University Foundation Programme
• Expert University and Career Counselling
• Choice of subject pathways
Get ready for success at the best university for you!
Our University Foundation Programme provides a bridge between your school and university study anywhere in the world.
Explore new subjects, boost your study skills, improve your IELTS score, and adapt to a new academic culture. Whatever your goals, we’ll make sure you’re ready for day one at university.
Why study our UFP course?
Guaranteed University Entry
– secure your place at university upon successful completion
Expert University and Career Counselling
– tailored guidance to help you plan your future
Dedicated Personal Support
– a team of teachers and staff always ready to assist you
Engaging and Personalised Teaching
– learn in a dynamic and supportive environment
Skill-building Coursework
– develop the knowledge and abilities needed for university success
English for Academic Purposes
– improve your study skills and IELTS score
Choice of Pathways
– select subjects that align with your goals and interests
Academic Stretch
– learn beyond the classroom with study visits and weekly themes
Hear from our students
Course Structure
Core English + Chosen Pathway + Supplementary Subjects + Careers Guidance
Core English
A good command of English is the basis of your course. You have two English lessons each morning in a class with a maximum of 12 students. Your English teacher is also your personal tutor and meets you individually to check on your progress.
The course begins with intensive English, which both improves your IELTS score and builds the academic skills in English you need to be successful at university.
Chosen Pathway
You can choose to study 3 academic subjects that will provide pathways to undergraduate degrees in:
Business, Finance and Management
Business, Economics and Maths
Business, Economics and Psychology
Business, Economics and Politics
Hospitality, Events Management and Tourism
Business, Economics and Maths
Business, Economics and Psychology
Business, Economics and Politics
Economics
Economics, Maths and Politics
Business, Economics and Maths
Humanities and Social Sciences
Choose any combination from Business, Economics, Maths, Politics, Psychology and Philosophy
Law
Choose any combination from Business, Economics, Maths, Politics, Psychology and Philosophy and a special Pre-Law module
Politics
Choose any combination from Business, Economics, Maths, Politics, Psychology and Philosophy
Psychology
Choose Psychology, Maths and one other from Business, Economics, Politics and Philosophy
Interdisciplinary Studies
Choose any combination from Business, Economics, Maths, Politics, Psychology and Philosophy
Subject details
You will study the following topics:
Business
- Introduction to the functions of business
- Entrepreneurship
- Business structures, plans and stakeholders
- Finance
- Accounting
- Human Resources
- Understanding markets and market research
- Marketing, branding and consumer behaviour
- The Marketing Mix
- Business strategy
- International marketing
- Operations management, production and technology
Economics
Micro-economics:
- Demand and supply for goods
- Markets at work
- Production, specialisation and exchange
- Market failure
- Private goods, public goods and externalities
- Government intervention in the economy and the problem of government failure
Macro-economics:
- Objectives and instruments of macroeconomic policy
- Economic growth and the economic cycle
- Aggregate demand and the circular flow of income
- Aggregate demand and aggregate supply macroeconomic model
- Employment and unemployment
- Price stability and inflation
- Balance of payments
- Monetary policy, fiscal policy; supply-side economics and supply-side policies
Maths
- Algebra: lines and equations
- Functions: quadratic, exponential, logarithmic, and rational
- Transformations and graphs
- Arithmetic and geometric sequences and series.
- Statistics: descriptive statistics; uni-variate: tables, plots, summary by numbers; Bi-variate: scatter plots and regression lines
- Probability: modern probability theory; combined and conditional events
- Calculus: differentiation; basic rules, tangent and normal lines, turning points, motion in a straight line, optimisation
- Integration: basic rules, definite integral and areas, linear motion, rate of change problems
- Trigonometry: circular measures, trigonometric ratios and functions, calculus of trigonometric functions.
Philosophy
- Empiricism and rationalism
- Knowledge of the external world
- Scepticism
- Mind-body problem
- Free will and determinism
- Problem of evil
- Concept of God
- Moral philosophy
- Crime and punishment
- Freedom, rights, the law and morality
- Abortion and euthanasia
Philosophers studied include: Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Hobbes, Locke, Hume, Kant, Bentham, Rousseau, Burke, Mill and Marx.
Politics
- Origins of politics: Plato and Aristotle
- Political participation and key concepts: state, nation, people, populism
- Political ideologies
- Totalitarianism and the radicalization of ideologies
- Liberal democracy: political systems and branches of government
- Constitutions
- Political parties, elections, pressure groups and social movements
- Role of the media in contemporary politics
- The modern state: domestic and international politics
- International political economy, the UN, EU and globalization
- Theories of international relations
- Contemporary global issues
Psychology
- What is psychology and how do we study it?
- Psychological theories and approaches
- The human brain
- Sleep and dreams
- Learning and behaviour
- Memory
- Language
- Development (cognitive, attachment and theory of mind)
- Morality
- Social cognition and influence
- Health
- Psychopathology
Supplementary Subjects
The two six-week modules in Global Issues and Statistics teach you to research, write essays, give PowerPoint and poster presentations, debate and think critically – these Academic Literacies are learning skills is as important for your future as learning course material.
Careers Guidance
Our University and Career Counselling provision is among the best in the world. Our team of three act as coaches, offering personalised advice and support throughout our University Foundation Programme, and access to an extensive range of online resources.
During the first term, weekly Career lessons focus on experiential learning, which helps you to explore your personal attributes and skills, so you can make well-informed decisions about further study and future careers. This could include further study at university, ‘dual study’ programmes (which combine paid work with part-time learning), gap year programmes and apprenticeships.
Our students progress to the best and most exciting universities around the world, and we work hard to empower you to find the best fit for you and create the opportunities you want. This is where aspiration and ambition meet knowledge and experience. Our experienced team offers support and guidance on personal statements, CV writing, cover letters, worldwide university applications, assessment tests and interview techniques. We also host our own Higher Education Fair which is attended by 90 universities, gap year providers and career development professionals from all over the world.
“I always knew that I wanted to work in hotel management, and Helen Forey helped me with the university application process – she contributed a lot to my application, actually – and I was accepted, thanks to her.”
University Destinations
The breadth of top-quality universities our students progress onto globally is a fantastic success story. Our programmes give students the opportunity to aspire to a wide range of prestigious universities around the world.
University destinations include:
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Amsterdam
- Brown University
- University of Utrecht
- University of Bristol
- Erasmus University Rotterdam
- Maastricht University
- Bocconi University
- Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne
- ESCP Business School
- University of St Andrews
- City, University of London
- EBS Business School
- IE University
- University of Durham
and many more…
All about our UFP
Hear from our UFP alumni
At a glance
Key Facts
Age: 16 +
English Level: B1 – C2 (lower intermediate – advanced)
Qualification: Level 3 Certificate and IELTS Examination Entry
Course Length: 34 or 27 weeks (depending on English level)
Start Dates: 6 September 2025 (34 weeks) | 2 November 2025 (27 weeks)
Class size: 15 maximum
Lessons: 22 (20 hours) per week
Term Dates: View Term Dates
Terms and Conditions: View Terms and Conditions
Accommodation
Fees, inclusions and optional extras
34-week course from £26,622
27-week course from £21,141
Fee includes tuition, course books, one IELTS examination entry, and lunch Monday-Friday
Optional extras:
Breakfast and dinner every day – £115 per week
One-to-one English language classes – £60 per lesson
Excursions / Activities – £5-30
Airport transfers – view prices
Courier charges for visa support documents – £30 approx
How to Apply
1. Complete this online registration form.
2. Send your high school leaving certificate and/or most recent transcript of grades
3. Show proof of English level, we accept either:
- an official English language test certificate (eg. IELTS, Cambridge)
- a short test we can send you to take on your phone
4. We assess your application, ask any follow-up questions, and if successful you will receive an offer letter detailing the fees, to sign and return
5. Once you have accepted the offer and paid the deposit of £500, you will receive full course confirmation, invoice, and instructions to apply for your visa (if required)
6. Full fees are due three weeks before the start of the course
Please read our terms and conditions.
Accreditations and Memberships
Accredited by the British Council (BC) and the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) for the teaching of English.
Specialist membership: A member of Quality English and English UK.
Next International College Virtual Open Day
This is the perfect opportunity to learn more about our University Foundation, Gap Year and English Language courses, have a virtual tour of our campus, and discover how we prepare young adults for the future.
Bridge The Gap Between School & University
Contact us
Please fill in this form to submit an enquiry about our University Foundation Programme.
You may also wish to get in touch to arrange a campus tour or find out what it is like to live and study in the city of Oxford.
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