Program Overview

Overview of the Program

The Civil Engineering and Architectural Engineering with a Foundation Year course is designed 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.

Program Structure

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

Foundation Course Pathways

Upon successful completion of this foundation course, students will be able to progress onto the following courses:

• Architectural Engineering BEng
• Civil Engineering BEng

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 academic qualifications have been achieved. This may influence the typical offers listed below.

United Kingdom

• Typical A level offer: BBB
• Typical IB offer: 32 points overall
• Typical BTEC offer: BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma: DDD including Distinctions in both Engineering Principles and Calculus to Solve Engineering Problems
• GCSE: A minimum of 5 GCSE grades 9 - 4 (A*-C) including Maths and Science grade 6/B and English Language grade 4/C

International Requirements

For students from other countries, the requirements vary:

• Australia: Based on the Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR), typically requiring a score between 85.00 and 94.00.
• Austria: For students taking the Austrian Reifeprüfung (Matura), typically requiring an average score between 2.2 and 1.2 from 6 written or spoken exams.
• Bahrain: Students who have studied the Tawjihiyah/Thanawiya amma (General Secondary Education Certificate) will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• Bangladesh: Students taking the Higher Secondary Certificate will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• Belgium: The Certificat d’Enseignement Secondaire Supérieur (CESS) and Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs (DSO) are both acceptable qualifications for direct entry into first year undergraduate courses, typically requiring an overall score ranging from 75% to 85%.
• Brazil: Students taking the Brazilian High School Certificate (Certificado de Ensino Médio) and Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio – ENEM will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• Brunei: Students with A Level or IB qualifications will be considered for direct entry to undergraduate degree courses.
• Bulgaria: For students taking the Diploma za Sredno Obrazovanie, typically requiring an overall score ranging from 5.3 to 6.0 overall with specific subject marks required for some courses.
• Canada: Typical offers for students from Canada are based on having completed Grade 12, with requirements ranging from 80% to 93% depending on the province.
• China: Students taking the Senior Middle Examinations will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• Croatia: For students taking the Croatian Matura (Svjedodžba o Maturi), typically requiring an average score between 4.0 and 5.0.
• Cyprus: The Apolytirion is not accepted for direct entry to the University when studied on its own, but is considered alongside A Levels.
• Czech Republic: For students taking the Maturita (Vysvědčení o Maturitní Zkoušce), typically requiring an average ranging from 2.00 to 1.00 from best 4 subjects.
• Denmark: For students taking the Bevis for Studentereksamen (STX), typical offers range from 8.0 to 10.5 in the weighted average mark from the STX.
• Egypt: Students who have studied the Thanaweya A’ama (Certificate of General Secondary Education) will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• Estonia: For students taking the Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus with the Riigieksamitunnistus, typically requiring a high average grade between 4.3 and 4.8 as well as an average between 87% and 95% from best 4 state exams.
• European Baccalaureate: For students taking the European Baccalaureate, typically requiring an overall average mark between 78% and 88% with specific subject marks required for some courses.
• Faroe Islands: Students taking the Studentsprógv would normally be required to achieve a score between 8.0 and 10.5 with specific subject marks required for some courses.
• Finland: For students taking the Ylioppilastutkinto / Studentexamen, typical offer requirements would normally be based on achievement in best 4 subjects, with offers ranging from MMMM to LEEE.
• France: For students taking the new French Baccalauréat Général (assessed from 2021 onwards), typically requiring an overall result between 13.0 and 15.5 with results of 14-15 in two speciality subjects.
• Germany: Students taking the Abitur would typically require an overall score ranging from 1.3 to 2.0 with specific subject marks required for some courses.
• Ghana: Students taking the WASSCE will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• Greece: Students taking the Greek Apolyterion are normally required to also take the Panhellenic Exams, with typical offers based on the General Access Grade in the Panhellenics, ranging from 16.5 to 19.0.
• Hong Kong: Typical offers for students taking the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education vary by course and range from ‘5, 4, 4’ to ‘5*, 5, 5’ from best 3 subjects.
• Hungary: For students taking the Hungarian Matura (Érettségi Bizonyítvány), typically requiring an average ranging from 70% to 83% from best 5 subjects.
• Iceland: For students taking the Stúdentspróf, typically requiring an overall grade between 8.0 and 9.3 with specific subject marks required for some courses.
• India: Typical offers are based on the Standard XII school leaving qualifications, with requirements ranging from 78% to 88% average performance from best 4 subjects.
• Indonesia: Students who have studied the Ijazah: Sekolah Menengah Atas/Madrasah Aliyah (SMA/MA) will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• International Programme: The International Foundation Programme (IFP) is an integrated programme designed for high-calibre international students who want to do a degree at Loughborough University and have successfully completed 12 years of school education.
• Ireland: Students who have taken the Leaving Certificate under the new grading system (post 2016) would normally be required to achieve 5 higher level passes with grades ranging from H2 H2 H3 H3 H3 to H1 H1 H2 H2 H2.
• Israel: For students taking the Bagrut, typically requiring students to have studied at least 21 study units, with typical offers based on average percentage from 3 best 5-unit level subjects, ranging from 78% to 92%.
• Italy: For students taking the Diploma di Esamo di Stato, typically requiring an overall score ranging from 85% to 98% overall, with specific subject marks required for some courses.
• Japan: Students taking the Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho (Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate) will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• Jordan: Students taking the Tawjihiyah/Thanawiya amma (General Secondary Education Certificate) will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• Kazakhstan: Typical offers for students from Kazakhstan are based on the Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools (NIS) Grade 12 Certificate, typically requiring a score between AAA and BBB from Advanced level subjects.
• Kenya: Students taking the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• Kuwait: Students who have studied the Tawjihiyah/Thanawiya amma (General Secondary Education Certificate) will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• Latvia: For students taking the Atestāts par Vispārējo Vidējo Izglītību, typically requiring a high average grade between 9.2 and 10.0 as well as an average between 87% and 95% from best 4 state exams.
• Lebanon: Students taking the Baccalauréat Général will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• Lithuania: For students taking the Brandos Atestatas, typical offers generally range from 9.0 to 10.0 overall, with specific subject marks required for some courses.
• Malaysia: For students taking either the Matrikulasi (Matriculation Certificate) or the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysian (STPM), typically requiring grades ranging from AAA-BBB from best 3 (core) subjects excluding general studies.
• Malta: For students taking the Advanced Matriculation Exam, typical offers would normally be based on achievement in 2 advanced level subjects (typically between BB and AA) and 3 intermediate level subjects excluding Systems of Knowledge (typically between BCC and AAA).
• Netherlands: For students taking the Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO), typical offers range from 6.6 to 7.4 average from the VWO, with specific subject marks required for some courses.
• New Zealand: For students taking the National Certificate in Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 3, typical offers will be based on overall achievement in the NCEA plus a required number of credits achieved at the next level up.
• Nigeria: Students taking the WASSCE will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• Norway: For students taking the Vitnemål for Videregående Opplæring, typical offers are normally based on an average score from 2500 credits with an ‘A’ counting as 20 points, a ‘B’ counting as 17.5 points, a ‘C’ counting as 15 points etc.
• Oman: Students who have studied the Tawjihiyah/Thanawiya amma (General Secondary Education Certificate) will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• Pakistan: Students taking the Intermediate/Higher Secondary School Certificate will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• Poland: For students taking the new Matura, typical offers are based on average achievement from 3 extended level exams, and offers normally range from 75% to 85% overall.
• Portugal: Students taking the Diploma de Ensino Secundário would normally be required to achieve a score between 16 and 18 with specific subject marks required for some courses.
• Qatar: Students taking the Shahadat Al-Thanawaya Al-Aama (Senior School Certificate) will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• Romania: For students taking the Diploma de Bacalaureat, typical offers range from 8.6 to 9.4 overall, with specific subject marks required for some courses.
• Russia: Students taking the Certificate of Unified State Examination will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• Saudi Arabia: Students who have studied the Tawjihiyah (General Secondary Education Certificate) will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• Singapore: For students with Singapore A Levels, typical offers normally range from BBC to AAA from three H2 Level subjects, and offers are typically one grade lower than the typical A Level requirement as stated in the undergraduate prospectus.
• Slovakia: For students taking the Slovakian Matura (Vysvedčenie o maturitnej skúške), typical offers range from 2.00 to 1.00 average from best 4 subjects with specific subject marks required for some courses.
• Slovenia: For students taking the Maturitetno Spričevalo, typically requiring an overall total score of between 22 and 30 out of 34, with specific subject marks required for some courses.
• South Africa: For students taking the National Senior Certificate (NSC), typical offers range from 6,6,6,6,6 to 7,7,7,7,7 from the best 5 subjects, excluding Life Orientation.
• South Korea: Students taking the High School Diploma will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• Spain: For students taking the Titulo de Bachillerato, typically requiring an overall score of 7.50 – 9.50, with specific subject marks required for some courses.
• Sri Lanka: Students with A Level or IB qualifications will be considered for direct entry to undergraduate degree courses.
• Sweden: For students tasking the Avgångsbetyg / Slutbetyg från Gymnasieskola, typical offers are normally based on an average score from 2500 credits with an ‘A’ counting as 20 points, a ‘B’ counting as 17.5 points, a ‘C’ counting as 15 points etc.
• Switzerland: Students taking the following qualifications would be considered for direct entry to undergraduate courses: Certificat de Maturité, Attestato di Maturità, typically requiring an overall score ranging from 4.8 to 5.5 average from best 12 subjects.
• Taiwan: Students taking the Senior High School Diploma will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• Tanzania: The Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (ACSEE) is acceptable for entry into the first year of undergraduate courses, with typical offers the same as for UK A Levels as stated in the Undergraduate Prospectus.
• Thailand: Students taking the Certificate of Secondary Education/Maw 6 will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• The Caribbean: For students taking the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), typically requiring a range from ‘2, 2, 2’ to ‘1, 1, 1’ achieved from three 2-unit exams, with specific subject marks required for some courses.
• The Gulf: Students who have studied the Tawjihiyah/Thanawiya amma (General Secondary Education Certificate) will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• Turkey: For students taking the Anadolu Lisesi (Anatolian High School Diploma) or Fen Lisesi (Science High School Diploma), typically requiring a pass mark of higher than 80%.
• Uganda: Students with A Level or IB qualifications will be considered for direct entry to undergraduate degree courses.
• Ukraine: Students taking the Atestat pro Povnu Zagal'nu Sersdniu Osvitu/Certificate of Complete General Secondary Education will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• United Arab Emirates: Students who have studied the Tawjihiyah/Thanawiya amma (General Secondary Education Certificate) will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• United States of America: For students studying in the USA, typical offers for entry onto undergraduate level courses are based on obtaining 3.2/4.0 GPA in the High School Graduation Diploma, in addition to a combination of any three of the following: Advanced Placement (AP) Exam, IB Higher Levels, College level class credit, Honors classes.
• Vietnam: Students who have studied the Bằng Tốt Nghiệp Phổ Thông Trung Học will need to complete an appropriate Foundation Year.
• Zambia: Students who have studied the General Certificate of Education will need to complete a suitable Foundation Year.
• Zimbabwe: Students with A Level or IB qualifications will be considered for direct entry to undergraduate degree courses.

Tuition Fees for 2026 Entry

UK Fees

• Full-time course per annum: £9,535

International Fees

• See ON CAMPUS Loughborough

Additional Costs

While the cost of 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.

Course Stats

• 70% say staff value students' views and opinions about the course
• 87% of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well
• 95% in work or doing further study 15 months after the course

Why Choose Us

• 3rd in the UK for Student Experience in Architecture (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025)
• Top 20 in the UK for Civil Engineering (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025)
• 3rd in the UK for University Facilities (Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2025)
• 1st in the UK for Building (The Complete University Guide 2026)