Who's it for?

Anyone - no prior qualifications are required.

Why is it excellent?

The Foundation Year in Arts and Humanities (FYAH) ensures strong learning outcomes for students without conventional qualifications by offering a holistic approach to how such students are recruited, admitted, taught and supported in progression to a degree. For example, preparatory taster courses are developed with community organisations including Bristol Refugee Rights and the Single Parent Action Network.

We think it’s excellent that no prior qualifications are required for admission and the curriculum combines an introduction to a broad range of arts and humanities subjects and relevant skills, including note-taking, time management, finding your voice at university and career planning.

FYAH is paving the way in terms of the diversity of its students: 90% of the students recruited since the programme was established in 2013 have not had A-Levels and the programme has an exceptional record in recruiting students from the following widening participation categories: mature (76%), local (49%), from neighbourhoods with low participation in higher education (37%), who are black or minority ethnic (16%), on incomes below £25k (74%), with a disability (37%) and who are first in their family to go to higher education (43%).

The ethos and values that drive FYAH are excellent both for the doors they open and for the educational experience of the students once they’re here. We think it is a leading example of a Bristol University initiative interacting with and supporting the local community. This integration makes the course more meaningful for students and improves the relationship between the University and the city. The city is the selling point for many students who apply here and FYAH makes good use of this asset.