The University of Cambridge’s Foundation Year Programme offers a fully-funded, year-long, residential programme, targeted at students who have experienced a range of educational disadvantages or disruptions.
The academic entry requirement is 120 UCAS points. This is equivalent to BBB at A-Level, but allows for easy equivalence of a wide range of Level 3 qualifications, and for fair consideration of combinations of qualifications such as BTECs and A-Levels.
The new Foundation Year will admit its first class of students in October 2022. Interested students will apply directly to the Foundation Year via UCAS by the January 2022 deadline for study beginning in October 2022. You can find out more here: www.cam.ac.uk/foundationyear.
Students admitted to the Foundation Year will also receive a full scholarship to cover rent and other living costs.
On the Foundation Year, students can expect a challenging academic curriculum in the arts, humanities and social sciences. This offers the best possible preparation for the rigours of a Cambridge degree by broadening and deepening knowledge and understanding as well as introducing the ways students learn at Cambridge.
Students admitted onto the Foundation Year will become part of a College community; they will live alongside other undergraduates and have full access to all the University’s societies and facilities. Their learning will be supported by lectures, seminars and supervisions.
An important aspect of the programme is to provide a new pathway to a Cambridge degree for students who have experienced disadvantage and disruption during their education. Therefore, from an early stage in the Foundation Year’s academic programme, senior academic staff in Colleges will be providing students with advice and support regarding their degree subject choice.
All Foundation Year students who complete the programme with a Pass or above will receive a recognised Level 4 CertHE qualification from the University of Cambridge, which will enable them to access a wide range of undergraduate level courses. Those attaining at 65% or higher will be able – should they wish to do so – to progress straight through to a full undergraduate degree at Cambridge in one of eighteen courses in the arts, humanities and social sciences.
