International Foundation Programme

The International Foundation Programme is a full-time, one-year programme. It is designed to prepare you for degree-level study within the College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Edinburgh.

We are currently delivering hybrid teaching during 2020/21 academic year due to Covid-19 restrictions. We will continue to update you on the teaching you can expect when you start your programme in 2021 throughout your application process.

Courses for 2021/2022

All of the courses within the International Foundation Programme have been specifically designed to ensure you have the best possible start to your university learning experience. As each course progresses, its academic, individual study and assessment requirements will gradually become closer to those you will experience in your first year of degree level study.

Teaching & Assessment

Every course within the International Foundation Programme will be taught by expert University of Edinburgh staff. The University of Edinburgh is ranked one of the top 20 universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2020).

In most courses, you will take practice assessments which have been designed to help you develop your academic skills and prepare you for degree level study. Further details of course content, structure and assessment methods for each course can be found on the course pages.

Learn more: https://www.ed.ac.uk/arts-humanities-soc-sci/international-and-study-abroad/foundation-programme/about/structure-and-content

Our Top 10 Reasons for Choosing the IFP at the University of Edinburgh!

1. The University of Edinburgh is consistently one of the best 50 universities in the world. We're ranked 20th in the most recent QS World University Rankings.

2. More than 13,000 international students from more than 160 countries study at the University of Edinburgh.

3. 95% of the University’s graduates go on to employment or further study (2011 report by the Higher Education Statistics Agency).

4. The programme provides an entry route to over 150 degrees within the University’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. This includes degrees in business, law, international relations and English literature.

5. Successful completion of the programme with good grades and the required level of English language provides guaranteed progression to degree level study at the University of Edinburgh.

6. You will receive English language tuition from the University’s English Language Education department. The Centre is one of the largest higher education centres for English language teaching in the UK.

7. You will be a fully enrolled student at the University of Edinburgh. You will have access to all of the University’s academic, support, social and sporting facilities.

8. You will be taught by University of Edinburgh staff both online and, where possible, at our campus in Edinburgh city centre.

9. Throughout the programme you will receive dedicated one-to-one and group support from your personal tutor.

10. The hybrid approach of teaching both online and where possible in person, allows for greater flexibility for you as an individual, making the course available to you in a way that suits your circumstances.

"The IFP prepares students academically and socially for university, whilst creating a comfortable community that fosters diverse learning. I still keep in close contact with the friends that I made during my time in this course. The course definitely prepared me for the rigorous academics and the responsibilities that came with independent living. It provided a foundation on which I could confidently begin my first year, enhanced communication skills that I have used throughout my university career, and allowed me to understand how to best amplify my academic potential within the learning environment provided by the university. Walking through the Edinburgh streets is simply enough to make one smile, and it therefore provides an excellent student experience." - Hibiki from Japan, Former IFP student

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to be considered for entry to the programme, you must be an international student:

• Whose first language is not English
• Whose school qualifications were obtained within the last 4 years
• Who is not eligible for direct entry to the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences' undergraduate degrees because your school qualifications are not accepted. Please note that you can check if your qualifications are accepted for direct entry via this section of the website.

Tuition fees

The tuition fee for the International Foundation Programme 2020-2021 is £19,150. To be eligible to be considered for entry to the program, you must be an international student. Final tuition fees for our 2021-2022 programme are still being decided.

Learn more via our website.