Daniel Cox Foundation Year

Hi, I'm Daniel Cox and I studied Foundation Year within Engineering and the Environment at the University of Southampton.

The lecturers and tutors were all very supportive. There was a real desire to enable the students to achieve their goals and chosen career path. The support staff and postgraduate teaching assistants were particularly helpful and supportive in the learning process.

Daniel Cox, who has just started his undergraduate degree in Geophysics, is convinced that taking a Foundation Year course beforehand will help him succeed. But he warns: "To successfully complete the year takes a lot of determination and focus.

"It is not for the faint-hearted as the pace and intensity of teaching is quite sustained for someone who has little background in Maths and Physics. However, it is one of the surest and well-suited courses in order to progress into a career in Engineering, Physics or Geophysics."

Daniel had studied arts subjects at A level and worked for five years before deciding he wanted to change career. He chose the University of Southampton as it offered a Foundation Year, which would help him get his Maths and Physics up to the required standard.

Although he enjoyed the academic nature of the course, he also enjoyed getting to know his fellow students. "I think the friendships I made over the year were very rewarding as there was quite a tangible camaraderie particularly as there were a great many nationalities represented, together with more mature people retraining or returning to study from the workplace," he says.

Although Daniel admits his Geophysics degree is challenging, he makes time to relax at the University's swimming pool and indoor climbing wall.