Foundation year routes

The stepping stone to your chosen degree at Keele

Choosing your degree and foundation year

The Keele Foundation Year is one of the longest running of its type in the UK, well known at national level and with a good reputation in the higher education sector. It has been praised in the past – by education experts from Keele and other universities – for offering “an authentic university experience for students”, providing a genuine opportunity for students to join the University who have the potential to succeed.

We offer an integrated foundation year, which means that you will study a foundation year linked to the undergraduate degree you wish to progress to on successful completion. Therefore, in addition to broad-based academic and personal development, course content is tailored to your chosen degree and the relevant broader subject area, which are listed below.

business

Studying a Foundation Year in a business subject will give you the skills and knowledge to progress onto an undergraduate course within Keele Business School.

What you'll learn

You'll explore how businesses operate and the factors that shape the nature of organisations in a complex, competitive global business world.

Core topics covered in your foundation year include business and management, business finance and economic data, and the employment lifecycle. Acknowledging the impact of digital developments, you'll also consider how technology and ‘Big data’ is being used to inform decision-making, improve customer service and create efficiency savings.‌

Progression

The below progression requirements are for the academic year 2023/24 and are for general information only. Progression requirements may be subject to change and are not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of progression requirements.

To progress to your chosen degree you will need to pass all modules of the Foundation Year and achieve the required progression mark for each Semester 2 module.

Keele Undergraduate Programme	Semester 1	Semester 2
All Keele Business School UG programmes	40% or above in all modules	40% or above in all modules

Learning outcomes

When you successfully complete this Foundation Year, you will be better prepared for your degree studies and be able to do the following:

Skills and knowledge

Academic

Obtain, critically select and analyse information from a range of sources to demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of a given subject area.
Select and use a range of research skills, solve problems, take decisions critically and reflectively to achieve planned assessment outcomes.
Write a clearly and convincingly argued, well structured, coherent, purposeful essay in a style conforming to academic conventions.
Acknowledge and evaluate opposing or conflicting information, ideas and data.
Cite and reference source material using the appropriate referencing system.
Select and use a range of communication skills and media to present evidenced outcomes and conclusions in a seminar-based format.

Subject

Understand and interpret financial statements.
Assess economic models and their impact on stakeholder decision making.
Use a range of techniques, calculations and simply mathematical models to business data to analyse business and economic problems.
Analyse business choices in relation to sustainability and ethical issues.
Illustrate and analyse the impact of digital business and disruptive technology on consumers, businesses and industries.

Explore our Foundation Year programmes

health Designed to develop your understanding of broad health-related principles, our Foundation Year in Health aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills required to study an undergraduate health degree.

What you'll learn

With a large range of modules, from active anatomy to physical and inorganic chemistry, your studies will be tailored to your chosen degree programme.

Your first semester acts mainly as an introduction to university learning and to your subject, which you may not have studied before. You'll have the opportunity to study in state of the art facilities, and learn professional techniques from academic experts. You will also examine the way in which health professionals behave in a variety of settings, beginning your preparations for eventual professional practice.

Progression

The below progression requirements are for the academic year 2023/24 and are for general information only. Progression requirements may be subject to change and are not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of progression requirements.

To progress to your chosen degree you will need to pass all modules of the Foundation Year and achieve the required progression mark for each Semester 2 module.

Keele Undergraduate Programme	Semester 1	Semester 2
Bioengineering (Regenerative Medicine)	40% or above in all modules	55% average in the remaining 60 credits
Medicine	40% or above in all modules	70% in the remaining 75 credits
Midwifery	40% or above in all modules	60% average in the remaining 75 credits
Nursing (all routes)	40% or above in all modules	50% average in the remaining 75 credits
Occupational Therapy	40% or above in all modules	60% average in the remaining 75 credits
Paramedic Science	40% or above in all modules	60% average in the remaining 75 credits
Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science	40% or above in all modules	55% average in the remaining 60 credits
Pharmaceutical Science	40% or above in all modules	55% average in the remaining 60 credits
Pharmacy	40% or above in all modules	65% average in the remaining 75 credits
Physiotherapy	40% or above in all modules	60% average in the remaining 75 credits
Radiography	40% or above in all modules	60% average in the remaining 75 credits
Rehabilitation and Exercise Science	40% or above in all modules	50% average in the remaining 75 credits
Social Work	40% or above in all modules	55% average in the remaining 75 credits
Speech and Language Therapy	40% or above in all modules	60% average in the remaining 75 credits
Sport and Exercise Science	40% or above in all modules	55% average in the remaining 60 credits

Learning outcomes

When you successfully complete this Foundation Year, you will be better prepared for your degree studies and be able to do the following:

	Skills and knowledge
Academic	Obtain, critically select and analyse information from a range of sources to demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of a given subject area. Select and use a range of research skills, solve problems, take decisions critically and reflectively to achieve planned assessment outcomes. Write a clearly and convincingly argued, well structured, coherent, purposeful essay in a style conforming to academic conventions. Acknowledge and evaluate opposing or conflicting information, ideas and data. Cite and reference source material using the appropriate referencing system. Select and use a range of communication skills and media to present evidenced outcomes and conclusions in a seminar-based format.
Subject	Achieve a broad knowledge and understanding of a range of health related subjects. Develop appropriate professional standards and values, exploring your future interactions with the public as a health professional. Analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific information to make judgements and reach conclusions. Safely carry out and report practical chemistry experiments, using a range of laboratory techniques. Discuss concepts of health and social care and identify key public health issues and interventions. Behave in an appropriate manner for a health professional in a range of settings.

Explore our Foundation Year programmes

libtrary Studying a Foundation Year in Humanities will give you a great introduction to many subject areas. Humanities are academic disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture, such as history, law and politics, philosophy and literature.

What you’ll learn

You will get the opportunity to cover a variety of social and political issues, trends, problems and key concepts, such as power, class, rights and gender, on campus by academic experts. You'll also examine some of the major cultural and technical developments in the 19^th century, including the independence of states and societies, industrialism and colonisation.

The first semester acts mainly as an introduction to university learning and to your subject, which you may not have studied before. Focused on the academic skills, tools and knowledge required for higher learning, it is designed to ease your transition to degree-level study. This then develops your knowledge and understanding of Humanities and prepares you to undertake academic research, which culminates with your dissertation at the end of your degree.

Progression

Keele Undergraduate Programme	Semester 1	Semester 2
All Keele School of Humanities UG programmes	40% or above in all modules	40% or above in all modules

Learning outcomes

When you successfully complete this Foundation Year, you will be better prepared for your degree studies and be able to do the following:

	Skills and knowledge
Academic	Obtain, critically select and analyse information from a range of sources to demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of a given subject area. Select and use a range of research skills, solve problems, take decisions critically and reflectively to achieve planned assessment outcomes. Write a clearly and convincingly argued, well structured, coherent, purposeful essay in a style conforming to academic conventions. Acknowledge and evaluate opposing or conflicting information, ideas and data. Cite and reference source material using the appropriate referencing system. Select and use a range of communication skills and media to present evidenced outcomes and conclusions in a seminar-based format.
Subject	Be familiar with the diverse and broad nature of source material across the Humanities. Discuss a variety of social and political issues, trends and problems. Explain historical events including Victorian England and the establishment of the US (as we know it today) from competing perspectives and interpretations. Use appropriate methods to analyse key concepts (power, poverty, class, rights, gender etc.) in the humanities. Understand and discuss the concepts of colonialism, modernity, modernization and historical change. Demonstrate awareness of different perspectives and historical/political obstacles and opportunities.

Explore our Foundation Year programmes

science

Our Foundation Year in Science aims to strengthen your scientific knowledge in core science subjects including Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Geography, Geology and the Environment, Maths, Physics and Psychology.

You'll get the opportunity to study areas that interest you with a wide range of modules, while being taught on campus by subject experts and gaining knowledge in a range of areas from numerical and computational skills, to the ability to analyse/interpret data and use mathematical calculations to solve problems.

What you’ll learn

Your first semester acts mainly as an introduction to university learning and to your subject, which you may not have studied before. Focused on the academic skills, tools and knowledge required for higher learning, it is designed to ease your transition to degree-level study. The second semester develops your knowledge and understanding of Sciences and prepares you to undertake academic research, which culminates with your dissertation at the end of your degree.

Throughout your Keele degree you will have access to state of the art science facilities and equipment, giving you the chance to become familiar with bespoke software to present numerical data geographically, developing your analytical, team working and problem-solving skills. You will also be able to familiarise yourself with essential lab techniques, such as sampling, preparing samples, using the microscopes and recording lab notes.

Our facilities provide an enriched learning experience and have been designed to offer new ways to learn, helping you to progress onto your undergraduate degree feeling with your new skills and experiences.

Progression

To progress to your chosen degree you will need to pass all modules of the Foundation Year and achieve the required progression mark for each Semester 2 module.

Chemical and Physical Sciences

Semester 1	Semester 2
40% or above in all modules	50% or above in subject-specific modules as indicated in the table below

Subject specific requirements

Undergraduate programme	Semester 2	Progression requirement
Chemistry SH and CH Chemistry Integrated Master’s Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry with Integrated Master’s	FYO-00191 - Advancing Chemistry	50%
Chemistry and Physics Astrophysics and Chemistry	FYO-00191 - Advancing Chemistry, FYO-00209 - Advancing Physics and FYO-00231 - Advancing Mathematical Methods	50% in each module
Forensic Science SH and CH, Forensic Science and Criminology, Forensics and Analytical Investigation – Integrated Master’s	FYO-00191 - Advancing Chemistry or FYO-00199 - Advancing Life Sciences	50%
Astrophysics and Computer Science Computer Science and Physics	FYO-00209 - Advancing Physics and FYO-00231 - Advancing Mathematical Methods	50% in each module
Physics Physics with Astrophysics, Physics with Renewable Energy Astrophysics and Mathematics Mathematics and Physics	FYO-00207 - Advancing Physics and FYO-00229 - Advancing Mathematical Methods	50% in each module

School of Computer Science and Mathematics

Semester 1	Semester 2
40% or above in all modules	40% or above in all modules* Plus 50% or above in FYO-00229 - Advancing Mathematical Methods* for progression onto programmes with Mathematics

School of Geography, Geology and the Environment

Semester 1	Semester 2
40% or above in all modules	40% or above in all modules

School of Life Sciences

Semester 1	Semester 2
40% or above in all modules	40% or above in all modules

Subject specific requirements

Undergraduate programme	Semester 2	Progression requirement
Biochemistry	FYO-00191 - Advancing Chemistry	50%
Biology Human Biology	One Foundation Year advancing module must be in a science subject	40%
Bioveterinary Science	FYO-00191 - Advancing Chemistry or FYO-00199 - Advancing Life Sciences	50%
Biomedical Sciences Microbiology and Immunology Neuroscience Pharmacology Pharmacology with Integrated Master’s	All semester 2 Foundation Year Advancing modules must be in science	40%

School of Psychology

Semester 1	Semester 2
40% or above in all modules	40% or above in all modules

Veterinary Medicine and Surgery

Semester 1	Semester 2
40% or above in all modules	Average of 70% in all modules, plus pass the selection event.

Learning outcomes

When you successfully complete this Foundation Year, you will be better prepared for your degree studies and be able to do the following:

Skills and knowledge

Academic

Obtain, critically select and analyse information from a range of sources to demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of a given subject area.
Select and use a range of research skills, solve problems, take decisions critically and reflectively to achieve planned assessment outcomes.
Write a clearly and convincingly argued, well structured, coherent, purposeful essay in a style conforming to academic conventions.
Acknowledge and evaluate opposing or conflicting information, ideas and data.
Cite and reference source material using the appropriate referencing system.
Select and use a range of communication skills and media to present evidenced outcomes and conclusions in a seminar-based format.

Explore our Foundation Year programmes

social science

Studying a social science Foundation Year will allow you to seek to address difficult questions and/or answers that might point the way to a more just and sustainable future for humanity.

On this course, you’ll learn about the history of social and political thought, studying political and social movements in Europe and the modern world. You’ll cover both historical traditions and contemporary developments, developing your questioning and analytical skills, while gaining a greater understanding of the issues and changing ideas in our complex and ever-evolving modern society.

What you’ll learn

Progression

Keele Undergraduate Programme	Semester 1	Semester 2
Social Sciences	40% or above in all modules	40% or above in all modules

Learning outcomes

When you successfully complete this Foundation Year, you will be better prepared for your degree studies and be able to do the following:

Skills and knowledge

Academic

Obtain, critically select and analyse information from a range of sources to demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of a given subject area.
Select and use a range of research skills, solve problems, take decisions critically and reflectively to achieve planned assessment outcomes.
Write a clearly and convincingly argued, well structured, coherent, purposeful essay in a style conforming to academic conventions.
Acknowledge and evaluate opposing or conflicting information, ideas and data.
Cite and reference source material using the appropriate referencing system.
Select and use a range of communication skills and media to present evidenced outcomes and conclusions in a seminar-based format.

Subject

Understand the concepts, policies and practices around social inclusion and how to avoid exclusion.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the social, political and economic contexts that may inform debates on migration and globalisation.
Investigate and analyse the impacts of industrialisation, de-industrialisation and gentrification on local communities.
Apply theoretical and conceptual knowledge to lived experiences.
Evaluate key aspects of theoretical and empirical research on social inclusion, social exclusion, industrialisation, de-industrialisation and gentrification.

Explore our Foundation Year programmes

The mature student experience

In this video, Emily discusses how the Foundation Year provided her with a head start in her academic degree and has given her opportunities to advance her career.