Mature Students’ Choice to Study a Foundation Year at Private Higher Education Institutions UK

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to find out why mature students are studying a Foundation Year (FY) in private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the UK. In recent years, the UK government has been pursuing to increase the diversity of students in UK HEIs. One of the ways to provide access to mature students to HEIs is through FY. Most HEIs in the UK offer a foundation year, which has become the best choice for mature students. This quantitative study aimed to answer research questions and test three hypotheses regarding mature students' choice to study a foundation year at a private HEI. The online survey was conducted using Google Forms to collect data from 750 mature students studying in three private HEIs in England. Data were quantitatively analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. The questionnaire focused on reasons for choosing a Private HEI and studying a foundation year. The findings showed that most students prefer to study at private HEIs because of friends and family recommendations and evening & weekend classes. The provision of evening and weekend classes is hardly available at public HEIs. In addition, Private HEIs have multiple intakes, a comparatively easy and fast admission process and friendly marketing & admission staff. The mature students' preference for the foundation year includes a straightforward enrollment procedure, an easy route to return to a degree programme, and no formal qualification required. Keywords: Mature Students, Study Choice, Foundation Year, Private Higher Education