Arts and Humanities Courses with Foundation Year

Course overview

The foundation year entry route is for talented UK students who do not meet the usual criteria for our degrees (see personal circumstances). It is an opportunity for you to develop key skills before progressing to a choice of 22 courses. These skills include communication, critical thinking, teamwork, and digital capability.

Our dedicated foundation year tutors will support you throughout the year and help you develop as a learner. This ensures you have the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence before you start your chosen degree. Teaching sessions vary, including lectures, seminars and interactive digital media workshops. You will also meet tutors from your chosen degree.

You will be a full member of the University of Nottingham from the outset, with all the experiences and opportunities this offers.

Despite arriving at Nottingham with less than perfect A-level results I have gone on to achieve first class marks so far during my time at university. The catalyst for that change is not only the support networks, but also the variety of assessment methods. I admit that I hate exams! But I discovered that in essays I perform really well. Because the foundation year has a really wide variety of different assessments, you can find your niche and start to improve yourself.

Calvin

a past Arts Foundation student

Why choose this course? 

• Thrive as a student - Gain the skills and confidence during the foundation year to thrive as an undergraduate
• Great support - Benefit from dedicated foundation year tutors
• No need to worry - You'll progress automatically to your chosen BA course upon successfully completing the foundation year, there's no need to reapply
• Build employability - Develop your employability through integrated professional competencies training during the foundation year
• Choice of 22 degrees - This Foundation Year qualifies you for a choice of 22 undergraduate degrees. Only five require specific subjects at A level or equivalent. 
  
• Skills gained - The programme concentrates on developing skills essential for successful degree-level study. These include communication, critical thinking, teamwork and digital ability

Direct entry courses

After completing your Foundation Year course, you can move onto the below:

• American and Canadian Studies (Study Abroad) BA
• Ancient History BA
• Archaeology BA
• Classical Civilisation BA
• English BA
• English Language and Literature BA
• Film and Television Studies BA
• French Studies BA
• German BA
• Hispanic Studies BA
• History BA
• History of Art BA
• International Media and Communications Studies BA
• Liberal Arts BA
• Modern Languages BA (with a year abroad)
• Modern Languages BA (without a year abroad)
• Modern Language Studies BA
• Modern Languages with Translation BA
• Music BA
• Philosophy BA
• Religion, Philosophy and Ethics BA
• Russian Studies BA
• Theology and Religious Studies BA

Modules

The below modules are mandatory for all Arts and Humanities foundation courses:

• Important Thinkers Through History
• Critical Thinking and Reflective Learning
• Language and Culture
• Media, Communications and Society
• Narrative and Creativity
• The Project / Language Centre Modules

Skills

The programme concentrates on developing skills essential for successful degree-level study. These include:

• communication
• critical thinking
• teamwork
• digital ability

Personal circumstances

This course is part of the University’s commitment to widening participation. As well as meeting the academic entry requirements (BCC), you must have attended a UK state school/college and meet at least one of the following personal background criteria:

1. you live in an area where people are less likely to go to university – check your postcode
2. you are the first generation in your family to enter higher education
3. you will be over 21 years old when you begin your course
4. you have spent more than three months in local authority care (for this criterion you do not need to have attended a state school)
5. you have refugee status from the Home Office
6. you need to study in the East Midlands (for example for family, cultural or financial reasons)
7. you provide long term care of a sick or disabled family member

Where relevant you should include reference to 5, 6 and 7 in your personal statement, or provide this information via artssupport@nottingham.ac.uk when you submit your UCAS application.

Alternative courses for EU/International students

This course is not available to EU/international students. Instead, you may consider the Business, Law and Social Sciences Foundation Certificate. This is offered through the University of Nottingham International College in partnership with Kaplan International Pathways.

Teaching and support

• Small groups allow you space to develop in a supportive environment.
• Varied teaching sessions from lectures, seminars, interactive multimedia labs to one-to-one module-based tutorials.
• At least 12 hours of scheduled contact time each week. The Foundation team will always make time to support you outside these contact hours depending on your needs.
• Award winning team - awarded a Lord Dearing Award 2021 for their "high levels of commitment to teaching and learning".
• Dedicated Foundation Year staff who know your needs and learning styles.
• Personal tutor to help with both academic and non-academic issues.
• Full access to all the university-wide support services.