This Foundation Year prepares students for entry onto an undergraduate programme at SOAS. During the Foundation Year, students are equipped with the skills and knowledge required for undergraduate study. In addition to modules on academic practice, digital skills and technology, topical global issues and cultural fluency, and working with numbers, they receive an introduction to different academic disciplines taught at SOAS in the departments of Finance and Management, Economics and Law.
The Foundation Year is excellent preparation for students who may benefit from an additional year of study before beginning an undergraduate degree, including students who do not have the required grades for direct entry onto an undergraduate programme or who have not previously studied the relevant subjects.
Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings
Start of programme: September
Mode of Attendance: Full-time
Who is this programme for?:
Foundation College at SOAS
BTEC: MMM
Access to HE: Minimum of 21 Level 3 Credits at Distinction
Scottish Highers: CCCCC
Scottish Advanced Highers: CCC
Irish LC: 260 points from 5 Higher level subjects at grade C1 or above
Advanced Placement: 3 3 4 (Two semesters - UCAS Group A) plus US HSGD with GPA 3.0
Euro Bacc: 70%
French Bacc: 12-11
German Abitur: 3-2.5
Italy DES: 70/100
Austria Mat: 3-2.7
Polish Mat: 65%
Fees for 2021/22 entrants per academic year
Please note that fees go up each year. Further details see 'Fees and funding' (tab on this page) or the Registry's undergraduate tuition fees page.
Students passing the Foundation Year progress onto another undergraduate degree in the School. Students are supported to make a guided decision about the programme that they wish to go on to study. On successful completion of their degree, students will graduate with the degree title and subject progressed onto after the Foundation Year.
International students requesting an integrated CAS for the 4-year integrated degree (Foundation Year + BA/BSc degree programme) will be required to state on the CAS request form which BA/BSc degree programme they will be progressing to at the end of successful completion of the Foundation Year. Students who later change their mind about the preferred degree programme will need to return to their home country to submit a new Student Visa application.
Alternatively, you may want to consider doing the International Foundation Programme (ICC). This qualification allows students to apply for a single CAS covering the one-year programme, then apply for their preferred degree programme from within the UK. For further information about this programme see the International Foundation Programme (ICC)
You will take six modules during the Foundation Year, as detailed below.
| Module | Code | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Practice | 155100001 | 30 | Full Year |
| Numbers and Quantitative Reasoning | 155100002 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Digital Skills and Technology | 155100003 | 15 | Term 1 |
| The World from SOAS | 155100004 | 15 | Term 1 |
| Cultural Fluency | 155100005 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Introduction to Business, Management, Economics & Law | 155100007 | 30 | Full Year |
The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. If you are a current student you can find structure information on the previous year link at the top of the page or through your Department. Please read the important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules.
The Foundation Year is designed to ensure that students are capable of succeeding at undergraduate level, with an emphasis on the development of skills and knowledge that will be important throughout their undergraduate studies. In the Academic Practice module, for example, students develop a range of academic skills and techniques, including critical thinking and academic writing, culminating in a supported project. Students are closely supported by their Foundation Year teachers and academic advisors.
Full details of undergraduate tuition fees can be found on the Registry's Undergraduate Tuition Fees page.
Fees for 2020/21 entrants. The fees below are per academic year. Please note that fees go up each year.
| Programme | Full-Time | |
|---|---|---|
|
UK |
Overseas Students |
|
| BA, BSc, LLB | £9,250 | £18,630 |
| BA/BSc Language Year Abroad | £1,385 | £9,320 |
Undergraduate students with UK residency taking a degree or some full-time certificate programmes are eligible for a non-means-tested tuition fee loan from Student Finance or SAAS to cover the cost of their tuition fees. You repay this loan once you have left university and are earning over £25,000 per year.
On the Student Finance system degree programmes are listed in generic groups, instead of by subject.
When completing your loan application please enter ‘degree’ in the course detail box and click the search icon. You can then select the relevant length generic degree title. You will see 7 options, and you should select Humanities and Social Science Degree with Foundation Year.
If you are an EU resident and applying using a paper form do not enter the UCAS code on the course details page. Instead, enter the generic degree title in the course name box.
| BA/BSc with Foundation Year | Humanities and Social Science Degree with Foundation Year |
For further details and information on external scholarships visit the Scholarships section
On successful completion of their degree, students will graduate with the degree title and subject progressed onto after the Foundation Year. Advice on future careers will help students to make a guided decision about the undergraduate degree programme that they progress onto.
Applicants for the Foundation Years who are Speakers of English as a Second Language (ESL speakers) will be asked to submit evidence of their English Language ability and will be expected to meet one of the following requirements:
| Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Speaking | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| TOEFL IBT | 100 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
| PTE Academic | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 |
| Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Speaking | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.5 |
| TOEFL IBT | 100 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 23 |
| PTE Academic | 65 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 65 |
| Duolingo | 120 |
ESL applicants with scores in other English tests should contact englishassess@soas.ac.uk
If you still have questions about this programme or studying at SOAS get in touch.
Undergraduate applications should be made through UCAS.