Join a truly global student community - there are over 4,700 international students at the ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø from over 160 countries.
A beautiful campus
In this film, IFP student Malika, takes you on a tour of the award-winning Whiteknights campus.
Malika is from Uzbekistan and is an IFP Student Ambassador. She is planning on studying BA Ancient History and Archaeology with a Professional Placement Year. The modules she is studying on the IFP to prepare for this degree are Politics, Psychology, Sociology, and Academic Skills.
Deema Almarzooqi, UAE
Deema is a ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø Undergraduate student studying BSc Nutrition with Food Consumer Sciences. On the IFP, Deema studied: Chemistry, Biology, Introduction to Business and Management, and Academic Skills.
"The thing I liked most about the IFP was the strong foundation I was able to build, allowing me to progress swiftly into my first year as an undergraduate. The programme helped me to strengthen my knowledge in the key core areas of my chosen field. The academic skills module helped me develop very useful skills that I can utilise throughout my academic journey and beyond."
Khamis Al-Harthi, Oman
Khamis is studying BSc Quantity Surveying, and was rewarded with the IFP Merit Scholarship for Academic Achievement (£1000). On the IFP, Khamis studied Academic English, Academic Skills, Mathematics, Statistics and Data Science.
"The IFP course at the ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø was really beneficial to preparing me for my main degree. It made me familiar with life abroad and I gained good experience of what learning is like in the UK. It is a very happy situation when you get what you have worked for and I succeeded in progressing onto my degree and received an IFP prize for academic achievement."
Amy Chineyemba, Nigeria
Amy is from Nigeria and is progressing to a Law degree at ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø upon completion of the International Foundation Programme (IFP).
She has always wanted to study Law since she was five years old and is now more determined than ever. She's particularly interested in International Law and is studying Law, Politics and Sociology on the IFP in preparation for her degree. Amy's favourite thing about the ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø is the diversity of people that you get to meet.
"It's a really nice programme that helps you grow as a person and I have made amazing friends so far, but you have to be strong and ready to actually take on the work."
Sayed Maki, Bahrain
Sayed is from Bahrain and completed his IFP before enrolling onto Quantity Surveying at the ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø. He joined the IFP because it provides a smooth transition into studying and living in the UK, and prepares students for the academic culture in the UK.
"To be honest, I 100% highly recommend that students join the IFP as it will be easier for them to finish their undergraduate course if they started with the IFP".
Ashifa Al Juwaiser, Saudi Arabia
Ashifa is from Saudi Arabia and is progressing to Pharmacy at ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø after the IFP, and is also an IFP Student Representative for the Chemistry and Biology modules. About the IFP, she said:
"It was great getting to know the other IFP students from all over the world and making new friends."
When talking about her teachers' Ashifa said how helpful they are and one in particular:
"The maths teacher is one of the most amazing maths teachers I've ever had, she's so good. She makes you understand right from the basics."
Juan Lim, Malaysia
Juan is from Malaysia and is progressing from the IFP onto a Law degree at the ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø. He enjoys the class sizes and the attention students get from their teachers on the IFP saying:
" The classes aren't that big, so you are really close to everybody in the class and the teacher actually interacts with the students more." Juan loves sport and has joined the badminton society, he has also joined the Malaysian society."
Juan's advice for new students joining the IFP:
"When you first come to the IFP just say 'Hi' to everybody because everybody is really friendly and nobody will turn you down, so just be open and you'll get on fine in ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø."
Alexa Umakhihe, Nigeria
Alexa is from Nigeria and is progressing from the IFP onto Business and Accounting at the ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø. The thing she likes about the IFP at the ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø is the teaching where she comments:
"It's very interactive and I have a lot of really nice teachers and they're always there for me and I like that they actually want me to learn and not just memorise."
Alexa commented that the best experience on the IFP has been "Meeting new people from different places and learning in general about myself and other people."
The thing she likes about the university is the green campus:
"The green is beautiful, the landscape is amazing."
She also likes shopping in ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø town.
Lukundo Simuoko, Zambia
Lukundo is Zambian and is on the four-year Law with integrated IFP programme and so will continue studying Law after the foundation year. She is proud of being the second Zambian to come to the University and the only Zambian on the IFP. There's lots she likes about the IFP saying:
"I like the fact that it's diverse and more interactive and helpful when it comes to university work and that the programme ensures international students are comfortable."
Lukundo said that she likes the environment of the university with it's greenery and nature and, being a big campus, everything is in one place.
"Everything's very together, like there's no boundaries between certain year groups and people are friendly around here."
Lukundo has joined two sports societies since arriving and commented:
I joined the netball society and the soccer society, the girls soccer society, and I feel like I've done sports all my life and it just feels like home, playing sports again."
Dechen Gyeltshen, Bhutan
Dechen is from Bhutan and is progressing onto a Meteorology degree at the ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø after completing the IFP. She told us why she chose to study at ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø:
"I found out that Meteorology at the ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø is one of the best in Europe."
Her best experience so far on the IFP was her trip to a neighbouring town called Windsor where the Queen lives in Windsor Castle and where Prince Harry and Meghan got married. Dechen commented that:
"There were seven or eight of us going into the town, looking at our maps, finding a lot of new places and, yeh, we had a lot of adventures, so it was fun."
Dechen is enjoying her classes and likes that she's learning foundation material. When asked about the transition to studying in the UK, she said
"The main difference between back home and going to a university in England is that in England we don't have to wear a national dress."
IFP programme options
You can choose a four-year degree with an integrated International Foundation Year, a standard one-year International Foundation Programme (IFP) or study through our University-based partnership with ONCAMPUS ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø (UFP).
IFP scholarships
As well as country-specific scholarships, we also offer an IFP Ambassador Scholarship where students create content and share their experiences about the IFP.
How to apply for an IFP
Applications for an IFP may be made through UCAS, or directly to the International Foundation Programme at the ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø. You should only apply through one route.