International Study Centre

The International Foundation Year

Specialist preparation for your degree

The International Foundation Year is a tailor-made three-term course of academic subjects, study skills and English language training that provides an intensive, direct path to degree study. The course prepares you for undergraduate study in a range of subject areas at the University.

The foundation course is rigorous, academically demanding and designed specifically to ensure that international students gain the skills and knowledge to succeed in their degree.

Study structure
You can choose one of five Foundation routes:

• Business, Management and Economics
• Engineering and Computing
• Law and Social Studies
• Life Sciences
• Media Studies

All Foundation routes are modular in structure. There are core modules common to each route. These are modules which every student must take as they provide essential preparation for study in a UK university.

You will also study route-specific modules, each carefully designed to focus on the academic areas most useful to your planned subject of study.

Your study will consist of 16 hours per week lecture and seminar style classes, and 20 hours per week made up of small group seminar work and directed self-study.

University-style teaching
The International Foundation Year is validated by the University of Sussex and introduces you to the style of teaching that you will experience when you progress onto your degree. You will be taught in tutorials, seminar style classes and larger group lectures.

Flexible entry
You can begin the foundation course in either September or January for degree entry in the following September. You can start English Language Preparation at four different dates each year, depending on how much preparation you need.

Assessment
You will be assessed regularly throughout the course. This will ensure that your progress is on track to achieve the standard required for progression onto your chosen degree course. Your development is monitored through continuous coursework and specific assessments at the end of each term or module. You will also be required to complete a series of presentations and extended essays as part of your overall assessment.

English language preparation
If your English Language level is under IELTS 5.0, you can first join our intensive English Language Preparation course before starting the Foundation Year.