Program Overview

BA (Hons) Education Foundation Year

The BA (Hons) Education Foundation Year is designed to build confidence, academic skills, and understanding of key educational concepts. This first year explores how people learn, studies major educational theories, and develops essential research and communication skills that support success throughout the degree.

Course Overview

The course is part of the School of Education at Manchester Met and is taught by experts in their chosen field. The foundation year provides a stepping stone into higher-level study and a future career in the education sector.

Features and Benefits

• Build strong academic and study skills: Learn how to write essays, manage time, use digital tools, and think critically – essential for university success.
• Understand how we learn: Explore theories of learning and development and discover how memory, attention, and behavior influence education.
• Gain early research experience: Get hands-on with research methods and complete a project focused on local educational settings and practices.
• Explore the wider world of education: Examine how education is shaped by history, policy, community, and inclusion – and discover which areas inspire your future career path.

Accreditations, Awards, and Endorsements

The university has received an overall gold status in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), meaning it's rated as an outstanding university for its student experience.

Year 1

In the foundation year, students begin to develop their awareness of education and future career pathways, understand the foundations of education and early years, and get familiar with what's required for academic study at university level.

Core Modules

• Academic Study Skills: Develop functional skills in writing and digital applications, explore areas including academic writing, critical thinking, and effective communication.
• What is Learning?: Explore cognitive and behaviorist development theories and their practical applications in educational settings.
• Foundations in Disciplinary Studies: Introduce the specific subject disciplines of special and inclusive education, early years and childhood studies, and education studies.
• Introduction to Research and Practice: Study the basics of research and its application to practice, develop knowledge of fundamental research methodologies, and basic data analysis techniques.

Study and Assessment

• Study: Year 1 - 25% lectures, seminars, or similar; 75% independent study
• Assessment: Year 1 - 100% coursework

Entry Requirements

• Typical Offer: 80 UCAS tariff points
• IELTS Score: IELTS 5.5 with no component below 5.5 taken within two years of course start date
• UK Students: 80 UCAS tariff points, GCSE English Language at grade D/3 or above or Pass in Level 2 Functional Skills
• International Students: 24 IB Diploma Points to include HL 4 or SL 5 in English, IELTS 5.5 with no component below 5.5 taken within two years of course start date

Fees and Funding

Tuition fees for the 2026/27 academic year are still being finalized for all courses.

Careers Support and Prospects

• Employed or in Further Study: 88.7% of UK-domiciled, full-time, first-degree graduates are employed or in further study 15 months after graduation.
• Explore Your Options and Build Sought-After Skills: Through the Careers Service, students are supported and encouraged to get ready for further study or working life, including starting their own business.

A Career as Unique as You

Upon successful completion of the foundation year, students can progress onto either BA (Hons) Education or BA (Hons) Early Years and Childhood degrees. As a graduate, you could develop your career across the education sector, work in community and youth work, or museum and gallery education, or pursue a career in related areas such as education publishing or local government. Or perhaps you'll continue on to postgraduate study. If you decide you'd like to become a teacher, you'll need to complete a PGCE or another training route.