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Foundations of success: Former foundation year students on a health sciences course show equivalent module marks and degree completion rates to peers from more traditional entry routes

Spicer-Cain, H. ORCID: 0000-0003-0428-770X (2025). Foundations of success: Former foundation year students on a health sciences course show equivalent module marks and degree completion rates to peers from more traditional entry routes. Journal of the Foundation Year Network, 7, pp. 3-17.

Abstract

This paper sought to investigate success at undergraduate level study amongst former students of a foundation year in Health Sciences. Data from 50 former foundation students, in respect to programme completion, academic marks and final degree classifications, was compared to that from 335 students who entered the same six undergraduate programmes via UCAS and 74 who entered those courses via Clearing. Statistical analysis showed that former foundation students were more likely than students from other entry routes to complete each year of their undergraduate programme, and they received equivalent marks to students from more traditional entry routes, including final degree marks. This is in contrast to recent government reports about undergraduate outcomes of former foundation students, but in line with some other small studies investigating particular foundation years. The need for future research in this area is discussed, including recommendations for broader and larger cohort studies, alongside qualitative studies that will help us understand the success of former foundation students from their point of view.

Publication Type: Article
Additional Information: © Copyright 2025. The final published version of this article is available at: https://jfyn.co.uk/index.php/ukfyn/article/view/106
Publisher Keywords: outcomes, undergraduate transition, foundation year
Subjects: L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education
Departments: School of Health & Medical Sciences
School of Health & Medical Sciences > Language & Communication Science
SWORD Depositor:
[thumbnail of JFYN Article Submitted Version September 2024.pdf] Text - Accepted Version
This document is not freely accessible due to copyright restrictions.

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