Please note there are no vacancies on this course for September 2024
Page last updated 16 August 2024
Get the grounding to progress to the first year of degree courses in areas such as Health Professions or Nursing and Midwifery.
To progress in a career in health, you need formal qualifications.
Starting with a year's foundation is a way to build your knowledge of health topics, science and research, so that you can then progress onto a degree programme and take your career forward.
The foundation programme for Health Professions is year zero of selected degree courses in Health Professions and Nursing and Midwifery at UWE Bristol.
If you don't have formal qualifications or meet the normal entry requirements, but can demonstrate relevant life experience and commitment to this area, we will consider your application.
Spend a year getting a solid grounding in science and healthcare-related topics on this springboard into higher education.
Study areas of human biology, psychology, sociology and research, and get the knowledge, skills and confidence you need to take the next step in your education and career.
Most of the teaching takes place at the City of Bristol College, although you'll also be taught at our Glenside Campus.
Both sites have outstanding learning facilities, and you'll be taught by an inspirational, supportive team, who'll help you get ready for your degree course.
The teaching staff understand what's required to succeed at the next level and the course is designed to get you academically and mentally ready.
You'll engage with students already studying healthcare degrees to get a better understanding of what's involved.
Staff will be on hand to offer practical support and give informal advice on your career options.
After passing this foundation year, you'll get a guaranteed place on one of the following UWE Bristol degrees:
*The availability of a guaranteed place on this degree is still subject to final UWE Bristol approval.
You will study:
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we will inform you.
Using lectures, demonstrations, laboratory work, tutorials, small group work and interactive online learning sessions, we'll ask you to actively participate, and take responsibility for your own learning, to get the most from the course.
Develop the key skills and knowledge, including the science foundation, you need to do an undergraduate degree, or progress to a professional course.
Learn about using research in evidence-based professional practice, and develop your investigative skills.
Learn effective study and self management approaches.
Develop self awareness, self direction and sensitivity to the needs of others.
Understand the values you need to work in health, such as respecting diversity.
Develop your interpersonal skills, so you can work and communicate well in a team.
You'll be supported by a personal tutor at college, and get vocational support and guidance from lecturers at UWE Bristol.
You'll have your own learning contract, which you and your personal tutor will jointly develop and agree.
See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.
You'll be assessed using a mixture of formal examinations, oral presentations, written tests, assignments, project, laboratory reports and your learning portfolio.
Most of the teaching takes place at the City of Bristol College, Ashley Down Centre. You'll also be taught at UWE Bristol's Glenside Campus.
Benefit from a wide range of resources there, including seven Learning Resource Centres housing over 55,000 study materials. You can also use the InfoTrac service to access journals online.
The Glenside healthcare library is one of the best in the country, with a huge selection of books, audio-visual materials and specialist health and social care software packages.
The course has a practical focus and our advanced skills and simulation centre gives you excellent opportunities to demonstrate and practise your professional skills.
Take a Virtual Tour of the Health Professions facilities and see what's on offer here for you.
An excellent range of options for all of the Bristol campuses and the city centre.
A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.
There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.
We provide support in the way you need it.
Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.
Once you pass your foundation year, you'll get a guaranteed place on one of the health professions or nursing and midwifery degrees, opening up an exciting range of career options on graduation.
Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and find you graduate jobs, placements and global opportunities.
We can also help find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.
Visit our employability pages to learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.
Learn more about NHS careers.
This refers to items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee. These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.
The Foundation course is aimed at individuals who may have few or no relevant formal qualifications but who can demonstrate a clear commitment to pursuing a career within their chosen profession. Personal, professional and educational experiences will be considered to determine motivation and ability to progress onto the degree course.
UWE Bristol makes contextualised offers for our main degrees as well as Foundation courses, so please check which level of entry is right for you.
Please note, this course is not available to International applicants. If you are interested in a Foundation programme to join our degrees in this subject area you can apply through our International College.
All applicants are required to complete:
*All information will be treated in confidence and only taken into account when absolutely necessary.
About your Health Checks
Offers of places are subject to Occupational Health Clearance and students are expected to disclose pre-existing and historical health conditions. You must be in good health and up-to-date with all routine immunisations that are required for working in health and social care settings. If you are offered a place on this course, you will be required to complete a questionnaire and must be prepared to undergo a medical examination. You will also be required to confirm your status in respect of a number of infectious diseases (tuberculosis, measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, varicella, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV antibodies) and be prepared to have all required vaccinations. Please note that the list of required vaccinations may change, in response to advice from the Department of Health. If your vaccinations are not up-to-date, this will affect your ability to continue on your course. If you have any concerns with regards to vaccinations please raise this at the point of application.
Applications will be reviewed and those demonstrating an understanding of, and commitment to a career in their chosen field will be shortlisted for an online interview via Microsoft Teams.
Personal statements for applicants shortlisted for interview will:
Watch our video for top tips on writing a healthcare personal statement and download our health and social care personal statement guide.
All applications received on or before the UCAS deadline are considered equally, however, due to the volume of applications received, and to ensure that all applications are given equal consideration, you may attend an interview in December or January but may not receive your decision until May via UCAS or through the UWE applicant portal.
If you haven't received a decision after your interview this means that the University is still considering your application. We appreciate your patience during this time and would like to remind you that if you applied through UCAS and have received offers from any other Universities, you will not lose these offers before your UCAS Reply Deadline.
Paramedic Science and Physiotherapy pathways will be using a staged admissions process known as a 'gathered field' approach. This is to make sure that the admissions process is fair to applicants. 'Gathered field' here means grouping applications together and is used when the candidate quality and the level of interest in the course exceeds the number of interview places available. If you apply before the UCAS deadline you can expect to hear from us by the end of February with an update on whether you have been invited to interview.
We do not accept deferred entry applications for this course.
Read more about entry requirements.
Before applying, you should decide which route through the Foundation course you would like to study:
*The availability of a guaranteed place on this degree is still subject to final UWE Bristol approval.
Pathways may close at different times as places are offered on a 'first come first served' basis.
It's recommended that you visit the relevant department in your local hospital for the profession you are interested in to gain some insight into your chosen course. In addition, it would be beneficial for you to obtain some work experience, paid or voluntary, in the workplace.
The University is unable to enter into individual correspondence regarding decisions made following an interview.
Read more about undergraduate applications.
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.
UK applicants
Admissions@uwe.ac.uk
International/EU applicants
International@uwe.ac.uk
UK applicants
+44 (0)117 32 83333
International/EU applicants
+44 (0)117 32 86644