What is a Foundation Course?
If you are an international student finishing your high school exams, have completed less than 13 years of education and would like to take your first degree in the UK, you will need to study a foundation course at a UK university or college. A foundation is a one-year preparation course for international students who need additional English language and academic preparation for entry onto a UK university undergraduate course.
Foundation programmes are for school-leavers who have studied a non-British curriculum but wish to pursue a degree at a UK university. The foundation course acts as a bridge between your current qualifications and UK university undergraduate entry requirements and is designed to plug academic gaps, improve your English and familiarise you with UK life and culture in preparation for university.
Foundation Course Types
Foundation courses can prepare you
for a variety of subjects such as business, finance and
management, computing, law, art and design, engineering,
social science, medicine, science and pharmacy, media
and humanities.
Certain foundation providers have partnerships with
universities and can guarantee progression to that
institution if the student achieves high enough grades.
Many programmes will see the student based on campus,
benefitting from full university status with complete
access to libraries, equipment and sporting facilities.
Foundation Course Requirements
A minimum IELTS score of 4.5 is required for international students wishing to study a foundation, with no single element less than 4.0. If you have no formal English qualifications, you may need to attend an English language course or college prior to starting your foundation course. Documents and entry requirements needed are:
Minimum IELTS score of 4.5 or equivalent
Higher Secondary School Certificate
Higher Secondary transcripts
Reference letter from your high school teacher
Personal statement
Scanned copy of passport and visa
If you need to improve your English,
IELTS preparation courses are available for all levels
and abilities at any good IELTS preparation centre to improve your reading,
writing, speaking and listening.
