UNIVERSITY PATHWAY TO
COMPUTER SCIENCE

INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION PROGRAMme
in COMPUTER SCIENCE

The International Foundation Programme is a two or three-term course designed for international students who wish to progress onto undergraduate courses in the UK to study IT and Computer Science-related fields. The programme consists of academic modules, study skills, and one-to-one tutorials. We'll provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed on your chosen university course.

programme details

Our Computer Science Foundation Programme is your gateway to a competitive degree course in IT, helping to prepare you for undergraduate courses at a British university or a prestigious institution abroad.

You can start in October or January. Entry requirements will vary from country to country, so it's best to contact us to discuss your individual education background and goals.

Improving your study skills and Academic English

The SCL International College University Foundation Programme in Computer Science will:

Help you develop an analytical approach to your studies and apply newfound knowledge to practical scenarios.
Encourage you to explore various learning styles to see what suits you best.
Improve your study skills such as reading and note-taking strategies, essay construction, research methods, and translating theory into practice.
Challenge you to work in teams, actively participate in class, and present to small groups.
Enhance your communication skills in speaking, negotiating and writing.
Develop your 21st century skills such as collaboration, creativity and critical thinking.
Prepare you for university entrance exams such as IELTS or TOEFL.

Throughout the Foundation in Computer Science course, you will participate in our Academic English programme, helping you prepare to meet English language standards set by your chosen university.

Assessment and feedback

Our assessment practices model those found in UK Higher Education with detailed feedback and support for mock, practical and final assignments.

We continuously monitor the progress of our students across the course duration – in lessons, progress tutorials and group work – as well as attendance for visa compliance.

All coursework, both formal and informal, is submitted electronically via an encrypted online service, and we use Unicheck to guard against plagiarism for all formal assessments.

With final examinations we ensure our students have the preparation needed to succeed and to progress to higher education; this includes opportunities for resits for assignments and exams as needed.

Preparing for computer science degree programmes at UK universities

As an integral part of our Computer Science programme, international students gain comprehensive knowledge of the British university environment and of different aspects of living and studying in the UK.

We train students to adapt their skills and knowledge to the specific context and environments of UK universities. This includes guiding students through the UCAS process, ensuring they achieve the best offers in the most appropriate universities for each individual. Moreover, our university partners guarantee admission, subject to passing the relevant qualifications.

Student success and progression

At SCL International College, we are committed to ensuring you gain the necessary English language qualifications and study skills to advance to a British university. Your academic tutor will take a personal interest in your progress and help you develop your study plan accordingly.

With our personalised approach, we achieve great success with students who may not have a traditionally strong academic record, but who show huge potential. By the time you complete our programme, you will have the knowledge base and confidence needed to excel both academically and personally when studying Computer Science at a university in the UK or abroad.

Read our blog post to learn more about what to expect!

Concentrating specifically on computer science before enrolling at university

The Computer Science at SCL International College is multi-disciplinary programme. You will receive a comprehensive introduction to a wide range of materials, techniques, and processes. Our aim is to develop your creative interests and challenge you to explore new and exciting ways of expression via technology.

You will participate in regular one-to-one teaching with a variety of specialist teachers. Your modules will cover a wide range of topics including programming, databases, networks and web development. The course is practically based with a strong emphasis on applying what you're learning to real-life situations in different fields.

The topics include contemporary processors and computer hardware characteristics, software and software development techniques, data communication, network communication, and Boolean algebra.

You will also have the opportunity to complete a project which allows for more in-depth study of a chosen topic and helps to develop your research and analytical skills, which are important in order to succeed at a higher academic level.

Outcomes

By the end of this module, international students will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of, and the ability to apply, the underlying principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, decomposition, logic, algorithms, and data representation.
Show an appreciation of the analysis of problems in computational terms through solving such problems using programmes appropriately.
Demonstrate the capacity to think analytically, logically, and critically.
Appreciate a range of different aspects of computer science.
Use computer science-related mathematics.
Design, write and test programmes to solve problems.
Explain how a programme works.
Use abstraction effectively.
Adopt a systematic approach to problem-solving.

What career can you have after graduating with a degree in computer sciences?

ADVANCING TO A COMPUTER SCIENCE DEGREE AT UNIVERSITY

When you study with SCL and successfully complete your course, we offer access to our network of 19 British and international universities. In addition to these institutions of higher education, students have also received offers of admission from over 20 highly ranked universities across the UK.

How to apply

Students who enrol on our International Foundation Programme typically have good high school grades, especially in Computer Science. You must be at least 18 years old by the time your course starts, and you are expected to have an English language level equivalent of:

IELTS: 4-4.5
TOEFL: 32 (Current Scoring) or 2.5 (New Scoring)
PTE Academic: 29
Cambridge English: PET (Pass) or FCE (Borderline)
CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference): B1
Duolingo English Test: 60+
GCSE/GCSE English: Grade D/3

Have a question about your academic qualifications or visa requirements? We'd be happy to help you!

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PRE-SESSIONAL ENGLISH COURSES AVAILABLE

English level not quite good enough? Don't worry!

We offer customised Pre-Sessional English courses year-round, helping you to improve your English in all four disciplines and enabling you to enrol on one of our main programmes or apply to university.

FIND OUT MORE

DISCOVER THE SCL EXPERIENCE

SCL International College offers an all-inclusive campus experience within a big city.

Everything you need is here in one place – from the classrooms to the café and everything in between!

BENEFITS OF SCL INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE

One-to-one support
Our tutors are highly qualiﬁed and have experience teaching international students, so they understand the kind of personal support you may need.

University application assistance
We support each individual student through the process of applying to your chosen universities. Our partner universities guarantee you a place on passing your course.

Preparation for British academic life
A vital part of our programme involves training students to adapt their skills and knowledge to the specific context and environment they will encounter when they are enrolled in undergraduate courses.

State-of-the-art facilities
SCL’s modern classrooms have the latest hardware and software and our libraries offer a flexible space for you to work alone or in groups. Students also have 24/7 access to online resources, study tools and materials.

An international environment
Our team of academic professionals comes from all over the world and will help you develop the social and learning skills required for studying at a UK higher education institution.
Plus, when you stay with us you’ll enjoy a ready-made community of international students from over 65 nationalities!

On-site accommodation
Whether you're attending this course on your own or with friends, we'll always have space for you. All rooms come with an en-suite bathroom, kitchenette and optional weekly cleaning and linen service.
We also have an in-house events team who hosts regular activities free of charge.

Small class size
At SCL International College, you'll enjoy our smaller classes for individualised learning, with 5 students average (maximum 12) per class.

Great location in London
We're located in the student capital of the world – London! You'll have easy access to the entire city, major airports and railway stations. Stay with us and you’ll even get discounts to local restaurants, cafés and shops!

A smooth transition to a UK uni

Everyone has been so friendly, helping me with the application process and giving guidance at each stage of applying to university. Teachers have also been really helpful, explaining topics clearly and making us understand the assessment tasks.

-- Agigi from Taiwan

received offers from Royal Holloway, Brunel and Sussex University

This programme provided a great foundation, giving me the skills I needed for studying at university and helping me step by step with the process of choosing the right university.

-- Sammy from Canada

is currently studying at Reading University

As an international student my biggest concern was the language barrier. Whenever I asked a question, the teacher always answered patiently, which really increased my confidence. And when I made my applications to universities, my mentor always coordinated everything smoothly and swiftly.

-- Lijia from China

is currently enrolled at the University of Birmingham

I thought the first year in Britain would be a very difficult time, but the school days were fantastic for me. My teachers answered all my questions, gave advice and helped me with college applications. I also met friends from different countries on campus. Dormitories and schools are conveniently located in the same building so I didn’t have to worry about traffic jams. Overall, my English level has been greatly improved during the school year and I have been more integrated into life in the UK.

-- Kaylie from China

received offers from University of Westminster, University of Manchester, University for the Creative Arts, and University of Birmingham