Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
International/EU: £12,950
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How long will I study?
7 Months
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Where will I study?
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When do I start?
January 2026
Course summary
Aimed at international students, this foundation course prepares students for a range of degrees including Business, Law, Hospitality, Tourism, Finance, Built Environment and Psychology. The programme ends in late July, meaning you can stay in the UK as you prepare to begin your undergraduate course in September, with advice given about obtaining a visa.
Come to an open day
Find out more at our undergraduate open days. Book now for your place.
How you learn
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
You will learn through active participation in all of your classes. There will be a variety of class types you will participate in, and a range of assessments. We will help you to become a confident, active and independent learner, whether working alone or collaborating with others, and help you to thrive in your new learning environment.
You will learn through:
- Seminars
- Lectures
- Workshops
- Labs
You will be assessed through:
- Presentations
- Seminars
- Written essays & reports
- examinations
Course leaders and tutors
Brett Clifton
Senior Lecturer In TesolI've been teaching English for academic purposes for many years, first in China, and now here at Sheffield Hallam. I've recently been working cross-college on course … Read more
Applied learning
In addition to the core modules, social and cultural activities are available to help you adjust to studying at Sheffield Hallam and living in the UK. Activities include visits and events organised by our International Experience Team, the opportunity to participate in our mentoring support scheme, career talks and subject-specific peer study group meetings. This helps you to build your confidence, improves your use of English and is a great opportunity to make friends. To help you develop a sound understanding of the discipline, we arrange visits to local companies wherever possible.
Future careers
Successful completion of the IFP will open the door to your future, guaranteeing you a place on one of over 40 undergraduate degrees here at Sheffield Hallam. These are:
- BA Accounting and Finance
- BA Acting and Performance
- BA Business Economics
- BA Business Management
- BA Business Management and Enterprise
- BA Business Management and Marketing
- BA Business Management with Law
- BA Business Management with Psychology
- BA Business Studies
- BA Creative Writing
- BA Digital Marketing
- BA Digital Media Production
- BA English
- BA Esports Management
- BA Fashion Management and Communication*
- BA Film and TV Production
- BA Film Studies
- BA Fine Art*
- BA Game Art
- BA Game Design and Development
- BA Graphic Design*
- BA History
- BA International Business
- BA Journalism, Public Relations with Media
- BA Marketing
- BA Marketing Communications and Advertising
- BA Marketing with Psychology
- BA Sports Journalism
- BSc Airline and Airport Management
- BSc Banking and Finance
- BSc Computer Science
- BSc Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence
- BSc Cyber Security
- BSc Economics
- BSc Economics and Finance
- BSc Events Management
- BSc Information Technology with Business Studies
- BSc International Tourism and Hospitality Business Management
- BSc International Tourism Management
- BSc Sport Business Management
- BSc Sport Development with Coaching
- LLB Law
- LLB Law with Criminology
* A portfolio submission will be required at the time of applying for the International Foundation Programme.
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
On this course you will be introduced to the range of facilities and software available at the University that you will use in your future course.
Entry requirements
All students
English language requirements
To enrol on the course, you are required to have an IELTS certificate from an approved centre. You can apply for the IFP while you are waiting for your results.
For September entry, an overall IELTS 4.5 is required, with a minimum of 4.0 in all skills.
For January entry, a minimum IELTS 5.0 is needed, with a minimum of 4.5 in all skills.
Academic entry requirements
Good high school graduation grades which includes Maths.
Find out which qualifications we accept from your home country.
You may be required to provide examples of creative work to support your application.
You must be 18 years old when you enrol on the course. September applicants must be 18 years old by 1st September and January applicants by 1st January.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
Final year
Compulsory modules
Academic English In Context
Developing Your Academic English
English For University
Introduction To Business And Finance For International Foundation Year
Social Science And Law For International Foundation Year
Fees and funding
International students
For the two-term programme starting in January the tuition fee in 2025/26 will be £12,950. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. If the full course is more than one year in duration, the fee will be divided into annual payments which will then be rounded. This may mean the total fee you pay is slightly higher than the fee stated above. If you take a break in study or have to re-take part of the course, you may also be charged an additional fee and will be notified of this at the time.
Additional course costs
This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.