Entry requirements

Academic requirements

This is an ideal opportunity for you if:

  • You have completed your high school education to a high standard and you would normally require a foundation year, before being eligible for first year undergraduate entry to universities in the UK.

This is not suitable for you if: 

  • You would not normally require a foundation year but have not achieved the grades normally acceptable for direct entry to University of Birmingham undergraduate degree programmes.
  • You hold a degree (either a Bachelor degree, Masters degree or Research degree). Your qualifications may be suitable for other programmes. Please visit Course Finder for details of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes which are available.

Country specific requirements

Please note, if you have studied in a country which is not on this list please contact us and we will be happy to advise on the suitability of your qualifications for the Birmingham Foundation Academy.

Country Specific
Country Academic requirements
Bahrain Average of 85% in the Thanawiyan (Secondary School Leaving Certificate), to include 85% in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
Bangladesh Average of 80% in the Higher Secondary Certificate. To include at least 80% in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
China

Students who have completed Senior High School, with an average of at least 80%, with 80% in Mathematics for the Engineering and Physical Science Pathway.

Students completing High School at year two should present a transcript of results and a letter from the school confirming completion of Senior High School.

Students completing High School at year three should present a transcript of results and the High School graduation examination (Huikao) Certificate. 

Ethiopia Ethiopian Higher Education Entrance Qualification Certificate with 'very good'/grade B average, to include grade B in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
Hong Kong Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) with 3 subjects at grades of 333, including at least 2 elective subjects, to include a grade of 4 in Mathematics (e.g. 4 (Maths) 33) for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway. Or, ABB at H1 level of the HKALE.
India An average of 65% in the Standard XII Higher Secondary Certificate, with at least 65% in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway, for ICSE, CBSE, West Bengal State Board. All other boards require 70% overall, with 70% in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway. If you have achieved 75% or above in English Language from the ICSE, CBSE or West Bengal State Board, you will not be required to take an additional English language proficiency test (for the 4-year programme).
Indonesia Grades of 7.0/10 in the High School Certificate from year 12 (SMU3), to include 7.0 in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
Jordan Average of 85% in the Tawjihi, to include 85% in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
Kazakhstan

Senior High School Certificate (Attestat) with an average of 4/5, to include 4/5 in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway. 

Kenya B grade average in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), to include grade B in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway. If you have achieved English Language at grade C or above, you will not be required to take an additional English proficiency test (for the 4-year programme).
Kuwait Average of 85% in the Shahadatal-thanawia-al-a'ama (General Secondary School Certificate), to include 85% in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
Malaysia

At least Grade B3 in the Malaysian Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), with at least grade B3 in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.

Nigeria

WAEC Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) with at least 5 subjects at grade B3, to include grade B3 in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.

If you have achieved English Language at grade C6, you will not be required to take an additional English proficiency test (for the 4-year programme).

Pakistan Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) (also called Intermediate Certificate), with at least grade B or 65%, to include grade B or 65% in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
Qatar

B grade average in the QSSC (Qatar Secondary School Certificate), to include Grade B in Advanced Level Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.

Or, average of 85% in the Thanawiyan Mustaqala (Secondary School Leaving Certificate), to include 85% in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.

Rwanda Grades A, A, B in the Advanced General Certificate of Education, to include Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.  Or, Baccalaureate with minimum of 14/20 (Bien)
Saudi Arabia Average of 85% in the Thanawiyan (Secondary School Leaving Certificate), to include 85% in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
Turkey An overall score of 3/5 in the Devlet Lise Diplomasi and Lise Bitirme Diplomasi, to include 3/5 in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
UAE Average of 85% in the Thanawiyan (Secondary School Leaving Certificate), to include 85% in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
USA High School Graduation Diploma with 'good'/grade B/GPA 3.0 average, to include grade B in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
Vietnam Upper Secondary School Graduation Diploma (Bằng Tốt Nghiệp Phổ Thông Trung Học) with an overall score of 7.0, to include 7.0 in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
Zambia School Certificate/General Certificate of Education with 'Merit' (grade 3-4) average, to include Merit in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway. If you have acheived a credit (grade 6) in English Language, you will not be required to take an additional English proficiency test (for the 4-year programme). 
GCE A 'Level At least ABB profile, to include Mathematics for the Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
GCE A 'Level AS levels At least ABB profile, to include Mathematics for the Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
International Baccalaureate Certificate

Pass the IB Certificate with 34 points overall, with a score of 6 at Standard level or at least 5 at Higher level in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Science Pathway.

International Baccalaureate Diploma At least 34 points overall, with a score of 6 at Standard level or at least 5 at Higher level in Mathematics for the Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.

Your offer

Providing you meet the academic entry requirements and depending on your English
language competence and the undergraduate degree programme you intend to progress to,you will be made an offer for either:

  • Bachelor's Degree with Integrated Foundation Year (four-year programme).
  • Birmingham Foundation Academy Programme (one-year programme). Students who complete a one-year programme and meet the published progression criteria will be guaranteed a place on one of our three- or four-year degree programmes.

Please note: It is possible to progress to the University’s four-year degree programmes,
for example, the MEng (integrated Masters) or programmes with a year in industry or year abroad. In such cases Birmingham Foundation Academy students holding an offer for a four-year programme will be able to apply for an extension of their studies in their final year.

English language entry requirements

English requirements
One-year programmes

IELTS

TOEFL IBT

Pearson Test of English

(Academic)

Birmingham Foundation Academy Programme   

(one-year programme) 

For all pathways and progression routes, except students intending to progress to degrees in Law, English Literature or Pharmacy 

5.5 overall with at least 5.0 in each band

68 overall with at least:

Listening - 15

Reading - 17

Speaking - 19

Writing - 17

A minimum of:

Listening - 45

Reading - 45

Writing - 45

Speaking - 45

Birmingham Foundation Academy Programme

(one-year programme)

For students intending to progress to degrees in Law or English Literature

6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each band  

80 overall with at least:

Listening - 20
Reading - 19
Speaking - 21
Writing - 20

A minimum of:

Listening -53
Reading - 53

Speaking -53
Writing - 53

Birmingham Foundation Academy Programme 

(one-year programme)

For students intending to progress to Pharmacy 

(Four-year pathway not available for Pharmacy)

6.0 overall, with at least 6.0 in each band

84 overall with at least:

Listening - 20
Reading - 21
Speaking - 22

Writing - 21

A minimum of:

Listening - 55
Reading - 55

Writing - 55
Speaking -55

English requirements

Four-year programmes

IELTS

TOEFL IBT

Pearson Test of English

(Academic)

Bachelor's Degree with Integrated Foundation Year (Four-year programme)

For all pathways and progression routes, except students intending to progress to degrees in Law, English Literature or Pharmacy

5.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each band

72 overall with at least:

Listening - 17

Reading - 18

Speaking - 20

Writing - 17

 

A minimum of:

Listening - 51

Reading - 51

Writing -

51

Speaking - 51

Bachelor's Degree with Integrated Foundation Year (Four-year programme)

For students intending to progress to degrees in Law or English Literature

6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each band

80 overall with at least:

Listening - 20

Reading - 19

Speaking - 21

Writing - 20

A minimum of:

Listening - 53

Reading - 53

Writing - 53

Speaking - 53 

If you have studied in country where English is the medium of instruction and you have achieved a suitably high grade you will not normally be required to take an additional English proficiency test. Please check the country specific information above to see what grade you need.

Presessional English language tuition

High quality Pressional English programmes are available for students who do not yet meet the English language entry requirements. A recent British Council accreditation review has rated the standard or English language teaching at the University of Birmingham as being outstanding, placing us as one of the best providers of English language teaching in the HE sector.

If you require additional English language tuition, you will able to apply for a specific Foundation Academy English programme that takes place before the start of your first term. This programme will be six, ten, fifteen or twenty weeks in duration, depending upon your current English language level, longer courses are available, if required. Upon successful completion of the programme, you can transfer to the Foundation Academy without needing to take another English language test.

The Presessional English Programme is not part of the Birmingham Foundation Academy Package.

For full details, including the tuition fees and entry requirments please look at page 5 of the Academic English Programmes Jan - Sept 2013 (PDF - 1.57MB) online. 

For details on how to apply for the Presessional English language programme, please click on How to Apply.

Any problems or for all information about this course please contact Esther Reeves on

Email: easinfo@contacts.bham.ac.uk,

Telephone +44 (0) 121 415 8472