International Foundation Year in Science and Engineering

Start your journey to an undergraduate degree in engineering and science, where you will use fundamental mathematical and scientific principles to understand how the world works.

Exceptional science and engineering facilities

Progress to a degree in Faculty of Engineering or Faculty of Science

The International Foundation Year in Science and Engineering leads to a wide range of undergraduate engineering and science degrees at the University.

Who is the programme for?

Ambitious students aiming to study at a top-ranking university
Those who are passionate about science and engineering
Students who are interested in a practical way of learning

What will you study?

This is a 1.5 or 2-semester programme that will be tailored to prepare you for your chosen undergraduate degree at Sheffield. Programmes have been developed in collaboration with the University so modules are relevant to your field of study. You will develop the academic and English language skills needed for undergraduate study. Some modules will be compulsory for progression on to specific degree programmes at the University.

Modules

Core modules

Academic English Skills
Project Skills
Academic Success

Pathway modules (related to your degree choice)

Biological, Medical and Life Sciences (B&LS)

Biology
Chemistry

Chemistry and Engineering (C&E)

Chemistry
Mathematics

Physics and Engineering (P&E)

Physics
Mathematics

Why study science or engineering at Sheffield?

The University's Faculty of Science and Faculty of Engineering are some of the biggest and best providers of engineering research and education in the UK.
There are more than 100 science and engineering related progression degrees at the University of Sheffield.
Join a whole range of related societies and clubs – from Women in Computer Science Society to the Engineering Society.
Siemens has collaborated with the University’s Careers Service, allowing students access to Siemens Connected Curriculum and the brand new Digital Innovation Zone.
In the past three years, over 750 engineering students have completed an Industrial Placement Year.

Progress to your degree

You will receive regular feedback on your progress throughout your course so you know you’re on the right track. We have a dedicated team that offers progression support throughout your studies.

Once you complete your International Foundation Year in Science and Engineering and achieve the required grades, you can enter your chosen degree at the University of Sheffield.

_{Note: Places are limited on some degree courses, so you are advised to apply and confirm your place as soon as possible.}

Degree Programme Name	Award	Overall Grade	English Grade
No Results

Please note:

The degrees listed below have additional conditions

Design portfolio required at application to the International College.

Structural Engineering and Architecture MEng (Hons)

Not available for March Starters. 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.

Biochemistry BSc (Hons)
Biochemistry and Genetics BSc (Hons)
Biochemistry and Genetics with a Year in Industry BSc (Hons)
Biochemistry and Microbiology BSc (Hons)
Biochemistry and Microbiology with a Year in Industry BSc (Hons)
Biochemistry with a Year in Industry BSc (Hons)
Bio-dental Science and Technology BSc (Hons)
Biology BSc (Hons)
Biology MBiolSci (Hons)
Biomedical Science BSc (Hons)
Biomedical Science MBiolSci (Hons)
Biomedical Science with a Year Abroad BSc (Hons
Biomedical Science with a Year in Industry BSc (Hons)
Biomedical Science with a Year in Industry MBiomedSci (Hons)
Chemistry BSc (Hons)
Chemistry MChem (Hons)
Chemistry with a Year in Industry BSc (Hons)
Chemistry with a Year in Industry MChem (Hons)
Chemistry with Biological and Medicinal Chemistry BSc (Hons)
Chemistry with Biological and Medicinal Chemistry MChem (Hons)
Chemistry with Study Abroad MChem (Hons)
Ecology and Conservation Biology BSc (Hons)
Ecology and Conservation Biology MBiolSci (Hons)
Environmental Science BSc (Hons)
Environmental Science MEnvSci
Genetics BSc (Hons)
Genetics with a Year in Industry BSc (Hons)
Geography BSc (Hons)
Health and Human Sciences BMedSci (Hons)
Medical Biochemistry BSc (Hons)
Medical Biochemistry with a Year in Industry BSc (Hons)
Medical Genetics BSc (Hons)
Medical Genetics with a Year in Industry BSc (Hons)
Medical Microbiology BSc (Hons)
Medical Microbiology with a Year in Industry BSc (Hons)
Microbiology BSc (Hons)
Microbiology with a Year in Industry BSc (Hons)
Molecular Biology BSc (Hons)
Molecular Biology with a Year in Industry BSc (Hons)
Plant Sciences BSc (Hons)
Plant Sciences MBiolSci (Hons)
Psychology BSc (Hons)
Zoology BSc (Hons)
Zoology MBiolSci (Hons)

Students must be 18 or over when starting their degree.

Bio-dental Science and Technology BSc (Hons)
Biomedical Science BSc (Hons)

Not available for March Starters. Students must attend at least two events organised by the Academic Unit of Ophthalmology and Orthoptics.

Orthoptics BMedSci (Hons)

From September 2023 the following degrees will have their degree title changed from:

BEng (Hons) Computer Systems Engineering with a Year in Industry
MEng (Hons) Computer Systems Engineering with a Year in Industry
MEng (Hons) Mechatronic and Robotic Engineering with a Year in Industry
MEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering with a Year in Industry
BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering with a Year in Industry
BSc (Hons) Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science with a Year in Industry
MEng (Hons) Bioengineering with a Year in Industry
BEng (Hons) Bioengineering with a Year in Industry
BEng (Hons) General Engineering with a Year in Industry
MEng (Hons) General Engineering with a Year in Industry

To:

BEng (Hons) Computer Systems Engineering with an Industrial Placement Year
MEng (Hons) Computer Systems Engineering with an Industrial Placement Year
MEng (Hons) Mechatronic and Robotic Engineering with an Industrial Placement Year
MEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering with an Industrial Placement Year
BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering with an Industrial Placement Year
BSc (Hons) Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science with an Industrial Placement Year
MEng (Hons) Bioengineering with an Industrial Placement Year
BEng (Hons) Bioengineering with an Industrial Placement Year
BEng (Hons) General Engineering with an Industrial Placement Year
MEng (Hons) General Engineering with an Industrial Placement Year

Start your application to the International Foundation Year.

Born in Malaysia. Made in Sheffield.

I’m having fun along the way. It prepared me in terms of writing lab reports. If I had to go in [to the University] with just my high school experience, it would be a lot more difficult. When we did applied mathematics here, we didn’t cover it at all back in Malaysia, so it was really interesting and it really helps in my mathematics studies now.

Dzikry

International Foundation Year in Science and Engineering

BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Key facts

Course length: 1.5 or 2 semesters

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

Age on entry:
Students should be at least 17 years of age on entry to the International College*.

Entry requirements: Check academic and English language entry requirements

Fees: Check fees for your programme

*For some degrees, students must be aged 18 or over upon progression to the University.

Scholarships

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

Learn about how to qualify here

Prepare for Success

Join our 4-week online preparation course at no extra cost, so that you are ready to begin your academic pathway programme.

Prepare for Success

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

1st in the UK

for student satisfaction in Materials Science

(National Student Survey 2022)

World Top 100

in:

- Architecture
- Civil and Structural Engineering
- Dentistry
- Materials Sciences
- Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023

Top 15 in the UK

for:

- General Engineering (3rd)
- Aeronautical & Manufact Engineering (4th)
- Architecture (4th)
- Materials Technology (4th)
- Bioengineering and Biomed Engineering (5th)
- Mechanical Engineering (6th)
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering (8th)
- Civil Engineering (10th)
- Chemical Engineering (11th)
- Geography and Environmental Science (13th)

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

Fees

Find tuition fees for all International College programmes, as well as information on insurance and taxi transfers from the airport.

Fees

How to apply

Semester dates

You can start at the International College at multiple points in the year. Check semester dates for your programme.

Check term dates