Institute of Foundation Studies

Giving you the extra support you need to start your degree

About the school

Welcome to Arden University’s Institute of Foundation Studies. Studying a degree with foundation year entry within our Institute of Foundation Studies is the perfect solution if you feel you need extra support when beginning your degree course, or if you don’t meet the standard entry requirements for a bachelor’s degree.

In the last five years, almost four thousand students from all over the world, and from all walks of life, have enrolled on our degrees with foundation year, and we look forward to welcoming you to university life.

Arden in numbers

95%

student satisfaction

95% of our graduates said they were satisfied with the Arden University learning experience.

90%

of careers transformed

90% of Arden graduates say their career possibilities have been enhanced by studying with us.*

global study locations

Study from anywhere online, on campus in Berlin, or at one of our five UK study centres, including three locations in London.

9/10

Alumni are proud to be Arden graduates

In recognition of our continued commitment to our students, we were named number one education business in the 2020 Education Investor Awards.

Subject areas

Business & Management

Accounting and Finance

Computing and IT

Health and Social Care

Human Resource Management

Marketing

Criminology and Law

Psychology and Sociology

Tourism

Faculty staff

Dr Lucy Atkinson (PhD, MA, BSc, FHEA, AFBALEAP) is the Director of the Institute of Foundation Studies at Arden University and joined in December 2021. Qualified with Bachelors, master's from Lancaster University in Psychology in Education and Applied Linguistics, Lucy also has a PhD/Doctor of Philosophy in Cognitive Psychology and Applied Linguistics. Lucy has a demonstrated history of working in higher education on different levels and provision, including English for Academic Purposes for international and home/EU students, Levels 3-7 in Psychology/Education/Marketing and has developed Foundation Year provision enabling access to university for a diverse cohort of students. Lucy has an excellent understanding of key statistics and actions for a successful university programme including progression, continuation, and module/teaching satisfaction ensuring an increase in these metrics and an improved student experience. Lucy is also an avid conference presenter, guest speaker and sharer of learning and teaching practice in the HE community for preparatory programmes.

Dr Lucy Atkinson

Director of the Institute of Foundation Studies

Stefan Overton

Lecturer

Rachel Sankey

Lecturer

Kola Adeneye

Lecturer

Fosca Grossi

Lecturer

Shamsun Choudhury

Lecturer

Scott Verney

Nav Ahmed

Principal Lecturer

Student Stories

Studying at Arden University has been great because I have now got that balance to run my family, work part time, and also study online. So it’s been really fulfilling that I can do a degree while looking after my family.

Doing this course is a stepping-stone for me in the direction that I want to go.

Delivering face-to-face care to my patients with the knowledge and skills I have learned at Arden University helps me a to be a lot to be more confident in my professional role.

It’s a great way to study if you’re looking for flexibility. It was challenging to balance a full-time job with my degree but once I was in a routine, it was much easier to manage everything. Online learning has actually helped me become very good with time management and given me the ability to prioritise tasks.

Latest news

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Accrediting bodies and industry partners

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is a powerful global presence within the accountancy profession, inspiring its members and students towards greater success and prosperity.

The British Psychological Society (BPS)

The single-subject psychology degree courses at the School of Psychology are accredited by The British Psychological Society, the representative body for professional psychologists in the UK.

Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)

The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) is the world’s largest organisation for professional marketers and plays a key role in setting industry standards.

CIPD

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is a professional body which sets the industry standards for human resource management and people development.

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) promotes excellence in UK management and leadership. The institute aims to boost career development in the management sector and connect you with likeminded professionals.

Institute of Health & Social Care Management (IHSCM)

The aim of the Institute of Health & Social Care Management (IHSCM) is to create a supportive professional body that is relevant in its activities and modern in its approach.