The life-changing impact of the foundation year programme
Finding a new career, exploring something about yourself or following a childhood passion that’s never gone away – coming to education later in life is a giant leap for most people. And it’s one we’ve always tried to support in any way we can.
This year, the Department for Lifelong Learning (DLL) is celebrating a decade of the dedicated Foundation Year for mature students. We caught up with seven of the programme’s graduates to hear their reasons for returning to education, and to learn how studying a degree with a foundation year has shaped their lives.
If you’ve been out of education for two years or two decades the Foundation Year offers a way back in, by opening up 40 different degrees across four faculties.
And there are so many reasons why people decide to come back to learning, probably as many as there are graduates, but all of them share one motivation: changing their lives for the better.
For Ben Langhorne (BA Archaeology with Foundation Year 2019), it was as much about learning for its own sake as it was about expanding career options. Though it also became a journey of self discovery:
I had no idea that I was capable of so much before I started my studies
After graduating with a first, Ben’s career took off – working first as a Geomatics Technician for Wessex Archaeology, and more recently as a Business Analyst and Power Platform Developer for South Yorkshire Police. “Without the skills, knowledge and highly regarded degree I gained from the University, I would never have had the opportunity or ability to get to where I am now in my career.”
Life experience counts
Unlike traditional routes into university, admission to a degree with a foundation year at Sheffield is based upon work and life experience, and passion and commitment for your course, rather than upon prior educational qualifications. And we believe Sheffield is still the only member of the Russell Group to offer dedicated full-time foundation years designed specifically for mature students without formal qualifications.
Mike Dando (BA History with Foundation 2021) is a great example. He joined the Army at 16 and, nearly six years later, came out wondering about his next step: “My time at the university really developed me intellectually (not including the time I spent in the pub), and gaining a first-class degree was my greatest achievement to date.” Mike obviously managed to balance his social life and study, because he’s gone on to gain a scholarship to study for an MSc in Accounting, Governance and Financial Management, and is now working towards becoming a Chartered Accountant.
For you and for your children
Providing for a family is often the reason why many students missed out on a university education earlier in life – and a powerful motivator for returning to learning later.
Abid Mirza (MPlan Urban Studies and Planning with Foundation Year 2023) expresses this perfectly: “At 31, I wanted a career beyond the labour industry. More importantly, I wanted to be a role model for my kids and to encourage them to get an education.”
At the Department for Lifelong Learning, we know how to support making that change. Linda Walmsley (BA Education, Childhood and Culture with Foundation Year 2019) now works as an Education Welfare Officer for Achieving for Children, a career that began thanks to our expert staff: “I wanted a better life for myself and for my children. Now I’m doing a job that I love, helping others achieve their dream,” says Linda.
As a lone parent, I don’t think I would have finished the course if it wasn’t for the support and understanding I received.
Currently studying for a PhD, Annie Harpham-Brown (BA Sociology with Foundation Year 2020) juggled studying with being a parent, too. Her son was born during her second year and, although it presents its own challenges, “…studying feels like I have something for myself outside of being a mum, but that will ultimately allow me to provide for my family.”
Of course, the journey we take through education isn’t always straightforward. David Kandrac (BA Education, Culture and Childhood with Foundation Year 2021) is Slovak-Roma and came to this country with his family to escape educational segregation, racial prejudice and xenophobia. “In Slovakia, the Roma are quite literally segregated from the main community, even attending different schools. Academic qualifications are also typically not given any recognition in my culture, which means that most of my family are illiterate.” When David moved to England, he faced significant language and cultural barriers, and eventually he was excluded from secondary school.
After what he describes as years of preparation, David returned to education through the Foundation Year programme in 2017 – graduating with first-class honours in 2021, and going on to achieve a distinction in his masters degree in Psychology and Education in 2023. During his studies, David has dedicated himself to community engagement work and advocacy, and conducted research on Roma inequalities in education, which he was invited to present to the University of South Wales – returning later as an Expert by Experience to teach their social work students.
Like many mature students, set against his personal challenges and the social issues of the time, David’s achievements shine all the more brightly: “I am proud of myself for being able to study, work, look after our three children, deal with various challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic and still be able to achieve a distinction in my degree, secure an unconditional place on the masters programme and be selected for the Sheffield Postgraduate Scholarship.”
He’s now working with Police, NHS and Social Services as a freelance interpreter and Roma consultant. In September 2024, he will begin studying for an MA in Law.
My educational journey has never finished…. It’s just started!
Despite personal ambitions, the option of further education can be taken away by circumstances way beyond our control. Shukri Farah (BMs Orthoptics with a Foundation Year 2021)came to the UK through the refugees’ support scheme, and earned her place on the Foundation programme.
“Access to education was challenging because of political instability in my country of origin. But this did not impact my motivation,” she explains. “I worked so hard at every level of my studies. I’m so glad I had the best support from all my tutors. My self motivation and this encouragement and support is what made it possible to achieve my goals.”
For any mature students who are interested in studying through the Department for Lifelong Learning, Shukri has some words of advice: “I would advise you to not hesitate. It’s not until you’ve tried that you’ll know your full potential. Whatever degree pathway you choose it’s a guarantee you’ll get the best support towards attaining that degree at the University of Sheffield.”
