Learning and Teaching FD

This Foundation degree is designed for people currently engaged in providing support for learning and/or teaching not just in schools but in a wide range of learning support roles including the voluntary sector, libraries and museums. Firmly rooted in professional practice, it aims to take you from a learning support role to one where you have the responsibility for delivering and managing learning.

This course will equip you to question and critically analyse education policies and initiatives and make an informed contribution to your organisation. It is structured and delivered in such a way that you have the opportunity to understand and assimilate new ideas and concepts and to apply these in practice.

The course is taught one afternoon a week so you can fit study alongside your work and family commitments. You’ll be taught by friendly and supportive staff, experienced in working with adult learners and with substantial professional experience in the sector.

On successful completion you can progress to the Learning and Teaching BA top-up degree. Many of our Foundation Degree and BA graduates progress to managerial positions both within and outside the education sector.

Additional support

We know that many mature and part-time students face unique challenges, including balancing academic study with family and employment commitments. The Lifelong Learning Centre provides specialist guidance, advice and support to mature and part-time students, from pre-application right through to graduation and beyond.

Join us at our virtual taster session on Tuesday 14 June at 6pm to find out more about our foundation degrees in Learning and Teaching and Learning and Teaching with Special Educational Needs and Disability. Book your place.

Want to visit us on campus? Join us at our in-person Foundation degrees taster day on Saturday 2 July at 10am to find out about the different courses we offer and the opportunity to chat with tutors and current students. Book your place.

The Foundation Degree and top-up BA are firmly rooted in professional practice and combine scholarly activities with learning through experience of work. The course develops your skills in supporting learners and optional modules allow you to develop more specialised skills and knowledge in areas which affect your own practice.

In year 1 you’ll cover Academic Skills and How Learners Learn and will be introduced to Child Development, Inclusion and SEND. In years 2 and 3 core modules cover Developing Teaching Skills, Education Perspectives and Policy, Creating Learning Resources and Understanding Research. You also choose optional modules which may include areas such as Introduction to Dyslexia, Counselling Skills, Coaching and Mentoring, Mental Health, Families and Young People.

On successful completion of the Foundation Degree, you can progress onto the BA Learning and Teaching top-up degree, which will involve a further two years part-time study.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Learning and Teaching FD in the course catalogue

Modules

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Discovery modules

Throughout your degree you will benefit from a range of opportunities to expand your intellectual horizons outside or within your subject area.

This course gives you the opportunity to choose from a range of discovery modules. They’re a great way to tailor your study around your interests or career aspirations and help you stand out from the crowd when you graduate. Find out more about discovery modules on our Broadening webpages.

Learning and teaching

Teaching is imaginative and supportive to make sure that you are intellectually stretched and helped to become an independent inquirer. Group sizes are small enabling you to engage actively and be well supported.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

Assessments are varied and include essays, projects, case studies, individual and group presentations and posters. This wide range gives you the opportunity to work to your strengths and to gain skills in different forms of expression.

Entry requirements

A-level: 3 A-level passes or equivalent eg CACHE level 3

GCSE: English and Maths grade C/4 or above, or equivalent.

T Levels will be considered on a case by case basis.

Other course specific tests:

Applicants must also be engaged in relevant work (paid or voluntary) with a minimum 60 hours a year. Consideration will be given to your life experience and the circumstances in which you have gained prior qualifications.

• Access to HE Diploma

  Complete 60 credits with 45 credits at Level 3 of which 30 must be at Merit or above and 15 at Pass.

• Other Qualifications

  CACHE level 3

Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the School’s Undergraduate Admissions Team.

Alternative entry

Alternative Entry for Mature Applicants
If you are a mature applicant (over 21 at the point of entry) and if you don't have the required A Level or GCSE qualifications, you can complete our Alternative Entry Scheme. As part of this you may be asked to take tests in English and maths and to write an essay. Contact the Lifelong Learning Centre for more information.

If you are a mature student or want to study part-time the Lifelong Learning Centre offers a free, confidential and impartial pre-entry guidance service. Our experienced staff can also talk to you about how you might meet the entry criteria and what support may be available to you.

How to apply

For guidance on applying to a Lifelong Learning Centre course, visit out admissions guidance page.

Apply to this course through the Lifelong Learning Centre.

We will treat all applications individually. We’ll take into account an applicant’s life experience and the circumstances in which they have gained qualifications and we encourage you to cover these things in your personal statement.

Your application will be reviewed by the Admissions team, and if you’re successful you’ll be invited to an interview which will involve a piece of writing. If you’re entering through the Alternative Entry Scheme you’ll be sent details after your interview.

Once you’re made an offer you’ll be asked to engage with KickStart. This is a pre-entry programme designed to ease your move into studying at the University of Leeds.

Admissions policy

Lifelong Learning Centre Admissions Policy 2023

Fees

UK: See fees section below

International: Not open to international

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2022/23
For UK full-time undergraduate students starting in 2022/23 the fee will be £9,250. The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation and as permitted by law. Fees for UK undergraduate students are decided by the government and may vary if policy changes.

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2023/24
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students for 2023/24 have been agreed by the UK Government and will remain at the current fee level of £9,250. The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation and as permitted by law. Fees for UK undergraduate students are decided by the government and may vary if policy changes.

Tuition fees for international undergraduate students starting in 2023/24
Tuition fees for international students for 2023/24 should be available on individual course pages from September 2022.

Part-time fees
Fees for part-time courses are normally calculated based on the number of credits you study in a year compared to the equivalent full-time course. For example, if you study half the course credits in a year, you will pay half the full-time course fees for that year.

You will study at 67% intensity (80 credits) each year of your course. Fees for 2022/23 are £6,167 (67% of £9,250). The fee you are charged in future years will be calculated as a proportion of the full-time fee agreed for that year.

There are no upfront fees to pay. All eligible students are able to borrow the entire cost of tuition fees making study free at the point of entry, with good repayment terms. You are eligible if you are studying for 30+ credits per year on a programme which is at a higher level than any qualification already held. Previous study in Higher Education may affect your eligibility.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs.

Financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

Depending on your circumstances, non-repayable financial support is available from the Leeds Financial Support scheme.

A qualification from the University of Leeds counts: our graduates are highly valued by employers. When you complete your degree programme you will also become part of a network of highly employable graduates.

The Learning and Teaching Foundation degree can provide you with the opportunity to access a diverse range of careers involving supporting learning. Some of these are in education but many are in other areas such as public and college libraries, voluntary sector organisations, children’s centres and hospitals. Many students go on to learning support and managerial roles in education such as managing teams of learning mentors, teaching assistants and behaviour support workers.

After the first three years of study you can then top up to a BA degree with a further two years of study which then enables you to apply for postgraduate teacher training.

Careers support

Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate.

The University and the Lifelong Learning Centre provide a range of activities to support LLC students looking to:

• explore their career options
• develop or enhance their employability skills
• gain work or voluntary experience
• prepare for promotion, review or a role change at work
• find and apply for jobs

Find out more on the University’s Careers website.