INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION PROGRAMme:
Guaranteed UK university entry for ENGINEERING degrees

The SCL University Foundation Programme in Engineering 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.
• Give you the opportunity to rehearse before all written mock exams and final assessments.
• Prepare you for university entrance exams such as IELTS or OET.

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

You will receive extensive support at every stage of your university application. Our teachers and tutors will also demonstrate how to apply to UCAS and help you construct a compelling personal statement.

SCL's Engineering Foundation Course has been developed with an appreciation of the specific requirements of Engineering degrees. It provides a foundation for all main areas of engineering including civil, mechanical, electrical and electronic, chemical and petroleum.

As an integral part of our pre-university Foundation Programme in Engineering, international students will gain comprehensive knowledge of the British university environment and of different aspects of living and studying in the UK.

At SCL, 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.

By the time you complete our programme, you will have the knowledge base and confidence needed to excel both academically and personally when studying Engineering at a university in the UK.

You will take a variety of courses specifically designed to prepare you for enrolling on an Engineering degree programme in the UK. Our Engineering Foundation Programme provides an understanding of all the main areas of engineering including civil, mechanical, electrical and electronic, chemical and petroleum. The main modules are Physics, Core and Further Mathematics, Core and Advanced Chemistry, and Computer Science.

There is a strong emphasis on developing the learning skills required for studies at higher education level in the UK, encouraging you to evaluate and apply information, and to develop the problem-solving skills required at the undergraduate level.

Tip!  To help you choose between different types of Engineering disciplines at university, check out our Essential Guides:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Civil Engineering

Core Mathematics

In this introductory module, we help develop confidence and knowledge of basic mathematical skills and problem-solving techniques. We cover algebra and functions, frequency and coding, solving quadratic functions, estimation, and hypothesis testing.

Further Mathematics

Taken in the second and third terms, these modules build on the themes covered in the Core Mathematics module as well as introduce topics in Mechanics. For engineering students, they provide the foundation for further exploration in undergraduate studies in a range of subjects.

Outcomes

By the end of these modules, international students will be able to:

• Develop an understanding of mathematical models and statistical processes.
• Apply statistical concepts and theories in a range of contexts.
• Develop the ability to construct a logical, mathematical argument and recognise incorrect statistical reasoning.
• Recognise how a situation may be represented statistically and understand the relationship between practical problems and statistical models.

Core Chemistry

You'll be introduced to the fundamentals of physical, organic and inorganic chemistry. Starting with atomic structure, fundamental particles and the arrangement of electrons in an atom, you will then move on to learn how to calculate amounts of substances and how to write formulae and balance equations. This core course also covers the main types of chemical bonding and structures.

Advanced Chemistry

In the second and third terms, you will build on the knowledge already obtained and gain a deeper understanding of the topics studied. Topics include energetics, rates of reaction and equilibria, exothermic and endothermic reactions as well as how to perform multi-step calculations. Modules also dive deeper into organic chemistry and additional functional groups of aromatic molecules.

The Advanced Chemistry courses also give you a chance to develop your skills in planning, executing, and analysing practical investigations.

Outcomes

By the end of these modules, international students will be able to:

• Understand the structure of an atom and the driving force behind chemical bonds and chemical reactions.
• Understand the various types of mole calculation and their application.
• Attain a grasp of the behaviour of some main group elements.
• Understand the complexity and scope of organic reactions and understand the behaviour of some key functional groups.
• Understand more complex physical concepts related to kinetics, energetics and equilibria.
• Calculate the pH of various systems and understand the behaviour of acids and bases.
• Gain familiarity with aliphatic and aromatic compounds.
• Become competent in basic chemical laboratory procedures.
• Collect data – qualitative and quantitative – and analyse this data to make basic deductions.

Physics

The Physics component of the programme is divided into Core Physics, Further Physics 1 and Further Physics 2. The aim of these three modules is to develop knowledge and understanding as well as an appreciation of the applications of physics and their importance to different fields of human activity. We cover waves, oscillations, electricity, nature of light, electric and magnetic fields, particle physics, thermal energy, nuclear decay, momentum, circular motion, and practical investigation.

In Further Physics modules, there is also an emphasis on the development of skills in designing and executing experiments.

Outcomes

By the end of these modules, international students will be able to:

• Develop essential knowledge and understanding of physical phenomena.
• Appreciate the importance of the application of physics in different situations.
• Understand the interaction of physics with social, economic, and industrial fields.
• Develop an understanding of the link between theory and experiment.
• Use principles and concepts and apply them to interpret phenomena.

Computer Science

This module covers 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.