WBS Foundation Year Course - bridging the gap between A-levels and HE

In this blog, we speak to Joe Randall who has completed his Foundation Year and is currently in his second year studying BSc Accounting & Finance.

Why did you choose to apply for a Foundation Year at Warwick Business School?

I applied to the Foundation Year at WBS as I saw it as an opportunity to study at one of the best Business Schools in the world. After taking a few years away from education to travel and work, I felt that the Foundation Year would provide an opportunity to get back into full-time study after a period of time out of education. The specific course structure and module content caught my eye, as the practical and applied style of learning was immediately apparent from conducting research about the course on the WBS website.

How did the Foundation Year prepare you for degree-level study?

I believe that the Foundation Year successfully bridges the gap between A-levels and Higher Education, by integrating aspects of university style teaching and assessment with a greater exposure to the level of independent preparation required to succeed. The Foundation Year introduces you to group work, which is a key component to learning at WBS. I believe having a basic grounding in both these areas was a real advantage to me as I began my first year of undergraduate study. Being part of a Foundation Year cohort also gives you a fantastic tight-knit group of friends, which you carry with you directly into your first year.

If you were to describe the Foundation Year in three words, what would they be?

I would describe the Foundation Year as; collaborative, stimulating and applicable. 

Are you a member of any clubs or societies on campus?

I am a currently President of the Cricket Club and this has helped me develop many skills which are transferrable to my degree and group projects. Away from the executive side of the club, I would say that the friends I have made within the sports club are the closest friends I have made during my time at Warwick. I have been lucky enough to go on International tours to Sri Lanka, South Africa and Barbados and I find this is a brilliant release from my studies. I regularly play sport and socialise through societies, which I believe is essential to staying both physically and mentally healthy and shapes a huge part of my university experience.

How are you finding the teaching now that you have progressed onto BSc Accounting & Finance?

The BSc Accounting and Finance programme is taught through a mixture of lectures and seminars within which, group and collaborative work plays a pivotal role. Lectures tend to deliver the content of the module with some examples and theory, whilst the seminars really develop and expand on the topics covered in lectures. In certain modules, seminars are essentially run by the students and rely on the preparation and discussion which follows. In some of the more mathematical modules, the seminars take a more tutorial based approach in order to solidify theory covered in the lectures. I find that the various teaching styles really complement each other and makes the learning experience interactive and engaging.

How have you found the careers services at WBS?

I would encourage all students to make use of the WBS CareersPlus Team. The advice and guidance they provide is a brilliant way of exploring the huge number of options available to you after graduation and can give you a big competitive advantage over your peers. I have had multiple sessions with the team which have helped me to tailor my CV and cover letters to specific firms and industries whilst also granting me exposure and face to face time with graduates within the firms I am applying to. It is a fantastic service and one of which many of my friends outside of WBS  wish they could have access to.

What are your next steps?

I am currently in the process of applying to a range of consulting firms to try and secure a summer internship. Next year I am looking forward to the opportunity of choosing my elective modules, which will allow me to further discover which industries and specific firms I would like to potentially pursue a future career with.

If you have any questions about the Foundation Year, you can email us or call us on +44 (0)24 7615 1111. 

Find out more about the WBS Foundation Year course.