EPS Futures Foundation Year

Start date
September
Duration
1 year
UCAS code
HF0F
Course Type
Undergraduate, Foundation, Single Honours
Fees

We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2024/25 are £9,250
Further fee information

 

 

This inspiring integrated Foundation degree will give you access to our excellent Engineering and Physical Sciences undergraduate courses. This course is designed for students from areas where a low percentage of young people go to university and comes with significant financial and educational support.

EPS Futures Foundation Year is an exciting and unique course with very specific entry requirements. We strongly suggest you get in touch with the student recruitment team before applying to ensure your qualifications and personal situation are suited to this course. You can send us a message via the email address - science-eng-foundation@contacts.bham.ac.uk

EPS Futures is a funded foundation year that leads directly on to our highly regarded Engineering and Physical Sciences degrees. A foundation year is an extra year at university, before the normal first year, to ensure you have the knowledge to succeed in your studies. EPS Futures is a special version of our foundation year which is designed especially for students who may have been disadvantaged in their education so far. If you have potential to succeed in our courses, but your specific circumstances mean you are not yet ready to enter the first year, this course is designed for you.

The course will teach you the required knowledge in Maths and Science, equivalent to A-level standard. This means even if you took the wrong subjects post-16, or did not achieve the grades to be considered directly for first year, you still have the opportunity to study at the University of Birmingham. EPS Futures is a step towards your future in Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Material Science, Maths or Physics.

Please make sure you check the entry requirements tab to see if your personal circumstances make you eligible for this course. If you are not eligible for this course, you can explore our other foundation year courses or search our undergraduate courses.

University degrees are about more than learning facts and figures; they teach you how to think for yourself, how to problem solve and how to plan a project, among other useful skills. You will learn these techniques through the foundation year but especially in the study skills module. This means that as well as making sure you start your degree with all the subject specific knowledge you need to succeed, you will also be primed and ready to be the best all round scientist, engineer or mathematician you can be.

To help you get the most from your university experience and to guide you towards your future career, you will have student and industry mentors. These will help you develop skills and explore opportunities for work experience, internships and possible future employment.

To help you meet the financial cost of an extra year of university, the EPS Futures Foundation Year comes with  

  • A tuition fee waiver
  • £6,443 towards university owned accommodation or £3,000 towards other accommodation
  • 9 x £400 monthly stipend payments for your living costs

On successful completion of the foundation year, you will move directly into first year of your chosen degree; you will not need to reapply.

Why study the EPS Futures Foundation Year Programme at Birmingham?

  • You can access a wide range of Engineering and Physical Sciences courses without the qualifications needed to enter the first year.
  • You will learn the required Maths and Science, equivalent to A-level, which you need to succeed in our degrees.
  • We will support you financially through the foundation year, including a tuition fee waiver, subsidised accommodation and a monthly stipend.
  • We will give you specialised support in professional, academic and study skills to equip you for your future learning and career.
  • You will be assigned mentors from the university and industry to guide you through your university experience and towards your future career.
  • You will be a full university of Birmingham student from the start. You will have access to all our excellent facilities and expertise and lead a full student life including clubs, hobbies and sports to make the most of your time with us.

Meet our Student Bloggers

The best way to find out what life is really like as a student in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Birmingham is to hear from our students. Our students study a range of programmes from across our college – from Mathematics to Mechanical Engineering. Get some great tips and a real insight into what life is really like if you choose to study with us.

Read our blogs >> 

I believe this programme is unique in providing a fully funded foundation year in STEM subjects for eligible students who have the potential to succeed as the next generation of physical scientists and engineers.

Dan Cottle, Lecturer in Physics and EPS Futures Programme Lead

Modules

You will take 120 credits of modules in each year of study. Modules you will study after foundation year can be found on the course page for the course you wish to progress to; you will make this decision during Semester 1.

Core modules

The following must be taken, all 10 credits:

Optional modules

Choose 60 credits, examples of optional modules are listed below, all 10 credits.

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. Unless indicated otherwise, the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2025. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to core modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

Fees

The course is open to UK students only and has fees set at £9,250.

However, those who meet all the criteria for a place on this course will be eligible for a tuition fee waiver for the duration of this foundation year.

How To Apply

Apply through the UCAS website using code HF0F. Late applications for this course (after the mid January) may be significantly disadvantaged.

You must also provide the university with additional information regarding your personal circumstances in order to be eligible for this course. This request will be made once an application has passed the initial processing stage.

Learn more about applying to the University of Birmingham by visiting our preparing for university web pages.


EPS Futures Foundation Year is an exciting and unique course with very specific entry requirements. We strongly suggest you get in touch with the student recruitment team before applying to ensure your qualifications and personal situation are suited to this course. You can send us a message via the email address - science-eng-foundation@contacts.bham.ac.uk

To be eligible for consideration for this course you must meet the following criteria:

  • Have experience of public care1, or
  • Currently live in a low progression to higher education area2  and meet two of the following,
    • Attend a school or college that performs below the national average at Key Stage 4 or Key Stage 53,
    • You are the first generation of your immediate family to attend higher education4,
    • Your household income is below the national average (below £42,875)5,
    • You have a disability and are in receipt of a personal independence payment6,
    • You are estranged from both of your parents or guardians7.

 [1] Experience of public care is defined as currently being looked after by a local authority, foster parents/other family members, at home with their parents under the supervision of social services, in a residential children’s home or in another residential setting such as school or secure unit, or someone who has experienced a period of three months in the care of the local authority within the last ten years.

[2] Measured by POLAR4 young participation quintile 1. To check your postcode, please use the chat above or email epsfutures@contacts.bham.ac.uk

[3] Determined by the performance of your school/college at Key Stage 4 or 5, based on the data on the Department for Education’s school performance database. To check your school, use this tool and search for your school. To view your school’s performance at Key Stage 4, click the ‘Secondary’ tab and view the ‘Attainment 8 Score’ for school and how this compares to the national average. To view your school’s performance at Key Stage 5, click the ’16-18’ tab to see the average point scores for A-levels and other qualifications and how this compares to the national average. If your school appears under these measure to be below the national average you will be deemed to have met this criteria.

[4] You are considered to be in the first generation of your immediate family to attend higher education if neither of your parents/guardians have obtained a degree from a university in the UK or abroad before your secondary or further education began. If either of your parents began a degree qualification but withdrew before completion, this is not considered as having obtained a degree. Whether an applicant’s siblings or cousins went to or currently attend university is not taken into consideration.

[5] An annual household income should be judged before tax. Information on what is classified as income can be found on the Student Finance England website. We may give additional consideration to applicants with very low household incomes, for example those in receipt of free school meals, 16-19 Bursary Fund or Discretionary Learner Support relating to financial hardship.

[6] Students should be in receipt of a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) at the 'enhanced' rate in either the 'daily living' or 'mobility' components, OR the 'standard' rate in both components.

[7] Defined as a young person who has no communicative relationship with either of their biological parents/legal guardians and who does not expect this situation to be reconciled. This must be verified by a teacher or adviser.

GCSE requirement for all students

  • 4 in English
  • 5 in Maths

A Level Typical Offer

BCC in any subjects excluding General Studies or Critical Thinking.

T Levels

Merit overall, with core grade D from one of the following T Level courses:

  • Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering & Manufacturing
  • Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control
  • Design and Development for Engineering & manufacturing

Other T Levels are not considered

International Baccalaureate

32 overall with 544 at Higher Level.

BTEC Typical Offer

DMM in Engineering, Computing or Applied Science. If taking multiple BTEC subjects at least 2 of the grades must be in one of these subjects.

Access to Higher Education Course

Access considered in the following subject areas:

  • Engineering
  • Combined Sciences (with at least 12 credits in either Chemistry or Physics)
  • Chemical Sciences
  • Physical Sciences

60 credits overall with 45 credits at level 3 with 24 at Distinction.

Alternative offers through our Pathways to Birmingham programmes and our Contextual Offer scheme

Students who are eligible and successfully complete a Pathways to Birmingham programme will receive special consideration from admissions tutors and an alternative offer (typically two grades below the standard offer). In addition, our Contextual Offer Scheme recognises the potential of students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement in school or college. If you are eligible to benefit from the contextual offer scheme, you will receive an offer which is one grade lower than the standard offer.

International Students

Please note this course is only open to UK students. Overseas students may apply to one of our foundation pathways, which offer specially structured programmes for international students whose qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to UK universities. Further details can be found on Birmingham International Academy web pages. 

What can you expect

As a student of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Foundation Years you will be taught by Birmingham’s teaching staff who are experts in pre-university and university level Science, Engineering and Mathematics. You will learn the required subject knowledge to succeed on our degrees, but additionally you will learn how to become an independent and self-motivated learner and how to present your ideas in reports, essays and presentations. This combination will prepare you to succeed in our undergraduate degrees and beyond.

Your learning will take place in a range of different settings, from scheduled teaching in lectures and small group tutorials, to self-study and peer group learning (for example preparing and delivering presentations with your classmates). To begin with, you may find this way of working challenging, but rest assured we will enable you to make this transition. You will have access to a comprehensive support systems that will assist and encourage you.

Contact Hours

Depending on the modules you select, each week you will have 16-18 hours of lectures, classes and labs per week.

Assessment Methods

You will be assessed in a variety of ways, depending on which modules you take. You will take end of semester exams, class tests through the semester, complete homework assignments, submit lab reports and write project reports and presentations. Each module is assessed independently. We place a strong emphasis on providing prompt and informative feedback on all pieces of work that you submit, so that you know how to improve throughout your studies.

EPS Futures is an integrated foundation year; this means you will not need to reapply to enter the first year of one of our undergraduate degrees (excluding any degree apprenticeships). If you pass the year and meet the progressions criteria, you will move directly into the first year of your chosen course. The employability information for each of these courses can be found on their course page.

Progression

To pass the year you must pass 100 out of the 120 credits. Each modules is worth 10 credits and a pass is 40%.

You will decide your progression route during semester 1, which will determine the compulsory modules you take and the marks you need to progress to year 1. These requirements are reflective of the standard A-level entry requirements to the undergraduate course and reviewed annually.

You will initially progress to the BSc or BEng version of your chosen course. If you are interested in the MSci or MEng Programmes, you’ll be given an opportunity to transfer if you meet the relevant progression requirements at the end of your second year of study of the undergraduate course.

The current progression criteria are outlined below for each discipline.

Aerospace Engineering

To progress to the Aerospace Engineering BEng degree course you will need to pass 100 of the 120 credits and achieve

  • 60% in Calculus
  • 60% in Mathematics I
  • 60% in Mathematics II
  • 40% in Properties of Matter

Chemical Engineering

To progress to the Chemical Engineering BEng or Chemical Engineering with Industrial Study BEng degree course you will need to pass 100 of the 120 credits and achieve

  • 60% in Introductory Organic Chemistry
  • 60% in Mathematics I
  • 60% in Mathematics II
  • 60% in Properties of Matter

Chemistry

To progress to the Chemistry BSc degree course you will need to pass 100 of the 120 credits and achieve

  • 60% in Introductory Inorganic Chemistry
  • 60% in Introductory Organic Chemistry
  • 60% in Properties of Matter

Computer Science

To progress to the Computer Science BSc or Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science BSc degree course you will need to pass 100 of the 120 credits and achieve

  • 60% in Calculus
  • 60% in Elementary Computer Programming
  • 60% in Mathematics I
  • 60% in Mathematics II

Home students on our Foundation Year can currently be considered for our Computer Science with Digital Technology Partnership with PwC BSc but the course is not guaranteed or integrated. If this course is offered in 2022, you must apply to this course via UCAS during your foundation year studies to be considered alongside the other applicants. If you are unsuccessful in securing an offer for the partnership course you will still be able to progress as usual to another Computer Science BSc.

Engineering

To progress to one of:

  • Civil Engineering BEng
  • Civil and Railway Engineering BEng
  • Electronic and Electrical Engineering BEng
  • Electronic and Electrical Engineering with Industrial Year BEng
  • Electrical and Railway Engineering BEng
  • Engineering BEng
  • Mechanical Engineering (Automotive) BEng
  • Mechanical Engineering BEng
  • Mechanical Engineering with Industrial Year BEng
  • Mechatronic and Robotic Engineering BEng

You will need to pass 100 of the 120 credits and achieve:

  • 60% in Calculus
  • 60% in Mathematics I
  • 60% in Mathematics II

Mathematics

To progress to one of;

  • Mathematics BSc
  • Mathematics with a Year in Industry BSC
  • Mathematics with an International Year BSc
  • Mathematics with a Year Abroad in Continental Europe BSc

You will need to pass 100 of the 120 credits and achieve:

  • 70% in Mathematics I
  • 50% in Mechanics
  • 70% in Mathematics II
  • 70% in Calculus

Please note Theoretical Physics and Applied Mathematics BSc is not available from Foundation Year.

Material Science

To progress to the Materials Science and Engineering BEng or Mechanical and Materials Engineering BEng degree course you will need to pass 100 of the 120 credits and achieve:

  • 60% in Calculus
  • 60% in Mathematics I
  • 60% in Mathematics II
  • 40% in Properties of Matter

Nuclear Science

To progress to the Nuclear Science BEng degree course you will need to pass 100 of the 120 credits and achieve:

  • 60% in Calculus
  • 60% in Mathematics I
  • 60% in Mathematics II
  • 40% in Mechanics
  • 40% in Properties of Matter
  • 40% in Waves

Physics

To progress to one of:

  • Physics BSc
  • Physics (International Study) BSc
  • Physics and Astrophysics BSc
  • Physics with Particle Physics and Cosmology BSc

You will need to pass 100 of the 120 credits and achieve:

  • 60% in Calculus
  • 60% in Mathematics I
  • 60% in Mathematics II
  • 40% in Mechanics
  • 40% in Waves

Please note Theoretical Physics and Applied Mathematics BSc is not available from Foundation Year. Theoretical Physics BSc is not available as a direct progression but it is possible to transfer with high academic performance after the first year of your undergraduate studies.