I did a foundation year having missed the ‘standard’ entry through messing up my A-Levels (poor mental health and just not working hard enough’.

Honestly, it was the best thing for me. I loved having two freshers years. I was so much better prepared entering first year, both in regards to the academic side, and the social side.

Seriously, being able to start 1st year knowing the city, having friends, knowing the nightclubs and societies, being able to navigate blackboard/learning central, knowing where to find the shops, best takeaways etc was priceless. Not to mention being used to the uni style of teaching.

Initially I had a chip on my shoulder and felt that I wasn’t good enough to be there. I lamented that I was 12 months behind schedule. But by the end of the year, I was so happy that I had the extra year.