The Degree with Foundation Year is a great opportunity if you have the ability and enthusiasm to study for a degree, but do not yet have the qualifications required to enter directly onto our degree programmes.

Leah

My name is Leah McDonald and I am from the small town of Strabane in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. I studied three A-levels at Holy Cross College in Strabane before coming to Liverpool Hope in September 2018 to study the Degree with Foundation Year course.

I had always planned to go to University and I also knew I wanted to move away from home to study.

I chose Liverpool Hope because it is a friendly and welcoming University. It has really lived up to my expectations and I have made many friends here already.  Everyone says it but, the thing that makes Liverpool Hope special is the support you receive from your tutors. They are friendly and approachable and you know you can go to them with any issue, no matter how small.

I chose to study the Foundation Year because I felt I wasn’t quite ready to move straight into a first-year degree. The Foundation Year eases you into University life without it being overwhelming. This course is giving me the academic skills I will need to carry me through to a full BA honours degree.

I am working hard at my studies I am experiencing different styles of learning on the course. I am really enjoying the debates that we have in class and the topics we discuss within our groups. I like this way of learning as everyone gets involved and it is fun.

The biggest challenge for me so far during my studies has been academic referencing as I had no pervious experience of this. Upon studying the Foundation Year, I now have experience with referencing and have the confident to carry this through into my first-year studies.

I am working hard and planning for a career in Social Work when I graduate.”

Joy

I had always wanted to go to University and after bringing up my family, I worked hard to get a place on the Degree with Foundation Year course at Liverpool Hope.

I wanted to study at Liverpool Hope as my husband graduated from Hope and I knew I would fit in.  I also have many friends who have recently studied at Liverpool Hope and my sister is also a Hope Graduate. All of them have so many good things to say about their experience so I knew Hope was the right choice for me.

I chose to study the Degree with Foundation Year as it would prepare me for the years of study I have ahead of me. I wanted to be sure I was prepared for the full degree course, having been out of education for some time.

There are so many things I have enjoyed about the course and my confidence has grown in such a short time. Some of my favourite topics include social science and education. I have participated in group presentations, group discussions and reading with my fellow classmates and this has greatly enhanced my understanding of the subjects.

I think the biggest challenge for me has been keeping up with the constant reading required of the course.  It is something I am getting used to and I am starting to enjoy with the help of my tutors and classmates. The tutors at Hope care about their students and provide the support we need to succeed.

Having attended my husband’s Graduation ceremony, I can now look ahead to when I will be bringing him to my graduation ceremony! Once I graduate, I will be looking to find a good job in the social care sector.

As a foundation student, you will have a library induction and tour, as well as help and support throughout your year from the subject librarians.