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Foundation Year Engineering / Physics / Maths

This Foundation Year provides an introduction to mathematics, mechanics, computer programming, electricity and electronics, and the principles of engineering. 

This same Foundation Year leads onto many different undergraduate degrees (listed on the Programme Overview tab). 

Introducing your degree

If you don't have the A-level subjects or equivalent required for entry to the first year of your chosen degree, our Foundation Year is the ideal choice for you. This intensive year of study includes both theoretical and practical activities and attracts highly motivated students who want to make a change of direction in their studies.

Successful completion of the one-year full-time Foundation Year can lead you to a guaranteed place on the first year of one of 17 different integrated undergraduate degrees in Engineering, Maths or Physics.

In this preliminary year you'll learn the core principles of mathematics, mechanical science, engineering principles and electricity and electronics. You'll also undertake laboratory work and a variety of assignments to develop your critical thinking and problem solving.

During your Foundation Year, you'll receive full support from subject tutors and feedback to progress your academic development.

View the Course Description Document

To Apply

Applications should be made through UCAS using the relevant UCAS code for your discipline. Courses and UCAS codes are listed below:

Acoustical Engineering courses:

  • BEng Acoustical Engineering with Foundation Year (H340)
  • BEng Acoustical Engineering with Foundation Year with Industrial Placement Year (H1BF)
  • MEng Acoustical Engineering with Foundation Year (H016)
  • MEng Acoustical Engineering with Foundation Year with Industrial Placement Year (H1MF)*

Aeronautics and Astronautics courses:

  • BEng Aeronautics and Astronautics with Foundation Year (H420)
  • BEng Aeronautics and Astronautics with Foundation Year with Industrial Placement Year (H2BF)
  • MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics with Foundation Year (H410)
  • MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics with Foundation Year with Industrial Placement Year (H2MF) *

Biomedical Engineering courses:

  • BEng Biomedical Engineering with Foundation Year (H1H7)
  • MEng Biomedical Engineering  with Foundation Year (HH17)
  • MEng Biomedical Engineering with Foundation Year and Industrial Studies (HH18)* 

Chemical Engineering courses:

  • BEng Chemical Engineering with Foundation Year (H806)
  • BEng Chemical Engineering with Foundation Year with Industrial Placement Year (H807)
  • MEng Chemical Engineering with Foundation Year (H808)
  • MEng Chemical Engineering with Foundation Year with Industrial Placement Year (H809) *

Civil Engineering courses:

  • BEng Civil Engineering with Foundation Year (H220)
  • BEng Civil Engineering with Foundation Year with Industrial Placement Year (H3BF)
  • MEng Civil Engineering with Foundation Year (H413)
  • MEng Civil Engineering with Foundation Year with Industrial Placement Year (H3MF) *
  • MEng Civil Engineering and Architecture with Foundation Year (H2K1)

Computer Science and Software Engineering courses:

  • BEng Artificial Intelligence with Foundation Year (I403)
  • MEng Artificial Intelligence with Foundation Year (I404)
  • MEng Artificial Intelligence with Industrial Studies and Foundation Year (I405) *
  • BEng Computer Engineering with Foundation Year (I803)
  • MEng Computer Engineering with Foundation Year (I804)
  • MEng Computer Engineering with Industrial Studies and Foundation Year (I805) *
  • BSc Computer Science with Foundation Year (I100)
  • MEng Computer Science with Foundation Year (I101)
  • MEng Computer Science with Foundation Year and Industrial Studies (I102)*
  • BEng Software Engineering with Foundation Year (I300)
  • MEng Software Engineering with Foundation Year (I303)
  • MEng Software Engineering with Foundation Year and Industrial Studies (I304)*

Electronics courses:

  • BEng Aerospace Electronic Engineering with Foundation Year (H46H)
  • MEng Aerospace Electronic Engineering with Foundation Year (HH40)
  • MEng Aerospace Electronic Engineering with Foundation Year and Industrial Studies (HH50)*
  • BEng Biomedical Engineering (Electronics) with Foundation Year (H1H6)
  • MEng Biomedical Engineering (Electronics) with Foundation Year (HH16)
  • BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Foundation Year (H604)
  • MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Foundation Year (H605)
  • MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Foundation Year and Industrial Studies (H609)* 
  • BEng Electrical Engineering with Foundation Year (H621)
  • MEng Electrical Engineering with Foundation Year (H622)
  • MEng Electrical Engineering with Foundation Year and Industrial Studies (H623)*
  • BEng Electronic Engineering with Foundation Year (H612)
  • MEng Electronic Engineering with Foundation Year (H613)
  • MEng Electronic Engineering with Foundation Year and Industrial Studies (H614)* 
  • BEng Mechatronic Engineering with Foundation Year (H360)
  • MEng Mechatronic Engineering with Foundation Year (H631)
  • MEng Mechatronic Engineering with Foundation Year and Industrial Studies (H632)* 

Mechanical Engineering courses:

  • BEng Mechanical Engineering with Foundation Year (H421)
  • BEng Mechanical Engineering with Foundation Year with Industrial Placement Year (H4BF)
  • MEng Mechanical Engineering with Foundation Year with Industrial Placement Year (H4MF) *
  • MEng Mechanical Engineering with Foundation Year (J512)

Medical Engineering courses:

  • BEng Medical Engineering with Foundation Year (H616)
  • BEng Medical Engineering with Foundation Year with Industrial Placement Year (H617)
  • MEng Medical Engineering with Foundation Year (H615)
  • MEng Medical Engineering with Foundation Year with Industrial Placement Year (H618)*

Maritime Engineering courses:

  • BEng Maritime Engineering with Foundation Year (H518)
  • BEng Maritime Engineering with Foundation Year with Industrial Placement Year (H5BF)
  • MEng Maritime Engineering with Foundation Year (H510)
  • MEng Maritime Engineering with Foundation Year with Industrial Placement Year (H5MF) *

*MEng degrees with Industrial Placement Year/Industrial Studies are not available to students who require a student visa. 

Mathematical Sciences courses:

  • BSc Mathematics with Foundation Year (DG1R)
  • MMath Mathematics with Foundation Year (BG1M)
  • MMath Mathematical Physics with Foundation Year (BG2M)

Physics courses:

  • BSc Physics with Foundation Year (F301)
  • MPhys Physics with Foundation Year (F305)

For more information, contact the Engineering, Physics and Maths Foundation Year Admissions Team:

Phone: +44 (0)23 8059 2969
Emailadugeps@soton.ac.uk

 

Key Facts

  • Guaranteed progression onto chosen undergraduate degree (providing you achieve minimum progression grades)
  • Our engineering and physics courses are ranked in the top ten in a variety of UK league tables
  • Choice of 17 undergraduate degree disciplines on completion
Photo of Michael Raven
I chose the course at Southampton as the Foundation Year is a well-established and recognised pathway onto world-renowned undergraduate degrees.
Michael RavenEngineering/Physics/Maths Foundation Year
Our Malaysia Campus

Study in Malaysia

The Engineering Foundation Year is also taught at the University of Southampton Malaysia.

Find out more

Related courses

Foundation Year Science

Typical entry requirements

Entry requirements
QualificationGrade
GCSE Applicants must hold Grade B/6 in GCSE Mathematics and Grade C/4 in GCSE English language. Applicants below this GCSE standard will not normally be considered. This GCSE requirement is in addition to studying a Level 3 qualification, such as A levels, Access course, BTEC National Extended Diploma etc.
GCE A-Level Our typical offer for students who have studied A-levels is typically ABB. Please check the table below to see if you are ineligible for the Foundation Year based on the A-level subjects or equivalent qualifications you are currently studying/have studied
International Baccalaureate Diploma Our typical offer for the IB is 32 points overall, including 5 points in Standard or Higher Level Mathematics (Analysis and approaches or Applications and interpretation). If you are taking all the Higher Level subjects required for entry to your chosen degree, we will not normally offer you a place on our Foundation Year.
International Baccalaureate Career Programme (IBCP) Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements. Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
Pearson BTEC National Extended Certificate (RQF)/Pearson BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (QCF) Our typical offer is D in the BTEC National Extended Certificate* + AB at A-level (or equivalent)
Pearson BTEC National Diploma (RQF)/Pearson BTEC Diploma (QCF) Our typical offer is DD in the BTEC National Diploma* + B grade at A-Level (or equivalent). We only accept the following subjects: Aeronautical Engineering / Engineering / Mechanical Engineering / Electrical/ Electronic Engineering / Manufacturing Engineering / Civil Engineering.
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (RQF)/BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (QCF) Our typical offer is DDD overall in the BTEC National Extended Diploma*. We only accept the following subjects: Aeronautical Engineering / Engineering / Mechanical Engineering / Electrical/ Electronic Engineering / Manufacturing Engineering / Civil Engineering.
BTEC additional information *Where studied, we require distinctions in the following units: Mathematics for Engineering Technicians, Further Mathematics for Engineering Technicians, Calculus to Solve Engineering Problems, Further Engineering Mathematics, Mathematics for Construction or Further Mathematics for Construction.
Access to HE Diploma Applicants must study an Engineering, Computer Science or Science Level 3 Access courses. No other Access subjects will be accepted. A typical Access offer is 60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3 of which at least 30 credits, including all credits from graded maths modules, must be graded Distinction with the remainder graded Merit. All applicants must offer at least one Level 3 maths module.
T-levels Our typical offer in the Design, surveying and planning for construction T-level is Distinction, including a Core A grade in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction. Our typical offer in the Digital production, design and development T-level is Distinction, including a Core A grade in Digital Production, Design and Development
Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate

Our typical offer is D in the Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate in Engineering** plus AB at A-level (or equivalent)

Cambridge Technical Diploma Our typical offer is DD in the Level 3 Cambridge Technical Diploma in Engineering** plus B at A-level (or equivalent)
Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma Our typical offer is DDD in the Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma in Engineering**
Cambridge Technical additional information **Distinctions are required in both Mathematics for Engineering and Applied Mathematics for Engineering, where studied.
Other qualifications If you have UK qualifications not listed above, your application will be considered on an individual basis. Visit our International Office pages for more information in entry requirements for international students. If you can show a proven ability in mathematics and science, but you come from a region or country where an A-Level equivalent qualification is not available, you may be considered for the Foundation Year.
English language requirements All applicants must demonstrate they possess at least a minimum standard of English language proficiency. Applicants requiring a visa to study in the UK who do not offer GCSE English language (or GCSE English) at the required level will need to meet the following English language proficiency requirement. Find out more about the University’s English Language requirements. For 2022 entry - IELTS 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in all components. For 2023 entry - IELTS 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in all components.

Applicants who are taking all the A-level or equivalent subjects required for entry to their chosen degree, will not normally be offered a place on our Foundation Year. Please ensure you check the table below to see if you are ineligible for the Foundation Year based on the subjects you are currently studying/have studied.

A-Level requirements

Our typical offer for students who have studied A-levels is typically ABB.

Please check the table below to see if you are ineligible for the Foundation Year based on the A-level subjects or equivalent qualifications you are currently studying/have studied.

Progression degree choiceA-level or equivalent subjects required for entry to year one of your chosen progression degree
BEng/MEng Acoustical Engineering with Foundation Year Mathematics and Physics or Chemistry or
Electronics or Further Mathematics
BEng/MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics or MMath Mathematical Physics or
BEng/MEng Mechanical Engineering
Mathematics and Physics
BEng/MEng Aerospace Electronic Engineering or
BEng/MEng Electrical Engineering or
BEng/MEng Mechatronic Engineering
Mathematics and Physics or Further Mathematics or Electronics
BEng/MEng Biomedical Engineering Mathematics and Physics or Chemistry or Biology
BEng/MEng Medical Engineering Mathematics and Physics or Chemistry or Biology or Further Mathematics
BEng/MEng Biomedical Electronic Engineering with Foundation Year Mathematics and Physics or Chemistry or Electronics or Further Mathematics or Biology
BEng/MEng Chemical Engineering with Foundation Year

Mathematics

Please note applicants must have studied Chemistry at A-level or equivalent. If you have studied Mathematics but you have not studied Chemistry, you can consider our Science Foundation Year route for this course.

BEng/MEng Civil Engineering or
MEng Civil Engineering and Architecture

For 2022 entry - Mathematics and Physics or Chemistry or Biology or Geography or Geology or Further Mathematics

For 2023 entry - Mathematics

BSc/MEng Computer Science or
BSc/MMath Mathematics or
BEng/MEng Software Engineering
Mathematics
BEng/MEng Electrical Engineering with Foundation Year Mathematics and Physics or Further Mathematics or Electronics
BEng/MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering or
BEng/MEng Electronic Engineering
Mathematics and Physics or Further Mathematics or Electronics or Computer Science
BEng/MEng Electronic Engineering with Foundation Year Mathematics and Physics or Further Mathematics or Computer Science or Electronics
BSc/MMath Mathematics with Foundation Year Mathematics
BEng/MEng Mechanical Engineering with Foundation Year Mathematics and Physics
BEng/MEng Mechatronic Engineering with Foundation Year Mathematics and Physics or Further Mathematics or Electronics
BSc/MPhys Physics with Foundation Year Mathematics or Further Mathematics and Physics
BEng/MEng Ship Science with Foundation Year Mathematics and Physics or Chemistry or Further Mathematics
BEng/MEng Software Engineering with Foundation Year Mathematics

Please note that further mathematics, geology and electronics are not available to IB students.

The information in this table also applies to courses that include an Industrial Placement Year or Industrial Studies.

Selection process:

Each application is considered individually. However, all applicants will need to demonstrate an aptitude for maths, either through recent study or by taking our maths diagnostic test. Please refer to the Pre-Maths Skills' document, which provides an example of the minimum level of mathematics required to start the Foundation Year. Students who have not studied maths beyond GCSE or equivalent will normally be expected to take the maths diagnostic test once they have submitted an application for the Foundation Year.

Applicants who are taking all the A-level or equivalent subjects required for entry to their chosen degree, will not normally be offered a place on our Foundation Year. Please ensure you check the table below to see if you are ineligible for the Foundation Year based on the subjects you are currently studying/have studied.

This page contains specific entry requirements for this course. Find out about equivalent entry requirements and qualifications for your country.

Typical course content

Whatever degree you are aiming for, you will take all of the modules listed below. In addition you will be expected to complete coursework in all subjects. The year is divided into two semesters, each lasting 15 weeks. Modules last for two semesters.

Year 1

Compulsory
GENG0001Credit[?]
Credits are based on the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS).
15
GENG0002Credit[?]
Credits are based on the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS).
15
GENG0015Credit[?]
Credits are based on the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS).
30
GENG0014Credit[?]
Credits are based on the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS).
15
GENG0005Credit[?]
Credits are based on the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS).
15
GENG0004Credit[?]
Credits are based on the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS).
15
GENG0003Credit[?]
Credits are based on the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS).
15

Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if s/he takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information can be found in the programme handbook (or other appropriate guide or website).

Tuition fees

The foundation year fee is separate from your undergraduate degree fees. You'll pay the fee for your foundation year, and then the yearly fee for your degree. Once you start your undergraduate degree the amount you pay each year will stay the same. You can check the fees on the individual course pages.

Fees for a year's study:

- UK students pay £9,250.
- EU and international students pay £23,620

Please note: Fees for EU and international are not fixed with increase after 1 year.

Course fees

Scholarships, bursaries or grants may be available to support you through your course. Funding opportunities available to you are linked to your subject area and/or your country of origin. These can be from the University or other sources.

Explore funding opportunities

Costs associated with this course

Students are responsible for meeting the cost of essential textbooks, and of producing such essays, assignments, laboratory reports and dissertations as are required to fulfil the academic requirements for each programme of study.

In some cases you'll be able to choose modules (which may have different costs associated with that module) which will change the overall cost of a programme to you. Please also ensure you read the section on additional costs in the University’s Fees, Charges and Expenses Regulations in the University Calendar available at www.calendar.soton.ac.uk.

Stationery

You will be expected to provide your own day-to-day stationery items, e.g. pens, pencils, notebooks, etc. Any specialist stationery items will be specified under the Additional Costs tab of the relevant module profile.

Books

Some modules suggest reading texts as optional background reading. The library may hold copies of such texts, or alternatively you may wish to purchase your own copies. Although not essential reading, you may benefit from the additional reading materials for the module.

Equipment

Students may wish to purchase additional laboratory notebooks. Cost varies depending on personal choice.

IT: Computers suitable for completing all assessed tasks for this course are provided in the University computing suites, but students may wish to purchase their own laptop to enable them to study more effectively away from the campus.

Printing and copying

In some cases, coursework and/or projects may be submitted electronically. Where it is not possible to submit electronically students will be liable for printing costs.

Teaching and learning

Our students acquire knowledge and understanding through a combination of lectures, tutorials, laboratory experiments, coursework and individual and group assignments. You will develop the transferable skills for degree success.

Ground-breaking research

The University has an excellent reputation for research in engineering and science. You will be taught by staff at the cutting edge of their research fields in an environment that promotes and values independent enquiry and helps you to develop these skills for yourselves.

Assessment and examinations

You will be assessed through unseen written exams, short tests, assessed coursework in the form of laboratory log books and reports, problems and other set assignments.

Study Locations

Boldrewood Innovation Campus

Boldrewood Innovation Campus

Burgess Road, Southampton, S016 7QFFind out more

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