FoundationFoundation Year in Health, Sport and Social Sciences

Why study a foundation year in health, sport and social sciences?
Explore the underpinning theories and concepts used in sport, health and social sciences during this foundation year, before delving deeper into the subject of your chosen undergraduate degree.
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- Build confidence and gain an introduction to academic skills before progressing on to your chosen degree course.
- Study core theories and learn to apply them in practical settings.
- Teaching is delivered by an experienced and approachable team.
- Many of the academic team on the foundation year also teach on the degree-level courses.
Course overview
Leading directly on to our highly regarded sport, health and social sciences courses, this one-year foundation programme will equip you with the skills you’ll need to progress on to a full degree. You'll be introduced to the expectations of university life and be supported in taking your first steps in - or returning to - higher education.
On this practical, career-focused foundation year, you’ll begin by studying a broad subject area, aimed at helping you to build your work-ready skills and personal development, while focusing on what it means to be a professional in the fields of sport, health and social sciences.
You'll then have the opportunity to delve further into your chosen pathway, exploring theoretical and practical foundations, and approaches to learning, while gaining an understanding of professional practice and career development in that subject area.
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
Email:Â Call:ÂWho this course is for
The Health, Sport and Social Sciences Foundation Year is perfect for those who wish to study for a full honours degree in the areas of social sciences, sport, or health but might not meet the entry requirements. Upon completion of the foundation year, students will be able to progress directly on to the first year of one of our sport-, health-, or social sciences-related undergraduate degrees.
- Foundation years are designed to help prepare you for undergraduate study and are ideal for gaining an introduction into your chosen subject area.
- If you've been out of education for a while, a foundation year provides a supportive environment for returning to studying.
- Foundation year students have access to the same facilities, and academic and student support as students on undergraduate degrees.
What you'll study
Find your degree
Meet the team
The teaching team for the foundation year is made up of lecturers who also teach on the degree courses.
Entry requirements
48 UCAS tariff points
- A minimum of two completed A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma at PPP or BTEC Diploma at MP, a T-Level Pass (D or E), or equivalent.
- We will consider mature students who have not recently undertaken a formal course of study at A-level, or equivalent, but can demonstrate relevant work or voluntary experience, that's indicative of their ability to complete the course successfully.
- Those wishing to progress on to BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing Practice or on to a psychology pathway must have GCSE English and Maths (Grade 4/C or higher).
- Those wishing to progress on to BA (Hons) Social Work must have GCSE English (Grade 4/C or higher).
For international and EU students
- As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
- If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
- For further information about qualifications, please contact admissions.

Contextual offers
Solent endeavours to offer learning opportunities to students from all backgrounds. When we receive and review an application, we take into consideration the context and personal circumstances of applicants when making a decision, which means our advertised entry tariff could be reduced.
Language requirements
Applicants who do not have English as their first language will be required to demonstrate an approved level of proficiency in the use of the English language. The agreed minimum requirements for this course are:
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IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each individual component, or equivalent.
Qualifications
Qualifications are checked before enrolment, and international students must bring their original certificates or certified copies when coming to study at the University.
The University also offers a pre-sessional English programme for international students who wish to improve their level of English before starting a degree course.
Find your degree
Our foundation years are designed to offer a broad range of academic skills alongside a taste of the wider industry before you start your chosen specialist undergraduate degree. Some degrees also include a year in industry, meaning you can gain valuable first-hand work experience with a year-long full-time work placement between the second and third years of your degree.
Applying is simple, just:
- 1
Find the undergraduate degree you’re interested in studying, and explore the course page – this is also where you’ll find the modules you will study throughout your degree.
- 2
Make sure you’ve selected a ‘foundation year’ (or foundation year and year in industry) variant; you’ll find this under ‘Course length’, near the top of the relevant course page.
- 3
Click the ‘Apply on UCAS’ button, and check the UCAS summary mentions ‘foundation year’ under ‘Study mode’.
And don’t worry if you discover a new skill or subject you love during your foundation year, it’s easy to switch to another linked degree!












