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.

Social Studies
The International Foundation Year in Social Studies leads to a choice of undergraduate degrees in the Faculty of Arts and Social Studies and the Faculty of Science and Technology. To prepare for your degree, you will study core English language modules and subject modules. Degree options include Philosophy, Sociology, and Film.

You will learn about global issues and contemporary events, including business, culture, politics and environment. Other areas of study include advertising, social media, psychology, and theories that relate to media and modern society.

English Language with Chinese Studies
This four-year degree is provided jointly by our Department of Linguistics and English Language and our Department of Languages and Cultures. An International Placement Year gives you the unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the Chinese language and culture. You don’t need to have studied Chinese before as we offer an Intensive course for beginners.

In Chinese Studies, we aim to help you become truly fluent. You’ll explore China's history, culture, politics and social background. Your English Language studies will include how the English language functions as well as traditional linguistic areas such as lexis, grammar and phonetics.

The first year comprises an exploration of the Chinese language and its cultural context, as well as a core module in English language. Alongside this, you can choose a minor subject from a list of subjects provided to you.

Building on your language skills in Year 2, you will study one Chinese oral skills module and one Chinese written skills module at the same level of proficiency. In addition, you will study the culture, politics and history of the Chinese-speaking world in more depth in the modules Shaping Chinese Society: Moments and Movements, as well as selecting a module that is international in scope and promotes comparative understanding at a global level, such as Understanding Culture. You combine these with the core English language modules of English Grammar and English Phonetics, and you will choose from a range of English language option modules.

Your third year - the International Placement Year - will deepen your intercultural sensitivity and your command of the language. You can study at a partner institution or carry out a work placement and practise your language skills in a real-world context. Staff members within the department will work with you to ensure that you are fully prepared before embarking on your placement in a Chinese-speaking country.

In the final year, you will consolidate your Chinese language skills, and study specialist culture and comparative modules, such as Sinophone Literature and Film and Mirrors across the Media. You will also select English language option modules such as Language, Culture and Thought. You will have opportunities to combine your interests in both subjects in longer, supervised projects.