International Foundation Programme Engineering

English requirements

From IELTS 4.5 (with no single element below 4.0)

Course details

What will I study?

Studying on the International Foundation Programme – Engineering will allow you to explore the subject area which you have chosen for your studies at undergraduate degree level.

English term

For those of you who require additional English language support, you will study a 3-term International Foundation Programme that includes a term of English language preparation. This aims to improve your English language skills with a focus on the development of reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. You will also study vocabulary, grammatical accuracy and oral fluency.

Studying a term of English allows you to:

Improve your English language skills so that you are better prepared for the modules and assessments you will need to study on the foundation programme
Develop your self-confidence and team-working skills by working on a group video project based around a current UK issue
Become accustomed to how English is applied in a University context
Make friends with other international students from all over the world whilst improving your English

The term of English is also applicable for those of you who have had little opportunity to study in an English institution or are looking for a more gradual introduction into studying at University.

How will I learn?

You will be taught in small groups of a maximum of 18 students and we will provide you with a creative and secure environment in which you will learn new knowledge and skills.

To prepare for your lectures and seminars, you will have access to our online learning platform, where you can access course information, content and your weekly reading lists.

For both face-to-face and blended/online modes of study, modules use a form of digital input e.g. the use of the Internet to present podcasts, video, blogs or wikis, and electronic voting systems. You will be empowered to use technology to expand and develop your skills, for example, you will become part of discussion groups and interactive exercises such as online quizzes, film and audio clips that will help support students learning and encourage engagement in the modules.

Contact hours

16-20 hours of lectures, seminars and workshops per week
20-30 minutes of 1-1 tutorials with your Academic English and/or your Pathway subject tutor per week

Self-study hours

15-20 hours per week

Assessment

Coursework, presentations, portfolios, projects and in-class tests

Modules

All modules are core and worth 20 credits unless stated.

3-TERM ONLY:

Language & Skills for Academic Study (0 credits)

This module focuses on the development of academic vocabulary and grammatical structures and aims to enhance your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. The module also aims to enhance your use of functional language through the completion of a group video project based on a current UK issue.

3-TERM & 2-TERM:

Academic English

This module aims to develop the core language skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) you need to demonstrate for academic study at the undergraduate level.

The module has been designed to help you develop the type of language used in an academic context and help you engage effectively with the teaching environments you will experience at the undergraduate level, together with the types of materials and sources you will be expected to use.

Module content will include: listening to lectures and note-taking; critical reading of semi-academic and academic texts: production of a variety of writing genres; participation in various speaking tasks. You will also enhance your academic vocabulary and grammatical accuracy.

Academic Language in Context

This module has been designed to help you develop your English language and academic skills in the context of your area of undergraduate study.

You will be introduced to academic reading and listening resources linked to some of the topics covered in the related pathway subject modules. Tasks will focus on developing language and vocabulary related specifically to your subject area.

A team-based learning approach will be adopted in this module and you will work on a group project during the module.

Applied Academic Skills

The main aim of this module is to help you gradually develop as an independent learner so the scope of the content is wide and varied. A combination of practical and interactive sessions and independent tasks will help you gain and practice skills in:

Personal and study skills (e.g. time management, assessment planning)
Digital literacy – basic IT skills including Word, Excel and PowerPoint, email communication, etc.
Academic seminar discussions
The importance of good academic conduct – referencing, citation and avoiding plagiarism
Preparation for assessment

By completing this module, you will have enhanced your existing ICT skills, developed competence in research and study skills, the ability to work independently and with others and you will have learned how to maximise your opportunities as a student at a UK university.

Research Project

The module provides you with an opportunity to select an area of interest related to your progression degree and explore this in the context of academic study. You will be given several tasks, which help to guide you through each step of the process of developing an academic essay.

During this process, you will develop the key knowledge and skills you will need in your undergraduate degree, such as research skills, essay planning, organising ideas in a written format, and using academic sources.

You will also have an opportunity to enhance your presentation skills by delivering a presentation on the topic of your essay.

Foundation Mathematics

This module has been designed to introduce you to the fundamental mathematical concepts that have applications in STEM subjects. You will develop a practical understanding of several concepts through solving mathematical problems that relate to STEM subjects.

The module aims to develop your mathematical confidence. It is illustrating, how solving problems using a maths toolkit, will provide useful information for decision making in the contexts of STEM subjects.

The module has a practical approach and presenting problems in a variety of contexts relevant to your destination degrees.

Introduction to Engineering Design & Problem Solving

This module introduces you to engineering design problems and challenges you to apply your engineering skills and design knowledge to find new solutions.

You will be introduced to problem-solving techniques related to practical work such as planning, controlling, information processing and presentation. You will use your critical-thinking skills to justify a solution from multiple design options and select appropriate mathematical models to develop solutions to engineering design problems.

Combining experimental physics with theory in this module, you will learn to execute and analyse the results of an experiment or investigation to test the theory and report on this.

You can use the knowledge you gain in this module to predict what happens in engineering design and solve engineering problems.

The course information displayed on this page is correct for the academic year 2024/25. We aim to run the course as advertised however, changes may be necessary due to updates to the curriculum (due to academic or industry developments), student demand or UK compliance reasons.

Entry requirements

Applicants should have the following:

Academic requirements

GCSE/IGCSE – 5 Passes at A-C
Additional country-specific requirements available
Where UCAS tariff is applicable or relevant, applicants should have an equivalent of 30 UCAS tariff points from either 1 A Level and 1 AS or a minimum of 2 AS Level qualifications.

For country-specific entry requirements, please contact our team, who will be happy to assist.

English language entry requirements

UKVI SELT IELTS 5.0 (with no single element below 4.5) or equivalent UKVI SELT – you can join the International Foundation Programme (2-term IFP)
UKVI SELT IELTS 4.5 (with no single element below 4.0) or equivalent UKVI SELT – you will need to complete an additional term of English before joining the International Foundation Programme (3-term IFP)

If you have the equivalent of IELTS 5.5 overall with no sub-score below 5.5, we will be able to provide one CAS to cover the whole of your foundation and undergraduate study at the University of South Wales. This means that as long as you pass and progress normally on your academic programme and do not require additional time on your visa, you will only need to apply for your Student Route visa once during your entire UK study and there will be no additional English language testing requirements other than the English assessment in your IFP programme.

Please note that if your qualifications are not in English, we might need certified translations in order to proceed with your application.

Minimum age requirements

Please note, you must be over 17 and turn 18 within the first 3 months of your pathway programme.

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