A Foundation Year at Lincoln Bishop – all you need to know!

From defining a Foundation Year and explaining the benefits, to myth-busting popular misconceptions, our Programme Leader, Hannah Grenham, explains everything you need to know! 

What is a Foundation Year? 

We’ve developed most of our undergraduate degrees with a Foundation Year option to give you an alternative route to studying a degree. Studying a course with a Foundation Year is the ideal option for you if you don’t have the usual academic qualifications or UCAS points necessary for normal entry onto a degree course. It is not a stand-alone qualification but is designed to underpin specific degree programmes to which it is directly attached. 

For example: Instead of direct entry onto a BA (Hons) English Literature course you’ll study BA (Hons) English Literature with Foundation Year. Once you’ve successfully completed your Foundation Year you’ll progress onto your subject specific modules. To find out more about our 41 undergraduate courses available with a Foundation Year, please click here! 

Studying a degree with a Foundation Year gives you a great introduction to what it means to be a university student, equipping you with the necessary skills and knowledge for effective undergraduate study.

What are the benefits of studying a Foundation Year? 

When the Class of 2025 graduated in July, almost one-quarter of graduates celebrating from the schools of Education, Health, and Lifelong Learning and Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences started their university studies with a Foundation Year. For these students, the third cohort of the Foundation Year, graduation marked the culmination of four years of hard work and dedication, and the results speak for themselves. 

Over 70% of these Foundation Year ‘alumni’ graduated in 2025 with either First Class Honours or Upper Second Class Honours (‘2:1’)*.

These results show that the Foundation Year can provide a supportive foundation for students not only to transition into Higher Education, but to go on to thrive and excel throughout their studies. While the idea of adding an extra year of study may seem daunting, the fantastic outcomes shown by these Foundation Year alumni demonstrate that it can be an enhancement to completing a degree.

Myth-busting a Foundation Year

Myth: You only do a Foundation Year if you’ve failed – FALSE

Our students choose to undertake a Foundation Year for all sorts of reasons. The one thing they have in common is that they’re keen to start their educational journeys but want some additional support in doing so.

Myth: A Foundation Year is boring – FALSE

One of the great things about our Foundation Year programme is that it is multidisciplinary, meaning that you can investigate different areas of your chosen subject, or even explore topics or disciplines outside of that subject. Some of our students end up doing a completely different subject to the one they thought they would at the start!

Myth: Foundation Years are only about learning study skills – FALSE

The core curriculum of the Foundation Year programme is academic skills, but the Foundation Year is about so much more than that. Not only will you be introduced to your subject and have the chance to explore different topics that interest you, but you’ll also learn essential skills like managing your time and you’ll develop self-confidence as a learner at university. You’ll learn to navigate the campus, get to grips with the online systems, and access all the resources on offer, so that when you move on the following year, you’re already a step ahead.

Hear from our Programme Leader for Foundation Year: 

Hannah Grenham said: “Students are increasingly taking up different options that suit them as they begin their educational journeys, so you might want to consider looking into what the Foundation Year has to offer and whether it suits your needs. 

“You can see which of our programmes include a Foundation Year option on our website or get in touch with us with any questions that you might have.” 

To find out more about a Foundation Year at Lincoln Bishop University, please click here!

*Results analysed from Lincoln Bishop University’s Student Records System.