Apply for a foundation year student loan

Student funding regulations do not allow for standalone foundation years. Therefore, Universities need to put in place a process to ensure students who have completed a foundation year receive their full entitlement of funding. 

To ensure you receive the correct funding package having begun on a foundation year course, you will need to select the appropriate course name including foundation year, as outlined below. 

Progressing from foundation year to your degree

Once you are nearing the end of your foundation year of study, you will need to reapply to Student Finance for your following year.

A foundation year is classed as Year 0. When you move from your foundation year and into your main degree, you will need to select that you are entering year one of the degree course, not year two. 

How to select the course in your application

When applying for student finance, you should select the course name of your chosen degree followed by “with Foundation Year”. 

For example, if you were going on to study your main degree in English, you would select “English with Foundation Year”. 

This will ensure that you will be funded for the period of your foundation year, plus the length of your main degree in English. This is important as it informs the Student Loans Company of the correct years and therefore the correct funding for your course

Study abroad and work placements

If you are applying for a study abroad or a work placement year, you will need to select your main degree with foundation year then select the appropriate variant:

• INT = Study Abroad 
• IND = Work Placement 

All students moving into the first year of their main degree should not select the INT/IND variant, as there are certain prerequisites which are needed to be met in your first year of study before being allowed onto an INT/IND year.

Please ask your school directly for further information.

Get help with your application

If you need any further assistance, please contact the Funding team.
Email funding@leeds.ac.uk
Phone 0113 343 2007