University of Manchester Foundation Year (Updated 2024)

The University of Manchester is a Russell Group university that is ranked among the top 15 universities in the UK and the top 30 in the world. It is also a diverse university with 44.5% international students and offers a number of foundation pathways to their undergraduate programmes. Read on to learn more about Manchester’s foundation programmes.

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About the University of Manchester

Established in 1824 as the Manchester Mechanics’ Institute, the University of Manchester is among the top universities in the UK today. The university is well-known for its excellent research standards and for being one of the largest universities in the UK. The university’s main campus is located within walking distance to the city centre.

The University of Manchester offers its students a wide range of subjects, a lively student experience, and a great reputation among employers. The university boasts of having the largest students’ union in the UK with hundreds of student societies and a diverse student body with 44.5% of students hailing from 160 countries outside of the UK and EU. There are approximately 630 students from Malaysia studying at the University of Manchester.

The university is ranked 17th in the UK according to the University League Tables 2024 from The Complete University Guide. Some subjects offered by the University of Manchester are ranked among the top 10 in the country on QS Subject Rankings of 2024. The university has 25 subjects ranked in the top ten of the UK following the Subject league of 2024 by Complete University Guide. Among them are Optometry, Opthalmics and Orthoptics; Education; Pharmacology & Pharmacy and more. The university is also part of the Russell Group – we go into more detail about this in our article about Russell Group Universities here.

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INTO Manchester Study Centre

INTO Study is the university’s foundation partner which offers a variety of foundation programmes targeted at international students. The INTO Manchester Study Centre is located in Bridgewater House, about a five minutes’ walk away from the main university campus. INTO Study specialises in placing international students in universities in the UK and US. It offers a number of foundation courses in partnership with universities, including Manchester.

INTO Manchester offers the International Foundation Year which provides a pathway to undergraduate programmes at the University of Manchester, provided that the student achieves the required grades in the foundation programme. International students and students who have not completed A-Levels or equivalent qualifications may undertake the International Foundation Year to progress to an undergraduate programme.

If you’re a school-leaver contemplating taking a foundation year instead of the A-Levels, we have an article that discusses the pros and cons of foundation programmes in our article, Should you do a UK foundation year?

The University of Manchester Foundation Year

The University of Manchester’s International Foundation Year is a preparatory programme that bridges the gap between secondary education and university. It is made specifically for international students to prepare them for the level of academic English and other skills required for undergraduate studies, as well as to ease them into university life.

School leavers who have achieved the equivalent qualifications of GCSE O-Levels may apply to the programme. Therefore, the foundation year is taken in place of the A-Levels which is one of the requirements for entry into undergraduate programmes. Upon completion of the International Foundation Year with the required grades, students may progress to their choice of undergraduate programmes at the university.

The foundation programmes at Manchester are customised to best prepare students for the future undergraduate course that they intend to undertake. The programmes include modules that are related to the subject. The University of Manchester offers the Integrated Science and Engineering Foundation Programme and the Biosciences with a foundation year programme. Meanwhile, its foundation partner, INTO Study, offers International Foundation Programmes for the following subjects:

  • International Foundation in Aerospace, Chemical and Civil Engineering
  • International Foundation in Biosciences
  • International Foundation in Humanities and Social Sciences
  • International Foundation in Maths and Computer Science
  • International Foundation in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
  • International Foundation in Pharmacy
  • International Foundation in Physics and Natural Sciences
  • International Foundation in Psychology

The University of Manchester Virtual Learning 2024

The University of Manchester offers 42 online degrees and short courses for 2024 entry. This is great news for international students who are enrolling in 2024 as they can complete their studies from the comfort and safety of their homes!

The university has offered its students some flexibility through its blended courses which offers some face-to-face teaching along with online lectures. Virtual learning students will benefit from the same support that students attending classes in person do – they are also assigned an academic tutor and a study advisor for support during the duration of their studies.

The University of Manchester Reviews

Thomas
5/5

“I have really enjoyed my 2 years at the University of Manchester as I have trialled every sport you can think of, attended a vast range of different societies, met people from every background of life and every corner of the world. The university “life” is amazing with the city centre being close but the student campus feeling a big part of the world you live in, sometimes I forget I’m even in the city. Also, the teaching is world class getting taught by huge names who make ripples in the real industry world.”

Student
5/5

“This particular academic year has been relatively challenging owing to the pandemic. However, the University has arranged everything so nicely that we didn’t experience any difficulties with our studies. Of course, the use of technology did facilitate the process.”

Nadin
5/5

“Plenty of opportunities available throughout the course itself and medical and non-medical societies to join. Great mix of international students and postgrad too. Problem-based learning has been helpful for the lifelong approach to learning.”

Manchester Foundation Year Entry Requirements

Malaysian students who are studying A-levels or the International Baccalaureate (IB) can apply directly to the first year of an undergraduate/bachelor’s degree. The typical grade requirements are: A-levels: A*AA – ABB and IB: 34-38 points, with 7, 6, 6 – 6, 5, 5 in Higher Level (HL) subjects. If you have other types of qualifications, check this university’s webpage for more information or contact the university for further assistance.

IELTS is required to apply for a UK visa. We recommend a minimum score of 5.5 overall for INTO Manchester international foundation programmes. The requirement is higher if you want to enter the University of Manchester Integrated Science and Engineering Foundation Programme (IELTS 6.0, minimum of 5.5 in each component) and the Biosciences with a Foundation Year (IELTS 6.5). Our Complete Guide to IELTS in Malaysia has further information about the exam, required scores, and more.

University of Manchester International Foundation Year Tuition Fees

Frequently Asked Questions

The University of Manchester offers the International Foundation Year programme for a number of subjects through its foundation partner, INTO Study.

Tuition fees for foundation year at the University of Manchester range between £24,995-30,000 for 2023-24 entry.

Malaysian students who have taken A-levels, IB or equivalent qualifications might not need to take the foundation programme.

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