A5.9 Applying for a Foundation Programme

What is a Foundation Year/Course?

A Foundation Year, also known as a Bridging Course, is a preparatory course offered by foreign universities. It serves as a link or pathway to a full degree programme, meaning it's a university preparation course taken before you start a formal undergraduate or postgraduate degree. It typically includes language training and some academic subjects. The duration can range from several months to one or two years, depending mainly on your chosen subject and your previous academic background. However, the standard for students coming to the UK is usually a one-year course, referred to in English as a University Foundation Year. Furthermore, there are specific foundation courses for undergraduate entry (Undergraduate Foundation) and for postgraduate entry (Pre-Master's Foundation).

Essentially, all UK universities, except for many in Scotland (due to their standard four-year undergraduate degree structure), require international students intending to study for a Bachelor's degree to first complete a one-year foundation course. This is particularly applicable to students who have completed Year 2 of high school (Gao Er), Year 3 (Gao San), or those with college diplomas, though specific requirements depend on the university and programme. For instance, since around 2019, several UK universities – including the University of Cambridge and the University of Birmingham – have begun accepting Chinese Gaokao scores for direct entry to undergraduate programmes. For a specific list of universities accepting Gaokao scores, please refer to my previous guide.

The same principle applies to Pre-Master's foundation courses; you typically need to complete the foundation course before progressing to a UK Master's degree. However, Pre-Master's courses are not mandatory for everyone; they are usually required when an applicant's academic background does not meet the direct entry requirements. Foundation courses are generally of two types: those run by the universities themselves (e.g., University of Warwick, University College London) and those run by private foundation course providers. University-run foundations usually guarantee progression to that specific university. Provider-run foundations can be either 'one-to-one' (exclusively partnered with one specific university) or 'one-to-many' (where the final foundation qualification can be used to apply to many different UK universities). Major foundation course providers in the UK currently include CEG, INTO, Kaplan, and Study Group.

Ten-Litre Cat reminds you: completing a foundation course does not force you to attend the university it is linked to. You can often use your foundation results to apply to other, sometimes higher-ranked, UK universities. For example, if you complete the University of Sheffield's foundation programme and achieve excellent grades with outstanding overall performance, you could potentially apply to a higher-ranked university, provided that university recognises your specific foundation qualification. Of course, if you do not pass your foundation year, you cannot progress to the main degree programme. For more details on this, see the previous guide: What to do if you fail an exam/course in the UK?

Which students need to take a foundation course?

1. Students who have completed Year 2 (Gao Er) and the Huikao.

2. Students who have finished Year 3 (Gao San); those whose Gaokao      scores meet certain universities' requirements may not need a foundation      year.

3. Students with a college diploma (Zhuanke).

4. Students applying for specific degree programmes with      particular requirements, such as Medicine or certain Engineering fields.

5. Students whose language proficiency or academic background does      not meet direct entry criteria.

6. Students aiming to apply to highly competitive UK universities,      such as those in the top 10 or the G5 group.

So, how do you apply for a foundation course?

First, choose your target university and intended degree subject. Then, prepare the following documents:

• Personal Statement (PS)

• Proof of Current Study (or graduation certificate if already      graduated)

• Academic Transcripts

• One Reference Letter

• IELTS Score (or equivalent)

• Passport (if available, or previous UK visa if you have studied      in the UK before)

• Portfolio (for Art & Design related courses)

• Other supplementary materials like certificates of honour or      internship verification, if available.

Once your documents are ready, you can apply directly via the website of the university offering the foundation course or through the foundation provider's website.

Where is it better to study a foundation course?
Foundation courses are available both in the UK and within China. Those in China are often collaborations between Chinese institutions and international foundation providers. However, it is generally recommended to study the foundation course abroad, preferably one directly run by the university itself.