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Chancellors Court in Aston Webb

Foundation pathways

When you choose Birmingham, you are choosing to study at an outstanding University in one of the UK's most dynamic cities.
Chancellors Court in Aston Webb

Here at the University of Birmingham we are proud to provide our own foundation pathways taught by our academics right here on our inspiring campus. Our foundation pathways offer tailored routes designed to prepare you for undergraduate study at Birmingham.

The foundation pathway enrols you on either a one-year or four-year programme at the University. 

You will be taught in English and be part of a vibrant, international student community. This will help improve your academic, linguistic, and cultural confidence to fully prepare you for the start of your undergraduate degree programme.

While you're free to choose where you continue your undergraduate journey, we believe that once you've experienced life in Birmingham you'll want to stay and make the most of everything our campus and community have to offer.

Staying at Birmingham is even easier with guaranteed progression onto a wide range of undergraduate programmes for students who successfully complete their foundation pathway and meet the academic and English language requirements!

Our available Foundation Pathways

  • Arts, Social Sciences, Business and Law
  • Engineering and Physical Sciences
  • Life and Environmental Sciences
  • Medicine and Health
  • Social Sciences, Business and Law

Kaplan International

We partner with Kaplan International Pathways to help deliver the admissions process and better support applicants to our foundation pathways to Birmingham.

This means that wherever in the world you are applying from Kaplan staff will be on hand to help guide you through the application process, and help you to secure a place on one of the University of Birmingham foundation pathways. Kaplan has over 15 years of experience in helping students to study abroad on pathway courses, so you're in safe hands.

To find out more about our pathways and the progression routes available, and to apply, please visit Kaplan International Pathway's University of Birmingham foundation pathways webpage.

Frequently asked questions

How many modules will I study?

Your University of Birmingham Foundation Programme curriculum includes 120 credits in total:

  • 80 credits of subject-specific modules taught by academic experts in the five colleges.
  • 40 credits of English language and study skills modules, supporting your development as a confident, independent learner.

How many people will be in my classes?

For your English for Academic Purposes modules, our small classes with no more than 18 students will help develop your confidence in using English.

For all other modules, class sizes and contact hours will vary depending on the modules you take and the type of activity.

Lectures are typically delivered to approximately 100-250 students.

Seminars and Laboratory sessions are smaller and more interactive. They are delivered to approximately 20-50 students at a time.

What will my timetable look like?

You will take between 4-8 hours of English for Academic Purposes tuition per week, plus fortnightly one to one 15 minute tutorials.

The minimum total teaching hours per week for the Foundation Pathways is 15-hours.

Lectures, seminars, laboratories and tutorials are delivered in person and on campus. They are held Monday to Friday and are scheduled between 9.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m, UK time. There is no teaching on Saturday or Sunday.

Which degree courses can I progress onto?

When you successfully complete your pathway and meet the academic and English language requirements, you will be guaranteed progression to a wide range of undergraduate programmes across our Colleges. 

 To take a look at all of the degree courses available, visit the Kaplan International Pathways webpage.

What social activities are available?

The Birmingham International Academy (BIA) organises social activities throughout the year. All are free to attend when you are on your Foundation pathway.

Social activities vary throughout the year and may include: day trips to London, Oxford, Warwick Castle, local museums and places of interest.

We also organise picnics, seasonal and cultural celebrations and weekly board games and Nintendo Switch sessions.

The BIA social programme will help you to meet fellow students and settle into your course.

As part of your Foundation Course, you will study English for Academic Purposes (EAP). The EAP module will support you with both language and academic skills and will help you to understand the academic expectations and standards at a UK university. Our EAP Teaching Fellows are experienced and qualified and will help you at the start of your UK academic journey. Remember – the more effort and hard work you put in, the more you will get out of it in the end.

Neil Richards resize
Richards-Neil
EAP Programme Manager