Course content

Academic content

Around 60% of the programme is devoted to the academic units on the different pathways, supported by tuition in English language, IT, British culture, study skills and basic mathematics. Academic

English language support
At the core of the programme, English takes up approximately 40% of lessons. It covers reading, writing, listening and speaking. The English language component is internally assessed, but students can also take the IELTS test.

Study skills
An essential preparation for university life, Study Skills helps students to work in groups, present ideas, manage their time, conduct research, make lecture notes, organise the content of essays and dissertations, and understand how to evaluate their own work.

A typical INTO Foundation programme week

A typical week will have up to 24 hours of timetabled lessons, including lectures and directed self-study. Lessons may take the form of seminars, workshops, tutorials or, in science programmes, practical laboratory sessions and field trips.

Students have plenty of opportunity to discuss informally with their tutors any points raised in lectures and seminars. In the laboratory, students will carry out experiments relating to their lectures. These sessions are supervised by tutors and demonstrators who will ensure the safe execution of the experiments and discuss the theory behind them.

Students are able to work in the university library and use the network of over a thousand computer terminals for research, including online access to the library and the web, around the clock.