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.

Mathematics and Statistics
The International Foundation Year in Mathematics and Statistics leads to a choice of bachelors and master degrees in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. To prepare for your degree, you will study core English language modules and subject modules for Mathematics and Statistics. Degree options include Accounting, Finance and Computer Science.

You will study Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, and Statistics. Areas of study include number theory and graph theory (Pure Mathematics); vectors and variable acceleration (Applied Mathematics); and correlation and hypothesis testing (Statistics).

Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics (MORSE) (Industry)
Shifting markets and an ever-changing political landscape make for a complex world. Every organisation, whether industrial, financial or in government, needs to embrace technology and data to maximise what they deliver. Smartphone use, the role of social media data, risk planning, retail patterns... All of these can be counted and analysed. They can also help forecast the future, deciding what to invest in or what route to take. But this needs creative, technically competent and business-savvy people. The kind of graduates our MORSE degree produces.

We’ve combined the highly influential subjects of Mathematics, Operational Research and Economics into one coherent degree and added in a year of paid work experience in industry. It’s ideal if you’re a mathematically-gifted student who wants to use numbers to solve real-world problems in business and industry.

In your first year you’ll gain a strong foundation in mathematics, operations research, statistics and economics. You then tailor your programme, either developing a broad knowledge base or specialising in topics relevant to your future career.

Your third year is spent on a placement, giving you practical experience of a work environment and allowing you to apply and refine the skills and knowledge acquired in the first two years of study. You’ll be supported in finding a position with companies such as IBM, Lloyds Bank, Microsoft, PwC and the Bank of England.

Our world-class departments of Mathematics and Statistics, Economics, and Management Science all focus on applying mathematical theory in a practical context. As well as more traditional subjects such as mathematics, you will learn about business modelling, economic theory, statistics and analytics. MORSE shows how all these skills can come together to create better solutions to intricate problems.

You will graduate with an enviable array of quantitative and analytical skills. These are in high demand by industry, commerce, finance, the public sector, consulting and the government.

The University will use all reasonable effort to support you to find a suitable placement for your studies. While a placement role may not be available in a field or organisation that is directly related to your academic studies or career aspirations, all placement roles offer valuable experience of working at a graduate level and gaining a range of professional skills.

If you are unsuccessful in securing a suitable placement for your third year, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent non-placement degree scheme and would continue with your studies at Lancaster, finishing your degree after your third year. The University offers a range of shorter placement and internship opportunities for which you would be welcome to apply.