Courses

NCUK International Foundation Year (IFY)

The NCUK International Foundation Year (IFY) programme is a foundation course preparing international students for university entrance at undergraduate level.

Business and Management - Possible Study Routes

Programme Element	Hours per week
English for Academic Purposes (Core)	6
ESAP for Business	3
Mathematics for Business (Mathematics and Statistics)	5
Business and Management Studies (double module)	8
ICT class	1
Pastoral care/progression counselling	1

Science/Health Studies - Possible Study Routes

Programme Element	Hours per week
English for Academic Purposes (Core)	6
ESAP for Science/Health Studies	3
Mathematics for Science/Engineering (Mathematics)	5
Science – two subjects: Chemistry and Biology at 4 hours/week each	8
ICT class	1
Pastoral care/progression counselling	1

Engineering/Technology - Possible Study Routes

Programme Element	Hours per week
English for Academic Purposes (Core)	6
ESAP for Science/Health Studies	3
Mathematics for Science/Engineering (Mathematics)	5
Science – two subjects: Chemistry and Physics at 4 hours/week each	8
ICT class	1
Pastoral care/progression counselling	1

Our partner universities recognise that the NCUK IFY course meets their entry requirements for international students. NCUK guarantees students who successfully complete the foundation programme a place on a degree course in their chosen subject of study.

Why do I need a Foundation Course?

You want to study at an Irish or UK university. In Ireland and the UK, students applying for a place at university will have attended school for a total of 13 years - whereas in many countries this figure is only 11 or 12 years.

As an international student, a foundation course is your best pathway to university. Whether you want to study business, medicine, health and science or engineering, the right foundation course will ensure that you start your degree with the same abilities and potential as an Irish or UK-educated student.

Course structure

The International Foundation Year is a modular programme. It consists of core elements (studied by all) and specific subject modules, which may be grouped to form 'routes', preparing students for degrees in different subject areas. Syllabi details can be found on the NCUK website - www.ncuk.ac.uk

The core elements include English for Academic Purposes, key study skills such as Information & Communication Technologies (ICT), and the development of independent learning. The duration and type of English language teaching will depend on the language used during your secondary school education.

Subject modules currently offered at DIFC include: Mathematics for Business, Mathematics for Science, Further Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Business Studies, Economics and International Relations.

In addition to core and subject modules, you will receive pastoral care tutorials and counselling on future study options. The IFY programme starting in September is normally delivered over 30 weeks, with students having 20 – 25 hours of directed study per week, supported by a period of self-directed study of at least equal duration. The IFY programme starting in January is more intensive. It normally runs over 26 weeks, with students having 25 - 32 hours of directed study per week, supported by a period of self-directed study.

The programme provides you with the potential to pursue studies on a very wide range of undergraduate degree courses. These are detailed in the country-specific International Foundation Year Handbooks.

The International Foundation Year Programme has three possible routes: