Program Overview

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Materials Engineering with a Foundation Year

Overview

This course is primarily for candidates who have not studied the prerequisite subjects needed for first year entry, or have not met their expected entrance requirements due to adverse situations, or because of their previous sport performance commitments, as well as mature students returning to education or care leavers.

Our Foundation Studies programme at Loughborough is designed to help a range of students realise their university ambitions. Our streamed approach enables you to progress on to one of multiple courses within your chosen stream – giving you further time to decide which course is right for you.

The foundation programme would suit:

• Students who have not studied the prerequisite subjects needed for first year entry on a preferred course;
• Students who did not meet the expected entrance requirements due to adverse situations (including illness or caring responsibilities);
• Mature students or care leavers;
• Students who meet our contextual offer criteria. For example individuals from specific postcode areas or those who have received free school meals. Visit our Contextual admissions webpage to check your eligibility;
• Students performing at elite athlete level who have the added challenge of combining study with high-level sporting competition.

As a student on the course, you will be a full member of the University, enjoying access to the Students’ Union, clubs, societies, sports facilities and support departments, and the outstanding student experience Loughborough University offers.

This course is placed within the Engineering, Maths and Physical Sciences stream which is one of our four Foundation streams. Foundation courses in this stream include:

• Aeronautical Engineering with a Foundation Year
• Automotive Engineering with a Foundation Year
• Biomedical Engineering with a Foundation Year
• Chemical Engineering with a Foundation Year
• Civil and Architectural Engineering with a Foundation Year
• Computer Science with a Foundation Year
• Electronic and Electrical Engineering with a Foundation Year
• Engineering Management with a Foundation Year
• Materials with a Foundation Year
• Mathematics with a Foundation Year
• Mechanical Engineering with a Foundation Year
• Natural Science with a Foundation Year (maths or physics major)
• Physics with a Foundation Year
• Product Design and Technology with a Foundation Year
• Product Design Engineering with a Foundation Year
• Sport Technology with a Foundation Year

Why complete a foundation year

• Completing a foundation year within the Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences Stream will enable you to progress onto the first year of our Materials Engineering or request a transfer to the courses in this stream, provided the relevant progression criteria are met.
• Completing a foundation year can be a real attribute to your overall degree success. It not only opens doors to courses that may have previously looked closed, but also provides a sound base on which to establish a successful academic career. Many who have completed the foundation pathway have also said how beneficial it was to them in supporting their transition into university life.
• Our foundation course is taught in-house by university staff.

The Foundation Studies course also offers the opportunity for students performing at a very high standard in their chosen sport, looking to join one of our sporting performance programmes, who wish to study at Loughborough, but do not have the required qualifications. It is ideal for students who wish to combine their performance sports training with academic study. If you think your sport profile qualifies you to be considered for the elite athletes programme, please contact before applying.

What you'll study

The Foundation Programme is integrated into your degree and prepares you for degree-level study in a supportive learning environment. Our modules are taught by University academics who have significant experience of teaching in Higher or Further Education, pursue research in innovation in e-learning and help to shape the National Foundation Year Network policies.

When you come to study a foundation programme, you will have compulsory modules that prepare you for your chosen degree subject. These are taught within the same high tech University spaces as those studying undergraduate degrees. For subsequent undergraduate course modules, see individual course pages.

The information below is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study. Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year. Please see Terms and Conditions of Study for more information.

Semester 1 & 2

Compulsory modules

• Sustainability in Practice
  • The aims of the module are to Introduce students to research skills and academic scholarship conventions, basic software for data analysis, and academic transferable skills.
• Applicable Mathematics 1
  • The aims of this module are to:
    • provide an introduction to post-GCSE mathematics;
    • develop confidence in, and competence at, applying basic mathematical techniques.
• Physics
  • The aims of the module are to enable students to gain knowledge and skills in Physics that takes them from a GCSE Level 6 (or equivalent) to a level suitable for entry into the Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences degree programmes.
• Fundamentals of Material Chemistry
  • The aims of this module is to introduce fundamental theory of physical, inorganic and organic chemistry in the application of material science.
• Applicable Mathematics 2
  • The aims of this module are to:
    • provide an introduction to post-GCSE mathematics;
    • develop confidence in, and competence at, applying basic mathematical techniques.
• Engineering Science
  • The aims of this module are to build on Physics and prepare students to a level suitable for entry into the Engineering and Physical Science degree programmes.
• Programming Applications
  • The aim of the module are to introduce students to the fundamentals of how computers work, and how they can be programmed to process and analyse data.

How you'll study

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Independent study
• Group work
• Supervision
• Workshops
• Practical sessions

How you'll be assessed

Foundation modules are assessed by a combination of written exams and/or coursework assignments.

Some modules are continually assessed throughout the year. Typical coursework assignments include laboratory reports, essays, presentations, assessed tutorials, workshops and peer review (review fellow students’ performance). It is expected that for every hour you are in a structured class, you should spend two hours of your own time researching, writing up, learning work or doing set questions etc.

Elite athlete pathway available

Our foundation programme now also offers the opportunity for students performing at a very high sporting level who are looking to join one of our performance programmes and study at Loughborough, but do not have the required qualifications due to sporting commitments.

The Elite Athlete Foundation Programme is ideal for students who wish to combine their sports training with academic study. We generally define ‘elite athlete level’ as competing at junior international level or higher, or expecting to do so within the next 12 months.

Where you'll study

You'll have access to a wide range of first-class facilities.

• Materials students enjoy a generous amount of hands-on practical work involving specialist equipment and laboratory spaces.
• The Department of Materials is housed in S-Building, which contains extensive polymer processing laboratories, IT labs, and the world-leading Loughborough Materials Characterisation Centre.
• You'll also have access to STEMLab, a state-of-the-art laboratory facility. This forms part of a wider £25 million investment in the West Park of our campus, the home of our Engineering Schools. It includes an adjacent student learning and teaching hub. STEMLab allows us to offer new ways to learn and collaborate, with a ‘drop-in’ engineering workshop, teaching laboratories, workshops, computer-aided design and rapid prototyping facilities, a design studio and informal learning spaces.

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

The entry requirements for each course should be read alongside the University’s general entry requirements which give further details on acceptable subjects, alternative UK and international qualifications and minimum English language requirements.

Contextual admissions

The University’s admissions process uses contextual information to provide insights into the context in which your academic qualifications have been achieved. This may influence the typical offers listed below.

United Kingdom

• Typical A level offer: BBB - BCC
• Typical IB offer: 32 - 29 points overall
• Typical BTEC offer: BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma: DDD - DMM
• GCSE: A minimum of 5 GCSE grades 9 - 4 (A*-C) including Maths and Science grade 6/B and English Language grade 4/C
• Other: T Level - Merit Overall, C in Core Component. T Levels in Accounting; Finance and Management and Administration are considered. Other subjects may be considered on a case by case basis.

Preferred subjects

• BTEC: Science or Engineering BTEC preferred

Selection

Offers will not normally be made to those who apply simply because their A level grades/predictions are below the requirements for direct entry to the degree programme.

Students who are eligible for this course include:

• Those wishing to study a degree without the appropriate background
• Students performing at a very high standard in a chosen sport, who wish to study at Loughborough, but do not have the required qualifications due to sporting commitments*
• Mature students returning to education
• Those who did not meet their expected entrance requirements due to illness or other adverse situations
• Students with alternative backgrounds and qualifications

Applications are treated on a case by case basis and a number of other personal situations may also be considered. Applicants are usually selected solely on the basis of their UCAS application, but in exceptional cases, an interview and/or maths test may be required. If applicants are made an offer of a place, they will be invited to visit the department, meet staff and students, see our facilities and get an insight into what it is like to be a student at Loughborough.

*If you think your sport profile qualifies you to be considered for the elite athletes programme, please contact before applying.

International students

Please see the University’s website for country-specific entry requirements.

Tuition fees for 2026 entry

UK fees

• Full-time course per annum: £9,535

International fees

• See ON CAMPUS Loughborough

UK tuition fees align with the applicable fee caps set by the UK government, and as such they are subject to changes made to the agreed cap in a specific year.

International students may be eligible for a Foundation course at ONCAMPUS Loughborough. ONCAMPUS Loughborough works in partnership with Loughborough University and offers guaranteed progression onto our courses subject to meeting progression criteria.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, IT equipment and other support services. University fees and charges can be paid in advance and there are several methods of payment, including online payments and payment by instalment.

Additional costs

While the cost of your tuition covers lots of things, it doesn’t cover everything. For instance, this course doesn’t cover the cost of any stationery, printing, books or re-assessments which you might need.

Foundation course pathways

Upon successful completion of this foundation course, you’ll be able to progress onto the following courses:

• Automotive Materials BEng
• Biomaterials Engineering BEng
• Materials Science and Engineering BEng

Course statistics

• 89% say staff value students views and opinions about the course
• 100% of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well
• 85% in work or doing further study 15 months after the course

Why study here

• Top 10 in the UK for Materials Technology
• £17m STEMLab teaching facilities
• 3rd in the UK for Student Experience in Materials Technology
• Top 5 in the UK for Graduate Prospects in Materials Technology
• 1st in the UK for Student Satisfaction in Materials Technology

Our campus

You can’t get far without seeing a friendly face and everything you need is right on your doorstep.

Student support

Get the support you need to achieve your ambitions. We offer lots of services and opportunities, all designed with you in mind. Loughborough really is for life.

Accommodation

If you make Loughborough University your firm choice and register for accommodation before the end of July, we will guarantee you a room in University hall accommodation.