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Health Sciences Foundation Year - Foundation
Currently viewing course to start in 2024/25 Entry. Switch to 2025/26 Entry
If you apply for entry onto one of the following degree courses and your actual or predicted grades fall below the minimum UCAS entry tariff set for entry onto the first year of that degree, we may choose to consider you for a place on the Foundation Year stage instead: BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice BSc (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy BSc (Hons) ...
- Level Foundation
- Study mode Full Time
- Location City South
- Award Foundation
- Start date September 2024
- Fees View course fees
- School School of Health Sciences
- Faculty Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences
This course is:
Open to International Students
Overview
If you apply for entry onto one of the following degree courses and your actual or predicted grades fall below the minimum UCAS entry tariff set for entry onto the first year of that degree, we may choose to consider you for a place on the Foundation Year stage instead:
- BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography
- BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice
- BSc (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy
- BSc (Hons) Therapeutic Radiography
The Foundation Year option gives you extra time and support to help you build your knowledge, skills and confidence before starting a full degree. It is designed to prepare you for a range of allied health professions courses, not one particular degree, so you will study a broad range of subjects to prepare you to progress to successful BSc level study. You'll develop a range of practical and analytical skills that will prepare you for a challenging and rewarding career in healthcare.
On completion of your foundation year, you will also have the option to progress onto BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences.
Why study a Foundation Year course?
On the Foundation Year in Health Sciences, you will study broad subject areas which then open up opportunities for you to specialise further in your next year – which would be the first year of a full degree programme.
You will study alongside people who are preparing to progress on to degrees in allied health professions and health sciences.
Please note:
Upon completion of your Foundation Year, if your chosen course is regulated by a professional body such as Health and Care Professions Council, you will be required to successfully complete the University’s selection process for your course which will include an interview in order to proceed onto year one of the full degree programme. Entry onto year one of the degree programme will also be subject to a satisfactory DBS and Occupational Health Assessment.
Why Choose Us?
- You will have extra time and support to help you build your knowledge, skills and confidence before starting a full degree.
- Birmingham is one of the UK’s most diverse cities outside of London, which will provide you with a wide variety of experience that will be valuable to take forward into your future career.
- Our staff come from the professions they teach, maintaining their links to ensure you get the most up-to-date learning during your course.
- We have invested £41 million into our City South campus in Edgbaston to provide specialist learning facilities for all Health, Education and Life Science courses.
Open Days
Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation.
Next Open Day: 28 September 2024
Entry Requirements
These entry requirements apply for entry in 2024/25.
All required qualifications/grades must have been achieved and evidenced at the earliest opportunity after accepting an offer to help confirm admission and allow for on-time enrolment. This can also include other requirements, like a fee status form and relevant documents. Applicants can track their application and outstanding information requests through their BCU mySRS account.
Essential requirements
Details of the entry requirements can be found on the course page for the specific BSc degree you wish to apply for:
- BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography
- BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice
- BSc (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy
- BSc (Hons) Therapeutic Radiography
Please note: If your Level 3 qualifications do not meet the UCAS tariff we require for entry onto our BSc allied health professions courses, you may be considered for a place on our Health Sciences Foundation Year instead, which offers an alternative pathway onto our allied health professions courses. This is a decision made by us once your degree application has been assessed.
If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: Foundation
Starting: Sep 2024
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year foundation followed by 3 year degree
- £9,250 in 2024/25
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: Foundation
Starting: Sep 2024
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year foundation followed by 3 year degree
- £16,085 in 2024/25
Details of the entry requirements can be found on the course page for the specific BSc degree you wish to apply for:
- BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography
- BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice
- BSc (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy
- BSc (Hons) Therapeutic Radiography
Please note: If your Level 3 qualifications do not meet the UCAS tariff we require for entry onto our BSc allied health professions courses, you may be considered for a place on our Health Sciences Foundation Year instead, which offers an alternative pathway onto our allied health professions courses. This is a decision made by us once your degree application has been assessed.
Guidance for UK students
UK students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.
Applying through UCAS
- Register with UCAS
- Login to UCAS and complete your details
- Select your course and write a personal statement
- Get a reference
- Pay your application fee and submit your application
Course in Depth
Foundation Year
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).
This module is designed to support you in your transition to studying in a Higher Education environment at Birmingham City University. Through a range of class-based group and individual activities, discussions, debates, personal reflection and wider reading and research, you will have opportunities to consider academic conventions, which include: effective use of literature; sourcing and reviewing information; various forms of academic writing; developing reflective capacity. You will also receive guidance on study skills and strategies, which will enhance previously acquired skills.
This module is designed to help you gain awareness and understanding of current challenges around Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity and how this impacts upon the Health, Education and Social Sciences sector, preparing you for your future education and journey into practice.
Introducing the Equality Act 2010 as the overarching legislation that focuses on Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity, the module is based on themes that are covered by this Act. The nine protected characteristics, upon which a person can be discriminated, as laid down in the Equality Act, will be discussed throughout and you will be introduced to case studies relevant to your chosen pathways.
This module will focus on enabling you to gain a deeper understanding of the interpersonal skills and behaviours required to work in your chosen area. Through a range of class based and student focused activities you will explore the different concepts of effective interpersonal and professional behaviours essential to your own personal development and progression. By engaging in this module you will reflect on your own and others values, beliefs and behaviours identifying how this can impact on the way in which you will be viewed by others. You will also address the importance of effective communication and how this can lead you to have a more professional approach in your chose area of work.
This module is designed to support you in your transition to studying in a Higher Education environment at Birmingham City University, allowing you the opportunity to negotiate learning of a bespoke subject. Under the guidance of tutors, you will be able to direct your learning and identify relevant learning opportunities that you feel enable you to learning more about a specific field of study.
The subject area within this module is student-led, with guidance and facilitation from designated academic and practice support. You will identify an area of study that you would like to review and evaluate, and which relates to your foundation year pathway and indicate programme.
An appreciation of the principles of Human Biology plays a central role in the understanding of the workings of the human body. This module is organised into three distinct phases from fundamental principles, to physiological processes, and then disruption of the interplay of such systems in human disorders. This understanding provides a solid foundation for the subsequent study in a range of disciplines from healthcare, allied healthcare, and other disciplines requiring an understanding of human biology. The topics covered will also be underpinned by practical activities. Pre- and post-session activities will help to develop your key transferable skills such as being able to reflect and ask probing questions as well as being able to think independently. Development of these skills will ensure a growth in maturity and boost your confidence which will lead to unlocking your learning potential.
Students embarking on health related studies and careers need to have a knowledge and understanding of the factors that contribute to creating good health. Evidence shows that the majority of these factors lie outside of the healthcare and clinical remit and so it is important that students are aware of the wider social, economic, environmental and political drivers of states of health of the population, group or client group they may encounter. As health services are reoriented towards prevention of ill-health and health improvement, all health science students need to consider the ways in which they may work in future, to both understand the social determinants of health and the principles and practice of health promotion in order to improve health, prevent ill-health and reduce health inequalities.
Additional support
If you're dyslexic, or have a specific learning difference or disability, we have a Disability Tutor who can help and support you.
More on our disability tutor >>
We offer extra technical and learning support.
Employability
If you progress on to and graduate from one of our allied health professions courses, you will be eligible to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to work in your chosen profession.
International
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Details of the entry requirements for our courses
- Some of the good reasons why you should study here
- How to improve your language skills before starting your studies
- Information relevant to applicants from your country
- Where to find financial support for your studies.
Facilities & Staff
We have invested over £400 million in our facilities, including an upgrade to our Skills and Simulation facilities at City South Campus. We boast up-to-date, innovative facilities that simulate the real situations that you may come across in the workplace. These resources are essential in offering you a hands-on introduction to health and social care practice.
Mock Wards
These are set up to look like typical hospital wards, with four to six bays. Depending on the topic in hand, different manikins can be used as patients and relevant equipment is provided to practise clinical skills. Some of the manikins are interactive and can simulate different scenarios e.g. some allow you to cannulate, check pulses, intubate etc, and some can talk to you. One ward is often used as an adult ward, and the other as a child ward.
These rooms also allow for scenarios to be set up for other professions such as dietetics, paramedic science and social work.
The Operating Theatre and Recovery Suites
The operating theatre and recovery suite gives you the sense of what it would be like in a real surgical environment.
These spaces emulate the full surgical journey from anaesthetics, through surgery and into recovery. ODP students can practice a range of skills including gowning, hand washing, preparing instrument trays, and working with a patient. Nurses and midwives may experience a surgical placement and need to go to theatre or be part of the midwifery team involved with caesarean sections. Many other Allied Health Professionals may also see patients in recovery if necessary.
Home Environment Room
This facility replicates a small flat with bedroom, bathroom and kitchen diner space. It is used to simulate non-clinical settings, to give students experience of working in different environments. It also incorporates a range of digital health technology, to help prepare students to work in the NHS of the future.
Simbulance
Our ‘Simbulance’ is a purpose built teaching space that allows students to practise their skills in a highly specialist, high-fidelity simulated environment. The Simbulance is an exact replica of an operational emergency ambulance. Learners are truly immersed in the clinical environment and test their knowledge and skills in a safe and supported space, before entering the clinical environment ‘for real’ on placement.
Assisted Living Space
This space replicates a flat and is used for scenarios such as home visits. The sitting room area provides a different space to practise skills and simulations and work with service users and other students.
Assisted Kitchen
This specially designed kitchen has different areas where you can practice cooking, cleaning, boiling the kettle etc., with someone who has actual or simulated visual impairments. There are adapted devices to help, and simulation glasses for you to wear to experience visual impairments.
Physiotherapy Room
This is a space for physiotherapy students to use, with various equipment to practise client meetings.
Radiotherapy Planning Computer Suite
Our computers allow you to plan hypothetical treatments, in terms of angles and directions, ensuring that radiotherapy reaches where it is needed on a patient’s body.
Radiography Image Interpretation and Reporting Stations Computer Suite
These facilities allow you to view and analyse x-rays.
VERT - Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Training
This room contains 3D technology to view virtual patients and look at trajectories for treatment.
Radiotherapy
This room contains the same bed/couch used when patients are given radiotherapy treatment. While students of course do not administer radiotherapy in this room, it does allow them to practise adjusting the equipment to make sure both it and a patient would be in the correct position to receive treatment.
Telehealth Room
This room allows for small group teaching in a central area (large boardroom type table) with five small telehealth booths down either side. These are to allow all our health professions students to practise delivering healthcare and advice remotely, either over the phone or on a video call. This addition to our teaching reflects moves in the sector to offer more flexible access to healthcare services, particularly as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Imaging Academy
This new facility is a larger version of our existing image interpretation computer facilities and forms part of the Midlands Imaging Academy Hub, funded by Health Education England. These expanded facilities will mean we can further develop our courses and expertise in radiography and imaging.
Speech and Language Therapy Resource Room
Our Speech and Language Therapy Team have developed a collection of tools, books and resources to help you learn and understand the implications of a speech or swallowing limitation. You can practise one to one client meetings and clinics and use the video recording equipment to review role play scenarios.
Ultrasound simulation suite
Students have access to a wide range of Ultrasound simulation equipment to develop their clinical skills and aid in training. The equipment includes two ultrasound machines with a range of phantoms, scan training stations and eve body works.
Our staff
Julie Davis
Foundation Year Lecturer
Julie joined the ADD (Academic Development Department) in 2018 as a Lecturer on the HELS Foundation Year programme. Prior to joining Birmingham City University, she worked at a number of local FE and HE institutions where she developed and delivered a range of Early Years and Education programmes.
More about JulieJessica Lowe
Foundation Year Lecturer
Jessica joined the ADD (Academic Development Department) in 2019 as a Lecturer on the HELS Foundation Year Programme. Her role is to lead and develop modules to support students on their journey on the Foundation Year Programme. Prior to joining BCU, she has worked in a FE and HE institution teaching students on a range of courses in Early Years...
More about Jessica