Foundation
Foundation
Studying a Foundation course at Buckingham will help you bridge the gap between your current qualifications and the knowledge and skills required for our two-year undergraduate programmes.
With our integrated option, you can complete both your foundation stage and undergraduate degree in just three years. This means a faster and smoother transition into university study in a supportive and stimulating learning environment.
Develop your confidence in core skills, such as debate participation, critical thinking and report writing and study subject-related modules that are tailored to give you a solid base of knowledge in your chosen study area (such as business, law, computing, psychology or the humanities).
Why choose Buckingham
Study a Foundation course at Buckingham, the home of the two-year degree, ranked 2nd for Graduate Prospects (on-track, The Complete University Guide, 2023). Students are at the heart of everything we do: our award-winning small class tutorials ensure every student is known by name and supported throughout their studies. You will love our personalised teaching model, dedicated student support team, and beautiful, safe campus.
English Foundation Programme
The English Foundation Programme is designed to equip international students with essential academic English language skills necessary for academic success.
Through a combination of modules focusing on listening, speaking, writing, reading, and grammar, the programme ensures comprehensive preparation for university-level studies at foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Each module targets specific skill areas to enhance students’ linguistic proficiency and academic readiness.
Featured Foundation courses
Student feedback
“My foundation year experience was instrumental in my academic journey. It eased my transition from secondary school to university studies. The academic skills modules played a crucial role in building my self-confidence. I was able to foster good habits like study skills, time management techniques, and effective learning strategies that I went on to apply in my degree course.”
Timilehin, Foundation
Experience Foundation
Student feedback
“After being out of education for a year and having lost my confidence, the foundation programme at Buckingham eased me back into study and built up everything I had lost. It helped me in my academic and personal life, as well as developing life skills I will never forget.”
Henry, BA International Relations with integrated foundation
Meet our lecturers
Joanna Leach, Head of Department, Foundation and Academic Skills
Joanna helped to start the Foundation Department from its inception in 2013. She has worked in further education for several years, developing and delivering bespoke language and literacy programs. Her research interests lie in assessment literacy and how feedback practices contribute to developing academic literacies.
Dr Subhi Ashour, Programme Director and Admissions Tutor
Dr Ashour specialises in enhancing the use of technology to support meaningful learning and assessment; he enjoys creating a learning environment where students can support and learn from one another.
Poyan Pechrak-Manesh, Programme Manager (Foundation)
Poyan is a Programme Manager responsible for the Foundation Programmes in the Faculty of Computing, Law and Psychology. He is also a lecturer in the Foundation Department mainly teaching International Studies and International Human Rights Law. Commencing his lecturing career in 2018, he has gained experience teaching law from A-Level to undergraduate level. Poyan holds a first-class honours in LLB Law as well as a Diploma in English Law. Moreover, he is currently completing his doctoral studies in law.
Your future career
The Foundational team will work with you to develop your confidence and employability skills: from how to present, to building cross-cultural relations.
We will also encourage you to get involved with events such as employability fairs and guest lectures in your future school of study to give you an understanding of the world of work in your chosen discipline.