Kick Start your Career with a Foundation Degree

Studying for a Foundation Degree can open the doors to your ideal career. Foundation Degrees are career-focused higher education qualifications that aim to develop the skills for a huge variety of career opportunities. Courses are available in subjects that range from aeronautical engineering, policing, sports management to veterinary nursing and professional photography to health and social care.

The great news is that there are a wide range of education institutions offering courses that could be exactly what you’re looking for to kick-start your career.

Designed by Employers: Supported by Employers

Because they are designed in partnership with employers, the courses are tuned to the workplace meaning that you are gaining tailored skills that your future employers are calling out for.

Many organisations from both the public and private sectors have already shown their support for Foundation Degrees.  Employers recognise the value Foundation Degree graduates can bring to the workplace and many are already converting their enthusiasm to action.  The list of companies involved in the design, development and delivery of courses now includes KLM, Network Rail, Marsh, Norwich Union, Rolls Royce, BMW, the Environment Agency, BASF, Specsavers, Radisson Edwardian, the Metropolitan Police and the National Health Service.

Engineering a Successful Career

Andrew Gee’s career choice was helped by a pioneering Foundation Degree in Rivers and Coastal Engineering which was launched by the Environment Agency in 2004 to help meet the growing need for flood management engineers and address the widespread skills shortage in the engineering profession.

“I liked the course and the combination of study and on-the-job training” comments Andrew. “It’s an interesting subject and the online material is well laid-out. The university provides good resources and the links to outside information are also helpful.”

However it is not all bookwork and the course is a mix of formal learning and practical experience. Based in the Dales area of the Environment Agency’s North East region, Andrew has already been out and about inspecting flood defences, attending a meeting of the local flood defences and, attending a meeting of the local flood defence committee and checking water levels after recent heavy rainfall. 

Andrew’s mentor Steve Wragg thinks the new degree course is an excellent initiative for the Environment Agency, the trainees and all staff who have the chance to contribute to the training package.

Gain a Good Grounding

Foundation Degree graduates can choose to either transfer their skills directly into the workplace or take the option of continuing their studies as the qualification offers a stepping stone towards further study by offering graduates an option to convert their qualification into an honours degree with an extra year’s study. Foundation Degree graduates can also consider advancing their studies to a post-graduate level.

Hanna Hosselet from Leeds Metropolitan University and Mark Laird from Lancaster are both shining examples of Foundation Degree graduates who are developing their skills to a high standard.

As part of her Foundation Degree in film and TV production, Hanna Hosselet, 20,  wrote and directed a star-studded animation film called ‘£3.50 adv/£4 door’ and was offered free use of the world-famous Pinewood Studios for a day to record the voice-over.  Hanna was delighted with the project and is now studying a BA in moving image production. “The course at Leeds Metropolitan provides a great grounding for a career in film and television production.”

A Career in Computing

The opportunity to study for a Foundation Degree sparked an ambition in Mark Laird to pursue a career in computing.  Mark, from Colne, gave up his job as a factory worker and decided to study a FdSc Computing at Blackburn College. He chose the Foundation Degree because it was both flexible and involved real world computing experience in a business environment and Mark was attracted by the up to date and vocational course modules. As part of his studies, Mark was given the opportunity to complete a Shell Technology Enterprise Project in association with a local travel agency developing software in a business environment.

Mark successfully went on to achieve a Bachelors of Science honours degree and is currently studying for a Masters in Critical Software Engineering at Lancaster University. Mark is looking forward to a very bright future and rewarding career in computing. As a highly successful individual, Mark has a great deal of expertise to offer his industry of choice.

Find out more…

For further information on Foundation Degrees log-on to www.foundationdegree.org.uk or call 0845 60 222 60. Also, search www.ucas.com for more information on courses available in the North.