International Foundation Year
What is the International Foundation Year?
The International Foundation Year is a pre-university foundation programme, designed with Alvis Pathway Partners, that effectively prepares you for first-year university entry. By studying the International Foundation Year, you will develop your subject knowledge, study skills and English language competency, allowing you to choose from thousands of degree courses across 70+ leading universities in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada and more.
Ecctis has independently benchmarked the Alvis Pathway International Foundation Year as comparable to the following secondary education qualifications: GCE A Level standard (United Kingdom), Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) standard, Advanced Placement standard (United States), Senior Secondary School Certificate of Education standard (Australia) and Alberta High School Diploma standard (Canada).
Who is it for?
Tailored specifically for international students, the International Foundation Year offers a transformative educational experience. It is crafted to instil the confidence required for thriving at an international university by providing a solid foundation in English language proficiency and essential academic study skills crucial for excelling in higher education.
Delivered through our esteemed Global Network of Study Centres, this programme offers the flexibility for you to start your journey to university either locally in your home country or nearby, or venture to the UK.
The International Foundation Year is structured to not only facilitate your immediate success but also to act as a stepping stone towards seamlessly transitioning into the first year of an undergraduate degree at a university.
Choose your subject route
With the Alvis Pathway International Foundation Year, you will study three academic subject modules in addition to an English for Academic Purposes module. With 12 subject modules available*, there are numerous combinations to choose from which will alter the types of degree courses and university progression options available to you, ensuring that you get started on the path that’s right for you.
Available modules for you to study include Art & Design, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Further Maths, Global Studies, Integrated Maths, Physics, Sociology and Technical Maths.
Australia
RMIT University
Ranked 10th in Australia and 125th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026)
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Swinburne University of Technology
Ranked 19th in Australia and in the top 300 in the world (QS World University Rankings 2025)
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The University of Newcastle, Australia
Ranked 14th in Australia and 179th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2025)
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The University of Western Australia
Ranked 7th in Australia and 77th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026)
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University of New South Wales
Ranked 2nd in Australia and 20th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026)
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Brock University
Ranked in the top 150 universities in the world for Sport Science (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025)
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Toronto Metropolitan University
#2 university in Canada for student services (Macleans, 2025)
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University of Alberta
Ranked 4th in Canada and 94th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026)
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University of Regina
Ranked 3rd Best Young University in Canada (Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2024)
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Auckland University of Technology
Ranked 1st in New Zealand and in the Top 100 in the world for international outlook (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024)
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Lincoln University
Ranked in the top 25% of universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2024)
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The University of Auckland
Ranked 1st in New Zealand and 65th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026)
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University of Canterbury
Ranked 6th in New Zealand and 261st in the world (QS World University Rankings 2025)
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University of Otago
Ranked 2nd in New Zealand and 197th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026)
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University of Waikato
Ranked 3rd in New Zealand and in the Top 250 in the world (QS World University Rankings 2025)
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Victoria University of Wellington
Ranked in the top 1% of universities in the world in 14 subject areas (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024)
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Aston University
Aston is recognised as one of the top 25 universities in the UK (Guardian University Guide, 2025)
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Brunel University London
Ranked 38th in the UK and in the top 350 in the world (QS World University Rankings 2025)
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Cardiff University
Ranked 26th in the UK and 181st in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026)
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De Montfort University
Ranked 25th best university in the UK (Uni Compare Top 100 University Rankings 2025)
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Durham University
Ranked 16th in the UK and 94th in the world (QS University World Rankings 2026)
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Harper Adams University
Named Specialist University of the Year (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
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Kingston University
Ranked top 10 in the UK in seven subject areas (Guardian University Guide 2024)
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Lancaster University
Ranked 24th in the UK and 157th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026)
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Liverpool Hope University
The university is ranked 3rd in the North West and joint 27th in the UK for Student Satisfaction (The Complete University Guide 2024)
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Liverpool John Moores University
Ranked 57th in the UK (Guardian University League Tables 2024)
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Manchester Metropolitan University
Ranked 57th in the UK (QS World University Rankings 2025)
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Newcastle University
Ranked 21st in the UK and in 137th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026)
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Oxford Brookes University
Ranked in the top 10 higher education institutions in the South East of England (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
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Queen Mary University of London
Ranked 18th in the UK and 110th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026)
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Queen’s University Belfast
Ranked 28th in the UK and 199th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026)
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Robert Gordon University
Top 3 in Scotland and top 10 in the UK for student satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2024)
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Sheffield Hallam University
Rated Gold for outstanding support for student success and progression (Teaching Excellence Framework 2023)
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The University of Manchester
Ranked 7th in the UK and 35th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026)
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The University of Sheffield
Ranked 15th in the UK and 92nd in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026)
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University of Birmingham
Ranked 11th in the UK and 76th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026)
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University of Bradford
Distance Learning MBA ranked 1st in the world for value for money and teaching related to ethics and climate solutions (Financial Times Online MBA Rankings 2024)
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University of Bristol
8th in the UK and 51st in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026)
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University of Exeter
Ranked 23rd in the UK and 155th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026)
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University of Huddersfield
Ranked in the Top 30 in the world for Music and Performing Arts (QS World University Rankings By Subject 2024)
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University of Kent
Ranked in the top 40 universities in the UK (QS World University Rankings 2025)
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University of Lancashire
Ranked in the top 15 percent in the world for impact (Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings 2024)
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University of Leeds
Ranked 13th in the UK and 86th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026)
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University of Leicester
Ranked 26th in the UK (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024)
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University of Liverpool
Ranked 22nd in the UK and 147th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026)
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University of Reading
Ranked 27th in the UK and 194th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026)
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University of Sussex
Ranked 1st in the world for Development Studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024)
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University of Westminster
Top 250 young university in the world (Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2024)
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University of York
Ranked 25th in the UK and in 169th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026)
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UWE Bristol
91% of graduates are in employment or further study after 15 months (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023)
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George Mason University
#4 Most Ethnically Diverse Public University (U.S. News & World Report 2024)
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Oregon State University
Top 1.4% Global University (Center for World University Rankings 2024)
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Suffolk University
#1 Best Student City in North America (QS Top Universities Rankings 2025)
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SUNY Oswego
Ranked 39th Best Regional Universities in the North (U.S. News and World Report 2024)
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The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Top 7% Best Global University (U.S. News and World Report 2024)
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