Foundation Year in Built Environment
- Foundation
- Undergraduate
This Foundation Year in Built Environment will give you the knowledge and skills you need to progress your studies and establish your ambitions. Kingston University is ranked Top 10 in the UK for Construction, Surveying and Planning (The Guardian University Guide 2026).
This is an integrated foundation year, not a standalone course. If you complete it successfully, you can progress into the first year of your chosen degree.
This course is in Clearing.
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0800 0483 334
More about Clearing
Sharpen your skills and solve real-world problems
Ready to start your journey towards an honours degree in civil engineering, construction and surveying?
Studying a Foundation Year in Built Environment at Kingston University is your first step towards a full degree qualification. You’ll complete the course ready to progress to one of Kingston University’s accredited degree courses.
During the year, you’ll study in a supportive environment, grow confidence, build technical and academic skills and deepen your subject knowledge.
You’ll develop problem-solving skills by applying project-based learning to real-world scenarios – all while accessing cutting-edge facilities at the University.
Maybe you’ve been away from education and want to ease back into studies. Perhaps you’re not expecting to receive the grades you need for direct entry into an honours programme. Whatever your reason, this Foundation Year will prepare you for an exciting future.
Through a blend of lectures, tutorials and practical learning, you’ll develop practical, technical and communication skills and apply knowledge to real-life problems.
Because this course is part of an extended degree, you’ll have the opportunity to access a range of experts and activities from your chosen programme.
Why choose this course
While you study, you’ll benefit from top quality teaching at Kingston University. Not only are we ranked Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework, our staff are leading practitioners and researchers at the cutting-edge of their discipline.
We also proudly stand as the No.2 institution in London for Civil Engineering, according to The Guardian University Guide 2025. We're also in the top 3 in the country for Assessment and Feedback, as per the NSS 2024.
A portion of your learning will take place in the £9.8m Eadweard Muybridge building, which features state-of-the-art laboratories. Facilities include an exercise physiology and biomechanics lab, computing laboratories, a modern nutrition kitchen and a range of specialist equipment, such as electron microscopes and spectrometers.
You’ll also have access to several libraries with a wide range of online, resource and subject-specific materials. When you finish the course, you’ll have the essential skills you need to make your next move.
Top 10 in the UK for Construction, Surveying and Planning, The Guardian University Guide 2026.
Course content
Throughout the foundation year, you will study a range of subjects relevant to subsequent study in Year 1 of your degree and beyond. These subjects are supported by modules which develop your study and mathematical skills.
The broad scope of subjects enables study in a range of subject areas and, in some instances, allows flexibility of choice of intended degree route. Subjects start at an elementary level, and there is a strong emphasis on the development of practical skills. In the Skills Module you will also undertake a project where you focus on a topic relating to your degree subject.
Modules
Core modules
What career opportunities does this course offer?
You’ll complete this year with the foundational knowledge and key academic skills you need to join a BSc (Hons) degree in the fields of environmental science or geography at Kingston University.
Once you have completed this course, you can join a BSc (Hons) or BEng (Hons) degree of your choice at Kingston University in the fields of civil engineering, construction and surveying.
Future Skills
Our Future Skills programme is embedded within all our undergraduate courses and throughout the whole Kingston experience. These skills will help you to become a future-proof graduate by equipping you with the skills most valued by employers, such as problem-solving, digital competency and adaptability.
As you progress through your degree, you'll learn to navigate, explore and apply these graduate skills. You’ll also understand how to demonstrate and articulate to employers how these future skills give you the edge.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching uses a variety of approaches including lectures, seminars and tutorials, workshops and laboratory practical work. Sessions are designed to be active, involving students undertaking small projects and working in groups to solve problems. The use of technology to enhance learning is an important way in which students are supported. Particular emphasis is placed on developing study skills that will help mature applicants who are returning to education and those from non-science backgrounds.
Assessment includes a mixture of coursework and examination. Coursework may take the form of report writing, practical data reports, case studies and presentations with emphasis on real world problems. Examinations take place at the end of the year, giving you the opportunity to settle back into education and the course. The style of assessment provides a natural progression to Year 1 of your chosen degree.
Fees and funding
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
