Interdisciplinary Science with Foundation Year BSc

If you’d like to study science, engineering, technology or maths but don’t currently meet the admissions criteria for direct entry, then this extended degree is for you.

The foundation year provides a supportive environment where you can make the transition to university study and gain the academic knowledge and study skills you’ll need to succeed.

You'll develop your knowledge and understanding of the facts, concepts and principles in mathematics, chemistry and either biology or physics. You'll also gain skills for academic and scientific enquiry thorugh practical and laboratory work, and fieldwork.

On successful completion of the foundation year, subject to meeting the specific requirements for progression, you’ll continue to year one of your chosen degree course. You could progress onto a range of degree courses in science, engineering, mathematics, computing or healthcare. Recent students went on to study for degrees in biology, healthcare, zoology, computer science, food science, mechatronics and robotics, and nutrition.

Lifelong Learning Centre support

The Lifelong Learning Centre provides a supportive environment to help you make the transition to degree-level study. We’ll work with you during your foundation year to provide guidance and help identify the degree pathway most appropriate for you.

The foundation year is taught by the Lifelong Learning Centre at the University of Leeds. Staff work closely with you during the foundation year to help identify the degree choices that are most appropriate for you and map out your plans to work towards a successful progression. You’ll know from the beginning of your journey what your academic goals need to be and will be provided with guidance throughout the year to help you be as successful as you can be.

Core modules in chemistry, mathematics and skills are taken concurrently with the study of either biology or physics (depending on your progression route) to develop a knowledge and understanding of facts, concepts and principles within and across each of the scientific disciplines. You'll also gain skills for academic and scientific enquiry in practical, laboratory and fieldwork.

On successful completion of the foundation year, and subject to meeting any progression requirements, you’ll progress to year one of your chosen degree programme.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Interdisciplinary Science with Foundation Year BSc in the course catalogue

Modules

Year 1

Broadening your academic horizons

At Leeds we want you to benefit from the depth and breadth of the University's expertise, to prepare you for success in an ever-changing and challenging world. On this course you broaden your learning through core and/or optional modules. Find out more on the Broadening webpages.

Learning and teaching

There is a strong emphasis during the foundation year of the programme on helping you to achieve to your full potential. Teaching is imaginative and supportive to make sure that you are intellectually stretched and helped through any sticking points in your learning. Group sizes are small enough for you to engage actively and be well supported by your peers.

Assessment

Methods of assessment during the foundation year reflect those that you will find later in your degree in order to ensure that you are well prepared for continuing study. Assessment is a key way of enabling students to learn by doing and feedback from tutors supports this process.

Entry requirements

A-level: CDD excluding critical thinking and general studies.

Applicants taking a Science A-level (in England) will be required to achieve a pass in the practical element in addition to the standard A-level grade requirement.

Please note: we cannot consider applicants who are looking to progress onto medicine, dentistry or engineering courses, and are not predicted or did not achieve the grades required for direct entry on your chosen progression course.

During the Foundation Year you will study Chemistry, Mathematics and, depending on the degree course you wish to progress onto, Biology or Physics. We are therefore unable to consider your application if you would be repeating three subjects that you have already studied at A-level (or equivalent).

GCSE: English, Maths and Science at grade C/4 or above.

Other course specific tests:

Candidates who are suitable for the course will be invited to a selection day. Here they will have an interview and sit a 30 minute maths exam.

For applicants wishing to progress to:

• A physics, maths or engineering degree programme – GCSE English and science at grade C/4 or above and GCSE maths at grade B/6 or above, or equivalent.
• Medicine and Dentistry – GCSE maths and English at grade C or 4 or above
• Nursing (Adult) BSc, Nursing (Child) BSc and Nursing (Mental Health) BSc – normally 5 GCSEs at grade C or 4 or above, to include maths, English and two science subjects.
• Midwifery BSc – normally 5 GCSEs at grade C or 4 or above to include science, maths and English at grade B or 6 or above.
• Healthcare Sciences (Audiology) BSc, Healthcare Sciences (Cardiac Physiology) BSc and Radiography BSc – 5 GCSEs at grade C or 4 or above to include maths, English and science

Additional entry criteria

As well as the academic requirements above, you must live permanently in the UK and meet at least one of the following:

• Your permanent address is in a neighbourhood with low progression to higher education.
• You attended a school which achieved less than the national average of 5 grade A*or 9 - C or4 passes at GCSE or attainment 8 score at GCSE
• You grew up in public care.

We actively encourage applications from mature students. Further consideration will be given to the life experience of mature applicants and the circumstances in which they gained prior qualifications.

• Access to HE Diploma

  60 credits overall including at least 45 credits at level 3, of which 25 must be at Merit or above.

• BTEC

  Merit, Merit, Pass

• Cambridge Pre-U

  P1, P2, P3

• International Baccalaureate

  24 overall (12 higher)

• Irish Highers (Leaving Certificate)

  Please contact the Lifelong Learning Admissions Team

• Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers

  Please contact the Lifelong Learning Admissions Team

• Welsh Baccalaureate

  Please contact the Lifelong Learning Admissions Team

Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the School’s Undergraduate Admissions Team.

Alternative entry

If you don't have the required level 3 qualifications you can complete our Alternative Entry Scheme. If you don’t have the required GCSEs, you will also be asked to take tests in English and maths. Contact the Lifelong Learning Centre for more information.

How to apply

Apply to this course through UCAS. The institution code for the University of Leeds is L23. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website.

Please mention on your personal statement the area you want to progress to.

If your application your application is shortlisted you’ll be invited to a selection day to assess your commitment and potential.

Admissions policy

Lifelong Learning Centre Admissions Policy 2019

Fees

UK: To be confirmed

For UK and non-UK EU full-time students starting in 2018, the fee for 2018/19 will be £9,250. 

For UK and non-UK EU full-time students starting in 2019, the fee for 2019/20 will be £9,250. 

The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation, and as permitted by law. For example, the increase of 2.8% in 2017/18 was based on the government’s forecast for the RPI-X measure of inflation.

The UK government has confirmed that non-UK EU students starting in the 2019/20 academic year will have home fee status and be eligible for UK government student loans. The UK government has not confirmed the situation for future years, so keep checking our website for updates.

There are no upfront fees to pay. All eligible students are able to borrow the entire cost of tuition fees making study free at the point of entry, with good repayment terms. You are eligible if you are studying for 30+ credits per year on a programme which is at a higher level than any qualification already held. Previous study in Higher Education may affect your eligibility.

Additional cost information

<p>£10 or less for scientific research project costs in skills module.</p>

Financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

Depending on your circumstances, non-repayable financial support including a fee discount is available from the Leeds Financial Support scheme.

On successful completion of the foundation year you could progress onto a range of degree courses in the sciences, engineering, mathematics, computing and healthcare. For more information about specific career opportunities plese check the degree course you wish to progress to.

Careers Support

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate.

The University and the Lifelong Learning Centre provide a range of activities to support LLC students looking to:

• explore their career options
• develop or enhance their employability skills
• gain work or voluntary experience
• prepare for promotion, review or a role change at work
• find and apply for jobs

Read more at Careers support for LLC students and on the University’s Careers website.