ENGR3004
15 credits
This is a practical module that will introduce to you aspects of the design and development of mechanical and electrical engineering components, devices and...
Foundation Year Engineering Foundation
Build the academic knowledge, study skills and confidence to prepare for the next stage of your studies.
Key facts
- Duration
- Full time: 1 year foundation course leading to a 3 or 4-year degree course
- Part time: 2 years
- Starts
- September 2027
- Level
- Undergraduate
- UCAS code
- H111
- Location
- Headington
- School
- School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics
About this course
The demand for engineers is at an all-time high in the UK. By studying our foundation course, you’ll be taking your first step to success. We’ll prepare you for degrees in mechanical, motorsport, and automotive engineering, so you can kickstart your career and become part of this exciting industry.
Technical expertise meets creativity and imagination on this course. You'll explore the basic mathematical and scientific principles in engineering and how they apply to the real world. All of this knowledge will help you bring ideas to life.
Gaining hands-on experience will be important too. You’ll work with real engine components and take part in industry-inspired workshops, with plenty of time spent in our laboratories. At times it will be challenging, but it means you’ll feel ready to join one of our degree programmes by the end of your foundation year.
If you're a motorsports fanatic then there’s no better place to study than Oxford Brookes. We’re connected to the industry and even have our own Formula Student team which you can get involved with as a foundation student.
Oxford Brookes Racing
Get involved with our Formula Student team. Formula Student (FS) is Europe's most established educational engineering competition and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2023.
At the heart of motorsport
We have strong connections to local Formula One teams and other automotive factories in the area.
Study abroad
You may be able to go on a European or international study exchange while you are at Brookes. Most exchanges take place in the second year. Although we will help as much as we can with your plans, ultimately you are responsible for organising and funding this study abroad.
Language courses
Our university-wide language programme is available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| UCAS tariff points | 56 |
| A-level | CD |
| BTEC Extended Diploma | MP or PPP |
| International Baccalaureate | 24 |
| GCSE English Language | Grade 5 (B) or above |
| GCSE Maths | Grade 5 (B) or above |
We welcome applications from candidates with alternative qualifications, and from mature students.
Fees and funding
Fees
| Fee types | 2026/27 | 2027/28 |
|---|---|---|
| Home full-time | £9,790 | £10,050 |
| Home part-time | £1,220 per single module | £1,255 per single module |
| International full-time | £18,250 | £19,300 |
Please note, tuition fees for Home students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning Home students at the maximum permitted level.
For further information please see our tuition fees FAQs.
Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students.
The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.
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.
Questions about fees?
Learning and assessment
Every engineer needs excellent mathematics skills. That’s why you’ll complete a double module in maths. Don’t worry, we'll start with the basics, and gradually explore more complex areas. We also cover data analysis and statistics which are also key skills for professionals in this area.
You’ll look at the mechanical principles that underpin engineering, from forces, stresses, and strains, to kinematics, thermodynamics, and experimental techniques. We’ll also explore electronic engineering principles and how these principles come to life in engineering parts, devices, and systems.
By looking at engineering applications, you’ll understand how mechanical and electronic engineering integrate. That’s key for knowing how to use materials, build faster cars and create real change.
We’ve designed this course so you’ll be ready to move on to our degree programme when you finish. With knowledge of the key principles, you’ll be ready to take your learning to the next level and apply your skills to practical design challenges.
Our teaching methods include:
- lectures with question-and-answer sessions
- demonstrations
- small-group tutorials
- practical work.
We also use tutorial sheets and assignments to develop your abilities and provide focused feedback. As well as encourage you to work on your own and extend your understanding.
| Contact hours | Total workload | Timetabled |
|---|---|---|
| about 12 hrs a week | 1,200 hrs a year | Mon–Fri, 09:00–18:00 |
Assessment
We assess you through a combination of examination and coursework. However, some modules are based wholly on coursework.
Our assessment methods include:
- assignments
- library exercises
- class tests
- online tests
- assessed practical work using innovative applications of IT and specialised equipment
- Invigilated examination.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
STAT4002
15 credits
This module introduces you to statistics with the emphasis on fundamental and basic techniques of statistical data analysis. You will, in addition, build your...
ENGR3002
15 credits
You will study the basic mechanical engineering principles to build your knowledge and skills in mechanical engineering. You’ll develop your knowledge to be...
ENGR3003
15 credits
Study and learn the basic electronic engineering principles to start building your understanding and to develop your active knowledge of electronic engineering...
LOCAL-G2975
This is your introduction to Engineering Mathematics and its application to real-world problems. This is a post module, which provides you with the mathematics...
Careers
If you pass this foundation course, we guarantee you a place on one of our engineering degree programmes. Students who progress to a degree subject have even become members of staff for the department after graduating.
Whatever you decide to do next, you’ll get support from the University Career Service. The team can help you research companies and careers, as well as explain how to apply for jobs.
How to apply
Our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, so module availability and course structures may vary from what is listed here. On rare occasions, we may also need to make updates to our course programmes after publication; for full details, please visit our changes to programmes page (opens in a new tab)