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International Foundation Year

The international foundation year will give you all the preparation required to succeed at the University. This includes English language tuition, study skills and an introduction to your degree programme.

What is the international foundation year?

The international foundation year is an intensive two or three-term programme designed specifically to provide you with a path to undergraduate degree study at the University. You can choose from two foundation routes:

• Business, Social Sciences and Humanities

• Science and Engineering

Course content

The programme includes academic subjects, study skills and English language preparation. It has been developed for international students and designed specifically to provide you with the skills and knowledge to succeed on your degree.

Degree progression

Your offer of entry will contain the level you need to achieve on your foundation year. Once you complete the programme and achieve the required grades, you can enter the first year of your chosen undergraduate degree at the University.

Business, Social Sciences and Humanities

This will prepare you for an undergraduate degree in the Faculty of Social Sciences, including the Management School and the School of Law.

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Science and Engineering

This will prepare you for an undergraduate degree in the Faculty of Engineering or Faculty of Science.

Find out more

Study structure

You will study core modules common to each route, plus subject-specific modules. These have been carefully designed to focus on the academic areas most useful to your chosen degree.

University-style teaching

The University of Sheffield International College introduces you to the style of teaching that you will experience on your degree. Taking part in tutorials, seminar-style classes and larger group lectures will prepare you well for undergraduate study at the University.

Assessment

You will be assessed regularly throughout the course. Your development is monitored through continuous coursework and assessments at the end of each term or module. This may include examinations. You will also need to complete a series of presentations and extended essays as part of your overall assessment.

Study plan options

You can start the international foundation year at several points in the year, as long as you meet the entry requirements.  There is also a two-term option for those with an Academic IELTS for UKVI score of 6.0*. If your Academic IELTS for UKVI score is less than 5.0* you could take one of our English language courses to prepare you for the international foundation year.

* Academic IELTS for UKVI. If you do not need a Tier 4 visa, or are exempted in another way, we can accept equivalent proof of English.