Foundation programmes
If you don’t have a relevant subject background or need additional English language teaching, a foundation programme may be the right route for you.
The School of Social Sciences doesn’t offer a foundation programme for international students. However The University of Manchester does validate the INTO Manchester, International Foundation Programme and guarantees a conditional offer to applicants who successfully complete it.
Other approved UK foundation programmes
All students need to meet our international student requirements, but the School also accepts some other UK-based foundation programmes.
Remember, we look at all of the information that you submit in your UCAS application. This includes your personal statement, academic reference and previous educational achievement. Because of this, the requirements listed below may vary depending on your individual circumstances.
Contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for advice on programmes that are not on this list.
Undergraduate Admissions Office
School of Social Sciences
Email: socialsciences@manchester.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)161 275 4748/1473/2291/4470
List of accepted foundation courses
If you do not have GCSE Mathematics grade B you must be taking Mathematics as part of your foundation course.
Bellerbys College
(Foundation Programme) – 80% overall with no less than 75% in any subject. IELTS 6.5 overall, with no lower than 6 in any component.
Bosworth College
(University Foundation Programme) – 75% overall with no component lower than grade B. IELTS 6.5 overall, with no lower than 6 in any component.
Bridge House College, Nigeria
(University Foundation Programme) – Grades AAB/ABB in Major Modules, depending upon the degree course applied for. Minimum grade B in IGCSE Mathematics and grade C in English (First Language) – if not taken as part of the foundation programme.
Cardiff University
(International Foundation Programme) – Three distinctions, remainder Merits, depending upon the degree course applied for. IELTS 6.5 overall, with no lower than 6 in any component.
CATS
Canterbury, Cambridge and London – AAA/AAB depending upon degree course applied for. IELTS 6.5 overall, with no lower than 6 in any component.
David Game College
(University Foundation Programme) – AAA/AAB in both major and minor modules, depending upon the degree course applied for. IELTS 6.5 overall, with no lower than 6 in any component.
Kaplan International College (KIC) London
75% overall with no lower than 70% in any subject, depending upon the degree course applied for. IELTS 6.5 overall, with no lower than 6 in any component.
Kuala Lumpur University College
(Foundation in Business) – AAABB over three semesters. IELTS 6.5 overall, with no lower than 6 in any component. (Where students are not taking Maths/English as part of the International Foundation Programme an appropriate Maths + English qualification will be required).
Kings Advanced Level Foundation, Bournemouth/Oxford/ London
No lower than 75% in any subject. IELTS 6.5 overall, with no lower than 6 in any component.
Liverpool International College at the University of Liverpool
75% overall with no lower than 70% in any subject, depending upon the degree course applied for. IELTS 6.5 overall, with no lower than 6 in any component.
Liverpool John Moores University
(Foundation Programme) – 75% overall, depending upon the degree course applied for. IELTS 6.5 overall, with no lower than 6 in any component.
University of London
(with academic direction from LSE) – Three distinctions and a Merit depending on the course applied for. IELTS of 6.5 overall with no lower than 6 in any component.
INTO Manchester
(International Foundation Programme) – Grades AAAA–AABB, depending upon the degree course applied for.
Mander Portman Woodward Cambridge
University of London (International Foundation Programme) – Two/One distinction(s), remainder Merits including Merit in compulsory Mathematics and Statistics course, depending upon the programme applied for. Applicants for the BSc Economics must be taking Pure Mathematics and should achieve Distinction. IELTS of 6.5 overall with no lower than 6 in any component.
NCUK
(International Foundation Programme) – Grades AAAA–AABB, depending upon the degree course applied for.
Oncampus (University of London) IFP
University of London (International Foundation Programme) – Overall Distinctions. No less than 70% in Pure Maths and Economics, depending on the course applied for, plus IELTS 6.5 overall with no lower than 6.0 in any component. We do not accept the Oncampus UFP.
Oxford Brookes University
(International Foundation Diploma) – Achieve five A grades and remainder B's from nine modules. IELTS 6.5 overall, with no lower than 6 in any component.
Queen Mary, University of London
(International Foundation Course) – Access Pass with Merit and no lower than 70% in any subject.
Queen's University Belfast INTO
(International Foundation Course) - Grades AAAA–AABB, depending upon the degree course applied for.
Royal Holloway, University of London
(University Foundation Programme) – 75% overall with no lower than 67% in any subject. IELTS 6.5 overall, with no lower than 6 in any component.
University of Salford
(International Foundation Year) – AA in Mathematics and Economics. No lower than 70% in any subject. IELTS 6.5 overall, with no lower than 6 in any component.
Sheffield International College at the University of Sheffield
(Certificate in University Foundation Studies – Business, Law and Social Sciences) – 75% overall with no lower than 70% in any subject, depending upon the degree course applied for. IELTS 6.5 overall, with no lower than 6 in any component.
SOAS, International Foundation Programme (ICC)
(International Foundation Programme) – 75% overall with no less than 70% in any subject. IELTS 6.5 overall, with no lower than 6 in any component.
St Clare’s, Oxford
(University Foundation Course) – Achieve A, A, A. IELTS 6.5 overall, with no lower than 6 in any component.
St Michael’s College, Tenbury Wells
(Foundation Programme) – Three/Two subjects at grade A, with grade B in remaining subjects, depending upon the degree course applied for. IELTS 6.5 overall, with no lower than 6 in any component.
Stratford-upon-Avon College
(International Foundation Year) - Two distinctions, remainder merits. IELTS of 6.5 overall, no lower than 6 in any component.
Trinity College Melbourne
Pass foundation year with an average of 80% overall, including Maths and Economics. IELTS 6.5 overall, with no lower than 6 in any component.
UCL
(University Preparatory Certificate for the Humanities) – No lower than 70% in any subject. IELTS 6.5 overall, with no lower than 6 in any component.
University of Warwick
(Higher Education Foundation Programme) – Distinctions in academic subjects and High Credit in Inquiry Research Skills. IELTS 6.5 overall, with no lower than 6 in any component.