Program Overview

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Health, Life & Biosciences Pathway

Key Information

Course type: Foundation Study mode: Full-time Duration: 1 year Application status: Open Start date: 29 September 2025 Extended start date: 18 August 2025 Priority deadline: 16 March 2025

Module Combinations

You can browse the optional module combinations below and find the entry requirements so that you know what you need to be aiming for to receive a conditional offer.

Core Modules

• Academic Expression & Critical Thinking
• English for Scientific Academic Purposes
• Science & Society

Biology + Maths for Natural Sciences

Pathway modules:

• Mathematics for Natural Science
• Biology - International Foundation

Chemistry + Mathematics for Natural Sciences

Pathway modules:

• Mathematics for Natural Sciences
• Chemistry - International Foundation

Biology + Chemistry

Pathway modules:

• Biology - International Foundation
• Chemistry - International Foundation

Course Essentials

What Does This Course Cover?

This foundation pathway in health, life and biosciences is designed to provide you with the scientific academic skills and content you need to be successful in your chosen undergraduate degree.

It will improve and enhance your English language in a scientific, academic context. You’ll strengthen your ability to express yourself through speaking and writing and boost your understanding when reading or listening. You’ll learn how to use academic sources, like articles, books and lectures, and how to structure and write critical assignments or give academic presentations.

You’ll also explore key topics within modern sciences and consider how these affect society, with a compulsory Science and Society module. You'll look at issues such as the philosophy and history of science and the ethical challenges of scientific and technical development, including AI. This module will also prepare you for university study by discussing the cultural norms, ideas and practices of academic culture in the UK in comparison with other perspectives from around the world to understand the nature of science and the values and assumptions that may be obscured at first.

For the remainder of your health, life and biosciences foundation pathway, you’ll study your chosen optional modules. You might choose to study a combination of biology and chemistry and learn about the biology of the human body alongside the chemistry of treatment, drug research and prescribing. You may prefer to combine biology and maths for natural sciences or study a combination of chemistry and maths for natural sciences.

Base Campus

Strand Campus

Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.

Language Requirements

English Language Requirements

Please note that nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries (as defined by UKVI) who have successfully completed high school in the respective country, are not required to complete an English language test and can apply to the King's International Foundation pathway (rather than the Extended pathway from which they will be transferred, should they apply). For information on our English requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see the King’s International Foundation section of our English Language requirements page.

All other students need to show evidence that they meet the English language requirements by providing a copy of a certificate from an approved English language test. All English language tests must have been taken within two years of the King’s International Foundation course start date.

Students That Need a Visa

If you need to apply for a Student Visa to study in the UK, we can only accept IELTS and Pearson results that have been provided by test centres approved by UK Visas and Immigration: IELTS for UKVI (Academic) and PTE (Academic) are only valid if taken within two years before the start date of your chosen programme of study. All elements of the test results must be demonstrated in one test. We cannot take a combination of your scores across two tests. We cannot take IELTS One Skill scores. You can find a list of approved test centres on the UKVI website.

Test | King's International Foundation | Extended King's International Foundation* ---|---|--- IELTS for UKVI (Academic) | 6.0 overall with no skill below 5.5 | From 5.5 overall with no skill below 5.0, to 6.0 overall, with no skill below 5.5 Pearson Test of English (Academic) UKVI | 59 overall with a minimum of 54 in each communicative skill | 54 overall with a minimum of 46 in each communicative skill

Students Who Don't Need a Visa

We accept a number of other English language tests if you do not require a student visa to study in the UK including those listed below. For a full list of accepted tests for the Foundation programme, please visit our English Language requirements page.

The tests listed below are valid if they have been taken within two years of the start date of your chosen course. The start date for the purposes of English language requirements is the 1st day of the month in which your courses commences, i.e. if your courses starts in September 2025, the test must be dated within two years of 1st September 2025. All elements of the test results must be demonstrated in one test. We cannot take a combination of your scores across two tests. We cannot take TOEFL MyBest scores or IELTS One Skill scores.

Qualification | King's International Foundation | Extended King's International Foundation* ---|---|--- Cambridge Advanced Certificate (CAE)/Cambridge C1 Advanced or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)/Cambridge C2 Proficiency | 169 overall with a minimum of 160 in each skill | 162 overall with a minimum of 154 in each skill IELTS (Academic) | Minimum 6.0 overall, with no skill below 5.5 | Minimum 5.5 overall, with no skill below 5.0 IELTS (Online) | Minimum 6.0 overall, with no skill below 5.5 | Minimum 5.5 overall, with no skill below 5.0 Pearson Test of English (Academic)

We also accept Pearson Test of English (Academic) for UKVI. We do not accept Pearson Test of English (Academic) Online | 59 overall with a minimum of 54 in each communicative skill | 54 overall with a minimum of 46 in each communicative skill TOEFL iBT Institution code: 0394 OR TOEFL iBT Home Edition OR TOEFL iBT Paper Edition | 80 overall with a minimum of 20 in each skills | 72 overall with a minimum of 17 in writing/speaking and 15 in listening/reading. All TOEFL test results must be provided via King’s Apply. Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) | Level III with pass in each skill | Level II with pass in each skill

Teaching & Structure

Teaching

This Health, Life and Biosciences foundation pathway is a full-time, 120-credit programme. Students study four 30-credit modules. All students undertake a minimum of 15 hours of live, face-to-face study on the pathway, in addition to an average of 20 hours of self-study a week. This includes preparation for live sessions, homework, completion of assignments, revision and any other work set by your teachers.

The Health, Life and Biosciences foundation pathway is typically taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, and small group classes, which help you prepare for your undergraduate degree studies. Face-to-face teaching is complemented and supported by innovative technology with elements of digital learning and assessment embedded into the programme.

Every student is assigned a personal tutor. They will provide you with the regular opportunity to review your learning, academic progress and general well-being as you progress through your studies.

Assessment

The nature of assessment varies by module. Most modules are assessed through a combination of coursework and final examinations. The type of assessment may include:

• Essays
• Exams
• Practical laboratory examinations

See each module page for more details.

Modules

You will study the following modules on this pathway:

• English for Scientific Academic Purposes or Academic Expression & Critical Thinking*
• Science & Society

You will choose one module combination:

• Biology & Chemistry
• Biology & Maths for Natural Sciences
• Chemistry & Maths for Natural Sciences

*You will either study English for Scientific Academic Purposes or Academic Expression & Critical Thinking, depending on your level of English when you start the programme.

All of the modules support your subject and linguistic skills development as they encourage you to analyse concepts and develop ideas in your chosen subject area.

Fees & Dates

The Final Application Deadlines for This Programme Are:

• Extended King’s International Foundation: 15 June 2025 (23:59 UK time)
• King’s International Foundation: 15 June 2025 (23:59 UK time)

After the priority application deadline, if the programme becomes full before the final deadlines stated above, we will close the programme to further applications.

Full Time Tuition Fees:

King's International Foundation - £26,3) Extended King's International Foundation - £30,4)

Tuition fees are subject to annual increases, in line with King's terms and conditions.

Deposit

Upon accepting an offer for the King’s International Foundation Programme, you are required to pay a deposit of £5,500 to secure your place by the deadline, which will be stated in your offer. If you do not pay the deposit or provide evidence of financial sponsorship by the deadline stated in your offer, your offer will expire, and King’s reserves the right not to reinstate the offer.

This deposit is payable when you firmly accept an offer (unconditional or conditional) to study with us and will be offset against your tuition fees when you join King’s.

Payments are made online through the King's Apply portal.

All students need to pay the deposit, with the exception of sponsored students. If you are being sponsored by an employer or your government, for example, you will need to provide a valid Financial Guarantee letter. Please contact our Admissions team if you have any questions.

Application Fee: £75

Our King’s International Foundation Programmes require a non-refundable application fee before you can submit your application to be considered. This step is built into the application process. Please note that payment of an application fee does not guarantee that you will receive an offer for your chosen programme, as many of our programmes are competitive.

If you apply for a pathway and receive a rejection your application fee will not be refunded. If you then choose to apply for a different pathway you will need to pay another application fee.

Please ensure that you carefully read the information about your chosen pathway and modules before applying.

Additional Costs/Expenses

In addition to your application and tuition fees, you can also expect to pay for:

• Accommodation and living costs
• Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses
• Books if you need your own copy or they are required for your module
• Library fees and fines
• Society membership fees
• Personal photocopies
• Printing course handouts
• Stationery
• Graduation costs

Please see our student Terms and Conditions for further fee details, including our refund policy.