Foundation courses

Foundation courses for international students provide an entry route into many of the undergraduate courses at Manchester. A foundation course is the first step on the way to successfully obtaining your degree.

Many international school systems are based on one year less at high school and one year more at university compared with the English system. A foundation programme is a bridging course designed to equip students with the appropriate academic grounding for a UK degree.

The foundation syllabus may also include additional English language teaching if candidates need to improve their proficiency.

Foundation courses at Manchester

Our foundation courses have been specifically designed to provide you with the best possible preparation for entry into a wide range of undergraduate degree courses. If you successfully complete a foundation year, you can progress into Year 1 of your chosen degree, provided you have taken the relevant pathway modules and passed them at the required standard.

At Manchester we offer integrated foundation programmes on campus for courses in science and engineering and at nearby Xaverian College for biological sciences.

We also work with our foundation partner INTO Manchester to provide pathways guaranteeing an offer or interview to study at the University. 

Which nationalities need to do a foundation course

Students who have studied in a country with fewer than 13 years of school, and have not taken A-levels or the International Baccalaureate Diploma, may need to complete a foundation course before they enrol for a UK university degree.

If you are from one of the following countries, it is likely you will need to complete a foundation course before starting undergraduate study:

  • Bahrain
  • Bangladesh
  • Botswana
  • Brazil
  • China
  • Egypt
  • Indonesia
  • Iran
  • Japan
  • Jordan
  • Kenya
  • Korea
  • Kuwait
  • Latin America (including Mexico)
  • Nigeria
  • Oman
  • Pakistan
  • Peru
  • Qatar
  • Russia
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Syria
  • Taiwan
  • Thailand
  • Turkey
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Vietnam