Program Overview

University of Exeter International Study Centre: Programmes for International Students

INTO University of Exeter Foundation - 2026 entry

Overview

Pre-university course designed to bridge the gap for international students between high school and undergraduate studies in the UK.

Specifically designed for international students who do not meet the University’s academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry to Year 1 of an undergraduate degree.

Progress to one of over 150 different degrees through one single multi-disciplinary pathway, with standard and fast-track options available.

Successful completion (subject to achieving the specified grades for progression) guarantees direct entry to a wide range of degree programmes at the University of Exeter.

Course content

• Around 60 per cent of the course is devoted to the academic modules for students’ own subject areas.
• Modules are flexible and can be tailored to your chosen degree.
• Subject areas include Business, Biological Sciences, Humanities, Engineering, Psychology and Social Sciences.
• Academic English Language and Study Skills is a core subject, accounting for approximately 40 per cent of classes, covering reading and study skills, writing, listening and speaking within the context of academic study.
• The Fast-Track option allows students to study an accelerated version of the pathway in just 2 terms.

Duration

• Students can choose between 2, 3 and 4 terms depending on their circumstances, with start dates in January, March, June and September.
• The Exeter International Foundation (Fast-Track) is a unique accelerated programme which lasts two terms, starting in March.
• Students, who do not meet the minimum English language requirements for direct entry to the three-term Foundation programme may be eligible to apply for the Extended Foundation programme.
• Lasting four terms, the Extended Foundation programme incorporates a term of intensive English language tuition at the beginning of the course, allowing you to begin your course and improve your English to a level appropriate for academic study.

Entry requirements

• For more information about entry requirements, please click on the programme that you are interested in studying:
  • Exeter International Foundation
• A fuller list of recognised qualifications can be found in our Entry requirements pages.
• Students with less than IELTS 5.0 can enrol on an INTO Academic English course for an appropriate period – see the INTO website for further details.

Learning and teaching

• Teaching is delivered through a range of methods including lectures, seminars, academic tutorials and, where appropriate, laboratory classes.
• The programmes have also been designed to develop the key transferable skills needed for successful undergraduate study.

Assessment

• Students are assessed by a combination of exams, tests and coursework assignments, which might include essays, presentations, problem solving exercises, reports and research projects.
• Modules in academic subjects are assessed at the end of each semester but English language assessment takes place predominantly at the end of the programme.
• Grades from the programme do not count towards a final degree but help the University assess students’ abilities in their chosen field of study.

Optional modules outside of this course

• Each year, if you have optional modules available, you can take up to 30 credits in a subject outside of your course.
• This can increase your employability and widen your intellectual horizons.

Proficiency in a second subject

• If you complete 60 credits of modules in specified subjects, you may have the words 'with proficiency in’ added to your degree title when you graduate.

Your future

• Successful completion of the Foundation programme (subject to achieving specified grades for entry) leads to direct entry to Year 1 of a number of degree subjects at the University of Exeter.
• These include:
  • Accounting and Finance
  • Archaeology
  • Biosciences
  • Classics
  • Computer Science and IT
  • Drama
  • Economics
  • Engineering
  • English
  • Environmental Science
  • Geology
  • History
  • Politics and International Relations
  • Law
  • Management
  • Mathematics
  • Medical Sciences
  • Physics
  • Psychology
  • Renewable Energy

For full details of the specified progression grades for entry please visit the INTO website.