International Foundation Year
The Bedfordshire Foundation Year is designed for applicants who are applying with a qualification that is not accepted for direct entry to the UK. It aims to help you improve your English language level and increase your subject knowledge. The course combines English language, study skills for university, and IT skills, which will help you progress on to your main degree programme.
The course aims to take students up to IELTS 6.0 overall, or above, which is the minimum requirement for undergraduate courses at the University of Bedfordshire.
The course will help you progress to over 75 bachelor’s degree programmes, via eight different pathways:
- Bedfordshire International Foundation Year (Arts)
- Bedfordshire International Foundation Year (Business)
- Bedfordshire International Foundation Year (Computer Science)
- Bedfordshire International Foundation Year (Education)
- Bedfordshire International Foundation Year (Engineering)
- Bedfordshire International Foundation Year (Health & Social Sciences)
- Bedfordshire International Foundation Year (Life Sciences & Psychology)
- Bedfordshire International Foundation Year (Sport)
Why choose Beds Foundation Year?
CEFL has a proven track record of International Foundation Course delivery since 1980, with consistently high student satisfaction results.
Our teaching staff has a varied and wide experience of teaching in the UK and overseas, and we understand our international students and how you feel.
You are starting on a new educational adventure, far from home. We use the foundation year as a year- long induction programme, and we keep revisiting key themes during the year, for example effective use of our online learning platform, accessing the library resources, as well as developing important study skills in the UK We also understand the many differences in studying at a British Higher Education Institution, and guide you through our regulations, which may be very different to your home countries.
Our course enables foundation learners to progress to an undergraduate degree, fully prepared and confident to face the challenges of a level 4 programme of study.
You will master a range of key academic and language skills during a fun and engaging programme. Subject units in your second semester, offer you a programme specific to your subject area, as well as meeting your linguistic needs. This will help you choose the most relevant degree as you start your undergraduate studies.
- English language Foundation (BIF001-0)
- Academic Skills Foundation (BIF002-0)
- Developing English Language Skills (BIF003-0)
- Subject-specific unit, offered by the faculty according to your area of interest
Areas of study include:
- English language skills; listening, reading, writing, speaking
- Grammatical structures
- Academic skills development
- Subject area concepts and vocabulary
- Current issues within your chosen subject area
- In-class assessments
- Online submissions via our online platform Breo
- In-class presentations
- Conducting research project
- Communicative language teaching and learning
- Working with classmates in pairs and groups
- Conducting your own research and analysing and discussing findings
- 1 to 1 tutorials
- Setting your own learning goals, in the form of Individual Learning Plans
- Additional online live and recorded sessions
English Language entry requirements
- IELTS at a minimum 4.5 in all skills
Academic entry requirements
We only accept students studying for a qualification that is not accepted for entry at level 4 on to our International Foundation Year courses. Students who have taken a qualification that we do accept but who have not reached the appropriate grade will not be issued an offer. This also includes applicants who only need IFY for language purposes. There are however, some countries that are exempt, these are:
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Cambodia
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Croatia
- Republic of Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- The Dominican Republic
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kuwait
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Oman
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Tunisia
- United Arab Emirates
- United States of America
Our offering is distinctive in the level of support offered, both inside and outside the classroom. We offer wide ranging social and sporting activities, Get Active and Student Union activities, as well as parties and sports competitions and quizzes in our department.
British Council Accreditation and English UK
Being accredited by the British Council offers an assurance of quality to international students who are taking, or are planning to take, an English language course in the UK. Inspections are conducted every 4 years, to ensure the centre is delivering quality language teaching, and is constant in performing to the standards set out by the British Council.
The British Council runs in partnership with English UK, the national association of accredited English language centres in the UK.
Class size
Classes will have no more than 25 students.
Course books
You may be required to buy a course book or e-book which costs around £25-30.
Library and learning resources
The University of Bedfordshire Libraries are excellent places for independent academic skills development. Independent learning materials include academic skills, EFL reading books, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation.
Your tutor will recommend relevant online resources for you to practise listening, reading, writing and speaking outside the classroom. You can also access the dedicated Computer Lab, to improve your IT, academic and language skills.
Minimum enrolment age: The University is committed to equal opportunities in its admissions. All applications are considered on individual academic merit, occasionally the University admits students who are under the age of 18.
In addition to the English Language elements, academic skills sessions will support and familiarise you with the conventions of studying at a British university. For more information on the subjects and other details, see the relevant Course Information Form (CIF) by following the link of the programme you wish to study.
Students' Experience on Bedfordshire International Foundation Course
address
The Language Centre
University of Bedfordshire Business School
Vicarage Street
University Square
Luton, LU1 3JU
UK
telephone
Office hours GMT
- Mon – Thu
09:00 to 17:00 - Friday
09:00 to 16:30
T: +44 (0)1582 489032