International Foundation Year

The Fastest Route To A UK University For International Students

Most high school qualifications from outside the EU¹ are not accepted by UK universities. This is because many international students only study up to year 11 and the curriculum is often very different to that taught in UK schools.

However, international students can qualify for entry by studying an International Foundation Year first. Courses start in January or September and take only 6 to 9 months to complete. On successful completion, most international foundation years guarantee progression to selected degrees starting the following September.

Start Foundation Year	Progress To University
January - March 2026	September 2026
September 2026	September 2027
November 2026	September 2027

Why Choose This Course?

• The fastest route to a British university for most International Students.
• Guaranteed progression on successful completion for most international foundation years.
• Most overseas and international high school qualifications (year 11+) are accepted for entry to these courses, including IGCSE.
• The best option for students who want to study subjects like Art, Business, Computing, Engineering, Law, Humanities, Sciences and Social Sciences.
• A low cost route compared to alternative qualifications (i.e. A Levels and International Baccalaureate).

Entry Requirements

Academic	Completion of secondary school in your own country (Year 11+) with good grades, equivalent to 4 - 5 IGCSE subjects (A-C, 4-9). Most overseas high school qualifications are accepted.
English	An English qualification equivalent to IELTS 4.5 (4.0+ in all skills). Note: In most cases, a UKVI Approved English Test is required to apply for a UK student visa. However, some institutions can accept alternative qualifications, such as TOEFL or a high school English qualification.
Age	Minimum 17 years old for most courses.

 

Top UK Universities Offering International Foundation Years

• Aston University

  

  International Foundation Year
  Birmingham

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• University of Bristol

  

  International Foundation Year
  Bristol

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• University of Birmingham

  

  International Foundation Year
  Birmingham

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• University of Brighton

  

  International Foundation Certificate
  Brighton

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• Cardiff University

  

  International Foundation Year
  Cardiff

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• University of Exeter

  

  International Foundation Year
  Exeter

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• Leeds International Study Centre

  

  International Foundation Year
  Leeds

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• University of Liverpool

  

  International Foundation Year
  Liverpool

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• Newcastle University

  

  International Foundation Year
  Newcastle

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• University of Nottingham

  

  International Foundation Certificate
  Nottingham

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• University of Sheffield

  

  International Foundation Year
  Sheffield

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• University of Westminster

  

  International Foundation Certificate
  London

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Applying is easy with click-courses.com!

• Accounting and Finance
• Art
• Business
• Computing & Computer Science
• Engineering
• Law
• Life Sciences
• Management
• Medicine
• Media and Communications
• Psychology
• Science
• Social Sciences

¹ Acceptable qualifications include: Malaysia (STPM), Ghana (OND), Hong Kong (HKDSE), India (HSSC), Nigeria (OND), United Kingdom (A Level).