PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

INTRODUCTION

The NCUK International Foundation Year (IFY) programme at Matrix International Education Pathways (MIE Pathways) is a pre-university programme designed for international students to prepare them for study in English-language universities. It develops students’ subject knowledge, study skills and English language competency to a level suitable for smooth progression to undergraduate study.

NCUK Universities recognise the programme as meeting their entry requirements for international students, with progression contingent on students satisfying the performance criteria published in the NCUK Course Finder. The list of accepting universities can be seen on the university pages of the NCUK website.

NCUK guarantees students a place on a programme of study at one of the NCUK Universities provided that the student performs to the level specified by the NCUK Guarantee.

AIMS

Aims of the MIE Pathways - NCUK IFY programme:

  • * Provide international students with a high quality pre-undergraduate education, with outcomes comparable with internationally recognised High School qualifications such as GCE A levels.
  • * Prepare students for study at undergraduate level in English-language at universities that offer degree courses taught in English.
  • * Enhance the English language ability of students to enable them to communicate and study effectively and confidently at undergraduate level.
  • * Develop the study skills, subject knowledge and related capabilities required for successful study at undergraduate level in an NCUK University.
  • * Cultivate a commitment to good practice in academic work.
  • * Provide students with the necessary skills to enable them to develop as independent, autonomous learners.
  • * Give students practical experience of different methods that may be used to develop and assess their learning.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

On successful completion of this programme students should be able to:

  • * Use English confidently in an academic environment and demonstrate a proficiency in English language to a standard of at least NCUK EAP ‘C’ grade.
  • * Make effective use of a range of generic and subject-specific study skills.
  • * Demonstrate knowledge in subject-specific areas at a level suitable for undergraduate university entry
  • * Demonstrate their learning through a range of assessment methods that prepare them for the expectations of university degree.

Note:

  • * Students may only take one of Maths (Business), Maths (Engineering) or Maths (Science)
  • * Students may replace any of the three Mathematics modules with Half Maths. This covers half the content of the Mathematics modules and attracts half NCUK Points (see Programme Grading section below)
  • * Students may take the Art & Design Extended Projects module, this is a double module which accounts for two of the three subject modules

In addition to the above, students also take the self-study, optional module ‘Skills for Success’. This is designed for students to work through independently via NCUK’s learning and assessment platform and should take approximately 30 hours in total.

PROGRAMME GRADING

  • * Assessment for each module will be via a combination of coursework and examination
  • * Each subject module is graded using the table given below. Each grade has an associated number of ‘NCUK points’.
  • * Completing students will be presented with individual module grades and ‘NCUK Points’ total.
    • Bench % Mark NCUK Points
    A* ≥80% 56 points
    A 70-79% 48 points
    B 60-69% 40 points
    C 50-59% 32 points
    D 40-49% 24 points
    E 35-39% 16 points
    U <35%
  • * The EAP and EAPPU modules assess four different language skills – Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. Students receive an overall grade for the module and a grade for each individual skill based on the table above. Students do not receive NCUK points for the EAP, EAPPU or RCS modules.
  • * For information on the equivalencies of the NCUK EAP and EAPPU modules to widely recognised English Language qualifications please see the entry requirements section of the NCUK website.

BENCHMARK STATEMENTS

The NCUK IFY is intended to provide outcomes in subject modules which are comparable to GCE A level (NQF1 Level 3) and in English language at a minimum of CEFR2 level B2.

The programme was benchmarked by UK NARIC3 (now UK ENIC) in 2019 and the conclusion was that these outcomes are met