Students who last October joined the University of Cambridge’s new pre-degree foundation year are this term beginning their degrees at Cambridge and other top UK universities, after successfully completing the one-year programme.
Last year, 47 students joined the Cambridge Foundation Year’s first cohort, with 39 (83%) successfully completing the course in July this year and receiving a CertHE qualification from the University of Cambridge. Of these, 31 (79.5%) are now continuing at Cambridge as undergraduates.
Those who completed the course but are not continuing at Cambridge have been supported in securing a place at another top UK university. Six students who began the programme in 2022 paused their studies until the 2023 programme, and two withdrew. It means that two-thirds of students (66%) who started the course last year have progressed to degrees at Cambridge.
Dr Alex Pryce, Foundation Year Course Director, said: “It’s been incredible to watch our first foundation year students grow as individuals during their time at Cambridge so far. They’ve really made the most out of this new academic opportunity. In terms of confidence, many of the students are unrecognisable from when they arrived. We find them inquisitive in the classroom and their experiences bring us new insights.
“They’ve also made the most of life in their colleges and have engaged in all that Cambridge has to offer, including sports, arts and student politics. This is a competitive and demanding programme, and we have seen some really excellent outcomes.”