International Foundation Year in Sciences

Academic English Skills

Academic English Skills aims to provide you with thorough training in the language and related academic skills which will enable you to best achieve your academic potential at University. These skills include the processes of academic writing, effective and extensive reading strategies, effective participation in seminars and delivery of presentations, and listening to and recording information effectively from lectures. You will also develop the accuracy and range of written and spoken language required to use language effectively and appropriately, with clarity and confidence in an academic context.

Applied Mathematics

You will develop your ability to recognise how a real-world situation may be represented mathematically and how mathematical models can be improved and refined. You will be required to broaden your subject knowledge and deepen your understanding of the world around you.

Physics

You will gain a basic knowledge of atomic physics, materials, heat and gases and oscillations and waves.

On completion of the programme, you will be able to understand the main ideas and methods of physics and apply your understanding to solve problems. You will also be able to describe phenomena in terms of geometrical, pictorial and mathematical models.

Pure Mathematics

This module will develop your knowledge of algebra, solving equations and sketching graphs. A major part of this will be the use of calculus, focusing on functions, derivatives and integrals and their application in the “real world”.

If you study the General Sciences route, you will not be able to choose any additional optional modules.

Academic English Skills

Academic English Skills aims to provide you with thorough training in the language and related academic skills which will enable you to best achieve your academic potential at University. These skills include the processes of academic writing, effective and extensive reading strategies, effective participation in seminars and delivery of presentations, and listening to and recording information effectively from lectures. You will also develop the accuracy and range of written and spoken language required to use language effectively and appropriately, with clarity and confidence in an academic context.

Core Mathematics

This module will enable you to develop your knowledge of algebra, solving equations and using graphs to represent findings. You will also focus on statistical mathematics, including probability, hypothesis testing, sampling and estimation.

You will develop your ability to apply a wide range of techniques for understanding and analysing data. The emphasis is on understanding the implications of various techniques in practical situations.

Psychology

You will learn about the historical development of psychology as well as key areas of contemporary research, including cognitive, biological, developmental and social psychology.

You will also study the methods of psychological research and will be required to evaluate the scientific status of issues associated with research involving humans and animals.

Business

You will gain an understanding of the reasons behind starting a business, how a business is organised, the different legal frameworks a business can adopt and how businesses work with stakeholders in the real world.

Using international businesses as examples, the course looks into more detailed study of business activity in the fields of human resource management, marketing, finance and operations, and concludes with an in-depth study of global organisations, business objectives and ethics.

Physics

You will gain a basic knowledge of atomic physics, materials, heat and gases and oscillations and waves.

On completion of the programme, you will be able to understand the main ideas and methods of physics and apply your understanding to solve problems. You will also be able to describe phenomena in terms of geometrical, pictorial and mathematical models.

Politics

An introduction to International Relations theory, you will look at a range of issues that affect contemporary politics and develop an understanding of the principles of the legal system within England and Wales. Topics include: Introduction to Global Politics; Historical Context of Global Politics; The Global Economy; States and Foreign Policy and UK Government and Politics.

Sociology

You will be introduced to a range of issues which affect contemporary society, and study the research methods relevant to sociological investigations.

You will also study the way societies develop, their structure and the way in which they function, including aspects such as family, education, work and crime, and issues in which social divisions are prominent; poverty, health, race and gender.

Duration of the degree

The following degrees run for a duration of four years:

• MEng Electronic Engineering
• BEng Electronic Engineering with a Year in Industry (available with integrated year in business degree option)
• BSc Computer Science (Year in Industry)
• BSc Computer Science Artifical Intelligence ( Year in Industry)
• BSc Computer Science Information Security (Year in Industry)
• BSc Computer Science Software Engineering (Year in Industry)
• BSc Environmental Geology with a Year in Industry
• BSc Geology with a Year in Industry
• BA Modern Languages with Mathematics (available with integrated year abroad)

The following degrees run for a duration of five years:

• MEng Electronic Engineering with a Year in Industry (available with integrated year in business degree option)