What is a foundation programme (or foundation year)?
A foundation programme, foundation program, foundation year, foundation year programme or foundation year program is a one-year introductory course to a full multi-year degree curriculum offered by many universities.
Please bear in mind that some foundation programmes are aimed at students with very good academic performance (but might not have the right course selection). Also, some universities will not allow students pursuing the full IB Diploma to apply to a foundation programme for their courses. It is important to find out admission requirements beforehand.
We cannot recommend any specific programs, but we can inform you about some of the available options. We present them in alphabetical order. It's essential to analyse each of these options carefully and check their admission requirements.
Advantages of doing a foundation programme for international students:
Foundation degrees are designed for international students to help fill gaps in skills (particularly English language and study skills).
They help to build confidence alongside academic readiness.
Education methods are different all over the world. Foundation courses in the UK are designed to level out the differences and get all students up to the same standard. This can be in an academic subject, or in your language skills.
You can tailor your course to suit the degree you want to study. Often, foundation courses are offered with a goal to support towards particular degrees. This involves studying core modules common to each route, plus a set of subject-specific modules that are chosen to focus on the academic areas most useful to your degree.
They allow you to get familiar with university-style teaching (with lecture, tutorials, and seminar-style classes), which gives you an advantage over other students who come straight from secondary school.
If you haven’t lived in that country before, you benefit from a bit of time to adjust and settle into everyday life, not just academic life. You get an opportunity to familiarise with cultural differences, as well as practical things like finding your way around. It puts you in touch with other students who are experiencing just the same thing, giving you a firm foundation when you begin your undergraduate course.
In many cases, successful completion of your foundation year (achieving the required grades) will give you a good chance to get a place on a degree linked to that foundation course.
Source:
Guide to UK Universities, BridgeU LTD 2018.
What is an international year one?
In the context of applications to universities in the UK, an International Year One is a one-year (3 term) programme which offers successful students a pathway to Year 2 of university. Students will typically study 3-4 subjects, depending on the pathway chosen or the intended progression degree, as well as English Language.
Abbey DLD Group of Colleges:
The Abbey DLD Group of Colleges consists of three independent sixth form colleges located in Cambridge, London and Manchester. They offer GCSE, A-Level, BTEC, Foundation, Pre-Sessional, and Combined Studies Programmes. Since 1931, Abbey DLD has been synonymous with premium quality education, top university destinations, and enriching student experiences. To find out more about them and see which universities they are partnered with, please click on the button below:
INTO:
Every year, they help thousands of international students from around the world achieve their dream of studying in the different countries. They work with universities to create specialist programs designed specifically for international students. To find out more about them and see which universities they are partnered with, please click on the button below:
Kaplan Pathways:
Their courses provide routes to universities and undergraduate degrees for which you might not otherwise meet admission requirements. You can choose from a wide range of degree subjects and progression to different universities, so you can follow your path, your way. To find out more about them and see which universities they are partnered with, please click on the button below:
Navitas:
They provide pre-university, managed campus and university pathway programs across three regional divisions: UP Australasia, UP Europe, and UP North America. The pathway programs are purposefully designed for international and domestic learners.
OnCampus:
They teach pre-university programmes with opportunity for progression to a wide range of undergraduate and Master's degrees at leading universities across the UK, USA and mainland Europe. To find out more about them and see which universities they are partnered with, please click on the button below:
Study Group:
Their programmes are specially designed for international students, ensuring future academic success provided they achieve the required grades. By attending their International Study Centre, you can immerse yourself in a supportive international environment. To find out more about them and see which universities they are partnered with, please click on the button below:
Medic Portal: Foundation Programmes for Medicine in the UK.
Some of these programmes are recognised by other universities as well.
University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria (Austria):
You want to apply for a study programme in Engineering or Business at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria but still miss pre-requisites to study?
The International Foundation Programme (IFP) offers you a focused and tailored preparation for your application to study at the FH Upper Austria.
The main target group are students who wish to study the English-taught Bachelor's programmes in Electrical Engineering, Global Sales and Marketing, Green Science, Innovation, Product & Engineering Management or Artificial Intelligence Solutions.
Note: Some programmes might require students to learn German throughout the first two years - to take courses in German the final 2 years.
Constructor University (Germany):
The International Foundation Year (IFY) at Constructor University prepares students for a successful higher education journey. This one-year academic preparatory program allows you to explore different fields of study, strengthen personal and academic skills, improve your Academic English & Literacy abilities, gain the opportunity to take part in German language courses and earn up to 15 transferable undergraduate course credits (ECTS) that will count towards your bachelor’s degree at Constructor University.
There are some institutions that have pathway programmes that lead specifically into their university programmes - for example Twente, Tilburg, UvA, Erasmus and a few others. These pathway programmes are not recognized outside their partner organisations in general.
There are some, like the OnCampus that might be an option for other non-partner universities, but it varies and depends on the final results. It is possible for students to study university in another country for a year or two (depending on the country) to use that as a credential for admission as well, in addition to their secondary school diploma.
Lastly students could consider a first-year diploma from a Dutch University Of Applied Science and then apply to a Research University, but it may or may not be the best option. It is important to consider what type of institution is the best fit.
University College London (UCL):
The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) are intensive and challenging foundation courses for international students whose home qualifications do not allow direct admission to UCL undergraduate degrees. Taught on campus in central London, the UPC provides students with essential academic and language skills, knowledge and support to progress confidently and smoothly onto an undergraduate programme at UCL or other top UK universities.
UCL Undergraduate Preparatory Certificate for Science and Engineering (UPCSE) is for students aiming to study degrees in Engineering, Life Sciences, Mathematics and Physical Sciences or Medical Sciences.
UCL Undergraduate Preparatory Certificate for the Humanities (UPCH) is for entry into Arts, Business and Mathematics-related degrees, Humanities or Social Sciences, including Economics and Law.
There is also an option to study either course with Architecture for students intending to apply to Architecture degrees.
For more information please click on the button below:
University of London (UK):
The International Foundation Programme provides you with the skills and knowledge you need for successful undergraduate study. It is accepted by many universities worldwide and offers a firm grounding in the social sciences. For more information please click on the button below: