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| Foundation courses are particularly suitable for overseas
students who do not have the necessary qualifications to gain
immediate entry to a UK university. While foundation courses
are a fast track way of getting into a UK university bear in
mind that as they are only one year in duration the courses are
highly intensive.
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| What's in a name? |
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| When you are looking to attend a foundation course, you are
likely to come across a range of names for what looks like the
same kind of course. The courses are generally referred to as
access, bridging or foundation courses. The names are often
used inter-changeably but as a general guide: |
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Access courses are often for mature UK students to top-up
their qualifications
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Bridging courses act as a stepping stone from a HND to
a degree
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Foundation courses generally refer to a pre-university entry
course for international students.
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| However, these definitions do vary so make sure you check
with your chosen institution.
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| How to choose a foundation course |
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| Before you decide which foundation course you should take,
there are a few points to consider:
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| Part of a degree course? |
| Some foundation courses form part of a four-year course at a
particular institution. While this does give you an opportunity
to get accustomed to your environment and make friends, it's
important to ensure you really want to study at that particular
institution before you begin the four-year course. Many
universities have partnerships with local colleges, so you can
study near the university and get a sense of whether you'd like
it or not without actually committing yourself.
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| Recognised course? |
| Ensure that the university you want to attend after your
foundation course recognises the course you intend taking.
Not all foundation courses are universally recognised so check
with your chosen institution.
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| Age restrictions? |
| Check carefully any entry age requirements the College may
have. In general, they simply require you to have completed a
secondary school education in your country of origin. But its
worth double checking.
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| Study with domestic or international students? |
| You must decide whether you would like a foundation course
specifically geared around international students or if you
would like to mix more with domestic students. An important
consideration is whether your standard of English is
sufficiently high to allow you to study without any provision
for English tuition.
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| Relevance to eventual subject of study |
| Choose a foundation course that complements the subject
you intend to go on to study. Foundation courses can often be
related to a particular profession or discipline.
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| Entry requirements |
| While there are few formal requirements that apply to every
institution, many do require a certain level of mathematical
competency and a minimum level of English, usually IELTS 5.0-
6.5 or TOEFL 550-600. These requirements do vary though, so
check directly with the institutions you're interested in attending.
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| English language competency |
| If your English language skills are not of a sufficiently high
level, make sure the course you choose has an element of
English language tuition. You can take a summer or short
English course beforehand, as well as taking English lessons
parallel to your foundation course. Look out for institutions
that are members of the English in Britain Accreditation
Scheme (EiBAS). Their courses are regularly inspected and
accredited by the British Council, giving you peace of mind
about the quality of tuition you will receive.
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| Level of tuition |
| It's always worth establishing the degree of tuition support
you can expect on the course. It's important to bear in mind,
however, that in UK courses the emphasis is placed on
individual learning, so students will be expected to study
under their own initiative. It's important therefore to check
that the institution has a well-stocked library and a good
range of learning materials available.
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| Did you know? |
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| Now you've decided to look into a foundation course, the
following questions may have occurred to you:
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| What qualifications will I achieve? |
| Specific qualifications aren't always achieved at the end of a
foundation course, but you will receive a certificate recognising
you successfully completed the course.
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| Am I guaranteed a university place? |
| Some institutions do guarantee a place at a specific affiliated
university. For most students however, it is necessary to
apply to the university of your choice who will then decide
whether to make you a conditional offer based on your
course results.
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| Next steps |
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| If you have weighed up the options and decided that a foundation
course is right for you, there are numerous ways to find
the ideal course.
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| Attend an exhibition - many institutions with international
students use education and training exhibitions to advertise
themselves. Think of questions you'd like to ask in advance
and take along notes so you don't forget what you need
to know.
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| British Council offices - many institutions use the Education
Counselling Service (ECS) of the British Council to promote
themselves abroad. The ECS is able to provide brochures and
course information on particular institutions and also offer
personal advice to prospective students.
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| Agents - many colleges use agents to promote their services
abroad. Although they offer good advice, do bear in mind they
only represent a limited number of colleges.
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| Online and print guides - if you're having difficulty deciding
which course to take, have a look at the British Council's
Guides to UK Education, or log on to www.educationuk.org
You can also visit the UCAS web site at www.ucas.com/access
although many of the courses listed are intended mainly for
mature students. However, these resources do list foundation
courses for international students.
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| For general advice about finding a suitable course, try
UKCOSA's guidance note Choosing the right course and
college or the British Council's Access to UK Higher Education:
A Guide for Overseas Students.
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| Contact institutions directly - the British Council have
offices in most countries and will be able to give you contact
details for a range of UK institutions. It's also worth taking a
look at the reference material the Council have available
in their offices. If you have access to the internet, many UK
colleges are now online and you can search for much of the
information you need.
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| Applying for a course - if the foundation course you would
like to attend is taken at a university, apply through the
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS),
otherwise apply directly to the institution you're interested
in attending.
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| Thanks to the foundation course ... |
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| Taking a foundation course in the UK offers the following great
benefits to students:
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It gives you a good grasp of English - essential if you want to
take your studies further in the UK
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The length of foundation courses varies but is generally
around a year, offering a quicker route to the university you
want to attend. However, it is important to consider that the
restricted time frame does mean foundation courses are very
academically challenging
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It's your first step on the route to acceptance at a UK university |
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It provides a supportive environment in which to begin your
UK educational experience
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It's an opportunity to get used to the UK method of study |
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It offers university entrance criteria in a wide range of subjects,
including business, science, engineering and the humanities.
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| Taking a foundation course in the UK offers a wide range of
advantages to international students and can be the beginning
of a long and fruitful educational association with the UK.
Wherever you choose to undertake your foundation course and
whatever subject you decide to study, it will undoubtedly prove
to be a rewarding and valuable educational experience.
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