Social Sciences with a Foundation Year Foundation studies
4-6 years full-time (Foundation year + Undergraduate course + Optional placement year)
- Typical offer
- BBB Entry requirements
- Fees
-
UK: £9,250International: N/A
- UCAS code
-
L3FY
- Start date
- October 2023
- Institute code
- L79
- Subject area
- Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy
Overview
This course is primarily for candidates who have not studied the prerequisite subjects needed for first year entry, or have not met their expected entrance requirements due to adverse situations, or because of their sporting commitments, as well as mature students returning to education or care leavers.
Completing a foundation year will enable you to progress onto the first year of one of our Social Sciences degree courses, provided the relevant progression criteria are met
Our foundation course is taught in-house by University staff. As a student on the course you will be a full member of the University, with the same access to the Students’ Union, clubs, societies, sports facilities and support departments.
You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials. During the year you will undertake modules in Psychology with Sociology, with optional modules in Biology, Economics, Sport Science, Business and Statistical Mathematics.
Completing a foundation year can be a real attribute to your overall degree success. It not only opens doors to courses that may have previously looked closed, but also provides a sound base on which to establish a successful academic career. Many who have completed the foundation year have also said how beneficial it was to them in supporting their transition into University life.
The Foundation Studies course also offers the opportunity for students performing at a very high standard in their chosen sport, who wish to study at Loughborough, but do not have the required qualifications due to sporting commitments. It is ideal for students who wish to combine their sports training with academic study. If you think your sport profile qualifies you to be considered for the elite athletes programme, please contact performancesport@lboro.ac.uk before applying.
Why you should choose us
What you'll study
The Foundation Programme is integrated into your degree and prepares you for degree-level study in a supportive learning environment. Our modules are taught by University academics who have significant experience of teaching in Higher or Further Education, pursue research in innovation in e-learning and help to shape the National Foundation Year Network policies.
When you come to study a foundation programme, you will have both compulsory and optional modules (which are pathway dependant) that prepare you for your chosen degree subject. These are taught within the same high tech University spaces as those studying undergraduate degrees. For subsequent undergraduate course modules, see individual course pages.
The information below is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study. Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year. Please see Terms and Conditions of Study for more information.
Semester 1 & 2
Compulsory
School of Science Academic Guidance
The aims of this module are for students to:
- identify the University academic services and how to access support;
- demonstrate the academic scholarship skills required to succeed in higher education;
- know the regulations and ordinances surrounding student progression and awards;
- identify and develop the Independent HE Learning and transferable skills of the Loughborough Graduate Attributes framework.
Semester 1
Compulsory
Sociology
The aims of this module are to:
- provide students with an introduction to some of the classical thinkers in sociology (eg Marx, Weber, Durkheim)
- provide students with an introduction to some of the main areas of concern for sociologists such as family change, gender, social class, race and ethnicity
- provide students with the concepts, skills and knowledge to understand social issues such as inequality
- provide students with an understanding of the processes of socialisation and social control.
Optional
Modelling with Mathematics
The aim of this module is to develop competence in basic techniques of mathematics and statistics of relevance to a range of degree courses.
Physical Geography
The aim of this module is to enable the student to gain knowledge, understanding and skills in human and physical geography at a level suitable for entry into a geography degree programme.
Introduction to Sport and Exercise Science 1
The aim of this module is to develop students' understanding of some of the key concepts underpinning sport and exercise physiology and sports performance analysis.
Basic Microeconomics
The aims of this module are:
- to provide an introduction to basic microeconomics
- to recognise the principles in everyday events
- to develop academic essay writing skills applicable to economics.
Biology 1
The aims of this module are to:
- introduce the fundamental concepts of the human biological system
- understand the causes and effects of some diseases
- foster appropriate scientific enquiry and presentation methods.
Business Finance
The aims of this module are to enable students to draw up financial statements from given data, to introduce basic theory relating to financial aspects in the business, and to familiarise students with the practical application of financial information, not usually covered at A level.
Semester 2
Compulsory
Introduction to Psychology
The aims of this module are to provide students with an understanding of core areas of psychology (cognitive, biological, developmental), and of some of the key psychological concepts and theories associated with these.
Optional
Introduction to Statistics
The aim of this module is to develop competence in basic techniques of mathematics and statistics of relevance to a range of degree courses.
Human Geography
The aim of this module is to enable the student to gain knowledge, understanding and skills in human and physical geography at a level suitable for entry into a geography degree programme.
Introduction to Sport and Exercise Science 2
The aim of this module is to develop students' understanding of some of the key concepts underpinning sport psychology, sport sociology and sport pedagogy.
Basic Macroeconomics
The aims of this module are:
- to provide an introduction to basic macroeconomics
- to apply the theory to everyday events
- to develop basic research and reporting skills.
Biology 2
This module introduces the fundamental concepts of plants, ecosystems, variation, genetics and classification.
Introduction to Marketing
The aims of this module are to introduce students to the basic concepts relevant to marketing and to awaken creative skills needed for the marketing world.
How you'll study
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Tutorials
- Independent study
- Group work
- Workshops
- Laboratory work
- Practical sessions
How you'll be assessed
Foundation modules are assessed via written exams and/ or coursework assignments.
Some modules are continually assessed throughout the year. Typical coursework assignments include: laboratory reports, essays, poster presentations, assessed tutorials, workshops and peer review (review fellow students’ performance). It is expected that for every hour you are in a structured class, you should spend two hours of your own time researching, writing up, learning work or doing set questions etc.
Elite athlete pathway available
Our foundation programme now also offers the opportunity for students performing at a very high sporting level who are looking to join one of our performance programmes and study at Loughborough, but do not have the required qualifications due to sporting commitments.
The Elite Athlete Foundation Programme is ideal for students who wish to combine their sports training with academic study. We generally define ‘elite athlete level’ as competing at junior international level or higher, or expecting to do so within the next 12 months.
If you think your sport profile qualifies you to be considered for the elite athletes programme, please contact performancesport@lboro.ac.uk before applying.
Where you'll study
You'll have access to a wide range of first-class facilities
Entry requirements
To learn more about the qualifications we typically accept, please select your country from the drop-down menu below.
General entry requirements
The entry requirements for each course should be read alongside the University’s general entry requirements which give further details on acceptable subjects, alternative UK and international qualifications and minimum English language requirements.
Contextual admissions
The University’s admissions process uses contextual information to provide insights into the context in which your academic qualifications have been achieved. This may influence the typical offers listed below.
United Kingdom
- Typical A-Level offer
-
BBB
- Typical IB offer
-
32 points overall
- Typical BTEC offer
-
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma: DDD
- GCSE
-
A minimum of 5 GCSEs grades 7 - 4 (A to C) are normally required, including Maths plus GCSE English Language Grade 4/C.
Selection
This course enables entry into a selection of our Social Sciences courses for students that have not studied the correct subjects, or not quite achieved the qualifications required, perhaps due to illness, family issues or other commitments. Offers will not normally be made to those who apply simply because their A-level grades/predictions are below the requirements for direct entry to the degree course.
Students who are eligible for this course include:
- Those wishing to study a degree without the appropriate background
- Students performing at a very high standard in a chosen sport, who wish to study at Loughborough, but do not have the required qualifications due to sporting commitments
- Mature students returning to education
- Those who did not meet their expected entrance requirements due to illness or other adverse situations
- Students with alternative backgrounds and qualifications
Applications are treated on a case by case basis and a number of other personal situations may also be considered. Applicants are usually selected solely on the basis of their UCAS application, but in exceptional cases, an interview and/or maths test may be required. If applicants are made an offer of a place they will be invited to visit the department, meet staff and students, see facilities and get an insight into what it is like to be a student at Loughborough.
*If you think your sport profile qualifies you to be considered for the elite athletes programme, please contact performancesport@lboro.ac.uk before applying.
Tuition fees for 2023 entry
UK fees
- Full-time course per annum
- £9,250
International fees
- Full-time course per annum
- N/A
The UK fees stated above may be subject to change following government review. We will update this information as soon as it is available. Fees are reviewed annually and are likely to take into account inflationary pressures. Please note that the fees stated above are for the foundation year only. Please see individual course pages for subsequent fee information.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, IT equipment and other support services. University fees and charges can be paid in advance and there are several methods of payment, including online payments and payment by instalment.
Additional costs
While the cost of your tuition covers lots of things, it doesn’t cover everything. For instance, this course doesn’t cover the cost of any stationery, printing, books or re-assessments which you might need.
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