Program Overview

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Religion, Philosophy and Ethics (with Foundation Year) BA

Overview

The Religion, Philosophy and Ethics (with Foundation Year) BA is a four-year undergraduate degree that combines a foundation year with a three-year undergraduate course. The foundation year is designed to prepare students for undergraduate study and provides a broad introduction to the arts and humanities.

Course Information

• Qualification: Bachelor of Arts with Honours
• Entry Requirements:
  • A levels: BCC
  • IB score: 24 points overall or 544 in 3 Higher Level Certificates
  • GCSE: English grade 4 (C)
• Start Date: September 2026
• UCAS Code: 86VF
• Duration: 4 years full-time
• Fees: £5,760*

Alternative Courses for EU/International Students

This course is not available to EU/international students. Instead, they may consider the Business, Law and Social Sciences Foundation Certificate, offered through the University of Nottingham International College in partnership with Kaplan International Pathways.

Personal Circumstances

To qualify for the Foundation Year contextual offer, students must have Home/UK fee status and meet specific criteria, including:

• Living in an area where people are less likely to go to university
• Receiving free school meals (FSM) on any census day in the six years before the census day of their final KS4 year
• Being the first generation in their family to enter higher education
• Being over 21 years old when they begin their course
• Spending more than three months in local authority care
• Having refugee status from the Home Office
• Needing to study in the East Midlands for family, cultural, or financial reasons
• Providing long-term care of a sick or disabled family member

Progression to Direct Entry Degree

On successful completion of the course, students will progress directly to their undergraduate course, chosen from the full range provided entirely within the Faculty of Arts. Factors to consider include:

• Additional entry requirements for some degrees
• Year abroad opportunities for most Modern Languages courses and the American and Canadian Studies (study abroad) course
• Placement year options for some courses

Study Abroad

Students can apply to study abroad at one of the university's partner institutions or at University of Nottingham China or University of Nottingham Malaysia.

Placements and Internships

Students can choose to add an optional placement year to their three-year progression degree. The Foundation Year is based within the Faculty of Arts, which offers numerous placement and internship opportunities.

Key Information

• Tuition Fees 2026/27: £5,760*
• Additional Costs:
  • Equipment: students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  • Books: students may wish to buy their own copies of core texts, with a recommended budget of £100 per year
  • Volunteering and placements: students will need to pay for transport and refreshments

Scholarships and Bursaries

• Faculty of Arts Alumni Scholarships: provide support with essential living costs to eligible students
• University of Nottingham Bursaries and Scholarships: offer a wide range of funds that can provide an additional source of non-repayable financial help

Course Overview

The Arts and Humanities Foundation Year will help prepare students for the BA Religion, Philosophy and Ethics. This course encourages students to think deeply about the foundations of their beliefs and ethics, exploring how religious thought and philosophy address these fundamental questions.

Why Choose This Course?

• Automatic Progression: to the degree upon successful completion of the Foundation Year
• Preparation for Success: gain the skills and confidence during the foundation year to thrive as an undergraduate
• Great Support: benefit from dedicated foundation year tutors
• Carefully Designed Curriculum: each of the six modules aims to give students the best start to their progression degree
• Freedom to Explore: deepen knowledge of favorite topics and explore new ones
• Build Employability: develop CV-boosting skills through integrated professional competencies training during the foundation year
• Change Your Mind: this Foundation Year allows progression to a wide range of Arts and Humanities degrees

Careers

• Careers Overview: evidence shows that students commencing their university study at foundation level achieve the same levels of undergraduate degree as their fellow direct-route students
• Job Prospects: 78.8% of undergraduates from the Faculty of Arts secured graduate-level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation, with an average annual starting salary of £23,974

Teaching and Learning

• Teaching Methods: lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops
• Assessment Methods: essay, poster, presentation, portfolio (written/digital), creative piece, workbook
• Contact Time and Study Hours: at least 12 hours of timetabled contact a week, with tutors available outside these times to discuss issues and develop understanding

Modules

• Foundation Year:
  • Important Thinkers Through History
  • Critical Thinking and Reflective Learning
  • Language and Culture
  • Media, Communication and Society
  • Narrative and Creativity
  • The Project / Language Centre modules

Your Campus - University Park

• University Park Campus: covers 300 acres, with green spaces, wildlife, period buildings, and modern facilities
• Sustainability: one of the UK's most beautiful and sustainable campuses, winning a national Green Flag award every year since 2003

Related Courses

• Liberal Arts (with Foundation Year) BA Hons
• Cultural and Creative Industries (with Foundation Year) BA Hons
• Religion, Philosophy and Ethics BA Jt Hons
• Liberal Arts BA Hons