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.

Life Sciences
The International Foundation Year in Life Sciences leads to a choice of degrees in the Faculty of Health and Medicine and in the Faculty of Science and Technology. To prepare for your degree, you will study subject modules and core English language modules. Degree options include Biochemistry, Biomedical Science, and Ecology.

You will learn about cell structure and function, as well as physiological processes in animals. Other areas of study include plant biology, genetics and ecology. Mathematic techniques are part of the course, and you will apply your understanding to real-life situations.

Biology (Placement Year)
Explore the science of life with our flexible degree which provides a wide range of dynamic modules that allows you to tailor your studies to suit your interests alongside additional work experience as part of the degree. This programme provides you with support to secure a paid placement enabling you to experience twelve months working in the type of organisation that you might aspire to join when you graduate. The placement offers you the opportunity to work as a full time employee of the organisation with the same training and opportunities as other employees whilst still receiving both academic and pastoral support from the University.

This programme equips you with the real-world skills required to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing our planet, whether it’s researching underlying scientific principles, the development of new treatments for disease, or helping to protect endangered species. You will learn from internationally renowned researchers in our state-of-the-art laboratories, which offer excellent facilities for practical work. You will study a series of topics such as genetics, biomedicine and evolution.

To prepare students for their work placement year, our Careers and Placements Team will provide advice and guidance on: the skills required to create effective CVs, cover letters and applications; tips and techniques on how to make an impact at interviews and assessment centres; how to create a relevant digital profile; and how to research employers and career sectors of interest. In addition, there is great emphasis placed upon developing self-awareness and on how to present yourself in a professional manner to employers. This optional provision will be delivered via a blend of traditional and digital methods including face-to-face workshops, online webinars, e-courses and 1:1 appointments.

Your first year provides a wide range of introductory level modules. You can choose to follow linked themes of modules throughout the year, or mix and-match to suit your own requirements. Examples of what you can study range from atoms and molecules to biodiversity; from biotechnology to global health and disease; and from spectroscopy to zoology. In addition, you will take a Placement Preparation module.

Your second year offers specialisation, allowing you to shape your own degree from a series of in-depth theory and practical skills spanning the whole breadth of bioscience. You will also take part in a ‘work-based learning’ module designed to provide guidance and support as you apply for nationally advertised placements and help you gain the most from your placement year.

You will spend your third year on an industrial placement, which may be science or non-science before returning to Lancaster where you will continue in your chosen specialities.

Although you will be supported by professional careers staff in preparing your industrial placement application, it is likely that not all students applying to this Programme will be successful in securing these nationally-advertised opportunities.  Students who have not secured an industrial placement will automatically be transferred over to the same degree scheme, without placement year, in this case Biological Sciences BSc.