the international foundation programme is a 10-month programme providing academic and english language preparation for international students who want to enter undergraduate degrees in social sciences, finance and management-related studies, and arts and humanities at uk universities, since the programme started in 1985 we have prepared students each year for progression to undergraduate study at institutions in the university of london and across the uk. high-ranking british universities recognise the international foundation as a value-adding academic and english-language programme for international students. the programme is designed for international students who want to progress to an undergraduate degree at a british university. you may need to complete a foundation programme for one of two reasons: you have finished school in your own country, but your school-leaving certificate does not qualify you for direct entry to a uk university. you have been wholly or partly educated in an english-medium school but have not achieved the a-level, ib or ap grades needed for university entrance because of language difficulties.