Engineering and Physical Sciences Foundation Years

If you are working towards a future in engineering and physical sciences but do not have suitable qualifications to enter one of our undergraduate courses, we have a number of Foundation Year Programmes which may be suitable for you. As a Foundation Year student, you will be taught by Birmingham academics and have full access to campus facilities and university life. We guarantee your acceptance to a wide range of our undergraduate programmes if you meet our progression requirements.

Students studying in the material science laboratory

Types of Foundation Year

We have three main types of Foundation Year, each for a particular type of student. Each course has different entry requirements which you can view on the specific course page. If you are unsure which, if any, you are eligible for, please contact the Engineering and Physical Sciences Foundation Year Admissions Manager.

International students

The International Foundation Pathways are the route for you if you are applying from outside the UK. This course is suitable if you have completed your high school education to a high standard and the qualifications in your school system normally require a Foundation Year before being eligible for first year undergraduate entry to universities in the UK. In some cases, it is also suitable if your grades are slightly lower than that needed for first year entry.

For more information on our foundation pathways for international students please visit the Birmingham International Academy

Home students without A Level Mathematics

Our home foundation years are designed for students who have taken the wrong qualifications to enter the first year, which is why students taking A Level Mathematics are not considered. We accept other A Level subjects, BTECs in combination with A Levels or alone in a related subject and Science or Engineering based Access to HE courses. Students will also need GCSE Maths grade 6 or Core Maths B.

Chemical Engineering Foundation Year for courses in Chemical Engineering.

Chemistry Foundation Year for courses in Chemistry.

Engineering Foundation Year for courses in Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Material Science and Mechanical Engineering.

Physical Sciences Foundation Year for courses in Computer Science, Mathematics and Physics.

Degree options

On joining the course, you will need to specify which subject you want to progress to after the Foundation Course, but you can change your mind until the end of the first semester. The subject areas are listed below and you can expand them to discover the specific courses we offer. Foundation Year students initially progress to the BSc or BEng version of their chosen course. If you are interested in the MSci or MEng versions, you will be given an opportunity to transfer to the Master's Programme if you meet the relevant progression requirements at the end of your second year of study.

Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace Engineering BEng

Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineering BEng

Chemical Engineering with Industrial Study BEng

Chemistry

Chemistry BSc

Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering BEng

Computer Science

Computer Science BSc

Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science BSc

For home students, foundation year is accepted for consideration to our Computer Science with Digital Technology Partnership with PwC BSc but the course is not guaranteed or integrated. You must apply to this course via UCAS during your foundation year studies to be considered alongside the other applicants. If you are unsuccessful in securing an offer for the partnership course you will still be able to progress as usual to another Computer Science BSc.

Electronic and Electrical Engineering

Electronic and Electrical Engineering BEng

Electronic and Electrical Engineering with Industrial Year BEng

Mechatronic and Robotic Engineering BEng

Engineering

Engineering BEng

Material Science

Materials Science and Engineering BEng

Mathematics

Mathematics BSc

Mathematics with a Year in Industry BSc

Mathematics with an International Year BSc

Mathematics with a Year Abroad in Continental Europe BSc

Mathematics and Computer Science BSc

Mathematics and Computer Science with Industrial Year BSc

Please note Theoretical Physics and Applied Mathematics BSc is not available from foundation year.

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering (Automotive) BEng

Mechanical Engineering BEng

Mechanical Engineering with Industrial Year BEng

Physics and Astronomy

Physics BSc

Physics (International Study) BSc

Physics and Astrophysics BSc

Physics with Particle Physics and Cosmology BSc

Please note Theoretical Physics and Applied Mathematics BSc is not available from foundation year. Theoretical Physics BSc is not available as a direct progression, but it is possible to transfer with high academic performance after the first year of your undergraduate studies.