation year at Coventry University, you will study the foundation year at our CU Coventry campus, which is part of the Coventry University Group. It is conveniently located close to the main Coventry University campus, with the student support you may need when starting university.

Upon successfully completing your foundation year, you will continue your degree studies at our Coventry University campus.

If you choose Coventry University London, your foundation year will be at our CU London Greenwich campus in North Greenwich. After successfully completing the foundation year, you'll study your degree at our Coventry University London campus.

During your foundation year, you'll study alongside students who are pursuing related degrees. This offers you the chance to establish connections and form friendships with a diverse group of people who share similar interests and aspirations.

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Foundation year courses

We also offer other foundation year options that are not integrated into degrees, giving you flexibility to progress onto a range of degrees.


Foundation Year courses are taught across the Coventry University group. You can choose to study in Coventry, London or Scarborough.


Find out about our Art, Design and Media Practice Foundation.

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Foundation routes for international students

If you are an international student we offer international pathway programmes with foundation or pre-master's study routes. These programmes are designed to prepare international students for higher education study.


We offer multiple IELTS entry options for each route to suit your ability, so if you need more English support you can get it, but if not, you can progress to your degree course more quickly.

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