Arts and Humanities with Foundation Year BA

If you would like to study arts, humanities, and cultures at university, but don’t currently meet the typical entry requirements for direct entry to a degree, then this extended degree is for you (subject to meeting our additional entry criteria). The Arts and Humanities Foundation Year supports progression into a wide range of degree courses across all academic schools in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Cultures at the University of Leeds.

The foundation year provides a supportive environment where you can make the transition to university study and gain the academic knowledge and study skills you'll need to succeed.

You'll develop your understanding of key academic and conceptual approaches used in the arts and humanities and focus on building your critical thinking skills. Study is interdisciplinary, enquiring, and creative, focusing on engaging with the world around us and investigating our relationship to history, society, and culture.

The foundation year course is designed specifically for students from a widening participation background and therefore does not accept students with previous higher education experience, including other foundation years.

The foundation year is taught by the Lifelong Learning Centre.

Lifelong Learning Centre Support

The Lifelong Learning Centre provides a supportive environment to enable you to progress to degree-level study. We’ll work with you during your foundation year to provide guidance and help to identify the degree pathway most appropriate for you.

The foundation year provides a carefully structured introduction to the arts and humanities, encompassing an introduction to current academic thinking and key methodological approaches. Each core module has a topic, theme, or concept as the basis for your development of academic skills, which are explored in a step-by-step manner across the foundation year and enable you to consider global, cultural, and ethical issues connected to your study. You can also focus on a particular topic connected to your subject specialist interests, by selecting a discovery module from your chosen degree pathway. Study is interactive and allows you to communicate your ideas and develop your strengths as a learner.

Modules also include opportunities to visit cultural institutions such as archives, museums, and galleries, to meet professionals in the field, and reflect on how you can build your skills as a researcher in the arts and humanities.

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 Arts and Humanities with Foundation Year BA in the course catalogue

Modules

Year 1

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

There is a strong emphasis during the foundation year on helping you achieve your full potential. Teaching is imaginative and supportive to make sure that you are intellectually stretched and helped through any sticking points in your learning. Group sizes are small, enabling you to engage actively and be well supported by your peers.

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

Methods of assessment during the foundation year reflect those that you will find later in your degree to ensure that you are well prepared for continuing study. Assessment is a key way of enabling you to learn by doing and feedback from tutors supports this process.

Our range of assessment methods helps you to utilise numerous academic skills, such as essays, journals, presentations, creative portfolios, and timed assessments. The foundation year ensures that your written, discussion and digital skills are developed in preparation for your degree.

Entry requirements

A-level: CDD

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:

Additional entry criteria

As well as the academic requirements above, you must live permanently in the UK and meet at least one of the following:

• your permanent address is in a neighbourhood with low progression to higher education (we use the OfS postcode checker)

• you attended a school that achieved less than the national average five A*-C / 9-4 passes (including English and Maths) at GCSE or attainment 8 score at GCSE in a state school. We use the All England State-funded attainment 8 score, excluding applicants from selective and/or independent schools

• you grew up in public care

We actively encourage applications from mature students. Further consideration will be given to the life experience of mature applicants and the circumstances in which they gained prior qualifications.

Applicants interested in progressing onto Fine Art or Design degrees will need to prepare a portfolio for inspection as part of the progression process, which can be done in your own time alongside your foundation year studies.

• Access to HE Diploma

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

• BTEC

  Merit, Merit, Pass

• Cambridge Pre-U

  P1, P2, P3

• International Baccalaureate

  24 overall (12 higher)

• Irish Leaving Certificate (higher Level)

  Please contact the Lifelong Learning Foundation Year Admissions Team

• Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers

  Please contact the Lifelong Learning Foundation Year Admissions Team.

• Welsh Baccalaureate

  Please contact the Lifelong Learning Foundation Year Admissions Team.

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

Alternative entry

Alternative Entry Scheme for mature applicants

If you are a mature applicant (over 21 at the point of entry) and don't have the required A Levels or GCSE qualifications, you can complete our Alternative Entry Scheme (subject to meeting the eligibility criteria for the 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.

Additional cost information
There may be a small cost for travel expenses associated with field trips which are part of module study.

How to apply

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

Apply to this course through UCAS. The institution code for the University of Leeds is L23. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website. Please mention on your personal statement the subject area you want to progress to.

Your application will be reviewed by the Admissions Team. If your application is shortlisted, you’ll be invited to a selection day and/or interview to assess your commitment and potential.

If you’re entering through the Alternative Entry Scheme, you’ll be sent details after your interview.

If 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. You’re welcome to contact us for further information.

Admissions policy

Lifelong Learning Centre Admissions Policy 2023

Fees

UK: £9,250

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.

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.

Additional cost information

<p>There may be a small cost for travel expenses associated with field trips which are part of module study.</p>

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 including a fee discount is available from the Leeds Financial Support scheme.

On successful completion of the foundation year, and subject to meeting the requirements for progression, you’ll continue to year one of your chosen degree course. There are a wide variety of options for progression in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures at the University of Leeds. This includes options to progress to degrees incorporating language study, as well as practice-based degree courses.

Recent students went on to study for degrees in journalism, linguistics and phonetics, classical civilisation, English Literature, history, cultural and media studies, Asia Pacific Studies, theatre and performance, graphic and communication design, and philosophy.

A qualification from the University of Leeds counts: our graduates are highly valued by employers. When you complete your degree course you will also become part of a network of highly employable graduates. A degree in an arts, humanities, and cultures subject allows you to enhance your critical thinking and develop a global and cultural awareness relevant to a range of careers.

Careers support

The Lifelong Learning Centre has a strong commitment to enhancing opportunity with its own dedicated expert guidance team. Enhancing employability and opportunity are embedded into the Centre, so our students can get dedicated support, as well as the excellent wider university provision.

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

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. Find out more at the Careers website.