Apply for a foundation year in Arts and Social Sciences
How to apply
Applications for CertHE Foundation in Arts and Social Sciences (2026 entry) open from Monday 1 December 2025 and will close on Monday 16 March 2026 (closing at 23:59 GMT).
Please complete our online application form:
This programme is only open to applicants who qualify for Home fees. If you are unsure whether you are classed as a home or overseas student, or you are an EU student, visit the University's fee status page for more information. The University runs a separate foundation programme for Overseas students.
We can also consider applications from refugees and asylum seekers who are also applying for our Sanctuary Scholarship award. Applicants should declare this in their application so that we can match your application for the foundation course with your Sanctuary Scholarship application. 'Overseas' fee status students should refer to our International Foundation Programmes.
Admissions requirements and eligibility
The prospectus page for this course includes more information on the eligibility criteria and selection process. Please read the admission statement carefully before applying:
There are no formal entry requirements for our CertHE Foundation courses. Applicants are welcome to apply with no prior qualifications.
Each application will be judged on its own merits, and we welcome applications from people from a wide range of ages and educational, ethnic, and social backgrounds. We are looking for applicants who are highly motivated to study and who have the potential to succeed in further university study afterwards.
Qualification Questionnaire
When applying, applicants are required to complete and upload the FY Qualification Questionnaire 2026 (Office document, 63kB) instead of listing any qualifications in their application form. Although qualifications are not required for entry to our Arts CertHE Foundation, we do need to know about any you have taken or are taking at Level 3 (for example, A-level or equivalent). This is to provide context for your application but does not prejudice our decision.
Personal statement
On the application form, you’ll be asked to provide a personal statement which addresses the following questions:
- What are your experiences of study in the past (positive or negative) and why do you want to return to study?
- Why do you want to study this particular course and what would you like to achieve by the end of it?
- What subject area are you most interested in and how has this developed?
- Would you like to go on to study for a degree?
- What hobbies, interests and experiences do you have that will help you complete your studies?
For more information, please read the Admissions Statement.
Selection process
We select candidates for interviews based on their application form and Personal statement. We then make offers to successful candidates based on their interview alongside their supporting written work for CertHE Foundation in Arts and Social Sciences. Find out more information about the interview process or read our admissions statements above for more guidance on the admissions process overall.