"Foundation Degrees"

[KaHn]

Sorry I will clarify,

I did my Degree (BEng (hons)) in Aerospace Engineering at Manchester University.

I was doing my MSc in Mechanical Engineering at Newcastle University

As for the industry of railways I dont want anything to do with you, I have had my fair share of run ins with you lot and to be blunt if its not big and heavy you dont know about it, talk to one about composites and they will give you a big "HUH" as you don't need it on railways, this all comes down to what you are lookig for.

And as I have said, if you want to be at the front, do your a-lvls part time then get sponsorship to goto uni, otherwise you will always be someones whipping boy.

KaHn

 

[Nazbit]

A mate of mine who is a few years further in to uni than me mentioned a foundation year the other day, and well, just confused me basically.

I think the foundation year gets you ready for the degree course if you didnt quite get the grades.

 

[kitten_caboodle]

A mate of mine who is a few years further in to uni than me mentioned a foundation year the other day, and well, just confused me basically.

I think the foundation year gets you ready for the degree course if you didnt quite get the grades.

again, please see difference between foundation 'year' and foundation 'degree'.

How can it be something that 'gets you ready' for a degree if the course is the same ruddy length?

 

[Glaucus]

As for the industry of railways I dont want anything to do with you, I have had my fair share of run ins with you lot and to be blunt if its not big and heavy you dont know about it, talk to one about composites and they will give you a big "HUH" as you don't need it on railways, this all comes down to what you are lookig for.

And that all depends what you specialise in you. However you must have come across the track guys. But railway covers every aspect of engineering.

composite materials are hardly good when you running 900+ ton trains at 60mph around curves. That's a lot of force on a small area.

 

[KaHn]

and according to http://www.shu.ac.uk/courses/rail/progressioncourse.html what acidhell2 is saying is right - the course can only be undertaken once the foundation degree has been completed...

Thats without the relevant qualifications, if you had the A-lvls or an HNC to get onto the course (BSc/BEng) you wouldnt need the FD which leaves that route obsolete, look at it this way, why would you take the longest route posilbe when you can get the same qualifications with the same experience in half the time.

If you do an HNC or your A-lvl equivelents you can either go straight onto a "Foundation degree" at a good university which means you get to meet the lecturers and know the campus, then after a yr you go onto the first year better of than the students, with company sponsorship, then go one for your BEng/MEng/PhD.

Or you take your route which anyone can do and hope for the best?

KaHn

 

[KaHn]

And that all depends what you specialise in you. However you must have come across the track guys. But railway covers every aspect of engineering.

composite materials are hardly good when you running 900+ ton trains at 60mph around curves. That's a lot of force on a small area.

And if you knew anything about composites they are looking at them to take over most iron applications, so they are good enough for your "tracks".

The main factors in composites is the cost, but thats a different argument.

KaHn

 

[Glaucus]

And if you knew anything about composites they are looking at them to take over most iron applications, so they are good enough for your "tracks".

KaHn

Yeh good enough, but are they cheap enough for 1000's of miles of tracks. How long does it take to join pieces together ect ect.

 

[KaHn]

Yeh good enough, but are they cheap enough for 1000's of miles of tracks. How long does it take to join pieces together ect ect.

look at my edit.

KaHn

 

[kitten_caboodle]

Thats without the relevant qualifications, if you had the A-lvls or an HNC to get onto the course (BSc/BEng) you wouldnt need the FD which leaves that route obsolete, look at it this way, why would you take the longest route posilbe when you can get the same qualifications with the same experience in half the time.

If you do an HNC or your A-lvl equivelents you can either go straight onto a "Foundation degree" at a good university which means you get to meet the lecturers and know the campus, then after a yr you go onto the first year better of than the students, with company sponsorship, then go one for your BEng/MEng/PhD.

Or you take your route which anyone can do and hope for the best?

KaHn

Full time foundation degree 2 years. Progression into 3rd year at uni.

Why do you think it is the longest route possible? It's exactly the same as a regular degree?

Studying for your HNC will take you 2 years, as will A-Levels, so i really don't see what the benefit is?

The programme has been designed to provide a platform for employment within the photography industry at entry level or to continuing Higher Education at Honours Degree Level.

Upon successful completion of the Foundation Degree you may wish to take up the guaranteed progression route to the third and final year of a BA (Hons) in Documentary and Fine Art at Stockport College, validated by Liverpool John Moores University.

Although this is a guaranteed progression in terms of space, it will be a conditional progression in terms of successful achievement of 240 credits from the Foundation Degree.

It is available as full and part time study. Full time study will take 2 years. Part time study will take a minimum of 3 years.

 

[Glaucus]

Anyway where getting slightly off topic. As with normal degrees, it totally depends on the university, subject and industry support. If it is any good or not.

 

[KaHn]

Full time foundation degree 2 years. Progression into 3rd year at uni.

Why do you think it is the longest route possible? It's exactly the same as a regular degree?

The programme has been designed to provide a platform for employment within the photography industry at entry level or to continuing Higher Education at Honours Degree Level.

Upon successful completion of the Foundation Degree you may wish to take up the guaranteed progression route to the third and final year of a BA (Hons) in Documentary and Fine Art at Stockport College, validated by Liverpool John Moores University.

Although this is a guaranteed progression in terms of space, it will be a conditional progression in terms of successful achievement of 240 credits from the Foundation Degree.

It is available as full and part time study. Full time study will take 2 years. Part time study will take a minimum of 3 years.

Sorry, but as I have said the foundation degrees im on about is 1 yr before you start initially the first yr at uni, I have never heard of going from nothing into 3rd year, i have how ever heard of doing a HND then going into 2nd yr but thats not the same, i think we are talkin about 2 totally different things here, still.

KaHn

FD's need no qualifications hence why they take so long, at a good uni they take less as you need some understanding and some ability to work.

 

[KaHn]

Anyway where getting slightly off topic. As with normal degrees, it totally depends on the university, subject and industry support. If it is any good or not.

Add me to msn if you want to ask me anything else, [email protected]

KaHn

 

[Glaucus]

FD's need no qualifications hence why they take so long, at a good uni they take less as you need some understanding and some ability to work.

This is why we are aguing, if you read the first couple of posts "foundation" degrees are not the Foundation degrees you are talking about. Re-read the first couple of posts.

 

[kitten_caboodle]

Kahn, you're talking about foundation years not degrees. Totally different as I think i said in post number 1 .

 

[KaHn]

Kahn, you're talking about foundation years not degrees. Totally different as I think i said in post number 1 .

They aren't, they are just different uni's spin on them.

If these are so much better than a normal degree why doesn't everyone do them?

Can I just say with out any real qualifications?

KaHn

 

[kitten_caboodle]

They aren't, they are just different uni's spin on them.

If these are so much better than a normal degree why doesn't everyone do them?

Can I just say with out any real qualifications?

KaHn

They are - trust me, they are totally, totally different. Stop now or you're just gonna look daft

3 years, more practical than a regular degree. It's not difficult to understand that it's just another option - a different type of degree because employers are sick of snotty nosed 20 somethings appearing out of uni with a qualification but no experience or clue of how things work in industry.

These degrees have been planned with the industries themselves and they are tailored to give people qualifications that actually mean something, rather than many degrees that right now have very little in common with what the industry really wants.

 

[KaHn]

They are - trust me, they are totally, totally different. Stop now or you're just gonna look daft

make me look daft then.

I dont mind.

KaHn

 

[Una]

They are - trust me, they are totally, totally different. Stop now or you're just gonna look daft

"The Foundation Degree is a vocational qualification introduced by the government of the United Kingdom in September 2001, which is available in England."

Ah you edited, seems they have been around a bit. Looks like just another way for universities to get bums on seats of people who would have not otherwise not had the qualifications to do a proper degree.

 

[kitten_caboodle]

"The Foundation Degree is a vocational qualification introduced by the government of the United Kingdom in September 2001, which is available in England."

Ah you edited, seems they have been around a bit.

yes I did - I was referring to the option being available in more places such as FT colleges, which appears to have been rolled out this year. Then I realised that was confusing, so edited accordingly

Ah you edited too. The 'bums on seats' from those who wouldn't be able to get in otherwise is known as a Foundation Course *bangs head on brick wall*

Foundation Courses are designed to prepare potential students, who otherwise do not meet matriculation requirements, to qualify for admission to undergraduate courses.

That is an extra year that has to be taken by those who are underqualified before they can do any undergraduate course.

A Foundation degree is the same length as a regular degree, it just has the emphasis on practical work rather than study. It's no longer, or more difficult than a regular degree, but designed by industry professionals, they are proving to be far more relevant for employers than most current degrees.

I'm really not seeing why this is so difficult for people to understand

 

[Glaucus]

After having a little chat with Kahn. Think there's a few thing I need to add.

As I said before you need to make sure the course is good and well received by the industry.

For a lot of people the new FD will not be good, as they can be very specific to certain industry's. If you now what career you want and are planning to stay in that chosen profession, then they can be excellent and have benefits.

However if you are not sure, like most people when they leave A levels. Then they are probably not for you. A good normal degree will be much more useful as they are less industry specific , thus giving you far greater scope in the near future.

Obviously after 10 years experience and further training, the difference becomes far less. But yet again, normal degrees have been around a lot longer and from a good university will provide a fair amount of clout for top employers.