Engineering with Foundation Year (Oaklands College)
This engineering foundation year is designed to equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills, preparing you to progress into a range of engineering degrees.
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Typical offer: 48
Entry requirements -
Fees: £6,400 per year (UK)
Full details -
UCAS code: H100
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Course length: one year
Find out more -
Location:
- Oaklands College
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Institute code: H36
Develop your skills and practical knowledge using our industry-standard facilities
Proceed onto one of our accredited (to CEng, IEng and CITP) BEng or BSc programmes
This programme offers a broad overview of many engineering fields
Course overview
This engineering foundation degree provides a year of study, equipping you with the knowledge you needed to progress to the first year of any of the University of Hertfordshire's BEng engineering degrees or technology-based BSc degrees. During this year, you'll spend four days a week at Oaklands College, and one day at the University, where you'll work alongside all the other engineering extended degree students, carrying out lab and project work under the supervision of the University's staff.
Why choose this course?
This engineering foundation degree programme is an ideal alternative route to higher education as it prepares you for progression to an engineering related honours degree at the University of Hertfordshire.
On completion of your engineering foundation year, and providing you meet the requirements set by the University of Hertfordshire, you will progress to your selected degree course in engineering. You will not need to reapply through UCAS for this.
You don’t need to decide which course you will progress to at this point. This general foundation year provides an overview of many types of engineering, giving you greater flexibility and more choices when you decide to progress on to an undergraduate engineering programme. Your tutor will assist you in making a decision and support you through the progression application process. Progression is dependent on your achievement. Some courses have specific academic and non-academic requirements to progress, such as an interview and/or satisfactory DBS check. Please contact us to find out which requirements apply to which course.
On completing the engineering foundation degree, you may choose to progress on to one of the following bachelor's courses.
BEng degrees
BSc degrees
During the foundation year, you will spend four days a week at Oaklands College. On the fifth day, you will attend the University for laboratory sessions, where you will carry out practical engineering work, including project labs in three key engineering areas.
Your future career
The Engineering with Foundation Year degree gives you the opportunity to get your engineering studies back on track. Foundation year students can go on to graduate with good honours degrees and excellent career prospects.
All engineering honours degrees at the University of Hertfordshire are professionally accredited meaning that after graduation you can apply for recognition as a Chartered or Incorporated Engineer.
See what recent graduates are up to
Temitayo Adedipe
Mechanical Engineering Graduate at Leonardo at Leonardo
Temitayo graduated in 2020 and was able to secure a graduate role soon afterwards. She takes up the story,
‘I am a Mechanical Engineering Graduate at Leonardo in the helicopters division. My passion for the aviation sector has existed for as long as I can remember. My role is particularly exciting as I have the opportunity to explore many aspects of the business through a variety of placements which means I am able to encounter different challenges. It always leaves me thinking, what's next, and with the sector being so vast, there is always more to learn.’
Meeting challenges
It wasn’t a straightforward path for Temitayo as she felt that gaps in her learning would mean she would find it hard to realise her dreams of working in the aviation industry. However with the support of her lecturers she flourished academically.
‘When I received my A-Level results, I didn't think that any university would accept me. I naturally excelled in humanities subjects including English and Sociology but in Maths and Physics, both of which were crucial for my the path I had chosen, my performance was lacking.
Herts accepted me however and after completing my foundation year, my grades reflected a new person entirely and continued to do so over the years that followed.
I found the subjects challenging, but I was consistently supported by lecturers who were not only endowed with a wealth of knowledge and experience but also with a capacity to communicate and, where necessary, translate that knowledge in a way that I could not only understand but also apply to real world problems.’
The key to success
Temitayo feels that the different aspects of the course were key to her success and says,‘My course connected me with lecturers and gave me the resources that helped me get where I am today. I was able to develop and enhance my problem solving skills and teamwork efforts. Herts was also important in helping build my confidence in asking questions and viewing problems from different angles to arrive at the best possible solution.’
Why Herts
'I would love to say I chose Herts but instead I am honoured to be able to say that Herts chose me and looking back on the years I spent at the University and the years that have followed, where and who I am now, the opportunities and experiences, the friendships and connections, there is no place I would have rather spent those years.'
The future
Temitayo has clear ambitions and is very keen to remain in the industry she enjoys so much. 'I am excited for the future and I intend to remain curious. In doing so, I hope to take on key roles in helping achieve a greener, more sustainable aviation sector.'
Kim Everitt
SENDplan Business owner and Test and Development Engineer at Ballard Motive Solutions
The inspiration behind SENDplan
Kim's winning business, SENDplan, is a special education needs and disability support service, that helps parents with their children’s development outside of school by finding answers to their questions and offering structured support with information and resources.
The University’s Flare awards give budding students and alumni entrepreneurial support and training to bring their business ideas to life. Kim won the 2021 Flare award for social impact, which is designed to support a business that is ethical and socially impactful, with the aim of improving the world we live in.
Kim’s business inspiration grew from volunteering. She says, ‘Over the years I have worked with my mother whose long-term career has covered a variety of SEND educational opportunities and I got involved as a volunteer with playschemes and other activities. I felt inspired by the families I worked with and wanted to find a way that I could help. The pandemic taught me to make the most of every moment, and as the restrictions started to ease, I decided to go for the opportunity in setting up the idea for my business.’
Upskilling with Flare
Kim really enjoyed taking part in the Flare competition and said, ‘Completing my business model allowed me to really push myself and see the validity of my idea and how it could all come to fruition. The business advisors on hand were excellent and encouraging. The support sessions provided information that enabled me to upskill my business knowledge and offered insight into each competition stage. The opportunity to practice my pitch in advance really helped with my confidence in going into the pitching stage of the competition too.’
The day job - a sustainable engineer
Kim’s day job is an engineer with Ballard Motive Solutions. ‘I am a Test and Development Engineer, where my key duties so far have been to create test procedures and plan vehicle level testing. I am building on my knowledge of Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology as well as learning more about high voltage systems and new areas. Already I have supported testing a Hydrogen Fuel Cell RCV on track at HORIBA-MIRA, UK which was a fantastic way to get familiar with Hydrogen vehicles at the start of my career at Ballard Motive Solutions.
‘I have always been fascinated by the evolution of technology and the potential of alternative fuels. My first interaction with sustainable technology was when I attended the Formula E testing event for fans in August, 2016 at Donington Park Circuit. This was inspiring, and encouraged me to learn about vehicle networks, software and controls systems. Throughout my career I have enjoyed testing a variety of vehicle platforms, and when I saw the opportunity to utilize my existing knowledge and develop it for sustainable applications - I had to apply. Working at Ballard Motive Solutions there are opportunities to work with the latest technology, contribute to the greater community and focus on professional development’
Supported to succeed
Kim had a great student experience at Herts, she says, ‘What I learnt as a student has provided the foundations for my career and I will always be grateful for the University’s support throughout my studies. It’s because of this support that I felt confident and comfortable enough to enter the Flare competition as a graduate and challenge myself to make SENDplan a reality.’
‘My favourite memory from my time at Herts is from my final year of study during the Shell Eco-marathon projects where I was able to push myself as an engineer. This is where I started to believe in my ability and see results from my work, and my friends taught me to embrace the notion that anyone can achieve anything they want to if they work hard and believe.’
‘I enjoyed many aspects of my studies, I developed skills in mechanical engineering all throughout and have fond memories of studying engineering mathematics with Kuldeep Singh as my Lecturer. Studying Automotive Engineering at Herts provided me with the freedom to research into areas that I was interested in, whilst also developing the skill set to adapt to a variety of upcoming and existing technologies. Since I have graduated I have continued this approach by acting on ideas and seeking out opportunities to learn.’
Extended route into higher education
Kim entered Herts through an extended engineering degree with a foundation year. She says, ‘The foundation year provided me with the fundamentals and in-depth engineering knowledge, as well as new friendship groups. It was during that year that I met one of the best mechanics/physics teachers in my entire life and found inspiration through his teaching. The class collectively upskilled quickly in a short space of time where we became close friends and were competitive with our results aiming for 100%. The course overall has led me to exactly where I dreamed of being and I would highly recommend the extended route. This programme is an ideal alternative route to higher education as it prepares you for progression to an engineering-related honours degree’.
Future aspirations
Kim’s aspiration for the future is to not only set up her business SENDplan as a fully functional support service to families, but to continue to apply herself as an engineer and pursue her career in the automotive industry.
Advice for other students and graduates
Kim’s advice for other women wanting to pursue a career in engineering, ‘I would highly recommend joining the Women's Engineering Society (WES). WES is a fantastic charity that supports women engineers throughout their career and provides the opportunity to form friendships and contacts, through their events and networking. I would recommend applying for all the opportunities that you see that spark your interest, and to gain as much experience as possible during your studies.’
Lee Stretch
Vehicles Dynamic Engineer at Ferrari
Meet Lee Stretch who has achieved great success in motorsport engineering since graduating in 2011. He currently works as a Vehicles Dynamic Engineer for Ferrari's Formula One team.
Facilities and experience
Lee made his decision to study at the University of Hertfordshire when he attended an open day, which included a visit to the Formula Student automotive workshop. 'The students had designed and built a single seat racing car which they raced against other universities. It blew me away!' His love of Formula Student became the catalyst for where he is today.
Lee felt the course itself was well rounded, covering all aspects of engineering, with a focus on design, which he enjoyed. Crucial moments of Lee's studies, from submitting his final year project, to designing a racing car in parallel with his full-time sandwich year job, taught him what is possible with determination, and a deadline.
This culminated in second place at Formula Student Germany - the best result ever for a UK team. 'Without these experiences, perhaps I wouldn't have had the guts to move to Italy.' He says, 'I've applied so many of the topics I studied at Herts to my career at Formula One. I regularly find myself reaching for my student notes from five years ago!'
Exciting career
After graduating, Lee worked with Mercedes GP as a Performance Simulation Engineer where he worked with some of the most sophisticated lap simulation tools in the industry. 'It was a very hard three years at Mercedes but equally rewarding, with the 2014 World Championship being the icing on the cake.'
Lee's passion and commitment was recognised by the only other team that he would have considered moving to - Ferrari. Lee moved to Italy and spent time learning Italian. After only six months in the role, he had contributed to the next year's cooling system, and developed the team's lap simulation tools.
Despite working in a relatively specialised group of vehicle performance, Lee's role demanded sound mechanical understanding, thermodynamics, practical design considerations and even pure mathematics in simulation. 'Communication is paramount, so all the report writing, presentation and team working skills necessary in the final two years of my degree have proved hugely beneficial.'
Since then, Lee has decided he wants to explore something new. He says, ‘Haas F1 offered me an opportunity to lead an Advanced Simulation team, harnessing my experience to expand the capabilities of their Vehicle Science Group. I'm now creating specialised tools for studying car performance and being fully prepared for the new 2026 regulations.’
What you'll study
You'll spend a foundation year gaining all the knowledge you need to progress to the first year of any of the University of Hertfordshire's BEng engineering degrees or technology-based BSc degrees.
Attending the University of Hertfordshire campus one day a week is a great way of becoming familiar with the School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science, as well as getting to know the staff and students from both colleges. The lab sessions and projects have been developed so that you'll undertake practical activities in each of the major engineering discipline areas.
What if I need support?
If you need additional support during your time with us, rest assured that we’ve got you covered. For help with study skills, including referencing, essay writing and presentations, you’ll have access to our academic support services. You can attend workshops, 1-to-1 sessions and online tutorials. You’ll have full access to the LRC’s in our University campuses, as well as our other facilities, spaces and services.
Where you'll study
The foundation year is taught at Oaklands College. You will be taught over two semesters (A and B) where you will study eight core modules in engineering, providing you with a solid platform from which to progress to your choice of engineering honours degree.
On successful completion of the foundation year, you will then continue your degree studies at the University of Hertfordshire’s College Lane Campus.
You will study one year at Oaklands College and progress onto the University of Hertfordshire for another three years (full-time) – four years total.
Alternatively you can study one year at the college and progress onto the University of Hertfordshire for another four years (sandwich) – five years total.
Who you'll learn from
Your teachers include experienced practitioners and industry experts who will impart their knowledge and experiences. They will ground your education in solid principles and case studies that will be valuable throughout your career. The teaching approach emphasises proactive learning, drawing from real-life experiences and scenarios shared by your tutors.
Additionally, you have access to an academic support team, a well-being team, and a personal tutor who will help you navigate university learning and living.
Working together, your teaching and support team is committed to assisting you in realising and achieving your full potential.
How we support our students
At the University of Hertfordshire, we want to make sure your time studying with us is as stress-free and rewarding as possible.
We offer a range of support services, from childcare to counselling, ensuring that you make the most of your time at Herts and can focus on studying, having fun, and have the support you need.
Entry requirements
The University of Hertfordshire is committed to welcoming students with a wide range of qualifications and levels of experience. The entry requirements listed on the course pages provide a guide to the minimum level of qualifications needed to study each course. However, we have a flexible approach to admissions and each application will be considered on an individual basis.
| Typical offer (UCAS points) | (enter tariff range) |
|---|---|
| Typical A Level offer | (enter range) |
| Typical IB offer | (enter range) |
| Typical BTEC offer | (enter range) |
| Typical T Level offer | (enter range) |
| GCSE | EG: Grade 4/C in English Language and 4/D Mathematics |
| Access courses | EG: An overall merit profile in 45 credits at Level 3. |
| Additional information | Find out more about our standard and contextual Undergraduate Entry Requirements. |
| Typical offer (UCAS points) | 48 |
|---|---|
| Typical A Level offer | DD |
| Typical IB offer | 48 UCAS points |
| Typical BTEC offer | PPP |
| Typical T Level offer | Accepted T Levels: Design Survey and Planning for Construction; Design Production, Design and Development; Education and Childcare; Healthcare Science; Health; Science; Digital Support Services; Digital Business Services; Onsite Construction; Building Services Engineering for Construction; Accounting; Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing; Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control; Finance; Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing; Management and Administration; Agriculture, Land Management and Production; Legal Services. |
| GCSE | Grade 4/C in English language, Mathematics and Science |
| Access courses | Overall pass |
| Additional information | Find out more about our standard and contextual Undergraduate Entry Requirements. |
Ready to apply?
UK and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK
| Start date | Study type | Apply |
|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | Full time | Apply via UCAS |
| September 2026 | Full time | Apply via UCAS |
Apply through Clearing
Fees and funding
At Herts, we’re dedicated to providing world-class teaching supported by industry-level facilities and incredible social spaces. We believe cost shouldn’t be a barrier to higher education, and we strive to keep both our standard and additional costs as low as possible.
| Study type | Fees | |
|---|---|---|
| UK students | Full time | £6,400 for the 2025/2026 academic year |
Tuition fees are charged annually. The fees quoted above are for the specified year(s) only. Fees may be higher in future years, for both new and continuing students. Please see the University’s Fees and Finance Policy (and in particular the section headed “When tuition fees change”), for further information about when and by how much the University may increase its fees for future years.
| Scholarships, grants and bursaries | Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for a non-repayable scholarship, grant or bursary to support your studies. |
|---|---|
| Disabled Students' Allowance | The Disabled Students’ Allowance can cover any study-related costs you have because of a mental health problem, long term illness or any other disability. |
| Student loans | Find out about securing a student loan, from how much you could be eligible for to when you need to start making repayments. |
| Accommodation costs | We offer a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget. |
| Additional course fees | Read more about additional fees in the course fact sheet. |
More about the course
| Course fact sheets | |
|---|---|
| Engineering with Foundation Year - Oaklands College | Download PDF |
| Engineering with Foundation Year - Oaklands College | Download PDF |
| Programme specifications | |
|---|---|
| Engineering with Foundation Year - Oaklands College | Download PDF |
| Engineering with Foundation Year - Oaklands College | Download PDF |
| Additional information | |
|---|---|
|
Applications open to international and EU students |
No |
Course length |
Sandwich, 5 Years |
