From Foundation Degree to Honours Degree: evaluating the student experience

This session will discuss the experience of students making the transition from foundation degrees (FDs) run at local further education colleges to the i nal year of a Business and Management degree at Edge Hill University. The study utilised questionnaires, focus groups; and interviews with students and lecturers. It was found that the transition created considerable levels of stress for the students. This largely arose because of the different approaches to teaching and learning adopted in further and higher education. In particular, Edge Hill adopted a more academic approach; there was less support; and there was a greater emphasis on independent learning. The session aims to provide participants with an insight into the problems that FD graduates may face when making the transition to honours degree. It also aims to discuss the implications for policy makers at the micro, meso and macro levels.