Our Pre-Foundation Year (PFY) provides the ideal preparation for students wishing to join the International Foundation Year the following year.
Business Foundation Programme
Pre-Foundation Year:
Ages 16-17 (Year 12)
Our Business Foundation Programme is for students interested in studying business-related degrees at university. Depending on age and qualifications, students can study over two years or just one year.
Entry Requirements
- Students must be 16 or 17 years old (at the start of the course)
- IELTS 4.5 (or higher) or CEFR B1
- Preferably 3 – 4 GCSE already passed at Grade 4 or higher (not including L1)
- Keen interest in studying Business at an advanced level
- A decent proficiency in Mathematics (equivalent to GCSE grade 5 or higher)
Course Details
- Three terms (1 year) of approximately 32 weeks starting in September and ending in June
- 1 x Business Studies AS Level (5 hours/week)
- 1 x Economics AS Level (5 hours/week)
- 2 x GCSE/IGCSE subjects (9 hours/week) [Note that students need to take Maths &/or English GCSE if not already passed at Grade 5 or higher]
- 4 x Study Skills (4 hours/week)
- 1 x PSHE (1 hour/week)
- Maximum class size of 12 students
- Frequent and structured mentoring sessions with a personal tutor
- 650 hours of directed study
- 350 hours (minimum) of additional independent study
- Sport on Tuesdays & Thursdays (students are able to choose their sport/activity)
- No uniform – students are expected to wear their own suits/business attire
NC UK International
Foundation Year:
Ages 17 – 18 (Year 12)
The NCUK International Foundation Year (IFY) prepares international students for study in business-related disciplines at undergraduate level and offers an alternative pathway to University from the more traditional A-Level or IB programmes.
Designed by universities exclusively for international students, the NCUK IFY combines academic modules, study skills and English language training to provide a pathway to undergraduate degree courses at leading universities in the UK and around the world.
Students study at Taunton School International and as the IFY is completed in just 10 months, it provides students with a fast-track route onto Business-related undergraduate courses. Students studying on the IFY take three core modules of Business Studies, Economics and EAP (English for Academic Purposes) as well as one of the following options: Maths (for Business) or Global Studies.
Not only do students receive an outstanding education in the modules they study, they also learn how to think critically and use English for academic purposes, developing the necessary skills to become an autonomous learner, ready to take on the challenges of university life.
Entry Requirements
- Students must be 17 or 18 years old (at the start of the course)
- IELTS ≥ 5.5 or CEFR ≥ B2
- 1 A Level (grade E or higher) OR 2 AS Levels (Grade E or higher) OR 5 GCSEs at Level 4 or above (Grade 5 in Mathematics) OR successful completion of 12 years of school education
- Where no external Mathematics qualification has been achieved, students will need to sit and pass an internally-assessed Mathematics test
- Keen interest in Business Studies and preferably, have studied this subject (or similar) to approximately GCSE level
Course Details
- Three terms of approximately 30 weeks, starting in September and ending in June
- 1 x Business Studies module (5 hours/week)
- 1 x Economics module (5 hours/week)
- 1 x English for Academic Purposes module (10 hours/week)
- 1 x Mathematics (for Business) module OR 1 x Global Studies (5 hours/week)
- 650 hours of directed study
- 450 hours (minimum) of additional independent study
- Frequent and structured mentoring sessions with a personal tutor
- Maximum class size of 12 students
- Personalised careers advice
- Guidance and support for university applications
- Sport on Tuesdays &/or Thursdays (students are able to choose their sport/activity)
- No uniform – students are expected to wear their own suits
University Entry
Upon successful completion of the course, students have a guaranteed place at one of over 50 universities in the UK and around the world. Some of the Universities our students have access to include many Russell Group Universities such as Birmingham, Bristol, Durham, Exeter, Leeds, Manchester, Queen Mary and Sheffield. For further information on NCUK, please click here.
For further support and advice, please contact our Admissions Team, who will be happy to help you with any questions you might have or to take you through the application process.
International Foundation Year Results
Another hugely successful year for our International Foundation Year students who all received acceptances from their first-choice universities onto undergraduate courses in wide variety of disciplines including Business Management with Marketing, Business Enterprise Development, International Management, Accounting and Finance and International Relations.
The IFY students this year worked exceptionally hard, ably guided and supported by their wonderful teachers and their efforts were rewarded with an amazing set of results with the highlight being an 83.3% A*-B pass rate.
Well done everyone and we wish you all continued academic success in your respective universities.
Contact our Admissions team
For further support and advice, please contact our International Admissions Team, who will be happy to help you with any questions you might have and guide you through the application process.