Foundation Pathways Programme

The Foundation Pathways Programme is the foundation year with a difference. If you have been out of education for a while, it gives you the opportunity to build up your knowledge base and skills. Each pathway is relevant to a discipline of study, which students choose based on what degree they want to progress on to.

• If you want to start studying again after some time away, this course may be ideal for you
• You will have the chance to develop your study skills to prepare you for undergraduate study
• Our tutors are supportive and encouraging, and will help you achieve your career aspirations
• You will be able to work on your Maths and English skills
• Students will study on routes depending on their choice of degree/progression route

As well as improving your language and numeracy skills, you will develop confidence in writing essays and reports, undertaking research, analysing numbers, doing presentations, managing your time and working as part of a team.

Throughout this course, you'll be able to use the library, which has a large collection of books and journals, as well as different areas for group work and individual study. There is also plenty of IT equipment for use.

Progression

On successful completion of the Foundation Pathways Programme course and any English and/or Maths, if being studied, you can progress on to a range of degrees at Derby (subject to meeting the individual course requirements).  However, the course is not suitable for progression on to any NHS related, Social Work or Primary Education (BEd) degrees.)

For details on the Joint Honours degrees visit our Joint Honours webpage.

• Business Pathway -Academic Skills, Business, Business Communications and Law
• Computing Pathway (GCSE Maths 9-4/A-C plus GCSE A-C/9-4 English Language or Functional Skills Level 2 English needed as a pre-requisite) Academic Skills, Computing, Level 3 Maths and Information Technology
• Criminology and Law Pathway - Academic Skills, Law, Criminology and Advocacy
• Engineering Pathway (GCSE Maths 9-4/A-C plus GCSE A-C/9-4 English Language or Functional Skills Level 2 English needed as a pre-requisite) Academic Skills, Physics, Level 3 Maths and Information Technology
• Humanities and Social Science Pathway - Academic Skills, Level 3 English, History and Sociology
• Psychology Pathway - Academic Skills, Psychology, Sociology and Criminology
• Science Pathway (GCSE Maths 9-4/A-C plus GCSE A-C/9-4 English Language or Functional Skills Level 2 English needed as a pre-requisite) Academic Skills, Biology, Biology of Disease and Illness, and Chemistry
• Sports Pathway (GCSE Maths 9-4/A-C plus GCSE A-C/9-4 English Language or Functional Skills Level 2 English needed as a pre-requisite) Academic Skills, Biology, Psychology and Information Technology

English and Maths

Students who do not have relevant level 2 English and/or Maths qualifications will be encouraged to complete Functional Skills alongside the programme. 

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

A diverse range of teaching and learning activities are used across each subject. Sessions are interactive and work to include student participation and student-led tasks. You will likely learn differently in each taught session; some sessions utilise group-work, others will focus on independent research and investigation. Scheduled teaching hours are led by your tutor who designs the learning accordingly to the group profile and therefore you will be exposed to a vast range of practises – this also helps demonstrate the techniques/strategies reviewed within the subjects.

Enrichment

Wider enrichment takes place to supplement learning across the academic year. There are opportunities where guest speakers attend to deliver short talks, and also opportunities to meet with degree teaching staff, so you can learn about your undergraduate course. You will also have access to the University of Derby’s library and on-site facilities for Further Education students.

How you can be assessed

You will be assessed through a range of different assessments that include essay writing, presentations, writing and academic posters. Assessments are explained within each unit and support is offered to scaffold your progress throughout the course. These are all designed to apply the knowledge, skills and behaviours from sessions (and wider reading/experiences) into areas of interest within education.

2025 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2025 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

For the Computing, Engineering, Science and Sports pathways you will need to have evidence of achieving GCSE Maths 9-4/A-C plus GCSE English Language A-C/9-4 or Functional Skills Level 2 English as a pre-requisite.

For Business, Humanities and Social Science, Psychology or the Law and Criminology pathways we would prefer applicants to hold GCSE A-C (9-4) English Language and Maths or Functional Skills Level 2 in English and Maths. If you do not already hold these qualifications, you will be required to take a literacy and numeracy assessment before we can offer you a place to check your suitability for the course.

English language requirements

IELTS: 5.5 (with at least 5.0 in each skills area)

Once you've successfully completed the Foundation Programme you can choose from many degrees that the University offers.

What our students say

Amy Eldridge - Foundation Pathways Programme Student 2020/2021

"I completed the Psychology Foundation Pathway in 2021. Having been out of education for 24 years I cannot deny how nervous I felt starting my academic journey at the age of 41. However, it was the best decision I have ever made. Taking into consideration the pandemic, at that time, support was forthcoming from lecturers and the university.

The Psychology Pathway is not limited to Psychology, it covers Criminology, Sociology, Social Policy, and Academic Skills. All of which have been invaluable for the first year of my degree. Although initially, I aspired to study Psychology, the Foundation Programme opened avenues of thought for other subjects. Therefore, I chose to study Sociology at degree level, and I can honestly say without completing the Foundation Programme I would not have found my passion.

I am confident that my fellow Sociology students are tired of me saying “we covered this last year”. Yet they have taken full advantage of my citing and referencing skills and the criteria the University of Derby look for when marking.

I cannot recommend the Foundation Programme enough; it is hard work, but it pays off and has been vital for the first year of my degree. Without it, I believe I would not be achieving the grades I have, as I am predicted to finish Year 1 with the equivalent of a 2:1. Thank you so much to all the lecturers on the Foundation Pathways Programme your support and knowledge have been instrumental in creating a bright future." 

Hasheyehosh Sumbanowsky - Foundation Pathways Programme Student 2019/2020

"My experience on the foundation programme was a very pleasant and rewarding one, as I was exposed to areas of study I hadn't thought I was capable of studying before, such as Philosophy, Computing and Physics, and I am glad to have performed exceptionally well, thanks to the brilliance of both the lecturers' and my hard work, as well as access to the university's library resources and online learning portal (Course Resources on Udo).

I would recommend the course to any undergraduate, no matter their previous experience, as it not only helped me refresh and hone my academic skills (through the Study Skills module) but also prepared me fully for the rigorous expectations on the undergraduate degree programme!"

Rebecca Brock - Foundation Pathways Programme Student 2017/2018

"The Foundation Pathways Programme definitely paved the way for the success I have had since completing it." 

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.