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Entry requirements

Academic requirements

This is an ideal opportunity for you if:

You are a student from a 12-year education system and your qualification is not accepted for direct entry to UK undergraduate degree programmes. You should have achieved or be predicted high grades in your Year 12 high school examinations.
You have followed or intend to follow the IB or A level curriculum to IB Certificate or AS level (or equivalent) only. You should have achieved or be predicted high grades and have taken subjects suitable for your pathway.
You have followed or intend to follow the IB or A level curriculum to IB Diploma or A2 level (or equivalent) to a high standard, normally acceptable for direct entry to University of Birmingham undergraduate degree programmes, but you have not taken the correct pre-requisite subjects to a high enough level for entry to the specific undergraduate degree programme that you would like to apply for.

Please note: The Birmingham Foundation Academy is not appropriate for students who
have followed the IB or A level curriculum to IB Diploma or A2 level but not achieved the
grades normally acceptable for direct entry to University of Birmingham undergraduate degree programmes.

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	Academic requirements
Azerbaijan	Average of 4/5 or 80% in the Secondary School Leaving Certificate. To include 4/5 or 80% in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
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 80% in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
China	80%, grade B or good or above in the local High School Leaving Certificate. To include 80% in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
Iran	An overall score of 16/20 in the Diplom-Metevaseth (National High School Diploma). To include 16/20 in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
Iraq	Completion of Secondary Education Certificate with average grade of 85%. To include 85% in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
Japan	Average of 3/5 GPA with the Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho (Senior High School Leaving Certificate). To include 3/5 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). English language at grade C or above (you will not be required to take an additional English proficiency test). To include grade B in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
Korea	Senior High School Certificate with a minimum grade of 80% (or B/Wu), or 1-4 in the new system. To include 80% or 1-4 in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences and Social Sciences pathways.
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.
Nigeria	Average grade B (or grade 3) in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Senior School Certificate (SSCE). English language at grade C or above (you will not be required to take an additional English proficiency test). To include grade B in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
Pakistan	Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) (also called Intermediate Certificate) with grade B or 65%. To include grade B or 65% in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
Qatar	Average of 85% in the Thanawiyan (Secondary School Leaving Certificate). To include 85% in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
Saudi Arabia	Average of 85% in the Thanawiyan (Secondary School Leaving Certificate). To include 85% in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
Taiwan	An average of 75% in the Senior High School Leaving Certificate. To include 75% in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.
Turkey	An overall score of around 4/5 in the Devlet Lise Diplomasi and Lise Bitirme Diplomasi. To include 4/5 in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathways. You may able to apply for entry directly into year 1 of an undergraduate degree if you have studied at a prestigious school.
Uganda	Grade 3 (or C) average in the Uganda National Examinations Board (NEB) Secondary School Leaving Examinations. English langauge at grade C or above (you will not be required to take an additional English proficiency test). To include grade 3/C 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.
Vietnam	Average of 7.0 and in the Senior Secondary School Certificate (Bang tot nghiep pho tong trung hoc). To include 7.0 in Mathematics for our Engineering and Physical Sciences pathway.

Your offer

Providing you meet the academic entry requirements and depending on your English
language competence 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
	Bachelor's Degree with Integrated Foundation Year - four-year programme (not Arts and Law Pathway)	Bachelor's Degree with Integrated Foundation Year - four-year programme (only Arts and Law Pathway)	Birmingham Foundation Academy Programme - one-year programme (not available for Arts and Law Pathway)
IELTS	5.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each band	6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each band	5.5 overall, with at least 5.0 in each band
TOEFL IBT	72 overall with at least: Listening - 17 Reading - 18 Speaking - 20 Writing - 17	80 overall with at least: Listening - 20 Reading - 19 Speaking - 21 Writing - 20	68 overall with at least: Listening - 15 Reading - 17 Speaking - 19 Writing - 17
Pearson Test of English	A minimum of: Listening - 51 Reading - 51 Writing - 51 Speaking - 51	A minimum of: Listening - 53 Reading - 53 Writing - 53 Speaking - 53	A minimum of: Listening - 45 Reading - 45 Writing - 45 Speaking - 45

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

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 or ten weeks in duration, depending upon your current English language level. 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, and will be at your own cost.