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).

Engineering
Engineering at Lancaster will challenge you to design and build things to solve real-world problems. The discipline is particularly interesting to anyone with a technical and creative mind, and enjoys working as part of a team. The MEng programme builds confidence and develops your leadership skills.  

In modern engineering, it is almost impossible to define distinct boundaries between disciplines and as such we offer a general engineering entry point. Knowledge and experience spanning across several engineering disciplines will complement later specialisms, improve career prospects, and is ideal for students who want to defer choosing a specialism. For example, it can be highly beneficial for an electronic and electrical engineer to understand thermal heat transfer, a chemical engineer to understand stress analysis, and a mechanical engineer to be able to programme a simple interface.

During this general first year, we will introduce you to many of the key features of engineering, equipping you with a well-rounded understanding and skill set in fundamental engineering science such as how to complete static structural analysis, calculation of mass and energy balance, analogue and digital circuit analysis through to fundamental computer aided design (CAD) and software programming skills. The intent is to provide insight and gain an appreciation for the broad scope and interdisciplinary nature of the subject.

Following the first year, you will have the opportunity to consider and plan your academic progression. At this stage, you move onto any of our specialist programmes where a combination of core and optional modules will allow you to focus your interest while gaining practical experience. This flexibility to choose enables you to develop specialist skills from one of the many fields of engineering, preparing you for a vast range of focused or interdisciplinary roles.

All of our specialist programmes are accredited by at least one professional body, including the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), and the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), and depend on which specialism you wish to pursue.

Although you select a specialisation, there are still common themes to all degrees notably in management and business development. Interdisciplinary work also continues throughout the group project work where the change in emphasis is about project management and adding your technical specialism to ensure the success of the project. You will also develop and reflect upon your professional skills and experience, just as you would do in industry.   

During your fourth year, you will undertake two short projects linked to industry. Set by the company, these projects provide an opportunity to tackle the unfamiliar, asking you to develop a solution by applying your prior learning and skills in a logical, insightful manner. Although daunting at first, we find they provide real businesses experience and learning that is difficult to achieve within a purely academic environment.