Foundation and extended degrees
Foundation and extended degrees at Herts
What's a foundation degree?
A foundation degree is a two-year higher education qualification that combines academic study with practical and work-related learning. It can help you develop the knowledge and skills needed for employment or further study, including helping you to meet the entry requirements for a full undergraduate degree.
What's an extended degree?
An extended degree includes an additional foundation/initial year before your undergraduate course. This first year helps you prepare for degree-level study before progressing to the first year of your chosen bachelor's degree.
Foundation courses at Herts
See what studying a foundation or extended degree at Herts looks like. From developing academic confidence to building subject knowledge, these courses can help you prepare for degree-level study and take the next step towards your future career.
Browse foundation and extended courses by subject
Explore the subjects available and learn where a foundation or extended degree could take you.
-
Accounting and finance
Launch a global finance career with industry‑informed courses and real‑world insight.
-
Biological sciences
Study the science of life, from cells and genetics to ecosystems and biodiversity.
-
Business
Gain practical skills and industry connections with global partners including Google and Microsoft.
-
Computer science
Shape the digital future with degrees in AI, Robotics and Computing, taught in cutting-edge labs.
-
Engineering, AI and robotics
Design tomorrow’s technology in our state-of-the-art Spectra engineering facilities.
-
Health, nursing, midwifery and social work
Explore the subjects at the heart of modern healthcare and find your place in a fast-changing field.
-
Law and criminology
Investigate justice, crime and the legal system while developing sought-after analytical skills.
-
Physics, astrophysics and mathematics
Solve complex problems and explore the universe through physics and maths.
-
Politics, environment and sociology
Understand power, society and global change through critical, analytical study.
-
Psychology
Understand human behaviour, cognition and wellbeing through the science of psychology.
-
Sport
Turn your passion for sport into a career in coaching, performance, health or exercise science.
Hertfordshire Higher Education Consortium
Study a University of Hertfordshire foundation or extended degree with one of our trusted college partners. The Hertfordshire Higher Education Consortium offers additional study locations and pathways across a range of subject areas.
-
Hertford Regional College
Located in Broxbourne and Ware, offering Herts pathways in a range of subjects.
-
North Hertfordshire College
Study at campuses in Stevenage and Hitchin through our partner colleges.
-
Oaklands College
Choose from Herts pathways at campuses in St Albans and Welwyn Garden City.
-
West Herts College
Access Herts foundation and extended degrees at the Watford campus.
FAQs
A foundation degree is a standalone qualification that can be topped up to a BA or BSc Honours degree, depending on your results. An extended degree includes an initial year before you progress to the first year of an undergraduate degree, subject to meeting requirements.
Foundation degrees normally take two years to complete. Extended degrees usually include an additional foundation/initial year before progressing to a bachelor's degree, meaning they typically take four or five years to complete in total. Course lengths can vary, so check the individual course page for details.
Yes. Foundation degrees can be topped up to a BA or BSc Honours degree by studying for an additional year or two, depending on your results.
Completing the initial year can make you eligible to progress to a bachelor's degree, provided you meet the required entry requirements, but progression is not guaranteed.
Foundation degrees and the initial/foundation year of extended degrees are typically delivered through the Hertfordshire Higher Education Consortium, which includes Hertford Regional College, North Hertfordshire College, Oaklands College and West Herts College. The initial/foundation years in optometry and business are taught on the University's College Lane campus.