COVID-19 update
Find out about how we'll be delivering our courses in 2020.
Full Time: 7 months
Start date: January 2021
Study from a wide range of subject modules to guarantee a place on an undergraduate degree course at the University of Reading with the Online International Foundation Programme.
If you are planning on coming to the UK to study, and you don't have British A level qualifications or the equivalent, the International Foundation Programme (IFP) offers you the opportunity to prepare for an undergraduate degree at a British university.
This programme will be taught online so that you can study at Reading from wherever you are in the world. We have two entry points in the academic year which both enable students to progress to an undergraduate degree at Reading in the following academic year. The first is a September start and the other is a January start.
This January–August option offers you the same quality and benefits as the September–June programme but in a more focused format. It enables you to progress to many degrees within the University of Reading except for Science and Life Science degrees. Popular progression degrees are those within:
- Henley Business School (Accounting, Business, Finance, and Management)
- Law
- Real Estate
- Construction Management and Engineering
- Quantity Surveying
- Economics
- Entrepreneurship and Consumer Behaviour and Marketing
- Psychology.
Upon successful completion you will be guaranteed a place on your chosen degree course in September of the same year.
You will be taught by the same academics as the campus based IFP. Teaching will be through a mix of recorded lectures and live online seminars and tutorials. In these live interactive sessions, you’ll get to know your tutors and classmates and build relationships, which will support you throughout your studies. You will have access to the huge online library resources of the University of Reading as well as the study and welfare support that is available. Additionally, you will be assigned an Academic Tutor who will meet with you online at least twice a term to review your progress and offers personal support and guidance throughout the programme.
You will study academic skills and a selection of subjects relating to your chosen pathway. For instance, if you are hoping to study Law at undergraduate level, you will typically study two of the following modules, in addition to the compulsory Law module:
- An Introduction to Business and Management
- Economics
- Information Systems and Statistics
- Sociology
- Mathematics for Economics and Business
- Politics
- Psychology
Depending on your English language skills you may have to take the International English module instead of one of the above. Please note that these modules are subject to change.
By the end of the programme you will be knowledgeable in subject areas relevant to your chosen degree and able to present ideas and arguments with accuracy and confidence both orally and in writing. You will also have learnt to apply the transferable skills necessary for undergraduate study.
Around 80% of students who take the IFP at the University of Reading qualify to progress on to their chosen undergraduate degree. Graduates have enjoyed successful careers in a wide range of industries, including accountancy, law, food science, pharmacy, financial services, and investment banking.
Typical offer
What will you study?
How much will it cost?
New UK/EU students: £9,250 per year
New international students: £16,890 per year
* UK and EU Fee Changes
UK undergraduate fees are regulated by the government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK and EU** students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.
From 2020, the UK government may link tuition fees to the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
**EU students
For more information on fees, loans and grants for EU students, see fees and funding for home/EU students.
IFP scholarships and discounts
Please see our International Foundation Programme (IFP) website to find out more about scholarships and discounts for IFP students.
Additional Costs
These course fees cover the cost of your tuition. Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.
Financial support for your studies
You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK and other EU countries may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.
What career can you have?
During the International Foundation Programme (IFP) you will develop transferable skills such as the ability to produce high quality written work, interpret and analyse a range of information, think critically, and communicate well.
A large number of our students who complete the IFP (January entry) go on to study at Henley Business School or the University of Reading Law School. Graduates from Henley Business School and the Law School have enjoyed successful careers in a wide range of industries, including accountancy, legal, media, financial services and investment banking.