2024 entry
Cert Foundation in Arts and Social Sciences
Course overview

Course duration
1 year(s) full-time
Part-time study is not available for this course
Application method
Full-time: Apply direct to the University
Fees
£6,100 per year, home students
More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.
Location
The Foundation in Arts and Social Sciences (CertHE) is a one-year introductory course that is designed to prepare you for an undergraduate degree in either the arts or social sciences. You do not need to have any prior qualifications to apply, and you will be introduced to a range of study skills that are essential for studying these subjects at undergraduate level.
On successful completion of the course, you can progress to a degree in an arts or social sciences subject at Bristol, providing you meet any additional course-specific entry requirements.
The foundation year has two ‘pathways’, which each lead to a different group of degree programmes:
- Arts and Humanities pathway;
- Social Sciences pathway;
On the Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences pathways, by examining specifically what it means to be human, now and in the past, you will explore how the society we inhabit and the culture we share have been shaped by ideas, historical events, political and social movements, and works of art.
Students on all pathways complete an Individual Project – a piece of research on any subject, often related to the degree subject you would like to study. Students on the Social Sciences pathway also work together on a collaborative research project for the unit Global Bristol.
You do not have to commit to a pathway when you fill out the application form, but during the application process, you will be asked to indicate which pathway you prefer. You can include more than one pathway in your application if you are undecided. All the pathways share some units in common.
Applications are made directly to the University. You can find information about making an application on our how to apply page and advice about fees and funding from our Student Funding Office. If you have questions about the foundation year or the application process, please contact choosebristol-ug@bristol.ac.uk.
Course structure
Arts and Humanities pathway
You will take four or five compulsory units and choose one optional unit. From this pathway, you can progress to an Arts, Humanities or Modern Languages degree in the Faculty of Arts.
br>Social Sciences pathway
You will take four or five compulsory units and choose one optional unit. From this pathway, you can progress to a degree in: Education, Policy Studies, Sociology, Politics and International Studies, Law, or Management.
br>Please visit the Foundation in Arts and Social Sciences webpages for further information about each pathway.
Full details about the course structure and units for this course can be viewed in the programme catalogue.
Go to programme catalogueEntry requirements
Qualifications
There are no formal entry requirements for this course. Each application will be judged on its own merits. We are looking for applicants who are highly motivated to study on the Foundation in Arts and Social Sciences course and who have the potential to succeed in university study and beyond.
If we receive a high number of applications, priority may be given to applicants without prior experience of higher education and/or who do not hold a qualification at QCA-level 3 (eg A-levels or an Access to HE Diploma) and/or to applicants from one or more of the University's widening participation categories.
Applicants must also meet these requirements
GCSE profile requirements
Further information about GCSE requirements and profile levels.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you need to have one of the following:
- IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in all skills
- GCSE English Language grade C or 4
- An alternative English Language Profile E qualification
Further information about English language requirements and profile levels
Selection process
- We select successful candidates based on the application form, their written work and an interview.
- Full information about our selection processes for this course:
- Regulations and codes of conduct we abide by to create a positive environment for learning and achievement: