International Foundation for Science and Engineering

Introduction

Overview

Preparing students for direct entry to Year 1 of an undergraduate degree in a range of subjects including Biomedical Sciences, Computing, Engineering, Nursing, and Science at Queen's University Belfast.

On campus and online study options
This program is available to study either on campus or online – giving students the flexibility to choose what’s best for them.

If your student starts online in March/April 2022, they’ll have the opportunity to transfer to an on-campus program the following term. They’ll need to meet any visa requirements and demonstrate good attendance and performance during their studies online.

Key information

  • Progress to Year 1 of a wide range of undergraduate degrees at Queen's University Belfast.
  • Benefit from a range of practical and theoretical work both individually and as part of a group.
  • Carry out ecology investigations.
  • Make use of internationally recognised laboratory facilities.
  • Learn from subject lecturers on the programme who are qualified to PhD level.
  • Take part in an annual Biology Field Trip to an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Fast facts

Class duration

  • English classes per week: 8 hours (including 1 hour tutorial)
  • Subject module classes per week: 12 hours
  • Total typical hours per week: 20

Students taking the accelerated 2-term programme:

Semester 1

  • English classes per week: 6 hours, plus 6 hours online learning
  • Subject module classes per week: 18 hours, plus 6 hours online learning
  • Total typical hours per week: 32

Semester 2

  • English classes per week: 8 hours (including 1 hour tutorial)
  • Subject module classes per week: 12 hours
  • Total typical hours per week: 20

Morning and afternoon classes are held Monday to Friday between 09.00 - 18.00 excluding bank holidays.

Award

International Foundation Certificate (RQF Level 3) from Queen's University Belfast.

Teaching

Teaching methods

  • Lectures.
  • Seminars.
  • Workshops.
  • Group projects and presentations.
  • Practical exercises.
  • Field trips.

Why Queen's University Belfast?

  • All degrees are accredited by the relevant professional body.
  • Access to the University's laboratories with high quality facilities.
  • Opportunities to undertake field trips in Northern Ireland and to see how theory has been applied in practice.
  • Many degrees offer work placements giving students real life, hands-on experience.
Start Dates September January
Program length 3 Terms

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

Completion of 12 years of schooling (or the local equivalent to meet the same standard) with good grades. All students must hold a GCSE grade 4/C Mathematics or equivalent.

English language entry requirements

3 Terms: IELTS 5.0 (with a minimum of 5.0 in writing and no less than 4.5 in all other subskills) or equivalent.

Dates & fees

September 2022 start
(3 Terms)

Mon 19 September 2022 - Fri 16 December 2022
Mon 9 January 2023 - Fri 24 March 2023
Mon 27 March 2023 - Fri 16 June 2023

January 2023 start
(3 Terms)

Mon 9 January 2023 - Fri 24 March 2023
Mon 27 March 2023 - Fri 16 June 2023
Mon 19 June 2023 - Fri 25 August 2023

Progression

P
 =  Placement option available
A
 =  Study abroad option available

Degree subject

Final level %

English level %

Additional requirements

Aerospace Engineering Sandwich-BEng (Hons)

BBC

C with a minimum of D in each component

BBC (Mathematics and at least one from Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry or Further Mathematics) + GCSE Physics grade C or equivalent

Aerospace Engineering Sandwich-MEng (Hons)

ABB

C with a minimum of D in each component

ABB (Mathematics and at least one from Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry or Further Mathematics) + GCSE Physics grade B or equivalent

Aerospace Engineering-BEng (Hons)

BBC

Grade C with a minimum of grade D in each component

BBC including Mathematics and at least one from Physics(preferred), Biology, Chemistry or Further Mathematics, and GCSE Physics grade 4/C or equivalent

Aerospace Engineering-MEng (Hons)

ABB

Grade C with a minimum of grade D in each component

ABB (Mathematics and at least one from Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry or Further Mathematics) + GCSE Physics grade B or equivalent

Applied Mathematics and Physics-BSc (Hons)

ABC

C with a minimum of D in each component

Applied Mathematics and Physics-MSci (Hons)

AAB

C with a minimum of D in each component

Archaeology-MSci (Hons)

ABB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Audio Engineering-BSc (Hons)

BBB

B with a minimum of D in each component

BBB including Mathematics and at least one from Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry or Further Maths + GCSE Physics Grade C or equivalent

Biochemistry with Professional Studies-BSc (Hons)

BBB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Biochemistry-BSc (Hons)

P

BBB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Biological Sciences (Sandwich) with Professional Studies-MSci (Hons)

ABB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Biological Sciences with Professional Studies-BSc (Hons)

BBB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Biological Sciences-BSc (Hons)

P

BBB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Biological Sciences-MSci (Hons)

ABB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Biomedical Science-BSc (Hons)

ABB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Chemical Engineering Sandwich-BEng (Hons)

BBC

C with a minimum of D in each component

Chemical Engineering Sandwich-MEng (Hons)

ABB

C with a minimum of D in each component

Chemical Engineering-BEng (Hons)

BBC

C with a minimum of D in each component

B (Mathematics) BC (including at least one from Biology, Chemistry or Physics) + GCSE Chemistry and Physics grade C or equivalent

Chemical Engineering-MEng (Hons)

ABB

C with a minimum of D in each component

ABB (Mathematics and at least one from Biology, Chemistry or Physics) + GCSE Chemistry and Physics grade B or equivalent

Chemical Technology-MEng (Hons)

ABB

C with a minimum of D in each component

ABB including Mathematics and Chemistry

Chemistry with a Year in Industry-BSc (Hons)

BBC

C with a minimum of D in each component

Chemistry-BSc (Hons)

P

BBC

C with a minimum of D in each component

Chemistry-MSci (Hons)

ABB

C with a minimum of D in each component

Civil Engineering (Sandwich)-BEng (Hons)

BBC

C with a minimum of D in each component

BBC (Mathematics and at least one from Biology, Chemistry or Physics) + GCSE Physics grade C or equivalent

Civil Engineering (Sandwich)-MEng (Hons)

ABB

C with a minimum of D in each component

Civil Engineering-BEng (Hons)

BBC

C with a minimum of D in each component

BBC (Mathematics and at least one from Biology, Chemistry or Physics) + GCSE Physics grade C or equivalent

Civil Engineering-MEng (Hons)

ABB

C with a minimum of D in each component

ABB (Mathematics and at least one from Biology, Chemistry or Physics) + GCSE Physics grade B or equivalent

Computer Engineering with a Year in Industry-BEng (Hons)

BBC

C with a minimum of D in each component

BBC (Mathematics and at least one from Physics, Biology, Chemistry or Further Mathematics) + GCSE Physics grade C or equivalent

Computer Engineering with a Year in Industry-MEng (Hons)

ABB

C with a minimum of D in each component

Computer Engineering-BEng (Hons)

BBC

C with a minimum of D in each component

BBC (Mathematics and at least one from Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry or Further Mathematics) + GCSE Physics grade 4/C or equivalent

Computer Engineering-MEng (Hons)

ABB

C with a minimum of D in each component

ABB (Mathematics and at least one from Physics, Biology, Chemistry or Further Mathematics) + GCSE Physics grade B or equivalent

Computer Science with Professional Experience-BSc (Hons)

BBC or BBB

C with a minimum of D in each component

Computer Science with a Year in Industry-MEng (Hons)

ABB or AAB

C with a minimum of D in each component

Computer Science-MEng (Hons)

ABB or AAB

Grade C with a minimum of grade D in each component

ABB including Mathematics or AAB including Physics or Chemistry + GCSE Mathematics grade C or equivalent

Computing and Information Technology including Professional Experience-BSc (Hons)

P

BBB

Grade C with a minimum of grade D in each component

BBB and GCSE Mathematics grade 4/C or equivalent

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Sandwich-BEng (Hons)

BBC

C with a minimum of D in each component

BBC (Mathematics and at least one from Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry or Further Mathematics) + GCSE Physics grade C or equivalent

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Sandwich-MEng (Hons)

ABB

C with a minimum of D in each component

ABB (Mathematics and at least one from Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry or Further Mathematics + GCSE Physics grade B or equivalent

Electrical and Electronic Engineering-BEng (Hons)

BBC

Grade C with a minimum of grade D in each component

BBC with B in Mathematics and at least one from Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry or Further Mathematics, and GCSE Physics grade 4/C or equivalent

Electrical and Electronic Engineering-MEng (Hons)

ABB

Grade C with a minimum of grade D in each component

ABB with A in Mathematics, B in Biology, Chemistry or Physics and GCSE Physics grade 6/B or equivalent

Environmental Management-BSc (Hons)

P

BBB

B with a minimum of D in each component

BBB including at least two from Biology, Economics and Geography + GCSE Mathematics grade C or equivalent

Environmental and Civil Engineering-MEng (Hons)

ABB

C with a minimum of D in each component

ABB with A in Mathematics, B in Biology, Chemistry or Physics and GCSE Physics grade 6/ B or equivalent

European Planning with Placement-MPlan (Hons)

BBB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Food Quality, Safety and Nutrition (Sandwich) with Professional Studies-MSci (Hons)

ABB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Food Quality, Safety and Nutrition with Professional Studies-BSc (Hons)

BBB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Food Quality, Safety and Nutrition-BSc (Hons)

P

BBB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Food Quality, Safety and Nutrition-MSci (Hons)

ABB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Food Science and Food Security (Sandwich) with Professional Studies-MSci (Hons)

ABB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Food Science and Food Security-MSci (Hons)

ABB

B with a minimum of D in each component

ABB including Biology or Chemistry (preferably both) + GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics grade C or equivalent

Geography-BSc (Hons)

BBC

B with a minimum of D in each component

BBC + GCSE Mathematics grade C or equivalent

Human Biology-BSc (Hons)

ABB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Marine Biology (Sandwich) with Professional Studies-BSc (Hons)

BBB

C with a minimum of D in each component

Marine Biology (Sandwich) with Professional Studies-MSci (Hons)

ABB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Marine Biology-BSc (Hons)

P

BBB

C with a minimum of D in each component

Marine Biology-MSci (Hons)

ABB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Mathematics and Computer Science-BSc (Hons)

ABC

C with a minimum of D in each component

Mathematics and Computer Science-MSci (Hons)

AAB

C with a minimum of D in each component

A (Mathematics) AB

Mathematics and Statistics and Operational Research-BSc (Hons)

ABC

Grade C with a minimum of Grade D in each component

ABC with A in Mathematics

Mathematics with Finance-BSc (Hons)

AAB

C with a minimum of D in each component

Mathematics-BSc (Hons)

ABC

C with a minimum of D in each component

Mathematics-MSci (Hons)

AAB

C with a minimum of D in each component

Mechanical Engineering Sandwich-BEng (Hons)

BBC

C with a minimum of D in each component

Mechanical Engineering Sandwich-MEng (Hons)

ABB

C with a minimum of D in each component

Mechanical Engineering-BEng (Hons)

BBC

Grade C with a minimum of grade D in each component

BBC with B in Mathematics and at least one from Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry or Further Mathematics, and GCSE Physics grade 4/C or equivalent

Mechanical Engineering-MEng (Hons)

ABB

Grade C with a minimum of grade D in each component

ABB (Mathematics and at least one from Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry or Further Mathematics) + GCSE Physics grade B or equivalent

Medicinal Chemistry with a Year in Industry-BSc (Hons)

BBC

C with a minimum of D in each component

Medicinal Chemistry-BSc (Hons)

P

BBC

C with a minimum of D in each component

Medicinal Chemistry-MSci (Hons)

ABB

C with a minimum of D in each component

Microbiology (Sandwich) with Professional Studies-BSc (Hons)

BBB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Microbiology (Sandwich) with Professional Studies-MSci (Hons)

ABB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Microbiology-BSc (Hons)

BBB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Microbiology-MSci (Hons)

P

ABB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Midwifery Sciences-BSc (Hons)

CCC

A with a minimum of A in Listening, Speaking and Reading and a minimum of B in Writing

Pharmaceutical Biotechnology-BSc (Hons)

BBB

B with a minimum of C in each component

BBB (to include Biology and Chemistry) + GCSE Mathematics grade C or equivalent

Pharmaceutical Sciences-BSc (Hons)

BBB

B with a minimum of C in each component

Pharmacy-MPharm (Hons)

AAB

B with a minimum of C in each component

Physics with Astrophysics-BSc (Hons)

BBC

C with a minimum of D in each component

Physics with Astrophysics-MSci (Hons)

ABB

C with a minimum of D in each component

Physics with Medical Applications-BSc (Hons)

BBC

C with a minimum of D in each component

Physics with Medical Applications-MSci (Hons)

ABB

C with a minimum of D in each component

Physics-BSc (Hons)

BBC

C with a minimum of D in each component

Physics-MSci (Hons)

ABB

C with a minimum of D in each component

Planning, Environment and Development-BSc (Hons)

BBC

B with a minimum of D in each component

BBC + GCSE Mathematics grade C or equivalent

Product Design Engineering Sandwich-BEng (Hons)

BBC

C with a minimum of D in each component

Product Design Engineering Sandwich-MEng (Hons)

ABB

C with a minimum of D in each component

Product Design Engineering-BEng (Hons)

BBC

C with a minimum of D in each component

BBC (Mathematics and at least one from Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry or Further Mathematics) + GCSE Physics grade 4/C or equivalent

Product Design Engineering-MEng (Hons)

ABB

Grade C with a minimum of grade D in each component

ABB (Mathematics and at least one from Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry or Further Mathematics) + GCSE Physics grade B or equivalent

Professional Nursing (Adult)-BSc (Hons)

CCC

A with a minimum of A in Listening, Speaking and Reading and a minimum of B in Writing

Professional Nursing (Children and Young People)-BSc (Hons)

CCC

A with a minimum of A in Listening, Speaking and Reading and a minimum of B in Writing

Professional Nursing (Mental Health)-BSc (Hons)

CCC

A with a minimum of A in Listening, Speaking and Reading and a minimum of B in Writing

Professional Nursing Learning Disabilities-BSc (Hons)

CCC

A with a minimum of A in Listening, Speaking and Reading and a minimum of B in Writing

Psychology-BSc (Hons)

BBB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Sociology with Quantitative Methods-BSc (Hons)

BBB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Software Engineering with a Year in Industry-BEng (Hons)

BBC/BBB

C with a minimum of D in each component

BBC including Mathematics or BBC including Physics or Chemistry and + GCSE Mathematics grade C or equivalent

Software Engineering-MEng (Hons)

ABB or AAB

C with a minimum of D in each component

ABB including Mathematics or AAB including Physics or Chemistry + GCSE Mathematics grade C or equivalent

Structural Engineering with Architecture (Sandwich)-MEng (Hons)

ABB

C with a minimum of D in each component

Structural Engineering with Architecture-MEng (Hons)

ABB

C with a minimum of D in each component

Theoretical Physics-BSc (Hons)

ABC

C with a minimum of D in each component

Theoretical Physics-MSci (Hons)

ABB

C with a minimum of D in each component

Zoology (Sandwich) with Professional Studies-BSc (Hons)

BBB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Zoology (Sandwich) with Professional Studies-MSci (Hons)

ABB

B with a minimum of D in each component

ABB including Biology and preferably Chemistry + GCSE Chemistry and Mathematics grade C or equivalent

Zoology-BSc (Hons)

BBB

B with a minimum of D in each component

Zoology-MSci (Hons)

P

ABB

B with a minimum of D in each component