Os esfy brochure

Foundation Year A guide for international students

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Contents The Foundation Years 5Engineering/Physics/Geophysics Foundation Year 6

Science Foundation Year 7Entry Requirements 8 Money matters 10University life 10The University 10The city 10Accommodation 10

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Studying abroad is a long-term commitment and a big investment in your future. Our Foundation Years are designed to prepare you for undergraduate study and to help you adapt to life as a student in the UK.

The University of Southampton is a truly international institution offering a warm welcome to students from more than 110 countries. As a Foundation Year student you will become part of our diverse, friendly campus community.

Our Meet and Greet service and Welcome Programme will help you to settle into life at Southampton, where you can enjoy the benefits of living in a modern, lively city within easy reach of London, the coast and the New Forest.

This brochure outlines our Foundation Year programmes and includes some information about Southampton and the University.

If you have any questions about our Foundation Years please email: [email protected]

Dr Anna Barney | Director, Engineering and Science Foundation Years

Welcome

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“I found the Foundation Year (Engineering) really interesting. It helped me get to know Southampton and learn about the UK culture. I also got to make friends with many other international students which was one of the great parts of studying the Foundation Year.”

Ben Hong Pan | Taiwan, BEng Electronic EngineeringExperimenting in the lab

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The Foundation YearsOur Foundation Years are suitable for students who have completed eleven or twelve years of education in their home country with excellent grades overall and in maths and science.

The programmes provide a solid grounding for further study at undergraduate level. They are designed to help international students adjust to living and learning in a different culture and language. Our data shows that students who successfully complete a Foundation Year at Southampton are more likely to achieve outstanding results in their degree.

The Foundation Year forms the initial year of an undergraduate degree. By the end of the year you will have gained:

– An introduction to the key concepts of your chosen degree subject

– The language skills needed for successful undergraduate study

– Effective academic skills

– An understanding of the demands and requirements of university life in the UK

Take a look at the table below to find out which Foundation Year is appropriate for your preferred degree programme.

Engineering/Physics/Geophysics Foundation Year

Acoustical Engineering

Aerospace Engineering

Civil or Environmental Engineering

Computer Science

Electrical Engineering

Electronic Engineering

Electro-Mechanical Engineering

Geophysics

Mechanical Engineering

Physics

Ship Science

Science Foundation Year

Biochemistry

Biology

Biomedical Sciences

Chemistry

Environmental Sciences

Geology

Marine Biology

Oceanography

Pharmacology

Zoology

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Engineering/Physics/Geophysics Foundation YearThis Foundation Year is suitable for students who have completed eleven or twelve years of education graduating with excellent grades overall and in maths and physics.

Our Foundation Year cohort is a mixture of international EU and UK students. Our students all have excellent grades but need an additional year of study to match to the UK education system or have decided to change their academic discipline after leaving High School.

The programme aims to give you the knowledge and skills to meet the challenges of our degree courses. This entails an intense period of learning requiring commitment and effort. In return you will build an understanding of maths, mechanics, electricity and electronics and engineering principles. In addition the Foundation Year seeks to hone the academic skills that you will need during your degree course.

You will be taught in small groups with a high level of learning support on our main Highfield campus. The Foundation Year fosters the development of a close-knit, keen group with common objectives; enduring friendship groups are often formed within the group.

You will study full-time through a combination of lectures, workshops, laboratories and private study. Assessment is mainly by written examination and by a variety of coursework assignments.

Key facts

One application – one visa valid for four years*

Guaranteed progression onto chosen undergraduate degree (providing students achieve minimum progression grades)

Taught on campus by university academics

More than fifty undergraduate subject options to choose from

All engineering subjects are ranked within the top 15 in the UK

Over 100 specialist teaching and testing laboratories

*subject to UKBA regulations

Programme structure

The Foundation Year is a 1 year full time course integrated with a further 3 or 4 year degree programme. Whichever degree you are aiming for, you will take all of the modules listed below.

– Mathematics A and B– Mechanical Science– Coursework (including computer applications)– Routes to success

You will take two out of the three modules below with the requirement dependent on the degree programme you want to follow after the Foundation Year.

– Engineering principles– Electricity/Electronic– English for Engineers and Scientists

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Science Foundation Year

This Foundation Year is suitable for students who have completed eleven or twelve years of education graduating with excellent grades overall and in maths and science subjects.

Our Foundation Year cohort is a mixture of international EU and UK students. Our students all have excellent grades but need an additional year of study to match to the UK education system or have decided to change their academic discipline after leaving High School.

The programme aims to give you the knowledge to meet the challenges of our science degree courses. This entails an intense period of learning requiring commitment and effort. The year provides a rapid introduction to biology, chemistry and mathematics, which will prepare you for your chosen undergraduate degree. In addition the Foundation Year seeks to hone the academic skills that you will need during your degree course.

You will be taught in a small group with a high level of learning support on our Highfield and Waterfront campuses. You will study full-time through a combination of lectures, group discussions, laboratory practicals and private study. Assessment is mainly by written examination and by a variety of coursework assignments.

The Foundation Year fosters the development of a close-knit, highly motivated group of students with common objectives; enduring friendships are often formed within the group.

Key facts

One application – one visa valid for four years*

Guaranteed progression onto chosen undergraduate degree (providing students achieve minimum progression grades)

Taught on campus by university academics in our state-of-the-art facilities

More than thirty undergraduate subject options to choose from

All science subjects are ranked within the top 10 in the UK

*subject to UKBA regulations

Programme structure

The Foundation Year is a 1 year full time course integrated with a further 3 or 4 year degree programme. Whichever degree course you are aiming for, you will take all the modules listed below. All modules are studied for the whole year and assessment is through a combination of coursework and examination.

– Biology– Chemistry– Mathematics– Coursework– Routes to Success

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Entry RequirementsWe welcome international applicants to the Foundation Year, for details of our entry requirements please visit: www.southampton.ac.uk/foundationyear

If English is not your first language we will ask you to obtain a recognised qualification such as IELTS with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component.

Students who have not achieved the necessary language criteria for direct entry onto the Foundation Year have the option of retaking IELTS or, if they have achieved a minimum of 5.0 in each component, they are invited to complete our six week Foundation Year Pre-Sessional English course, which runs from August to September.

Support for developing your language skills further will be provided as part of the programme.

How to applyApplications are normally made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) www.ucas.com however if you have any questions you would like to ask us prior to application we would be happy to help.

Money mattersFor the latest fee information please visit: www.soton.ac.uk/international/fees_money/index.shtml

UCAS Codes:

Engineering/Physics/Geophysics Foundation Year

Engineering with Foundation Year H008 (code also used for progression to Computer Science degrees.)

Physics with Foundation Year F301

Geophysics with Foundation Year F662

Science Foundation Year

BSc Biology C108

BSc Zoology C108

BSc Biochemistry CB71

BSc Biomedical Sciences CB71

BSc Pharmacology CB71

BSc/MChem Chemistry F108

BSc/MEnv Environmental Sciences F903

BSc/MGeolg Geology F602

BSc/MOcean Oceanography F701

MMarBiol Marine Biology F705

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The Hartley Library on the Highfield Campus is one of the leading research libraries in the UK. Facilities include a state-of-the-art learning centre, ‘walk in’ internet access, a language study area with computers linked to software for a range of languages, a café and a study lounge.

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Student life

University lifeThe University of Southampton has a global reputation for academic excellence, attracting students and researchers from across the world.

The UniversityWith over 20,000 students and 5,000 staff, life at the University is lively and exciting. In addition to our six campuses, three major libraries and 20 halls of residence, the University has a Students’ Union for social events and advice, a modern sports complex and indoor swimming pool, a theatre, a concert hall and an art gallery. You will study on the Highfield and Avenue Campuses, which are just outside the city centre in a safe residential area next to a huge green park, ‘the Common’.

The citySouthampton is a dynamic modern city. It is one of southern England’s top leisure and shopping destinations.

It is just over an hour from central London and Heathrow airport. It has excellent road, rail, sea and air links with the rest of the UK and the world. The University’s own award-winning Uni-link bus service connects all Southampton’s campuses with the city centre.

AccommodationMost international students who apply for accommodation before 1st August are guaranteed accommodation (subject to criteria) in the University’s modern halls of residence. More information about University accommodation is available in our accommodation guide.

www.southampton.ac.uk/accomodation

Students relaxing on campus

Relevant web links are shown throughout the Foundation Year Guide. Please also consult: www.southampton.ac.uk/foundationyear online for further details and/or any changes which have appeared since first publication of the Foundation Year Guide.

Disclaimer

The University of Southampton will use all reasonable efforts to deliver advertised programmes and other services and facilities in accordance with the descriptions set out in its prospectuses, student handbooks, welcome guides and website. It will provide students with the tuition, learning support, services and facilities so described with reasonable care and skill.

The University, therefore, reserves the right if it considers it to be necessary to alter the timetable, location, content or method of delivery of events provided such alterations are reasonable.

Financial or other losses

The University will not be held liable for any direct or indirect financial or other losses or damage arising from changes made to the event timetable, location, content or method of delivery of various services and facilities set out herein.

Force majeure

The University will not be held liable for any loss, damage or expense resulting from any delay, variation or failure in the provision of services and facilities set out herein, arising from circumstances beyond the University’s reasonable control, including (but not limited to) war or threat of war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity, industrial dispute, natural or nuclear disaster, adverse weather conditions, interruption in power supplies or other services for any reason, fire, boycott and telecommunications failure.

In the event that such circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the University arise, it will use all reasonable endeavours to minimise disruption as far as it is practical to do so.

© University of Southampton 2012

This information can be made available, on request, in alternative formats such as electronic, large print, Braille or audio tape, and in some cases, other languages. Please call +44 (0)23 8059 7726 to request an alternative format.

Published by Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton

Designed by WAX sii, Winchester UK

www.southampton.ac.uk/foundationyear [email protected] +44 (0)23 8059 3113