[UK University Foundation Programmes: Is Education Becoming Commercialised? Discussing the New "Product" of the UK Study Foundation]

Looking back on my days of studying in the UK, getting into university used to rely solely on the results of the A-Level public exams. However, with the growing trend of studying abroad, the British saw the potential in this international market. In the past decade, another "product" has emerged in the UK study circle: UK University Foundation Programmes.

Commercialization of Foundation Programs = Irregularity?

Some people may worry that Foundations are tools for educational institutions to generate profits, and they consider them less formal than A-Level courses, which may not guarantee university admission. But to be honest, whether it's universities, secondary schools, or Foundations, education is inherently a business. I believe that the commercialization of Foundation Programs is actually beneficial for students because schools will never intentionally make it difficult for students to progress or prevent them from advancing. Schools want every student to succeed and progress to Year 1, because only when students successfully enter Year 1 can universities continue to collect tuition fees from them for the remaining years and maximise their own interests. However, with so many "products" in the Foundation market, how should students choose and select the most suitable Foundation program to achieve their own academic goals?

The Higher the University Ranking, the Lower the Admission Rate?

UK Foundations have the principle of "guaranteed" progression to university. When schools admit students to Foundation programs, they will clearly state that as long as students achieve a certain score, they will definitely be able to progress to the affiliated university. Many students have concerns about rankings, but it's important to understand that transactions are reciprocal. If you have requirements for the school, the school will naturally have requirements for you as well. Higher-ranking universities inevitably set higher academic and language requirements for Foundation students, resulting in relatively lower admission rates. Below, I have compiled some foundation progression rates officially published by popular universities, allowing everyone to have a more concrete understanding of this fact.——

Do what you can, and don't aim too high beyond your abilities.

 The admission requirements for most Foundation courses are not very high, and each school has different entry thresholds, so the success rate of admission also varies. No school can guarantee that students will be able to continue their studies directly at the school after completing the Foundation programme. Therefore, students must assess their own abilities and choose a suitable school. For example, let's take the example of students who want to study law. To be admitted to Durham University's Foundation programme, the student only needs to score an overall 5.5 on the IELTS, which is not difficult, right? However, it's important to note that to successfully progress to Year 1 of the law programme at Durham University, students need to meet an English requirement equivalent to IELTS 7.0.

The commercialization of Foundation courses is a fact that requires no concealment, and I even believe that the commercial factors involved are advantageous rather than harmful to students who want to enter university. Compared to when I was studying and had to rely on A-Levels to enter university, the existence of Foundation programmes actually provides more students with opportunities for higher education. However, to achieve a win-win situation and maximise the benefits for both students and schools, it is essential for students to assess their own abilities and choose a school that suits them. Only then can they increase their success rate in gaining admission to their desired university.