Engineering, Physical Sciences and Architecture
Program Summary
The International Foundation Year prepares you for university with English language and study skills practice, as well as subject-specific teaching. When you complete the programme, you will progress to the first year of your undergraduate degree. Learn more about how humans can work in harmony with the natural world and choose to progress to a degree in architecture, environmental geography or an engineering subject. You choose a route depending on which undergraduate degree you plan to study. Specialise in one of three routes: architecture, engineering, or physical sciences. Which route you choose impacts the modules you will study.
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The International Foundation Year prepares you for university with English language and study skills practice, as well as subject-specific teaching. When you complete the programme, you will progress to the first year of your undergraduate degree. Learn more about how humans can work in harmony with the natural world and choose to progress to a degree in architecture, environmental geography or an engineering subject. You choose a route depending on which undergraduate degree you plan to study. Specialise in one of three routes: architecture, engineering, or physical sciences. Which route you choose impacts the modules you will study.
International Foundation Year
A one-year programme to prepare international students for their undergraduate degree.
| Academic | Good high school graduation grades or equivalent IB first year: 24 points or IB Certificate/Diploma 24 points, 1 Year transcripts also accepted. |
| English language | Academic IELTS for UKVI 5.0 (minimum 5.0 in writing with no other skill below 4.0). Academic IELTS for UKVI 6.0 (minimum 6.0 in writing, no skill below 5.5) is required for students aiming to progress to Medicine*, Dental Surgery*, Pharmacy and Medical Pharmacology*, Optometry, Journalism and Communications; Journalism, Communications and Politics; Media and Communications, or Media, Journalism and Culture. *Please note: IELTS is required to confirm an offer for these progression degrees. |
| Age | 17+ Please note that students aiming for Medicine, Pharmacy or Dental Surgery must be 18 years at the start of the degree. |
| Your country | Academic qualification(s) you need |
| Bahrain | Successful completion of Tawjahiya with average grade of 80% or above, with 70% in relevant subjects |
| Bangladesh | Year 12 (HSC): GPA 3.5 overall (Relevant subjects GPA 3.25 if required) (Note 1: Maths at HSC is required for Health, Medical & Life Sciences and Engineering, Physical Science & Architecture) |
| Brazil | Certificado de Ensino Médio 6.0 with relevant subjects at 6.5 or above. |
| China | SH2: 70% average inc relevant subjects, and a minimum of 4 academic subjects or SH3: 65% average inc relevant subjects, and a minimum of 4 academic subjects pass or above |
| Ghana | Successful completion of the West African School Certificate (WAEC) or Senior School Certificate average grade 1-6 (A-C) in 4 or more subjects |
| Hong Kong | Form 5: Pass in 4 or more subjects. Subject list includes all subjects HKDSE 322 |
| India | Completion of Year 11 65% or Year 12 (HSC) 55% |
| Indonesia | Successful completion of SMU 3/Sikolah Menegah at grade 6.5 or above or SMU 2 at an average of 7.0, to include 5 relevant subjects |
| Iran | Transcript of High School Diploma Theoretical stream (3 years) required Min. overall GPA requirement is 14 inc relevant subjects |
| Japan | Successful completion of Kotogakko (Year 12) with grade average or 65% or GPA 2.5 Year 11 with 70% or GPA 4/5 may be considered, subject to age |
| Jordan | Successful completion of Tawjihi with overall average of 80% including relevant subjects, with no lower than 70% in any subject |
| Kazakhstan | Successful completion of ATTESTAT/Certificate of Secondary Education (Grade 11) with grade average 4 and 5 |
| Kenya | Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE): grades C to D in 4 or more subjects, including relevant subjects. |
| Korea | SH3: 5th Grade average in rank, with at least 5th grade in relevant subjects SH2: 4th Grade average in rank with at least 4th grade in relevant subjects |
| Kuwait | Year 12 (GSEC): 80% overall and 70% in all subjects including relevant subjects. Progression to Mpharm : 94%* overall and 70% in all subjects including relevant subjects. |
| Libya | Successful completion Secondary Education Certificate with average of 80% |
| Macau | Successful completion of iGCSE/'O' Levels at grade C in 5 relevant subjects including English or completion of Form 5 or Senior Middle 2. Top schools require 65%, other schools require 75% |
| Malaysia | SPM/UEC school: Form 5, Senior 2 / Senior Middle 2, Term 1, Term 2, Mid-Year, Mid-Term, End of Term, Final Year Transcripts - Grades of A- C achieved in 5 relevant academic subjects to include English and Maths. SPM (Malaysia Certificate of Education) with 5 C grades or above in relevant subjects to include English and Mathematics. UEC Senior 2 / Senior Middle 2 with aggregate of not more than 34 points for 5 relevant academic subjects inc English & Mathematics. |
| Mexico | Successful completion of Bachillerato at a average of 75% and above |
| Morocco | Diplôme du Baccalauréat with grade average of 12 |
| Nigeria | Successful completion of West African School Certificate (WAEC) or Senior School Certificate with 1-6 (A-C) in 4 or more relevant subjects |
| Oman | Successful completion of Year 12 (General Education Diploma): 80% overall and 70% in all subjects, including relevant subjects |
| Pakistan | Year 11 entry: 75% - 50% min. required for relevant subjects ie. Maths and Sciences, to include passes in 4 or more subjects. HSC grades (60% overall, min 50% in any subject) |
| Qatar | Successful completion of Thanawaya Aam Qatari with overall grade 80% including relevant subjects and with no lower than 80% in any subjects |
| Russia | Successful completion of ATTESTAT/11th grade with a minimum GPA of 4.0 |
| Saudi Arabia | Successful completion of Tawjihi with average of 80% and no lower than 70% in relevant subjects |
| Singapore | 5 A-C grades O Level (accept mother tongue languages) or Year 1 of Diploma/University course with GPA 1.8 |
| Sri Lanka | Sri lankan GCE O level: Grade B in 5 subjects including relevant subjects Sri lankan GCE A level: Grade C in 2 subjects including relevant subjects |
| Taiwan | Successful completion of Senior High School Year 3 pass with an average grade of 60% in relevant subjects overall, including relevant subjects or SH2 with 70% |
| Thailand | Successful completion of MAW 6 with average GPA 2.0 in relevant subjects including Maths and Sciences or successful completion of MAW 5 with GPA 2.5 |
| Turkey | Successful completion of Devlet Lise Diploması (High School Completion) - 65% overall with minimum 60% in relevant subjects |
| UAE | Successful completion of Tawjihi with average of 80% and minimum of 70% in relevant subjects |
| Ukraine | Attestat/11th grade – with minimum GPA 7.0 (all good and excellent grades) or Attestat/11th grade - Minimum GPA 4.0 (all good or excellent grades) Year 12 sem 1 results with same grades/subjects still considered on case by case basis. |
| USA | Grade 11 - GPA 2.75 or Grade 12 2.50. GED: 600 overall with 150 in 4 subjects, including prerequisites |
| Vietnam | Successful completion of Year 12 with average GPA 6.5 or Year 11 GPA 7.0, to include 6.5+ for Maths and Science subjects |
Please note: country specific entry requirements are for all programmes except for students wishing to apply for Medicine or Dental Surgery. For these degree aims, students must make an enquiry to be advised on entry and progression requirements.
Arts, Humanities, Law and Social Sciences
For Music degrees: Applicants are required to show evidence of working towards either Grade 7 or Grade 8 Practical in one instrument or voice (ABRSM/Trinity/Rockschool). This will be assessed by means of a short pre-recorded audition when applying for the International Foundation Year. Please refer to centre. Equivalent qualifications may be accepted following consultation with Cardiff University.
Engineering, Physical Sciences and Architecture
Maths or a numerate subject is required for all degree aims (except for Architecture).
Health, Medical and Life Sciences
For Medicine and Dental Surgery, students must have Chemistry and two other Sciences (Maths is one science). Find out more about the Medicine and Dental Surgery selection process.
For Pharmacy, you will need to undergo a Numeracy interview with the International Study Centre. Once you send your academic documents (provisional or final), you will receive an invitation from the Centre to attend the screening interview (via Zoom) where you will be asked five questions. You will need to achieve 40% in the Numeracy screening and meet all the other conditions of your offer to be able to confirm your place, once all conditions are met.
For all other degree aims, students need one science subject - biology or chemistry or a combined science.
Please note: places may be limited for Pharmacy, Medicine and Dental Surgery.
| Age | 17+ |
| Duration | 10 weeks |
| Fees | £3,500 |
| Intakes | November/January/May |
| Term dates | 10 weeks: 11/11/2024 - 21/02/2025 13/01/2025 - 21/03/2025 12/05/2025 - 18/07/2025 |
English language entry requirements Academic IELTS for UKVI or accepted equivalent | 4.5 overall (4.5 in writing, minimum 4.0 in all other skills) |
| Accepted alternative tests | Required score |
| Academic IELTS for UKVI | |
| Trinity Integrated Skills in English UKVI | ISE I Merit overall (ISE I Merit in writing and ISE I Pass in all other skills) |
| English language exit requirements | You will be assessed internally at the end of your English programme and will be required to meet the equivalent grade of IELTS 5.0 (minimum 5.0 in writing with no other skill below 4.0) |
Online English Preparation is not available for students aiming to progress to Medicine, Dental Surgery, Optometry, Pharmacy and Medical Pharmacology.
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