University Foundation Programme

The University Foundation Programme is a full-time academic year course which prepares international students for studying at a university in the UK. This fully integrated course provides you with all the language and skills you need for university life. Successful completion of secondary education is compulsory for entry to this course.

The programme combines general English and academic training with specialist subject modules focusing on your specified areas of interest. In addition, you learn about life in Britain, gain useful computing skills, and develop your IELTS exam skills.

Our University Foundation Programme is independent so you receive expert, impartial advice on all universities and Colleges Administration Service (UCAS), which is the UK central organisation through which applications are processed for university entry. The University Foundation Programme comprises two parts:

• An academic skills module
• Subject modules

• Course facts
• Course structure
• Course dates and prices
• Book this course

Course facts

Location	World-famous university city of Cambridge
Minimum Level	Intermediate (Bell level 4/B1), IELTS band score 4.5. You must have graduated from secondary or high school.
Minimum age	17 years and a high school certificate or diploma
Course length	36 weeks
Maximum class size	12 (average 10)
Term dates	2009 - 2010 course Term 1:   27 September 2009 - 19 December 2009 Term 2:   03 January 2010 - 27 March 2010 Term 3:   05 April 2010 - 26 June 2010

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Course structure

The course is divided into three terms, each 12 weeks long. It is comprised of a core Academic Skills Module and a selection of specialist Subject Modules.

Academic Skills Module

This compulsory academic skills module provides you with all the essential academic training you need to ensure you are thoroughly prepared for your degree course. The Academic Skills Module covers the following areas:

• Academic skills
  Learn essential study skills such as note-taking, summarising, reading strategies, oral presentations, research techniques, essay and report-writing, interpreting data, and exam preparation skills.
• IELTS preparation
  Prepare and practise for the IELTS exam to ensure you achieve the score you need for a British university. Exam fees are included in your tuition costs and you will receive help enrolling for the test.
• Life in Britain
  Discover more about Britain’s history and culture, and gain the confidence and knowledge you need to live and study in the UK.
• Information Technology
  Develop useful computing skills essential for studying at university, such as word-processing, managing spreadsheets and databases, creating presentations, and designing for the web.

Subject Modules

A choice of Subject Modules allows you to focus on your key areas of interest. You can choose three Subject Modules from the following:

• Business Studies
  Business Structures & Organisations, Business Objectives & Strategy, Change & Growth Management, Starting a Small Firm, Marketing & Finance,People & Operation Management
• Communications Studies
  Texts and Meanings in Communication, Verbal & Non-verbal Communication, Interpersonal & Group Communication, Culture, Context & Communication
• Economics
  Free Market Economies, Demand & Supply,Costs & Revenues, Market Failures, National Income, Growth & Living Standards, Inflation, Unemployment, Balance of Payment Deficits
• Finance
  Legal Characteristics of a Business, Funding Business Growth, Shares & Share Ownership, Preparation of a Profit & Loss Statement, Preparation of a Balance Sheet, Cash-flow Statements, Assets & Liabilities
• Geography
  Plate Tectonics, Features of Coastal Environments, Tourism & Recreation, Population, Variations in Rural and Urban Environments, Field Study Investigation: City Development and Urbanisation (based in Cambridge)
• Law
  Sources of Law, The English Legal System, Criminal Law, The Civil Law, Contract Law
• Media Studies
  Media Analysis, Concepts of Genre and Narrative Media, Representation & Reception, Media Industries
• Politics
  Political Culture & Voting Behaviour, Electoral Systems, Political Parties, Pressure Groups & Protest Movements, The Politics of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, Political Traditions, Alternative Ideologies: Environmentalism

* All Subject Modules are run subject to demand

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Assessment

Your progress is continuously assessed through a variety of written and oral assignments, which your tutors help you to prepare. At the end of the programme, you will be awarded a mark for each module - 60% will be based on your assignments, and 40% on examinations. Your overall result will be based on your marks for the two modules, together with your IELTS score.

Free Higher Education Advisory Service

As part of our University Foundation Programme we offer a free Higher Education Advisory Service. Our dedicated advisors guide you through every stage of the university application process, from choosing the right course at the right university to completing your application form, providing references, writing your personal statement and dealing with replies. Students also benefit from presentations given by universities about their undergraduate programmes.

Did you know

Unlike many other foundation courses, our University Foundation Programme is independent so you receive expert, impartial advice on all universities to help you decide which is the best for you.

We have established excellent links with over 30 British universities, and our programme is approved and monitored by examiners at two UK universities – Oxford Brookes and the University of Essex.

Our students have gone on to study at leading universities in cities such as Cambridge, London, Oxford, Birmingham, Sheffield and Exeter.

Courses take place at our Cambridge centre, giving you the opportunity to study in a world-famous university city.

Our University Foundation programme is recognised by the Universities and Colleges Administration Service (UCAS). For more information about UCAS, visit www.ucas.ac.uk

Students on the University Foundation Programme receive free English language textbooks and academic textbooks.

Dates and prices

All prices are in GB pounds sterling (£). Currency converter ®

*Booking discount! Students will receive a 5 per cent discount on tuition fees if the total balance is paid at least 6 weeks prior to the start of the first term.This discount is offered on the tuition fee only, it does not apply to accommodation, insurance, booking or airport transfer fees.

Accommodation options and prices

Bell Cambridge accommodation options:

Type	Description								Weekly fee (GBP£)
Residential	Sorrento Residence: single en-suite room, daily bed & breakfast. Part of small hotel complex, between school and city centre					19	15mins	15mins	233
	Tripos Court: self-catering, single room with private shower and toilet. Lively student residence between school and city centre, and opposite popular Cambridge Leisure Centre					18	10mins	10mins	179
	Peterhouse College: self-catering, single room in shared student house. Available in July and August only. Traditional simply furnished university accommodation in Cambridge's historical city centre					19	15mins	0mins	133
	Sedley Court: self-catering, single room with private shower and toilet. Available in July and August only. Lively student residence between school and city centre					18	15mins	15mins	179
Homestay	Single room, daily bed & breakfast, no evening meals.	Various - available on request.							105
	Single room, daily bed & breakfast, evening meals, weekend lunches.	Various - available on request.							140
Guesthouse and hotels	Available on request.
Lunches	£35 of credit per week for food and drink can be added to any accommodation option.

See also

Interested in IELTS or Cambridge ESOL exam preparation?
Click here to view our other Exam preparation courses.

Want to do a Masters degree but need to develop your English and academic study skills?
Click here to view details about our Pre-Masters course.

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Quick downloads

For a comprehensive overview of the University Foundation Programme at Bell International College Cambridge and what it entails we recommend that you download the following document:

• Course Handbook
  (PDF, 163KB)

To view answers to common questions regarding the University Foundation programme, please view the following FAQ’s document:

• Frequently Asked Questions
  (PDF, 51KB)

Please use this form to ask us a question.

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