If you have a strong desire to study at a UK university, but do not
have the necessary qualifications, this short article describes the
perfect route for you. The Way In Many universities provide
a training course called a Foundation Year. The Foundation Year
provides essential preparation for a chosen course of study and also
covers areas such as IT skills, maths and numeracy, academic and
studying methods and communication skills. Some Foundation Year
courses provide English language preparation, to ensure your English is
up to the required academic standard. Most Foundation Year programmes
have a minimum language skill requirement, although many universities
provide English language training. A Foundation Course provides
you with all the basic skills you need to gain access to a UK
University course. Many Foundation Courses even guarantee you a place
on the degree course you are aiming for, provided of course that you
achieve the required standards in the Foundation Year. You should
definitely consider a Foundation Year if you do not have the necessary
qualifications to gain entry to a degree course. Typical Entry Requirements Foundation
Year entry requirement vary from university to university, so you must
find out what is required at the university you are considering.
However, there are some basic requirements: * Most Foundation Year courses require you to be at least 18 years old. * You must be able to prove that you have completed Secondary education in your home country. *
English - The English language requirement is likely to be at least
IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL 525. Some Universities provide English courses. * Maths - You should have the equivalent of at least a Grade D in Mathematics at GCSE level. *
You must of course have a strong desire to succeed in your chosen area
of study and any evidence of your desire will be very helpful in your
application. * Some 'life experience' may be required for certain courses. What Can You Study? Foundation Year courses are available in an very wide range of disciplines including: - Business, Marketing, Accountancy
- Law
- Social Science, Humanities, Arts
- Hospitality, Consumer Technology, Leisure
- Science and Engineering
- Information Technology, Computing
- Food and Health
- Joint Honours Programmes A Foundation Year is often
organised into course units, designed to prepare you for your intended
course. Some units are mandatory, others optional, many will be
specified by the degree course you are preparing for. Foundation Year Mentoring Some
Universities offer a Foundation Year mentoring scheme. A mentor is a
volunteer who offers confidential help and guidance based on their
experience. The mentor relationship can be very helpful. How Do You Apply ? First you should decide which degree you wish to study at University. Then
you should identify the University or universities offering a
Foundation Year course that is the appropriate preparation for degree
you have chosen. Then you need to apply for a place on the
Foundation Year through the University & Colleges Admissions
Service (UCAS). This is the university applications processing
organisation in the UK and all applications for university places,
including Foundation Year, go through UCAS www.ucas.ac.uk Summary A
Foundation Year is all about giving you the chance to gain a place in a
English University. For many it is a second chance – the chance to
develop, the change to get a degree, the chance to get on that first
rung of the ladder to success. Manchester
Metropolitan University offers a very successful and substantial
Foundation Year programme and welcomes applications to courses from
overseas students. Click www.mmu.ac.uk/international/courses/foundation.php here for full information, a newsletter and application details.
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