University Foundation Courses

University Foundation courses are an alternative to A Levels that offer a fast and cost effective route to university for students aged 16 and over. There are 12 different study pathways to choose from and the courses are suitable for both UK and international students.

Why choose a University Foundation Course

A fast and cost-effective route to university for students aged over 16.5 years
6 months (January start) or 9 months (September start) to complete
Designed with international students in mind. There is a higher pass rate for international students on foundation courses than for those doing A Levels
IELTS preparation in-built to ensure students meet IELTS entry requirements for their chosen university
Not tied to a specific university. In 2020 87% of our students were offered places at Russell Group universities and 100% of our students gained places at a UK university
Over 80% of the Russell group universities accept foundation courses
Smaller class sizes to ensure individual attention to maximise results than the large-scale university foundation courses where students often get lost
Wide range of subject options
A family-style boarding school environment with excellent academic support and pastoral care – ideal for those away from home for the first time
Weekly personal tutor support
University preparation classes with extensive UCAS support and advice on the range of university options available from experienced personal tutors
Accredited by NCFE and internally assessed
Students who may not have succeeded at A Levels are often successful on a Foundation course

University Foundation Course Entry Requirements

	September Intake	January Intake
Age at Start of Course	16.5	17
Course Length	9 Months	7 Months
English Requirement	IELTS 5.0 or equivalent	IELTS 5.5 or equivalent

Watch our Principal talk about the University Foundation courses we offer

Students on our University Foundation Courses have gone on to study at the following universities

University Foundation Course Pathways

Humanities Foundation Courses

Business Foundation

Subjects studied on the Business Foundation Course

Business Studies	Economics
International Relations	Maths
University Preparation Course	Personal Tutor Session

If you have IELTS 6.5 or below, you will be required to study 3-6 hours per week of IELTS preparation dependent on your English level

Recent Results and Progressions for Business Foundation

Student Name	Grade	University	Course
Xinru	Distinction with Honours	University of Bristol	Buisness Management
Jasmine	Distinction with Honours	University of Sheffield	Fashion Marketing Management
Tianchang	Distinction	University of Leeds	Accounting and Finance
Yifan	Distinction	University of Southampton	Business Management
Simin	Distinction	University of Southampton	Fashion Marketing with Management
Lingu	Distinction with Honours	Lancaster University	Business & Management
Xiaoya	Distinction	King’s College London	Philosophy
Muzi	Distinction	University of Birmingham	Business Management

Economics Foundation

Subjects studied on the Economics Foundation Course

Economics	Business Studies
International Relations	Maths
University Preparation Course	Personal Tutor Session

If you have IELTS 6.5 or below, you will be required to study 3-6 hours per week of IELTS preparation dependent on your English level

Recent Results and Progressions for Economics Foundation

Student	Grade	University	Course
Leyi	Distinction	University of Manchester	Fashion Management
Yunuo	Distinction	Lancaster University	Finance
Xi	Distinction	University of Sheffield	Business Management
Shanni	Distinction	University of Birmingham	Business & Management

International Relations Foundation

Subjects studied on the International Relations Foundation Course

International Relations	Business Studies
Law	Maths
University Preparation Course	Personal Tutor Session

If you have IELTS 6.5 or below, you will be required to study 3-6 hours per week of IELTS preparation dependent on your English level

Recent Results and Progressions for International Relations Foundation

Name	Grade	University	Course
Peter	Distinction	University of Exeter	Politics & International Relations
Jin	Distinction	King’s College London	European Politics

Law Foundation

Subjects studied on the Law Foundation Course

Law	Business Studies
International Relations	Maths
University Preparation Course	Personal Tutor Session

If you have IELTS 6.5 or below, you will be required to study 3-6 hours per week of IELTS preparation dependent on your English level

Recent Results and Progressions for Law Foundation

Name	Grade	University	Course
Layannah	Distinction	University of York	International Relations
Xia	Merit	University of Southampton	Film & History
Zhibo	Merit	University of Brighton	Business Management

Humanities Foundation

Subjects studied on the Humanities Foundation Course

Economics	Business Studies
International Relations	Law
University Preparation Course	Personal Tutor Session

If you have IELTS 6.5 or below, you will be required to study 3-6 hours per week of IELTS preparation dependent on your English level

Recent Results and Progressions for Humanities Foundation

Student	Grade	University	Course
Ru Jia	Distinction with Honours	University of Sheffield	International Relations & Politics
Jiahua	Distinction	University of York	Electronic Engineering with Business Management

Art Foundation Courses

Art Foundation

Subjects studied on the Art Foundation Course

Art	Art History
Life Drawing	Digital Photography
Fashion & Textiles	Sculpture
Cultural Reference	E-Portfolio
University Preparation	Personal Tutor Session

If you have IELTS 6.5 or below, you will be required to study 3-6 hours per week of IELTS preparation dependent on your English level

Recent Results and Progressions for Media Foundation

Student	Grade	University	Course
Jingfei	Distinction with Honours	University of the Arts, London	Fine Art
Yuexin	Distinction with Honours	University of Sheffield	Fine Art
Ziyi	Distinction with Honours	University of Southampton	Graphic Design
Yu	Distinction with Honours	Leeds Arts University	Interior Design

Architecture Foundation

Subjects studied on the Architecture Foundation Course

Art History	Art
Cultural Reference	Digital Photography
Life Drawing	Sculpture
E-Portfolio	Fashion & Textiles
University Preparation Course	Personal Tutor Session

Recent Results and Progressions for Architecture Foundation

Student	Grade	University	Course
Adalgisa	Distinction with Honours	Oxford Brookes	Architecture
Haekel	Distinction with Honours	Newcastle University	Architecture
Chengyang	Distinction	Leeds Art University	Comic and Concept Art

Media, Communication & Film

Subjects studied on the Media Foundation Course

Media Studies	Film Studies
Digital Media	Applied Communication Theory
University Preparation	Personal Tutor Session

Recent Results and Progressions for Media Foundation

Student	Grade	University	Course
Meihe	Distinction with Honours	University of Leeds	Film, Photography and Media
Kelly	Distinction with Honours	London Metropolitan University	Practical Film Making
Xiaoyan	Distinction with Honours	University of Sheffield	Digital Media and Society
Jiha	Distinction with Honours	University of Leeds	Digital Media

Fashion & Textiles

Subjects studied on the Fashion & Textiles Foundation Course

Fine Art	Art History
Life Drawing	Portfolio Photography
Textiles & Textural Surfaces	Sculpture
E-Portfolio	Personal Tutor Session
University Preparation

If you have IELTS 6.5 or below, you will be required to study 3-6 hours per week of IELTS preparation dependent on your English level

Science Foundation

Subjects studied on the Science Foundation Course

Chemistry	Biology
Maths	University Preparation Course
Personal Tutor Session

If you have IELTS 6.5 or below, you will be required to study 3-6 hours per week of IELTS preparation dependent on your English level

Recent Results and Progressions for Science Foundation

Name	Grade	University	Course
Ruiming	Distinction with Honours	University of Bristol	Biology
Ian	Distinction	University of Birmingham	Law
Stephanie	Distinction	University of Kent	Biochemistry
Dhia	Distinction	University of Wolverhampton	Pharmacology
Moyinoluwa	Merit	Nottingham Trent University	Biomedical Science

Engineering Foundation

Subjects studied on the Engineering Foundation Course

Chemistry	Physics
Maths	University Preparation Course
Personal Tutor Session

If you have IELTS 6.5 or below, you will be required to study 3-6 hours per week of IELTS preparation dependent on your English level

Recent Results and Progressions for Engineering Foundation

Name	Grade	University	Course
Jaewon	Distinction with Honours	King’s College London	Biomedical Engineering
Jin Ming	Distinction with Honours	University of Southampton	Mechanical Engineering
Shuaiyuan	Distinction with Honours	University of Bath	Aerospace Engineering
Ibrahim	Distinction with Honours	University of Southampton	Civil Engineering and Architecture
Edmond	Distinction	City, University of London	Aeronautical Engineering

Psychology Foundation

Subjects studied on the Psychology Foundation Course

Psychology	Law
Maths	Economics
Personal Tutor Session	University Preparation Course

If you have IELTS 6.5 or below, you will be required to study 3-6 hours per week of IELTS preparation dependent on your English level

Recent Results and Progressions for Psychology Foundation

Zerong	Distinction	University of Edinburgh	Psychology
Chuqi	Distinction	University of Manchester	Educational Psychology
Xie	Distinction	University of York	Psychology