International Foundation Year in Science and Engineering

The International Foundation Year in Science and Engineering provides direct access to a range of undergraduate degrees in the fields of Science and Engineering.

Key facts
Entry dates	September 2012 or January 2013
Progression to your degree	September 2013. See progression page for available degree pathways.
Course length	Three terms (September to June or January to August)
Term Dates	January 2012 start: Term One: 17th September to 7th December 2012 Term Two: 14th January to 28th March 2013 Term Three: 8th April to 14th June 2013 January 2013 start: Term One: 14th January to 28th March 2013 Term Two: 8th April to 14th June 2013 Term Three: 17th June to 9th August 2013
Course structure	Four core modules and six route modules
Academic entry requirements	Good High School graduation grades. See entry requirements page for requirements by country
English language requirements	IELTS 5.0 (with minimum 5.0 in writing) or equivalent More information on the entry requirements page
Tuition fee	See fees page

Core modules

English and Skills for University Study 1, 2 and 3

Through these three modules you will develop your English communication skills and learn a range of study skills, including: writing and reading strategies, presentation and seminar participation, organisation of time and materials, meeting deadlines and responding to feedback.

When you have completed these modules, you will be able to take notes and write essays in English. You should also have the confidence to give presentations, answer follow-up questions and contribute to seminar discussions.

Applied Academic Writing/ Project Study

Complete a self-study project on a topic you choose, in consultation with your tutor, from the subject you plan to study at degree level.

Route modules

Pure Mathematics 2

You cover trigonometry, integration, polar coordinates, vectors, complex numbers, and series expansion.

Depending on your chosen degree you will study one of the following two modules:

Pure Mathematics 1

You will learn to understand algebra, trigonometric functions, sequences and series, differentiation rules, integration, and probability.

Core Mathematics 1

You will gain a basic knowledge of mathematics and an understanding of the appropriate concepts for the development of higher mathematical skills relevant to business-related subjects or those requiring a strong statistical element.

Choose two modules from:

Physics 1 (Matter and Fluids)

You will study materials, fluids, gases, thermodynamics, temperature and heat transfer, and nuclear physics and atomic physics.

Biology 1 (Cell Biology)

You will gain a better understanding of biological molecules, cellular structure, cell division, movement through cell membranes, enzymes and metabolic pathways.

Chemistry 1

You will study formulae, equations and moles as well as look at atomic structure and you will be introduced to redox, thermodynamics and bonding.

Choose two or three modules from:

Physics 2 (Electricity and Magnetism)

Learn about electric forces and fields, gravitational field, electric potential, and magnetic forces and fields.

Mechanics 1

Study vectors, motion in one dimension, motion in two dimensions, force and Newton’s laws, and work and energy.

Biology 2

You will learn about the cardiovascular system, the respiratory system, the digestive system, osmo-regulation, control and co-ordination and reproduction.

Chemistry 2

You will look at equilibria, acid-base equilibria, kinetics and organic chemistry.

If you only choose two of the electives above you will need to choose one of these additional modules:

Introduction to Business Information Systems

You will be introduced to the principles of management and organisational practice, structures and processes. There will be a focus on how information is gathered, analyzed and used effectively within a business environment.

Mechanics 2

You will learn about centres of gravity and centres of mass, linear momentum, uniform circular motion, rotational dynamics, and simple harmonic motion.

Environmental Science

You will look at ecology and environmental chemistry, and learn about the fundamental chemical processes that shape the terrestrial, atmospheric and aquatic environments, the impact of pollutants and manmade environments. You will learn about biodiversity, community ecology and conservation.

Biochemistry 1

You will acquire an understanding of the nature of the important biological molecules such as carbohydrates, protein, and lipids, and their metabolism in the human body.