International Foundation Diploma (Extended pathway)
Foundation Diploma
Key facts
Start dates
September 2023 / September 2024
Location
Course length
Full time: 1 year (September to August)
Department
Overview
This course develops your study skills, subject knowledge and use of academic English to prepare you for a wide range of undergraduate degrees. It includes a first semester of pre-sessional English. See 'Progression and degree options' below for a list of degrees you can study afterwards.
You should take this course if you need to take a foundation course before starting undergraduate study and have an English level of IELTS 4.5 or equivalent.
In your first semester you will improve your academic English skills and you will then continue onto foundation modules for your second and third semesters. You will only need to make one application and you can apply for a visa for the whole three semester programme.
See our full range of international foundation courses if you have a higher IELTS level, including our integrated four-year degrees that combine your foundation and undergraduate degree.

How to apply
Entry requirements
Academic entry requirements
- Qualifications from your country
- British A-levels: EE
- British AS-levels: CCC
- International Baccalaureate: 20 points
- IGCSE: 5 grade Cs/4s
Minimum age
The normal minimum age for this course is 18. We will admit 17-year-olds on a case-by-case basis if they turn 18 during the academic year in which the course runs.
Under 18s are only admitted to the University if they live in student accommodation. Find out more about the university's policy on the safeguarding of children.
English language requirements
UKVI-approved SELT IELTS 4.5 (with 4.0 in all skills) (test must be taken at an approved test centre)
If you have a higher language level, you can apply for one of our other international foundation courses.
English requirements for visas
This course is classed as a B1 level for visa purposes. To apply for a student visa you will need to meet the minimum B1 English language requirements.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Application process
Apply online directly to Oxford Brookes
For assistance with your application contact our admissions team on admissions@brookes.ac.uk
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
How and when to pay
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
- For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
- For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page
You will not be eligible for a student loan or other funding from the UK government for this course.
Deposits and refunds
A £3,000 deposit is required to secure your place on this course.
In the unlikely event that you decide to leave within the first four weeks of the course, we will refund the tuition fees minus a £100 administration fee. No refunds are available after the fourth week of the course. For more information see our terms and conditions.
The fees that EU/EEA students starting courses at UK universities after the UK has formally left the EU are required to pay will depend on what is agreed as part of the UK's exit negotiations. Please see our Brexit pages for the most up-to-date information.
Financial support and scholarships
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.
Learning and assessment
The programme fully prepares you for university study at a UK university. You will experience all the teaching and learning methods used in UK universities, such as lectures, seminars and tutorials. You will develop your listening and note-taking skills and learn how to take part in seminars. You will also develop your own ideas through group discussions and class presentations.
You will gain practice and training in the different kinds of assessment that are common in higher education, for instance essays, reports, individual and group presentations, reflective learning journals and project work.
You will be taught by highly qualified academic staff. They are specialists in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) who have many years of teaching experience in the UK and overseas.
The semester 1 class sizes are small. You will be allocated an academic adviser to help you with academic issues and guide you through your progression to the foundation and then undergraduate course.

Study modules
In the first semester you will improve your English language skills on the modules that are part of University English Level 1
During your final two semesters you will take International Foundation Diploma modules to further develop your knowledge of using English for academic purposes. You will develop your subject knowledge through modules related to your future course of study. One of these modules will be at undergraduate level to give you the experience of studying at a higher level.
Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.
Learning and teaching
You will have around 15 class hours per week. Classes are held Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays), usually between 9am and 5pm. Some subject modules may be between 5pm and 8pm.
You will need to spend at least 20 hours per week on independent study which includes homework, assignments, tutorials, reading and preparation for classes (in groups or individually).
Student support
Our student support team provides academic and pastoral student support services for all students across all Pathways programmes. The Pathways student support is facilitated by the Student Support Coordinators (SSCs) for the Oxford Brookes Business School. Find out more.
Progression
Progression: Once you pass your foundation year with the required grades, this foundation diploma can prepare you for a range of outstanding degrees at Oxford Brookes University.
- Business and Management
- Biological, Environmental and Medical Sciences (for IFD students starting in Sept)
- Arts, Digital Media and Publishing
- Computing
- Education
- Hospitality Management
- Law
- English and Modern Languages
- History, Philosophy and Culture
- Social Sciences
We will give you advice on the best course for you and help you to apply for your chosen undergraduate course at a British university. There are lectures and seminars on British higher education, and individual help with your application from staff here at Oxford Brookes.
If you would like to check your eligibility to study an undergraduate course, please contact the admissions team on admissions@brookes.ac.uk or call + 44 (0) 1865 535000 for further information.
Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been
published on the website. For more information, please visit our
changes to programmes page.