Maisie Dowden

After meeting one of our lecturers, Maisie decided Cumbria was the university for her, and she joined Cumbria through the Health and Social Care Integrated Foundation Year. Following her foundation year, she joined the Working with Children and Families course, and graduated in 2023 with the Caroline Larmour Prize for Outstanding Creativity in a Community Setting. Read on to find out about Maisie’s story

Why did you choose Cumbria?

I chose the University of Cumbria because it was close to me, and at the time I was a bit worried about moving away. It was also because Caroline Larmour came into my sixth form and let me know about the Working with Children and Families course. She was a lecturer on the course and had also attended the University of Cumbria herself previously. Caroline encouraged me to apply to Cumbria, and I was successful!

How did you find your integrated foundation year? 

The foundation year was the absolute highlight of my time at university – it was the best year of my life. I really felt like I thrived in university, I felt like I belonged, and I felt very well supported by my tutors.

Straight away, the lecturers taught us everything we needed to know to study at university level, including how to write academically and academic referencing, and I made some amazing friends who I’m still friends with now. Some of those friends carried on to do other degrees such as Nursing, as well as Working with Children and Families. 

What was your favourite thing about your time at Cumbria?

As well as the foundation year, I loved that you get intimate learning at Cumbria – you get to know your lecturers super well, and you get to make really great connections. I’ve also been involved in working with adults with learning disabilities, and I’m really passionate about it. It’s through that work that I’ve been awarded The Caroline Larmour Prize for Outstanding Creativity in a Community Setting.

What are your top tips for anyone thinking of doing an integrated foundation year degree at Cumbria? 

If you’re thinking of studying the health and social care integrated foundation year at Cumbria, just do it. You really will have the best experience, you’ll feel so supported, and take it from me that it was one of the best years of my life!

The foundation year was the absolute highlight of my time at university – it was the best year of my life. I really felt like I thrived in university, I felt like I belonged, and I felt very well supported by my tutors. Straight away, the lecturers taught us everything we needed to know to study at university level.