All You Need to Know about International Foundation Programs

A foundation program is a UK-inspired study course designed to fill the gap between your current level of qualification and knowledge and the level needed to be admitted to a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree at an international university.

Foundation degrees, also known as preparation courses or pathways programs, complement any knowledge or qualification that you might still be lacking after finishing high school.

They help students coming from different education systems around the world (Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East, Russia, Africa, North or South America) to align their qualification to the education system of the country where they want to study abroad.

Who can enroll in a foundation program?

Foundation programs target both local and international students from all over the world. Courses for foreign students (coming from a different country) also include English language classes.

Foundation programs can be generic, designed to prepare the student for starting a degree in a certain field, for example, foundation programs in Business, in Computer Science or in Humanities and Arts.

Foundation programs don’t usually award students an academic degree upon completion but guarantee a certain level of qualification that allows them to follow a higher education degree such as a Bachelor’s or Master’s program.

Foundation courses: duration, format, and start dates

Most universities in the UK or continental Europe offer prep courses that usually take one academic year to complete (a total of 32 weeks). Preparation courses are usually divided into three semesters, or phases, each with its own number of modules.

Modules are split into minor (more generic) subjects and major ones, more specialized towards the student’s future academic path. Usually, students start their foundation degrees in September, graduating in time to start their Bachelor’s or Master’s in October, the next year.

Intensive 6-month pathway programs are available for students who want to complete their studies faster. Faster foundation study tracks start in January and end in August of the same year. However, many international foundation programs have flexible start dates.

Foundation programs: assessment

The evaluation system is very similar to any other study program and includes:

· exams

· presentations

· projects

· assignments

The foundation program can be based in the country of study or can also be taught in the student’s local country by an institution that has an agreement with that specific university. An assessment uses several academic credit points, assigned differently for coursework or exams.

When should I study a foundation program?

A foundation program is very useful when you have decided to study a degree at an international university, but you don’t have all the required qualifications to be admitted. The right foundation program focuses on your interests, providing the best chance to become qualified for admission.

Why should I study a foundation program?

1. Increased chances of university admission

Complete a foundation program to be fully qualified to start an undergraduate or graduate degree at a university you like. Most students that follow a foundation program get into great universities abroad.

2. Improve English language proficiency

Advance your English skills to meet university admission requirements. Foundation programs for internationals always include language courses, to help you communicate during your studies and in daily life.

3. Direct access to great universities

Discover the university where you plan to study a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and decide if it’s the right place for you. Learn more about the requirements, practices, and the country’s culture. Talk to teaching staff and students at the university to get a unique insight into your possible future.

4. Reduced culture shock

By already spending one year in the country where you want to study, it’ll be much easier to move abroad and get over the initial culture shock. This will make the beginning of your studies a lot smoother and comfortable.

It also provides you with knowledge about all the paperwork and formal procedures you’ll need to go through to study and live abroad.

5. Getting into the right mindset

Maybe you don’t have any problem meeting entry requirements for a Bachelor’s or Master’s abroad. This doesn’t mean a foundation degree would be of no use to you.

Many international students choose to take a pre-Bachelor’s or pre-Master’s in order to prepare mentally for their first year of studies abroad. It’s much easier to get going if you already know what to expect, know your location and some of your colleagues.

What qualifications do I need to be accepted to a foundation program?

Entry requirements for most foundation programs are usually not difficult to meet. You’ll generally need:

successful completion of 12 years of basic education anywhere in the world

basic language proficiency depending on the requirements in the country

proof of studying certain subjects in your high school syllabus relevant for the foundation program.

IFC in SDID

To provide students with more diversified pathways to study abroad, to examine students' knowledge and to assess their learning ability from multiple perspectives, the International Department of Beijing Shida High School has introduced the International Foundation Certificate (IFC) from 2021, which is widely recognized by over 100 universities in the UK, the US, Australia, and Canada, and The IFC International Foundation Certificate (IFC) Examination Centre has been established. Students who pass the examinations will be awarded the IFC International Foundation Certificate and a certificate of completion.

Students who pass the examinations will receive a transcript and a certificate of completion of the IFC International Foundation Programme. They can also apply to overseas higher education institutions in the UK, Australia and New Zealand that recognize the IFC International Foundation Programme (see Appendix 3 for details).

Students who have completed the same or similar subjects as the IFC International Foundation Programme in our International Department can take the IFC International Foundation Programme examinations for the same subjects directly and receive a transcript for the corresponding subjects.

The Advantages of IFC in SDID

Over the past 15 years, the IFC International Foundation Certificate (IFC) has been established in Beijing Foreign Studies University, Central University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai Foreign Studies University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Nanjing University, Nanjing University of Technology, Zhejiang University, Huazhong Normal University, Sichuan University, University of Electronic Science and Technology, Chongqing University, Sichuan Feng Hua High School, Northwest University, Xi'an Jiaotong University and Suzhou Feng Hua High School. The IFC has established teaching bases in key universities and schools across China, including Central University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai University of Foreign Studies, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Nanjing University, Nanjing University of Technology, Zhejiang University, Huazhong Normal University, Sichuan University, University of Electronic Science and Technology, Chongqing University, Sichuan University of Foreign Languages, Zhongshan University, South China Normal University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Northwestern University, Northeastern University and Suzhou Feng Hua High School.

After years of teaching practice, the IFC International Foundation Programme has been accredited and recognized by more than 100 overseas universities in seven countries, including the UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the Netherlands and Ireland, and the cumulative number of students studying and going abroad has exceeded 8,000. Chinese high school students who have obtained the transcripts and certificates of completion of the IFC International Foundation Programme can apply to foreign universities without the need to study in the first year of their undergraduate studies.

你需要知道的所有关于预科课程的一切

师达IFC预科课程是一种受英国启发的学习课程，旨在填补你目前的资格和知识水平与进入国际大学攻读学士或硕士学位所需水平之间的差距。

预科学位，也被称为准备课程或路径课程，补充你在完成高中学业后可能仍然缺乏的任何知识或资格。

它们帮助来自世界各地（亚洲、澳大利亚、欧洲、中东、俄罗斯、非洲、北美洲或南美洲）不同教育体系的学生将他们的资格与他们想要出国留学的国家的教育体系接轨。

总之，IFC预科课程帮助师达的学子，从中式教育到西式教育实现顺利转轨提供学术支持。

谁可以报名参加预科课程？

预科课程针对来自世界各地的本地和国际学生,师达国际部的IFC课程主要对象是国际部和普高11年级的学生。项目周期为1年，需要修读的课程为11门。

预科课程可以是通用的，旨在为学生开始某个领域的学位做准备，例如，商业、计算机科学或人文和艺术的预科课程。

预科课程在完成后通常不授予学生学术学位，课程在本校进行授课。学生接受EWIE全国统一考试，考试合格，将会授予IFC课程成绩单和相关证书。使他们能够继续接受高等教育学位。

预科课程：期限、形式和开始日期

英国或欧洲大陆的大多数大学都提供预科课程，通常需要一个学年才能完成。IFC预科为2个学期，共修读11门课程。

模块分为主修科目和选修科目，以适应学生未来的学术道路。通常情况下，学生在第一学期开始攻读基础课程，第二学期次年5-6月份参加毕业考试，毕业后及时在第二年10月开始攻读本科课程。

预科课程：评估

评估系统与其他学习项目非常相似，包括:

- 考试

- 演讲

- 项目

- 作业

基础课程可以在学习的国家进行，也可以由与该特定大学有协议的机构在学生的当地国家授课。一个评估使用几个学术学分，以不同的方式分配给课程作业或考试。IFC课程为中国在地国际化的成功实践，是经过EWIE授权，在师达国际部落地国际预科项目。

我应该在什么时候学习基础课程？

11年级即将结束时，师达中学国际部将为有意向留学，实现中西方教育转轨的同学提供IFC课程报名的机会。正确的预科课程专注于你的兴趣，为你提供最好的机会来获得入学资格。

为什么我应该学习预科课程？

1. 增加大学录取的机会

完成一个基础课程，就完全有资格在你喜欢的大学开始学习本科或研究生学位。大多数学习预科课程的学生都能进入国外的优秀大学。

2. 提高英语语言水平

提高你的英语技能，以满足大学入学要求。国际学生的预科课程总是包括语言课程，以帮助你在学习和日常生活中沟通。

3. 直接进入优秀大学

发现你计划学习学士或硕士学位的大学，并决定它是否适合你。了解更多关于要求、做法和国家文化的信息。与大学的教学人员和学生交谈，对你可能的未来有一个独特的见解。

4. 减少文化冲击

通过已经在你想学习的国家呆了一年，移居国外和克服最初的文化冲击就会容易得多。这将使你的学习之初变得更加顺利和舒适。

它还为你提供了关于你在国外学习和生活所需的所有文书工作和正式程序的知识。

5. 进入正确的心态

也许你达到国外学士或硕士的入学要求没有任何问题。这并不意味着基础学位对你没有用处。

许多国际学生选择修读学士预科或硕士预科，以便为第一年的海外学习做好心理准备。如果你已经知道要做什么，知道你的位置和一些同事，那么你就会更容易上手。

我需要什么资格才能被基础课程录取？

大多数预科项目的入学要求通常不难达到。你一般需要:

1.师达中学在读11年级的学生，包括师达国际部和普高学生。

2.具备基本的语言能力，具体要通过师达国际部的英语能力测试，包括笔试和面试。

师达IFC国际预科课程

为了给学生提供更多元境外升学途径，多方位考察学生知识掌握程度，多角度评测学习能力，北京市师达中学国际部自2021年起引入获得英美澳加等国100多所大学广泛认可的IFC国际本科预科课程（International Foundation Certificate），并设立IFC国际本科预科考试中心。我校在读国际高中学生可根据自身学业发展情况，在学习剑桥国际课程的同时参加IFC国际本科预科课程的学习和考试，通过考试的学生可获得IFC国际本科预科课程的成绩单和结业证书。同时申请认可IFC国际本科预科课程的英国、澳洲、新西兰等海外高等院校（详见附录3）。在我校国际部就读剑桥国际课程的同学，修读完毕与IFC国际本科预科课程相同或相近科目，可直接参加IFC国际本科预科课程同类科目的考试并获得相应科目的成绩单。

师达IFC国际预科优势

15年来，IFC国际本科预科课程（International  Foundation Certificate ），先后在北京外国语大学、中央财经大学、上海外国语大学、上海交通大学、南京大学、南京理工大学、浙江大学、华中师范大学、四川大学、电子科技大学、重庆大学、四川外国语大学、中山大学、华南师范大学、西安交通大学、西北大学、东北大学以及苏州枫华中学等全国重点大中学校建立教学基地。经过多年的教学实践，IFC国际本科预科课程已经得到英国、美国、澳大利亚、新西兰、加拿大、荷兰、爱尔兰7个国家的100多所海外大学认证和认可，累计就读并出国学生人数已超8000人。中国高中生在取得IFC国际本科预科课程的成绩单和结业证书申请国外大学，可免除预科直接就读大学本科大一课程，所获的海外学历学位归国后100%被教育部认证，IFC已成为国内最受欢迎和最具影响力的国际预科项目之一。

部分认可院校名单

国家 序号 学校名称 英文名称

英   国

1 约克大学 University of York

2 杜伦大学 Durham University

3 拉夫堡大学 Loughborough University

4 布里斯托大学 University of Bristol

5 埃克赛特大学 University of Exeter

6 巴斯大学 University of Bath

7 诺丁汉大学 The University of Nottingham

8 谢菲尔德大学 The University of Sheffield

9 女王大学（贝尔法斯特） Queen’s University, Belfast

10 纽卡斯尔大学 Newcastle University

11 东英吉利大学 University of East Anglia

12 雷丁大学 University of Reading

13 兰卡斯特大学 University of Lancaster

14 莱斯特大学 University of Leicester

15 南安普顿大学 University of Southampton

16 曼彻斯特大学 Manchester University

澳大利亚

1 拉筹伯大学 La Trobe University

2 格里菲斯大学 Griffith University

3 迪肯大学 Deakin University

4 南澳大学 University of South Australia

5 中央昆士兰大学 CQ University

6 巴拉瑞特大学 University of Ballarat

爱尔兰

1 都柏林商学院 Dublin Business School

2 阿斯隆理工学院 Athlone Institute of Technology

新西兰 1 坎特伯雷大学 University of Canterbury

2 怀卡托理工学院 Waikato Institute of Technology

3 维特利亚国立理工学院 Whitireia Community Polytechnic

4 国际太平洋学院 International Pacific College

5 奥克兰国际学院 International College of Auckland

6 林肯大学 Lincoln University