What do students say?

“My foundation year experience was instrumental in my academic journey. It eased my transition from secondary school to university studies. The academic skills modules played a crucial role in building my self-confidence. I was able to foster good habits like study skills, time management techniques, and effective learning strategies that I went on to apply in my degree course.

The foundation year was a sort of preparation towards my main studies. It helped me to establish a routine and develop a problem-solving mindset that is crucial for a computing student.

I feel like I started ahead of my coursemates as I’ve observed my peers who didn’t undergo the foundation year making mistakes that I’ve already navigated and learnt from during my foundation studies. It was also easier for me to grasp the concepts I was being taught in class.

Beyond the academic benefits, i also made valuable friendships and connections. I would have never met my closest friends if I didn’t do foundation with them.”

– Timilehin, BSc Computing with integrated foundation

“Studying at Buckingham has given me an advantage and a gap that most of my peers from across the country won’t be able to access.

It has a vast range of cultures and personalities that as an international relations student gives you a perspective like none other.

After being out of education for a year and having lost my confidence, the foundation programme at Buckingham eased me back into study and built up everything I had lost.

It helped me in my academic and personal life, as well as developing life skills I will never forget.”

– Henry Gyamfi, BA International Relations with integrated foundation

“I remember that quite a few students mentioned to me that they believed taking a foundation year would be a waste of time, and that they would rather go straight into their respective degree program. As I reflect on my year within the Foundation Department, I can personally attest to its effectiveness; the naysayers were incorrect. It is because of my Foundation studies that I was ahead of many peers when I began studying in the Law School.

During my foundation studies, I was taught skills which allowed me to assist many of my peers when I began studying within the Law School, some of these skills were showing my peers how to conduct legal research, how to use the correct legal style of referencing, how to approach reading case judgments and how to develop personal styles of efficient notetaking. Many of these aspects were hurdles for some of peers once they had entered the Law School, but it is because of my Foundation studies that I had a head-start.

Many of my peers as well as myself who have completed the Foundation year feel that it provided us with an academic and intellectual advantage, compared to a student who went immediately into their degree program. I would strongly recommend the Foundation year, to both academically strong and weaker individuals, whether you are a young student fresh out of school, or a mature student who has spent years away from education, the Foundation year can benefit every type of student.”

– Seon Tatem, LLB (Hons) Law with integrated foundation