Your foundation degree, what next?
Foundation degrees are highly vocational and most graduates seek a job that is closely related to their subject. However, with a good set of transferable skills, it may be possible for you to find work in other sectors...
If employers ask for a general degree or specifically seek a graduate, it may well be worth applying, particularly if you are ready to sell the benefits of your qualification. You could also contact the employer to explain what qualifications you have and to ask whether you could be considered for the role to find out if it is worthwhile to make an application.
However, it is probably not worth applying for jobs where the advertisement states that a good honours degree is required. Employers often use such requirements as a way of sifting out a large number of applicants. If your desired role does require an honours degree, you may want to consider undertaking additional qualifications. For more information, see further study.
It is rare for anybody to get a job on the basis of a qualification alone and experience often counts for more. Employers are increasingly seeking an array of employability skills as well as academic qualifications in their candidates. Consider the vocational aspect of your degree, which can be attractive to employers, as well as any work experience that you may have. This could include paid jobs, voluntary work, internships or work shadowing.
You may know your chosen industry well or may need to research new opportunities. Sources of information include:
Although it is important to look at vacancy sources, research shows that a large amount of jobs are never advertised. Alternative ways of finding or creating opportunities include:
It is rare for anybody to get a job on the basis of a qualification alone and experience often counts for more
Alternatively, if you are working while studying you may have options related to your current employment. Try to discuss what might be available with your employer.
For a list of employers and job opportunities, see graduate employers and search for job vacancies.
The possession of transferable skills is likely to mean that you have more options than you think, should you want to move beyond your current position or the industry you have trained in. Start by listing your general skills and look at the different areas they can be applied in. Then focus on what other specialist skills you may need for your intended destination and how you might be able to get them, e.g. through work experience or further study.
For alternative career suggestions, take a look at what jobs would suit me? (login required) and options with your subject.
Most foundation degree students progress onto further study, usually a one-year honours degree...
The majority top up immediately after graduating, although a significant minority will return to top up at a later point in their career (HEFCE, 2010).
Some careers do not require a specific degree or qualification and so you may be able to enter them without gaining other skills or completing additional courses. Others will have definite requirements, however, and you may need to carry out further study in order to be considered for potential job roles.
The key questions you need to ask yourself before taking on further study are:
Most graduate training schemes require candidates to have a full honours degree and some professional bodies also specify that certain qualifications are needed in order to get membership. Research what would apply to you in your specific situation before deciding on further study.
You can look up the destination data for previous graduates from your course to research what others have gone on to do after graduation. All institutions and courses have to collect and publish such information. For details of individual, subject-specific destinations, refer to options with your subject.
The main study options available after you have completed your foundation degree are:
If you wish to study for a degree there are several options:
You can also complete your honours degree at a variety of places:
Credit systems are in place to provide greater flexibility and easier transfer between courses at different institutions. It means that students awarded credit by one institution may then have that credit recognised by another. Qualification credit points and systems can vary across institutions and courses, so it is important to check with each institution individually. For further information, see QAA - Academic Credit in Higher Education .
Other forms of further study include:
It may be possible to carry out your further study through a flexible route, such as through part-time, distance or online learning. It is important to reflect on your own learning style and motivation levels before embarking on flexible learning programmes.
Find out more about postgraduate study in the UK.
If you are considering further study, it is important that you establish what financial support you will get, if any, particularly with the increase in tuition fees in September 2012.
To find out if you can get financial support, contact one of the following organisations:
If you are going directly onto an honours programme, either within the same institution or another one, you may be able to continue your current financial arrangements, although you should not automatically assume this; always check.
Funding for postgraduate courses is usually difficult and many students end up financing their own studies, often by working at the same time or through a professional and career development loan.
If you are in employment, find out if seeking funding from your employer is an option. You can also try looking at individual university websites for scholarships and awards.
For more information and help on securing funding, take a look at funding my further study.
If you wish to study abroad, visit UKCISA - UK Students Studying Abroad for potential sources of funding.
An action plan can help you to focus on what you really want to do after your foundation degree and can aid you in your next steps. The plan may include...
It is important that you research each option that interests you thoroughly before trying to make a decision. You should ask yourself:
Sometimes people find this the hardest part of career choice. If this is difficult for you, you might want to:
Once you have identified options and researched them carefully, you will need to decide on a first choice or preferred course of action.
