---
title: "Foundation Degree Qualifications"
description: "If you're in need of a little extra help with your studies, you might want to consider studying a Foundation Degree. Take a look at how you can study your Foundation Degree Qualifications with Arden University today."
canonical: "https://arden.ac.uk/our-courses/blended-learning/undergraduate/foundation-degrees"
published: 2025-07-21
updated: 2026-06-05
author: "Arden University"
---

# Foundation Degree Qualifications

Study at Arden

Gain the work-based skills you need to progress your career or top up to a full degree later.

Our Foundation Degrees are the ideal choice if you want a skills-focused higher education qualification without committing to a full three-year programme straight away. You’ll gain practical, workplace-relevant skills, while keeping the option open to progress to an honours degree later.

Take your first step into higher education with Arden by exploring our Foundation Degree courses below.

### Foundation Degree Business and Innovation (FdA)

- **Level:** Undergraduate
- **Study locations:** Birmingham, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham
- [View course](https://arden.ac.uk/our-courses/undergraduate/business-degree/fda-business-innovation)

### Foundation Degree Computing and Digital Futures (FdSc)

- **Level:** Undergraduate
- **Study locations:** Birmingham, London
- [View course](https://arden.ac.uk/our-courses/undergraduate/computing-degrees/fdsc-computing-digital-futures)

### Foundation Degree Health and Care Management (FdSc)

- **Level:** Undergraduate
- **Study locations:** Birmingham, Leeds, London, Manchester
- [View course](https://arden.ac.uk/our-courses/undergraduate/healthcare-and-social-care/fdsc-health-and-care-management)

### Foundation Degree vs. Foundation Year

While Foundation Degrees and Foundation Year Entry Degrees might sound similar, they are designed for different students:

**Foundation Degree** (2 years)

- Stand-alone qualification equivalent to the first two years of a bachelor’s
- More practical, career-focused, skills-based learning
- Option to progress (“top up”) to a final year of a full honours degree
- Slightly higher entry requirements than Foundation Year
- Daytime students study one day on campus per week
- Friday Evening and Saturday students study two days per week

**Foundation Year Entry Degree** (4 years)

- Undergraduate degree with an integrated foundation year
- Designed to build academic confidence and study skills before progressing
- Ideal if you need extra support to meet entry requirements
- All students will study two days a week on campus

In short, if you’d like a faster, practical qualification with the flexibility to continue to an honours degree later, a Foundation Degree could be your perfect route.

**Read our full explainer on** [**Foundation Degrees vs. Foundation Year Entry Degrees**](https://arden.ac.uk/knowledge-base/arden-blogs/foundation-degrees-vs-foundation-year-entry-degrees)

### What is a Foundation Degree?

A Foundation Degree is a two-year qualification that combines academic study with practical, hands-on skills. It is equivalent to the first two years of an honours degree, and you can top up to a bachelor’s later if you wish.

- Practical, career-focused learning
- Flexible study formats – One day per week for daytime students and two days per week for students studying the evening or weekend study modes.
- Progression routes to a full degree
- Ideal if you want a faster qualification

### Why study a Foundation Degree with Arden?

- Industry-relevant courses with embedded workplace impact project
- Support from experienced academics and staff
- Skills you can apply immediately in the workplace
- Progress to an honours degree without starting from scratch

## Looking for something else?

Events and Open Days

Get involved with Arden by signing up to our free online events and webinars.

[Learn more](/knowledge-base/virtual-events-webinars/upcoming-events)

Chat with a student

Chat to one of our student ambassadors and find out what it’s really like to study with us.

[Learn more](https://arden.ac.uk/chat-with-our-students)

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