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.

Politics with Chinese
A degree in Politics with Chinese allows you to explore some of the themes, concepts and events that have shaped the contemporary political scene, whilst studying Chinese language and culture.

You will begin your degree with one core module in Politics in the Modern World and one core Chinese module which is designed for beginners with little or no prior knowledge of Chinese Language or Culture. In addition, you can choose a third module, this might be in Politics or Chinese or another subject that complements your studies.

As you continue with your studies, you will learn from academics some of whom are committed to both teaching and research. You will increasingly specialise through a varied range of modules which focus on topical questions concerning government and politics in Britain, Europe, China and the world. Second year options include Politics of Development and Global Changes and Modern Political Thought: Liberty, Theory and Practice. The core Chinese Language modules will build on the language introduction given in the first year through further language tuition.

In the final year, you will study Chinese Culture and Society and a further Chinese Language module. You have the opportunity to undertake a sustained investigation on a specific political subject that interests you and can choose from a range of modules, such as Politics of Global Danger.