University Foundation Programme (Business) – validated by Middlesex University
Course Aims The ETC University Foundation Programme (Business) is designed for students who wish to enter a British university without taking A-level examinations.
This course prepares students effectively and thoroughly for study at degree level.
The course helps students to develop the language and study skills as well as subject knowledge that they will require to successfully complete a course of study at degree level in the field of Business. It focuses exclusively on the field of Business, since we have found that this is the area most in demand amongst our students.
The course is validated by Middlesex University, which means that students successfully completing the course at ETC will be guaranteed an offer of a university place at Middlesex University.
Start Dates There is just one start date per year – in September each year. The University Foundation Programme is a 36-week course. The start date is appropriate for students wishing to enter university the following September.
Entry Requirements Students must have an IELTS level of 5.5 or equivalent for entry to the Standard Programme.
Please note that during the ETC University Foundation Programme (Business), students will be required to take the IELTS examination (unless they have already taken it and achieved a satisfactory score) as they will need to be able to show that they have an English language level that is sufficient for them to be able to follow their chosen course alongside native speakers at university.
Students will also require proof of any other qualifications that they have already attained in their chosen subject. Therefore, students will ideally already have an acceptable High School-level qualification (High School Diploma / Baccalaureat / die Arbitur / A-levels, etc).
Progress Monitoring and Course Certification Students’ progress is monitored continuously at ETC and there are regular progress tests, student questionnaire distribution and tutorials to ensure that students are developing the language and study skills, as well as subject knowledge, that they will require at university. Students will be assessed by means of university-style course assignments and exams.
Upon satisfactory completion of the ETC Foundation Programme, the student will receive an ETC Foundation Diploma (specifying whether he or she has followed the Standard or the Accelerated Programme). Students will be expected to enter for certain external examinations at the end of each term (see below for details).
Please note that students must attend a minimum of 80% of classes for successful completion of the course.
Academic Counselling / Choice of University and Degree Course ETC has formed links with several British and international colleges and universities. Our team of academic counsellors will be delighted to help students to choose the course and institution most suited to them and assist them in their application to these organizations.
We have special links with a range of institutions for further and higher education, including Bournemouth University, Buckingham University, Southbank University (London), Oxford Brookes University, Southampton University and the University of Reading.
Our aim is to ensure that all students on our University Foundation Programme will be able to enter an appropriate university on successful completion of the course.
Students’ choice of university and degree course will be determined by their own academic record and by the different specializations offered by each university. (Certain universities are famous for particular subjects, and some courses are only offered by a small number of universities). In the UK , undergraduate courses normally last for three or four years.
Course structure Term 1 (12 weeks' duration) IELTS (incorporating academic study skills) - 10 lessons per week Business English - 20 lessons per week
Students will be expected to take a Business English examination (normally Cambridge BEC level 2) at the end of the first term of the ETC University Foundation Programme. This must be booked at the beginning of the term.
Term 2 (12 weeks' duration) IELTS (incorporating academic study skills) - 10 lessons per week Business Studies - 20 lessons per week
Students will be expected to take the IELTS examination at the end of the second term of the ETC University Foundation Programme. This must be booked during the first three weeks of term.
Term 3 (12 weeks' duration) EAP (English for Academic Purposes) - 10 lessons per week Business Studies - 20 lessons per week
Students will be expected to take the LCCI EB examination in Business Practice (Level 3) at the end of the third term. This exam will normally be timetabled for the final week of the course.
Assessment and certification To be considered to have passed the course, students will need to: Attend 100% of their timetabled classes.* Pass the LCCI EB Certificate in Business Practice Level 3. Achieve a score of at least 65% in each of their 4-weekly progress tests in all of the 4 subject areas (IELTS, Business English, Business Studies, EAP). Score at least 6.0 in their IELTS test (although the course aims to raise each student's level to at least 6.5).
Should the student fail to achieve one or other of these items, (or if the university requires a progress report before the end of the programme) we will issue a course attendance certificate, indicating which components they have passed and which not.
* Should students fail to attend at least 80% of their timetabled classes, they will be deemed to have failed the course.
ETC International College is an English Language School offering a variety of language and further education courses.
ETC International College English Language School
24 West Hill Road
Bournemouth, BH2 5PG
Tel.: (+44 1202) 559044
Fax: (+44 1202) 780162
Email: enquiries@etc-inter.net
Bournemouth University (BU) welcomes applications from students studying at ETC. Students studying the ETC International Foundation Certificate can be considered for entry to BU undergraduate programmes on an individual basis.
