A unique University Foundation Programme

With over 60 years’ experience teaching students from around the world, we’ve been able to build a University Pathway course quite unlike anything else. In this blog, we will explore who the foundation course is for, what makes our programme so unique, and how we prepare you for progression to university.

Who is a foundation course for?

It is for students who wish to:

• Further their academic education after completing Secondary Education in a non-English speaking country
• Advance their English language skills and academic study skills
• Improve their IELTS score for entry to university
• Prepare to join a university degree course taught in English

What makes our University Foundation Programme so unique?

The University Foundation Programme is designed to gently build confidence both inside and outside the classroom. The course is comprised of 21 group lessons per week, alongside a weekly academic tutorial to monitor progress. We help you develop critical thinking skills and become an independent learner for success at university. We encourage you to attend our Open Learning Club 4 afternoons per week to make use of the many English language resources and research materials available.

All four language skills – speaking, listening, reading and writing – are developed and integrated within lessons. This gives you the opportunity to sample academic subjects while acquiring the language skills you need to improve your IELTS score. Stimulating weekly themes are used across the college, to provide a topical context to your language learning. In addition to our Weekly Themes, Study Visits in Oxford enable you to build on classroom learning in a practical context. The nearby museums, libraries, and other academic resources mean you can make the most of life in a world-famous University city.

St Clare’s in an international college, so if you choose to study our University Foundation Programme you will get the opportunity to expand your cross-cultural awareness. We also offer weekly activities and excursions as part of the University Pathways experience. So you can make new international friends and explore historic and cultural sites within the UK. Many students enjoy our trips to Blenheim Palace, the Cotswolds, London and weekends surfing in Cornwall.

Every student who successfully completes the University Foundation Programme is ready to progress to a university degree course in the UK. Our specialist Careers and Higher Education team supports University Pathway students during their studies, allowing them to receive expert, independent advice on the opportunities available at universities in the UK or abroad. In 2020, our University Foundation Programme saw 22 students receive offers from Universities ranked in the World Top 200. 

We prepare you for life in the UK and progression onto a university course in just 1 academic year. Find out more about our University Foundation Programme or download our college brochure.

We still have places available for our University Foundation Programme starting on 6 September 2021.