Study Skills for Higher Education: Foundation Year Challenges

This report delves into the significance of study skills for students in higher education, particularly during the foundation year. It highlights the importance of the foundation program in bridging the gap between school and university, emphasizing its role in developing essential academic skills such as time management, writing, and research. The report identifies various challenges faced by foundation year students, including time management issues, homesickness, depression, social problems, choosing a major, culture shock, communication barriers, tuition costs, and difficulties with reading and writing. Furthermore, it explores how enhanced study skills, particularly in communication, reading, and writing, can help students overcome these challenges. The conclusion reinforces the value of the foundation year in preparing students for university life, fostering cultural adaptation, and developing the necessary skills for academic success. The report underscores the need for students to improve their communication, reading, and writing skills to navigate the challenges of higher education effectively.

Study Skills for Higher Education-2

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
1. Importance of foundation year................................................................................................3
2. Challenges faced by the foundation year students..................................................................4
3. Ways in which study skills can help the students to overcome the challenges in foundation
year..............................................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Study skills includes managing time, reading academic text effectively, taking notes,
writing essays, presenting bibliography, improving spelling and grammar etc. This are some of
the essential skills which are required by the students(Arlidge, Rampal, and Shah, 2018). When
the student plan to continue their study in universities they face many challenges as they are not
able to fill the gap between the knowledge they get from the school and the universities.
Therefore the foundation programme in UK helps the student to fill this gap. The report
highlights the importance of foundation year for the student, challenges faced by the students
when they enter universities for their higher studies. The report also highlights that how study
skills can help foundation year students to overcome such challenges.
1. Importance of foundation year
The main purpose of the foundation programme is that the students indulge in activities
other than the educational syllabus(Coleman, 2018). As many of the students face the problem
while entering in the university the reason behind this is gap between the knowledge that an
individual gain in school and the knowledge practical as well as theoretical which an individual
need in university. The foundation year is essential for the student as it provide them basic
knowledge which they need during their degree programme. The foundation year is very
important for the students as it helps the student to fill the gap between the higher school
qualifications and undergraduate entry requirement. As some of the student are not able to meet
the entry requirements of the normal course the foundation help has been introduced in order to
prepare the student to continue with their degree course. It also open up the gate of prestigious
universities for the student. The foundation year programme helps the student to improve their
academic skills such as writing skills, independent research and time management skills. It help
the student to start their studies in the area they are interested in such as arts, engineering,
science or psychology etc(Dubiel, 2016). It also helps the student to choose the course according
to their stream. It also help the student in how to take notes in lecture or from hard or electronic
copy. Student also learn various thing such as improving their spellings and grammar, and
prepare them for making and delivering presentations, it also teaches the student to how read
academic text effectively. It helps the student in building the confidence among themselves,
students will gain the knowledge of completing task on time and apply the specialised
knowledge to the undergraduate degree. It creates a strong base for the students.

As the school environment is totally different form the university it helps the student to
prepare them to adapt different study environment. Many of the students in the university enroll
from different states and country and the teaching methods also varies so in order to balance
them it is important for a student to go through the foundation year. As many of the student face
in understanding and talking in English the reason behind this is they aren't used to study in
English or speak English. In foundation year the students are well trained to understand and
speak English in future. As there are number of students who struggle with the cultural shock.
Thus the course is important for a student as it help them to adapt new culture and environment.
It prepares the student for the campus life as it can be quite difficult for a individual to leave
their country, their culture and adapt the other culture therefore the foundation programme
provides an welcoming and supportive environment to the students. It provides numerous
opportunities to the student to experience the culture of the country they are in and understand
their customs. The foundation programme is important for the students improves the students
creativity. The foundation year help the student to master in basic subjects(Sanders, Daly, and
Fitzgerald, 2016). It provides the student an tertiary environment. As the colleges require high
marks and also the study in college is quite competitive it helps the student to enhance their
academic skills the students who have completed foundation course feel less difficulty in
entering the tertiary study.
2. Challenges faced by the foundation year students
When the student enter in the university for their higher study there are various
challenges which the student may face due to new college environment which is difficult to
adapt, or teaching method, etc. Some of the challenges which the student face in the foundation
year are:
Time management : As college environment are more challenging in comparison to school. As
the work in the college is hard the student may experience low grades. As the schools are not as
much demanding as the college is. Students in the college are expected to maintain their own
schedule(Wainwright, and et.al., 2018). There is no pressure put by the college regarding study
the students have to maintain their work and study on their own. When the students enter the
college they feel excited as they are moving toward the fulfilment of their academic goals. But as
the college lecture start almost every student feels the pressure of deadlines and due dates. One
of the biggest issue of the student is poor planning and prioritization of work. If this issue is

resolved at the higher education level so it will help the students to overcome this issue at the
foundation year(Wu, Garza, and Guzman, 2015). If the student develop this skill in the higher
education level than they may feel less difficulty while entering in college or universities.
Home sickness : As many of the students in the university came from different states and
different countries they feels the difficulty in adapting the new environment, or will be missing
their family, pets and friends therefore the students may suffer homesickness.
Depression : As there is huge pressure on the students due to various changes in their life such
as different culture, feeling of homesickness, issue in time management, social problems etc all
this leads to depression.
Social problems : As the students enter in university they meet new people it may be difficult
for a person to connect with the people and make new friends. Spending much time with the
people can also create a problem for the student as this can lead to distraction.
Choosing a major : while entering into a university the student has to make decision regarding
choosing a major as this will decide the student future and will help to earn money in future
taking this important decision is sometimes challenging for the student as they have to take big
decision for their life(Mahon, and Niklas, 2016). It might sometimes happen that the student may
feel that the area in which they are study is not appropriate from them and can change their area
of study, their plans.
Culture shock : This is the most common challenge which every international student face while
moving to a new country. The people are different, their customs and tradition are different, there
way of living, as well as teaching methods also vary from country to country(Culture Shock:
Definition, Stages & Examples, 2019 ).
Communication : Communication is also one of the challenge that student face in foundation
year(Taylor, Rhys, and Waldron, 2016) . It becomes difficult for the students to understand
accent used by the others. Mainly the student who are too shy to talk it can be quite challenging
for them to adapt the environment.
Tuition cost : Tuition fees are raising day by day which includes meals, supplies, transportation,
cost of housing and textbooks etc. Managing the tuition fee is a huge challenge for the students
according to the article many of the student drop their college because they are not able to afford
the fee. Therefore the tuition fee is also one of the big challenge that the students are
facing(Overcoming Challenges for International Students, 2019).

Reading and writing : The student may feel difficulty in reading and writing their notes,
assignment, creating presentation etc., because the quality of writing expected by college varies
from what demanded in school. Some assignments may need much understanding by the student
which the student may feel challenging. It can also lead to anxiety among the students.
3. Ways in which study skills can help the students to overcome the challenges in foundation
year
Communication skills : If the communication skill of the student is enhanced during its higher
education or in the school than it will help the student to learn more from the teachers because in
order to learn deeper and to have a proper understanding of the subject or topic the student need
to ask the question to the teachers(Kirillov, and et.al., 2015). They need to discuss their
subjective and objective doubts with the teachers so it is necessary on the student part to clearly
present their doubts to the teacher which the teacher can understand. If the student have the good
communication skill it will help them to present their views clearly to others. And can overcome
this challenge in the foundation year(Akanwa, 2015). Good communication also help an
individual to make friends easily. As good communication skills helps in building strong
relationship with other. Communication skills also help the student to develop professionalism
among them. If these skill is improved at the higher education level than it become easy for the
student to adapt the new environment.
Reading and writing skills : As the college environment is different from the school
environment in school the teacher assist the students and help them in the studies whereas in
colleges the students has to prepare their notes in their own words by listening to the lectures.
Therefore if reading and writing skills are enhanced at the higher education than the students
does not have to face such challenges in the foundation year(Coertjens and et.al., 2017).
The meaningful learning help the students to understand better. But in school the students
are provided the proper guidance from the teacher and as a result the students does not get the
chance or opportunity to enhance their reading skills. Reading skills is thus essential for the
student in order to understand the topic by their own. Therefore reading skills should be
improved at the higher education level which will help the students to understand the matter by
their own.

CONCLUSION
The report helps in understanding that why foundation year is important for the student. It
is essential for the students in order to understand the culture and customs of the country in
which they are pursuing their degree, to enhance their basic knowledge and to prepare
themselves for the college environment. Foundation programme prepares the student to adapt to
the new environment and also develop various necessary study skills which a student need. The
foundation programme give training to the students to improve their communication skill,
written English, and helps them to choose the stream they are interested in. Foundation
programme helps in preparing the student to start their degree. The study identifies the various
challenges which the student face such as time management as students are coming after the
completion of their higher education where the teacher and the parents guides the students while
in college the student has to maintain their schedule at own they have to manage their work and
meet the task deadlines , issues related to tuition fee because the tuition fee is increasing which is
creating problem for the student in continuing their studies, and various other issues such as ,
cultural shock as the student in the university may come from various different states and
countries, communication issue, social problems, etc., and also shows the way in which this
challenges can be overcome. The foundation course provides a teaching by the experts who are
having the experience in the same field. The study helps in understanding the study skills which
are needed by the students such as communication skills, time management skills, reading and
writing skills, etc., and why it is important that these skills should be enhanced in the higher
education level.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Akanwa, E.E., 2015. International students in western developed countries: History, challenges,
and prospects. Journal of International Students, 5(3). pp.271-284.
Arlidge, J., Rampal, T. and Shah, M., 2018. Working without worry: transition to foundation
year 1 simulation training. BMJ Simulation and Technology Enhanced Learning,
pp.bmjstel-2018.
Coertjens and et.al., 2017. Students’ transition into higher education from an international
perspective. Higher Education, 73(3). pp.357-369.
Coleman, G., 2018. Victorian bar foundation student achivement award and mentoring
program. Victorian Bar News, (163). p.32.
Dubiel, J., 2016. Effective assessment in the early years foundation stage. Sage.
Kirillov, A.V. and et.al., 2015. Theory and practice of time-management in education. Asian
Social Science, 11(19). p.193.
Mahon, D. and Niklas, R., 2016. The Evolution of a Foundation Program: Reflections on the
Five Year Partnership between University College London and Nazarbayev University.
In University Partnerships for Academic Programs and Professional Development(pp.
93-109). Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Sanders, L.D., Daly, A.P. and Fitzgerald, K., 2016. Predicting retention, understanding attrition:
A prospective study of foundation year students. Overcoming Challenges for
International Students. 2019Widening Participation and Lifelong Learning, 18(2).
pp.50-83.
Taylor, C., Rhys, M. and Waldron, S., 2016. Implementing curriculum reform in Wales: the case
of the Foundation Phase. Oxford Review of Education, 42(3). pp.299-315.
Wainwright, N. and et.al., 2018. Laying the foundations for physical literacy in Wales: the
contribution of the Foundation Phase to the development of physical literacy. Physical
Education and Sport Pedagogy, 23(4). pp.431-444.
Wu, H.P., Garza, E. and Guzman, N., 2015. International student’s challenge and adjustment to
college. Education Research International, 2015.

Online
Overcoming Challenges for International Students. 2019. [Onlline] Available through
<https://www.studyinnewzealand.govt.nz/blog/challenges-international-students-and-how-
overcome-them/>
Culture Shock: Definition, Stages & Examples. 2019 [Onlline] Available through
<https://study.com/academy/lesson/culture-shock-definition-stages-examples.html>