UK Foundation FAQ

Generally, students who study Foundation in the UK have the following three situations:

a. The results are up to standard , but I choose to study Foundation because my IELTS score is 5.0?

• For these students, choosing to study Pre-sessional English at a British university would be faster and more cost-effective than studying Foundation at a British university .
• Pre-sessional English provides 6-20 weeks of English courses. After completing the course, you do not need to take IELTS and can directly enter the degree program you have been accepted for. However, the British Foundation program takes at least 8 months, and the tuition fee is definitely more expensive than Pre-sessional English.
• Note: If students choose to delay taking the IELTS test until June , they may not be able to register for the Pre-sessional English course starting in September. They can only choose the more expensive Foundation course or postpone it for one semester!
• Details: Entry requirements for 8 UK universities - IELTS-6.5

b. I want to get into a top 10 UK university, but my grades are not up to the standard. Do I have no choice but to pay hundreds of thousands more to study at a UK university foundation?

• According to statistics, for some unlicensed majors, such as business, graduates from high-ranked British universities ( Russell Group universities ) can earn 50% less than graduates from the same major from lower-ranked universities. Details: Which major earns the most in the same British university ?

• Students who study these subjects should consider studying at a British university foundation if their financial resources allow and their grades are good enough to get into a highly ranked British university.

• If you study practical subjects, such as occupational therapy , physical therapy , dietitian , nurse , radiation therapy , speech therapy , and Xu Fei cannot pass the entrance interview, IELTS or academic performance. Otherwise, you don’t have to study Foundation just to pursue the ranking of British universities , because these accredited courses are regulated and come with compliant internships, which make up half of the courses. Your license will not be affected by the ranking of British universities , so university rankings have less impact on your future and you don’t have to spend money to study Foundation.

c. Are the elective subjects chosen in high school not compatible with the major requirements of the ideal UK university?

• If you want to study licensed health science subjects, such as nutrition, radiation therapy, nursing, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, but lack science electives, you will have to study Foundation regardless of your grades even if you have completed Form 6. Therefore, it is recommended to study Foundation at a British university after Form 5. However, please note that these Foundations generally require an interview to advance to Year 1.
• If you want to study engineering or computer science but lack M1 or M2, you can wait until Form 6 to study International Year 1 at a British university and save one year of Foundation tuition.
• Admission requirements for UK universities : This article lists the elective subject requirements for different UK universities. If you find that you lack elective subjects but are already in Form 5, you might consider UK Foundation?