Further studyOf the 61,000 current foundation degree students most will progress onto further study, usually a one year honours degree top up immediately after graduating. A significant minority will return to ‘top up’ at a later point in their career (Higher Education Funding Council for England, 2007). You can find further information in degrees, postgrad study, professional courses, flexible learning and funding. back to top Get a jobFoundation degrees are designed with employer input, as a vocational qualification, so it can be expected that many graduates will progress into employment. Approximately half do so. Often students on foundation degrees are already employed and possibly supported by a relevant employer. Many therefore continue with that employer after graduating. More information can be found in getting a job. back to top Voluntary workSome graduates begin their career with voluntary work (entry to professional social work courses, for example, usually requires a significant amount of experience with appropriate client groups and it is sometimes necessary to take voluntary placements to achieve this); others are attracted to a period of voluntary work (be it in the UK or overseas) as a way of providing a service to the community. Useful starting points for researching voluntary work include: YouthNet, Volunteering England, Volunteer Scotland, Volunteering Wales, and theVolunteer Development Agency. You may also wish to consult the public and voluntary sector. back to top TravelMany honours graduates travel before beginning a professional career or training, sometimes deferring entry to a job or training scheme, but more often simply putting off applying until their return. Due to the age profile of foundation degree graduates, this may be a less common choice, although organising a ‘gap year’ before starting an honours degree may still appeal to younger students. It is usually easier to defer a place on a course than a job offer, therefore it may be a wiser choice to travel at this stage rather than immediately before entering employment. There is some evidence to suggest that employers value the experiences students have had whilst travelling, particularly when they can demonstrate organisational and communication skills as a result. back to top Self-employmentDirect entry to self-employment is a relatively rare first step for those leaving higher education. According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (2006), of the 2004-5 cohort of students only about 2% of those who completed an honours degree become self-employed within six months of graduating. Self-employment is perhaps most likely to interest those whose foundation degrees lead into occupations where freelancing and working for yourself are the norm, for example, art and design, media and photography. For further details, see self -employment. Increasingly self-employment is combined with paid work for both graduates and non-graduates as a portfolio career. back to top Portfolio workingPortfolio workers do a range of things from which they make a living; this may be a series of part-time jobs; a combination of employment and self-employment or; other activities such as volunteering. This style of working is more common amongst older workers who are established in one profession and have moved to another. It is also popular amongst art and design graduates who combine developing their practice with a paid job to support themselves. Further details of this and related issues are covered in flexible working. back to top Work experienceMany honours degrees are available in sandwich form consisting of two years of study, a year in industry, followed by a final year back at university. Graduates from sandwich courses, which are the norm in subjects such as construction, typically fare somewhat better in the labour market than those from non-sandwich courses. Foundation degree graduates progressing to honours, who don’t have significant experience in the type of work that is their eventual aim, might consider constructing their own work experience by seeking a year’s placement before beginning honours study. back to top How do I decide?The most recent data at the time of publication show that of the foundation degree graduates of 2005 (both full time and part time): - 44% were involved in further study only;
- 31% reported their first destination as employment only;
- 19% were in a combination of work and study;
- 7% were assumed to be unemployed or their destinations were unknown.
(Higher Education Statistics Agency) It can be difficult to decide whether to continue studying, enter work, self-employment or take another option. Yet, research shows that foundation degree students are very successful at combining these options, so you do not necessarily have to exclude any. When considering your options it can be helpful to have an impartial outsider to discuss things with. Your university or college careers service will be happy to help you talk through your options.
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