Foundation year courses
Our foundation year courses lead to a wide range of undergraduate degrees across the University.
You’ll be taught by specialist foundation year staff and supported by academic skills and pastoral support teams to make sure you’re in a strong position to start your undergraduate degree.
These courses are designed for applicants whose backgrounds mean they’re less likely to attend university (also known as widening participation backgrounds) and who don’t meet the typical entry requirements for an undergraduate degree. This means we consider additional factors about your background when you apply, such as work and life experience. If you’re a mature applicant who doesn’t hold formal qualifications like GCSEs and A-levels, some of our courses accept applicants through the alternative entry scheme for mature students.
Foundation year courses are available to learners of all ages, from those who have recently completed compulsory education to adult learners who have had a break in their education.
In 2023, more than 300 foundation year students started their undergraduate journey at Leeds.
Full-time foundation year courses
This four-year course will introduce you to key academic ideas within Arts and Humanities and immerse you in a university experience that is enquiring, creative and focused on the world around us. You’ll be able to progress into a range of arts and humanities courses at Leeds.
This four-year course allows you to follow a dedicated pathway which will allow you to study towards an undergraduate degree from Leeds University Business School.
This four-year course provides intensive, well-structured support to enable your progression onto a science-related degree.
This four-year science conversion course is designed for high-achieving students who wish to progress to a degree in a scientific discipline but haven’t taken the prerequisite science and mathematics subjects at A-level.
This six-year course (a foundation year with a run through into the five-year MBChB medical degree) is designed specifically for students from widening participation backgrounds hoping to take their first steps into medicine.
This four-year course gives you the skills for studying social sciences at undergraduate level.
Part-time foundation year courses
This one-year part-time foundation year provides a supportive environment to help you prepare for the transition to university study and gain the academic knowledge and study skills you’ll need to succeed.
Our online courses, Masters degrees, full-time undergraduate courses and apprenticeships are also open to students of all ages. Use Course Search to find the course for you.
The International Foundation Year is designed for international students.
The support you get from the lecturers and skills team is amazing. I feel prepared to go on to my undergraduate degree.