International College

International Foundation Year in Business, Social Sciences and Humanities

Whether you want to be an entrepreneur, solicitor, landscape architect or something else entirely, this is the first step. 

Progress to a degree in the Faculty of Social Sciences or the Faculty of Arts and Humanities

The International Foundation Year in Business, Social Sciences and Humanities will prepare you for your chosen undergraduate degree in the humanities and social sciences at Sheffield. The Faculty of Social Sciences includes the Management School, the School of Law and Sheffield School of Architecture.

Who is the programme for?

  • Students with the ambition to study at a high-ranking UK university
  • Students who want the skills to have a successful career in business
  • Students who will benefit from spending a year in a supportive and international environment

Key facts

Course length: 1.5 or 2 semesters

Entry points: 
2 semesters – September and January
1.5 semesters – March

Age on entry:
Students will normally be 17 years of age or older

Entry requirements: Check academic and English language entry requirements

Fees: Check fees for your programme

Scholarships

Students sat in a lecture theatre

The International College and the University of Sheffield offer scholarships for students who show excellent academic potential.

What will you study?

This is a 1.5 or 2-semester programme that has been developed in collaboration with the University, so modules are relevant to your field of study. Core modules are studied by everyone on  this programme and will develop the English and academic skills you need for your degree. The pathway modules you study will depend on your chosen progression degree at the University.

Modules

  • Academic English Skills (AES)
  • Project skills

All students will also study Academic Success (personal tutorials and development).

Pathway modules (related to your degree choice)

  • Social Science
  • The Built Environment
  • Management
  • Accounting and Financial Management
  • Principles of Economics
  • Mathematics
  • Social Science
  • Principles of Law
  • Social Science
  • Humanities

Why study business, social sciences or humanities at Sheffield?

  • The Management School at the University of Sheffield is among the global elite of business schools, having been awarded Triple Crown accreditation.
  • There are more than 100 related progression degrees at the University of Sheffield.
  • Tailor your degree to your specific interests by joining one of the many academic or special interest societies at the University.

Progress to your degree

You will receive regular feedback on your progress throughout your course so you know you’re on the right track. And our progression advice is available to support you throughout your studies. 

Once you complete your International Foundation Year in Business, Social Sciences and Humanities and achieve the required grades, you can enter your chosen degree at the University of Sheffield.

Degree options

Degree Programmes Pathway Overall Grade % English Grade
BA (Hons) Accounting & Financial Management BM&F 67% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Accounting & Financial Management and Economics BM&F 67% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Applied Social Sciences SS&H 64% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Archaeology* SS&H 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BSc (Hons) Archaeology SS&H 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Architecture#^^ A 70% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Architecture and Landscape#^^ A 70% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Business Management BM&F 67% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Business Management and Economics BM&F 67% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Business Management and Japanese Studies BM&F 67% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Chinese Studies~ SS&H 64% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Chinese Studies and Business Management SS&H 67% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Chinese Studies and History SS&H 64% 70% with min 60% in all skills
BA (Hons) Chinese Studies with Japanese~ SS&H 64% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Criminology L&C 67% 70% with min 60% in all skills
BA (Hons) Digital Media & Society^^ SS&H 64% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) East Asian Studies~ SS&H 64% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Economics E 67% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BSc (Hons) Economics E 67% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BSc (Hons) Economics and Mathematics E 67% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Economics and Politics E 67% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BSc (Hons) Economics with Finance E 70% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Education, Culture and Childhood SS&H 64% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) English and History SS&H 67% 70% with min 60% in all skills
BA (Hons) English Language and Linguistics SS&H 67% 70% with min 60% in all skills
BA (Hons) English Language and Literature SS&H 67% 70% with min 60% in all skills
BA (Hons) English Literature SS&H 67% 70% with min 60% in all skills
BSc (Hons) Geography A 67% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Geography and Planning A 64% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) History SS&H 67% 70% with min 60% in all skills

* Delivered in Faculty of Arts & Humanities
# Design Portfolio required at application of USIC. Download flyer for more information.
^^ Students wishing to progress to this degree must turn 18 by the end of September of the academic year when they start their undergraduate course at the University
~ Students cannot be native speakers of any of the language degrees they progress to

Degree Programmes Pathway Overall Grade % English Grade
BA (Hons) International Business Management with Study Abroad^^ BM&F 67% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) International Relations and Politics SS&H 67% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Japanese Studies~ SS&H 64% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Japanese Studies and History SS&H 64% 70% with min 60% in all skills
BA (Hons) Journalism Studies**†∆ SS&H 64% 80% with min 70% in all skills
BA (Hons) Korean Studies~ SS&H 64% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Korean Studies with Japanese~ SS&H 64% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture^ A 64% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BSc (Hons) Landscape Architecture^ A 64% 60% with min 50% in all skills
LLB (Hons) Law L&C 70% 70% with min 60% in all skills
LLB (Hons) Law (European and International) L&C 70% 70% with min 60% in all skills
LLB (Hons) Law and Criminology L&C 70% 70% with min 60% in all skills
LLB (Hons) Law with Chinese Law L&C 67% 70% with min 60% in all skills
BSc (Hons) Mathematics E 67% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MMath Mathematics  E 70% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BSc (Hons) Mathematics & Philosophy E 67% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BSc (Hons) Mathematics & Statistics E 67% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MMath Mathematics and Statistics E 70% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Modern Languages and Cultures SS&H 67% 70% with min 60% in all skills
BMus Music! SS&H 67% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Philosophy* SS&H 67% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Philosophy, Religion and Ethics SS&H 64% 50% with min 40% in all skills
BA (Hons) Politics SS&H 67% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Politics and Philosophy SS&H 67% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Politics and Sociology SS&H 64% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BSc (Hons) Psychology** E, BM&F or SS&H 67% 60% with min 50% in all skills

* Delivered in Faculty of Arts & Humanities
** Students wishing to progress to these degree programmes at the University will require an English level of IELTS 0.5 or equivalent higher than the standard level of entry to their International Foundation Year/Pre Masters programme
† Pass in an interview required as well as meeting progression requirements
^ Portfolio will be completed in College but does not count towards progression
^^ Students wishing to progress to this degree must turn 18 by the end of September of the academic year when they start their undergraduate course at the University
! Grade 8 Practical (ABRSM/Trinity/Rockschool) at Merit + Grade 5 theory (ABRSM/Trinity) at Merit or equivalent. If equivalent qualifications are offered, please consult with the department to check if appropriate
~ Students cannot be native speakers of any of the language degrees they progress to
∆ Blog Chat required

Degree Programmes Pathway Overall Grade % English Grade
BSc (Hons) Quantitative Social Sciences SS&H 64% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BSc (Hons) Quantitative Social Sciences (Criminology) SS&H 64% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BSc (Hons) Quantitative Social Sciences (Management) SS&H 64% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BSc (Hons) Quantitative Social Sciences (Politics) SS&H 64% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BSc (Hons) Quantitative Social Sciences (Sociology) SS&H 64% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Sociology^^ SS&H 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Sociology with Criminology^^ SS&H 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Sociology with Social Policy***^^ SS&H 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
BA (Hons) Urban Studies A 64% 60% with min 50% in all skills
Mplan Urban Studies and Planning A 64% 60% with min 50% in all skills

*** Subject to approval/ validation
^^ Students wishing to progress to this degree must turn 18 by the end of September of the academic year when they start their undergraduate course at the University

Start your application to the International Foundation Year. 

Born in China. Made in Sheffield.

Chuhan in the The University of Sheffield International College

My pathway here is Social Sciences and the course modules, such as Politics and Sociology, are very relevant to my progression. The English language has helped me improve my English ability and also my academic ability. Those are things that I’ve never experienced in my home country.

Sherry

International Foundation Year in Business, Law, Social Sciences and Humanities

BA(Hons) International Politics and Securities Studies

English language courses

If you need additional support to reach the English language level for this programme you can take one of our English language courses first.

Find out more about starting your studies or check the latest COVID-19 information.