Program Overview

An International Foundation Year at our International Study Centre prepares you for your degree at Lancaster University. You will focus on English language, university-level study skills, and academic modules that relate to your degree subject.

Supporting your progression to the University
At the International Study Centre, we take every measure to ensure you are supported in your academic journey. Our programmes allow for increased time spent learning, researching and developing your skills. By studying with us, you will benefit from:

• Formal assessments at the end of each term.
• An improved English language module, Academic English Skills, providing greater opportunity for informal assessments and feedback.
• Combining and reducing the number of module assessments allowing more time to prepare.
• A personal tutorial system with a focus on your academic progress at key points of the academic year, creating action plans based on your performance and progession options.

Engineering and Computing
An International Foundation Year in Engineering and Computing leads to a choice of degrees in the Faculty of Science and Technology. To prepare for your degree you will study core English language modules, and subject modules for Engineering and Computing Foundation Year. Degree options include Chemical Engineering, Natural Sciences and Physics.

You will develop your understanding of Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, and Physics. Areas of study include number theory and graph theory (Pure Mathematics); vectors and variable acceleration (Applied Mathematics); and induction and inductors (Physics).

Computer Science
Computer science is a dynamic discipline with a wide range of applications, and our Study Abroad programme allows you to broaden your academic and cultural horizons in another county. As a result, our graduates are highly sought after in industry.

Our Computer Science programme is accredited by the British Computing Society (BCS) and the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), and provides you with the knowledge and skills required to become a computing professional. You will learn to work effectively in a professional software and systems development environment.

This programme will develop your self-confidence and expose you to new cultures and new ways of learning, while delivering a broad yet rigorous grounding in computer science. You will gain cutting-edge knowledge through both theoretical and practical learning approaches, and will develop a range of well-rounded professional and technical skills through state-of-the-art equipment and expert teaching offered at the School of Computing and Communications.

In the first year, you will receive a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles of the discipline, combined with their modern day application. Throughout your study, you will gain skills and experience from a range of modules, including Software Development, Information Systems, and Digital Systems. Taking a practical approach to education, you are encouraged to build and analyse systems and software, as well as work with end user feedback to refine and adapt solutions.

Your second year will be spent at one of our partner institutions in Europe, USA, Canada, Australia or Asia,  where you will be motivated by topics that become progressively deeper and develop specialised skills. This will provide you with the opportunity to gain valuable experience of a different social and academic environment while broadening your professional network.

Lancaster University will make reasonable endeavours to place students at an approved overseas partner university that offers appropriate modules which contribute credit to your Lancaster degree.  Occasionally places overseas may not be available for all students who want to study abroad or the place at the partner university may be withdrawn if core modules are unavailable. If you are not offered a place to study overseas, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent standard degree scheme and would complete your studies at Lancaster.

Lancaster University cannot accept responsibility for any financial aspects of the year or term abroad.

Returning to Lancaster for your final year, you will have the opportunity to explore a range of well-constructed and enriching optional modules, as well as undertaking an individual project. In this project you will work closely with one of our academics, allowing you to use and further develop the skills acquired throughout your degree.