If you are an international or EU student who needs to improve their English or meet conditional offer agreements, foundation courses and English language schools can help you hit your targets
If English is not your first language, there are some courses which are designed to provide international students with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of their offer.
Your offer may specifically mention a pre-sessional course, but if not, you should find out whether you can take a course to meet the offer conditions for your main programme of study. Your offer may also specify that you need to retake your International English Language Testing System (IELTS) at the end of your pre-sessional course.
English courses
Whether you need to learn English to be accepted onto a university course, or you simply want to learn the language, English courses in the UK educational institutions are the perfect way to do it. Language institutions offer students a huge range of options for how to study English, ranging from intensive week-long courses, to year-long programmes.
Foundation programmes at the UK universities.
Foundation programmes are designed for talented applicants who are not eligible for direct entry to an undergraduate course. A foundation year enables you to gain the subject-specific knowledge and skills required to embark onto degree-level studies. From your first day, you’ll be recognised as a full member of the student community with access to library, IT and sport facilities.
Why foundation year
A foundation year is the right step into the world of higher education, particularly if you don’t have the right qualifications to go straight onto a degree programme. A variety of subjects can be studied on a foundation year, from social studies and business management to biological science and sports therapy.
Courses are broad enough to offer a good introduction to a subject, but they also provide enough depth for you to gain credible vocational skills from expert tutors.
A foundation year is also ideal if you’re unsure whether you want to go to university. You can get an understanding of your field of interest before progressing to a full degree programme. As well as subject knowledge, you will get used to the higher education context and gain the skills needed for higher level study.
The foundation year is firmly linked to the degree you’ll progress onto. It allows you to meet with your peers in the year above, so you’ll know what to expect when you move onto a degree. You’re taught by tutors who’ll be with you throughout your degree, and you also complete the type of assessments you’ll be taking in subsequent years, preparing you for what’s to come.
