International Foundation Year

Program Overview

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International Foundation Year

Overview

Our International Foundation Year course will prepare you to succeed in your undergraduate degree. It’s ideal for international students who do not have the right qualifications to get onto their undergraduate degree yet.

What is a Foundation Year?

A foundation year programme is for international students. It focuses on teaching you the English and subject-specific skills that you need to be successful in an undergraduate degree at a UK university.

Why Study at Salford?

• Study at a top 10 ranked UK University English Language Centre (EL Gazette, 2023).
• Our industry-focused courses will give you the skills you need to succeed in the modern workplace.
• Study near Manchester; the ‘Third Best City in the World’ (Time Out 2021).
• Option to start in September or January for some courses.
• Be taught by fully qualified staff. We’re accredited by the British Council and ranked as a Centre of Excellence (El Gazette, 2023).
• Join a friendly and diverse community. We have 4,000 international students from 180 countries worldwide.

Accreditations and Memberships

• Ranked in the top 10 best University English Language Centres in the UK according to the EL Gazette in 2023.
• Accredited by the British Council.

Course Details

All About the Course

The International foundation year is the first year of a full-time, undergraduate degree course which lasts for four years in total. When you pass the International Foundation Year with the right grade, you will automatically progress on to one of our undergraduate degrees; you have over 80 to choose from.

What Will I Learn?

You will develop your English and study skills and learn two subjects related to the degree you want to study. You will develop the following skills:

• Writing English for academic purposes
• Presenting and communicating
• Study skills such as note-taking, researching, and referencing
• Additional subjects related to your chosen degree. See options below.

When Can I Start?

All courses start in September however some courses have the option to start in January. See more information below by clicking on the box "What degrees are available with International Foundation Year".

Subject Pathways

Art and Design

• Study the following four modules:
  • English and Study Skills 40 credits
  • Creative Risk Taking 20 credits
  • Credits Digital Media Applications 20 credits
  • Creative Practice Major Project 40 credits
• The following degrees are available with the Art and Design IFY:
  • BA (Hons) Animation
  • BA (Hons) Costume Design
  • BA (Hons) Fashion Design
  • BA (Hons) Fashion Image Making & Styling
  • BA (Hons) Graphic Design
  • BA (Hons) Fine Art
  • BA (Hons) Film, TV and Stage Design
  • BA (Hons) Interior Design
  • BSc (Hons) Games Design and Production
  • BA (Hons) Photography
  • BA (Hons) Television and Radio Production

Biological Sciences

• Study the following five modules:
  • English and Study Skills 40 credits
  • Credits Biological Principles 20 credits
  • Scientific Method 20 credits
  • Science for Health 20 credits
  • Chemical Principles 20 credits
• The following degrees are available with the Biological Sciences IFY:
  • BSc (Hons) Pharmaceutical Science
  • BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences
  • BSc (Hons) Biochemistry
  • BSc (Hons) Biochemistry with Studies in USA
  • BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science
  • BSc (Hons) Human Biology and Infectious Diseases

Business

• Study the following three modules:
  • English and Study Skills 40 credits
  • Mathematics 40 credits
  • Economics for Business 40 credits
• The following degrees are available with the Business IFY:
  • BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance
  • BSc (Hons) Business Management with Economics
  • BSc (Hons) Business Management with Finance
  • BSc (Hons) Business Management
  • BSc (Hons) Business Management with Law
  • BSc (Hons) Business Management with Sport
  • BSc (Hons) Business Information Technology
  • BSc (Hons) Business with Human Resource Management
  • BSc (Hons) International Business Management
  • BSc (Hons) Business Management with Marketing
  • BSc (Hons) Business with Supply Chain and Project Management

Built Environment

• Study the following three modules:
  • English and Study Skills 40 credits
  • Mathematics 40 credits
  • Physics 40 credits
• The following degrees are available with the Built Environment IFY:
  • BSc (Hons) Architecture
  • BSc (Hons) Architectural Design and Technology
  • BSc (Hons) Architectural Engineering
  • BSc (Hons) Building Surveying
  • BSc (Hons) Construction Project Management
  • BSc (Hons) Interior Architecture
  • BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying
  • BSc (Hons) Real Estate Development and Management

Computer Science

• Study the following four modules:
  • English and Study Skills - 40 credits
  • Mathematics 1 and 2 - 40 credits
  • Computer Programming - 20 credits
  • Computer Systems - 20 credits
• The following degrees are available with the Computer Science IFY:
  • BSc (Hons) Computer Science
  • BSc (Hons) Computer Science with Cyber Security
  • BSc (Hons) Media Technology (including Mobile & Internet Television pathway)
  • BSc (Hons) Software Engineering

Engineering and Physics

• Study the following three modules:
  • English and Study Skills 40 credits
  • Mathematics 40 credits
  • Physics 40 credits
• The following degrees are available with the Engineering and Physics IFY:
  • BEng / MEng Acoustical and Audio Engineering
  • BEng / MEng Aeronautical Engineering
  • BEng Aircraft Engineering with Pilot Studies
  • BEng / MEng Civil Engineering
  • BEng Electronic Engineering
  • BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • BSc (Hons) Mathematics
  • BEng / MEng Mechanical Engineering
  • BSc (Hons) Physics
  • BSc (Hons) Sound Engineering & Production

Environment

• Study the following five modules:
  • English and Study Skills 40 credits
  • Biological Principles 20 credits
  • Earth Processes 20 credits
  • Environmental Conservation 20 credits
  • Science for Health 20 credits
• The following degrees are available with the Environment IFY:
  • BSc (Hons) Environmental Management
  • BSc (Hons) Wildlife Conservation with Zoo Biology
  • BSc (Hons) Wildlife Conservation
  • BSc (Hons) Zoology

Health (Prosthetics and Orthotics)

• Study the following four modules:
  • English and Study Skills 40 Credits
  • Mathematics 40 Credits
  • Physics 20 Credits
  • Biological Principles 20 Credits
• The following degree is available with the Health (Prosthetics and Orthotics) IFY:
  • BSc (Hons) Prosthetics and Orthotics

Health

• Study the following four modules:
  • English and Study Skills 40 credits
  • Credits Mathematics 40 credits
  • Science for Health 20 credits
  • Communication for Health 20 credits
• The following degrees are available with the Health IFY:
  • BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy
  • BSc (Hons) Podiatry
  • BSc (Hons) Psychology
  • BSc (Hons) Psychology and Counselling Studies
  • BSc (Hons) Psychology and Criminology
  • BSc (Hons) Psychology of Sport
  • BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science

Law

• Study the following three modules:
  • English and Study Skills (40 Credits)
  • Economics for Business (40 credits)
  • Law, Politics, and Society (20 credits)
  • Law, Society, and Behaviour (20 credits)
• The following degrees are available with the Law IFY:
  • LLB (Hons) Law
  • LLB (Hons) Law with Criminology

Music

• Study the following five modules:
  • English and Study Skills 40 credits
  • Introduction to Music Theory 20 credits
  • Music Theory & Compositional Techniques 20 credits
  • Foundation Musicianship Skills 20 credits
  • Foundation Performance Studies 20 credits
• The following degrees are available with the Music IFY:
  • BA (Hons) Music: Creative Music Technology
  • BA (Hons) Music: Popular Music and Recording

Politics

• Study the following four modules:
  • English and Study Skills 40 credits
  • Economics for Business 40 credits
  • Law, Politics and Society 20 credits
  • Law, Society and Behaviour 20 credits
• The following degrees are available with the Politics IFY:
  • BA (Hons) Contemporary History and Politics
  • BA (Hons) International Relations and Politics

How Will I Be Taught?

This is a full-time, two-semester course, with at least 15 hours of lessons a week plus coursework to do in your own time. You will learn in various ways that will be like how you’ll be taught for your degree, including lectures, small classes, seminars, tutorials, workshops, or laboratories. Most teaching takes place face-to-face on campus and some sessions are online.

How Will I Be Tested?

There will be exams at the end of each semester. You will be tested both on your exam performance and on your classwork and homework.

What Will My Timetable Look Like?

• You will have between 15 and 23 hours a week of timetabled classes per week, depending on your programme
• Classes are usually 1 hour and 40 minutes long and are mostly face-to-face on campus, although a small number are held online
• Classes are usually between the hours of 09:00 and 16:00, although some programmes do have classes as late as 18:00
• There is always a lunch period between 13:00 and 14:00
• There are usually no classes on Wednesday afternoons so you can participate in societies and sports teams

Employment and Stats

What About After Uni?

After completing the International Foundation Year, you will have access to almost all our undergraduate degrees. Students who have previously studied our International Foundation Year, and now finished their undergraduate degree, now have exciting careers in a range of industries. This includes working at the following multinational companies:

• Saudi Aramco
• South China Morning Post
• Amazon
• PriceWaterhouseCoopers
• Shell

Career Links

As a University of Salford student, you can use our Careers Service from your first day to help you towards your future career. When you graduate you will join our community of over 180,000 alumni in all corners of the world, who are making a positive impact in their societies. We will offer you lifelong careers support to help you succeed.

Requirements

What You Need to Know

Entry Requirements

• International and non-native speakers of English will be required to have a minimum of UKVI IELTS Academic of 4.5 (with no less than 4.0 in any band).
• Academic entry criteria:
  • You may need to complete a foundation year before you enrol for a UK university degree if…
    • You have not completed your education in the English Schooling System
    • You have studied in a country with fewer than 13 years of school
    • You have not taken A-levels or the International Baccalaureate
• Subject-specific entry criteria:
  • Business - International Secondary School qualification equivalent to a minimum of UK 5 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above, including Maths and four other subjects.
  • Engineering and Physics - International Secondary School qualification equivalent to a minimum of UK 5 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above including Maths, Physics and three other subjects.
  • Biological Sciences - International Secondary School qualification equivalent to a minimum of UK 5 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above including Maths, and Science (Preferably Biology) and three other subjects.
  • Computer Science - International Secondary School qualification equivalent to a minimum of UK 5 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above including Maths and four other subjects.
  • Music - International Secondary School qualification equivalent to a minimum of UK 5 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above including Maths and four other subjects. You will also be required to provide a portfolio, details of which will be sent to you separately.
  • Art and Design - International Secondary School qualification equivalent to a minimum of UK 5 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above including Maths and four other subjects. You will also be required to provide a portfolio, details of which will be sent to you separately.
  • Health - International Secondary School qualification equivalent to a minimum of UK 5 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above including Maths and four other subjects.

How Much?

• Type of study | Year | Fees
  • Full-time international | 2025/26 | £14,500 per year
  • Full-time international | 2026/27 | £14,940 per year

Additional Costs

You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. For more information about additional cost, please see the following:

• Living costs
• Money advice for international students
• Managing your money

International Foundation Year students will have to pay a deposit to secure their place. Please check your offer letter for the deposit amount you will be required to pay to get your unconditional offer.

Program Outline

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Outline:

• Program Content: The International Foundation Year (IFY) is a one-year program designed to prepare students for undergraduate studies at the University of Salford.
It focuses on developing the English language skills and subject-specific knowledge necessary for success in a chosen degree program.
• Structure: The IFY is divided into two semesters, with at least 24 hours of lessons per week plus additional coursework.
• Course Schedule: The schedule varies depending on the chosen pathway.
• Modules: The IFY offers various modules depending on the chosen pathway.
• Physics: This module explores fundamental physics concepts through lectures and laboratory sessions.
• Biological Principles: This module introduces students to the essential concepts of biology.
• Computer Programming: This module equips students with basic programming skills.
• Introduction to Music Theory: This module provides a foundation in music theory and composition.
• Foundation Performance Studies: This module focuses on developing performance skills in music.

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Assessment:

• Assessment Methods: The IFY uses a combination of assessments, including exams, coursework, presentations, and projects.
• Assessment Criteria: Assessments are designed to evaluate students' understanding of the subject matter, their ability to apply knowledge, and their development of essential skills.

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Teaching:

• Teaching Methods: The IFY utilizes various teaching methods, including lectures, small group tutorials, seminars, workshops, and laboratory sessions.
• Faculty: The program is taught by experienced and qualified staff with expertise in their respective fields.

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Careers:

• Career Paths: The IFY prepares students for a wide range of undergraduate programs at the University of Salford, opening doors to diverse career opportunities.
• Opportunities: The program equips students with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their chosen fields.
• Outcomes: Graduates of the IFY have gone on to successful careers in various industries, including finance, accounting, engineering, music, and psychology.

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Other:

• The IFY is offered in September and January intakes for some pathways.
• The program is recognized by the British Council and ranked as a Centre of Excellence.
• The University of Salford is located in Manchester, a vibrant city with a rich cultural scene.

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Please note:

The availability of specific modules and pathways may vary depending on the year of enrollment.