You don’t need to have a string of 'A' grades to go to university and get a degree. Access and foundation courses could offer you the chance to go on to study for a degree or a HND in just one year. The traditional method for students to enter degree programmes is still by using qualifications such as A-levels, Scottish Highers, or NVQs. However, students without formal qualifications in their chosen discipline can also qualify to study a degree by choosing to go on an access or foundation course.

Full-time access or foundation courses usually last for one year and focus either on a particular subject or group of subjects. For example, you can take courses in teaching, science, maths, performing arts, business or even dance. If you can’t decide then there is the option to take a general ‘Access to Higher Education’ course. Whatever your study choice, there are hundreds of courses to choose from to suit your abilities and interests.

The main difference between the two is that access courses provide a general introduction to higher education at any institution, while foundation courses often lead directly to a particular course at one university – this usually means the additional benefit of an automatic place so long as you pass the course. Access and foundation courses often have specific selection criteria and institutions may require details of previous study, work experience and career plans. In making their decision, the college will consider your background, interests and abilities. If your chosen institutions accept applications via the internet then this is the best way to apply to speed up your application. It is likely that you will be asked for an interview. This is the college’s chance to get to know you better, but it will also give you a feel for the college and the course, so ask as many questions as you like. Foundation degree students are entitled to the same financial student support as all other higher education students. This support may include student loans, assistance with tuition fees and special bursaries. Support is usually means tested and varies for full-time and part-time students.

Comprehensive information on tuition fees, loans, grants and bursaries can be found on the Directgov student finance website. Information about bursaries offered by universities and colleges can be found using the bursary map on the Directgov student finance website. You usually don’t need any higher formal qualifications for access courses, just basic numeric and literacy skills. Some foundation courses require you to have reached a certain level of qualification before you start. For example, an art foundation course in England will require you to have a GCSE grade C. Similarly, Scottish and Irish students might have to have reached a certain level in their Highers or on their Irish Leaving Certificate – normally in English and Maths.