Foundation Year

Why study a Foundation Year in Engineering or Science at Surrey?

Our Foundation Years in Engineering and Science enable students with an arts, social science or humanities background to change direction and study Engineering or Science programmes at the University.

They have been specially designed for students with an academic background different to that normally associated with entry to undergraduate science or accredited engineering degrees. The Foundation Year provides you with the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in these areas through intensive study.

The Foundation Year study will bring your knowledge of relevant subject areas to a level that will enable you to thrive on the rest of the degree programme. You will be given considerable personal support to ensure that you have the best possible chance of successfully making the transition to engineering or science subjects. Previous experience has shown that students passing our Foundation Year do well on the rest of their degree programmes. 

You will be a full member of the University with tutoring and some teaching being given at the University. As the Foundation Year is an integral part of a degree programme, you will have all rights, privileges and responsibilities of an undergraduate. You are guaranteed a place in University accommodation during either your Foundation Year or Level 1 (the first year of the degree programme) but not both, unless you are classified as an overseas student.

Our Programmes

We offer degrees with a Foundation Year for a range of subjects. The Foundation Year of the programmes differs for each subject area and you will take a selection of modules that are appropriate to the degree for which you are registered. The main foundation teaching is in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Laboratory Skills and Study Skills (as appropriate to either the Science or Engineering stream). 

Teaching is given by staff at the Guildford College of Further and Higher Education who are highly experienced in delivering bridging courses. Guildford College is about twenty minutes’ walk from the University.

In addition, on the Engineering Foundation Year, you will also follow a programme in Engineering Awareness. Taught on the University campus, it is designed to develop an appreciation of the various fields of engineering. 

On successful completion of the Foundation Year you may continue with your original degree programme or transfer to Level 1 in any appropriate alternative BSc or BEng programme in the same subject area. This allows you the flexibility to change degree programme if your interests alter.

You may combine your degree with a training year which provides valuable professional experience. On our Engineering programmes the professional training year contributes to the training required for all professional Chartered Engineers.

Further details on programme content following the Foundation Year are given under specific subject entries.

BEng (Honours) Degrees with Foundation Year (Engineering)

• Aerospace Engineering with Foundation Year H405 (4/5* yrs)
• Chemical Engineering with Foundation Year H805 (4/5* yrs)
• Civil Engineering with Foundation Year H205 (4/5* yrs)
• Electronics and Computer Engineering with Foundation Year H611 (4/5* yrs)
• Mechanical Engineering with Foundation Year H305 (4/5* yrs)
• Medical Engineering with Foundation Year HB3W (4/5* yrs)

* Programme includes a professional training year

BSc (Honours) Degrees with Foundation Year (Science)

• Biochemistry with Foundation Year C705 (4/5* yrs)
• Biomedical Sciences with Foundation Year B901 (4/5* yrs)
• Chemistry with Foundation Year F101 (4/5* yrs)
• Microbiology with Foundation Year C505 (4/5* yrs)
• Nutrition with Foundation Year B405 (4/5* yrs)
• Physics with Foundation Year F305 (4/5* yrs)

* Programme includes a professional training year

Other Foundation programmes you may be interested in

International Foundation Year

Information on the International Foundation Year at Surrey is detailed on page 196. This programme is aimed at international students who have usually completed only 12 years of study at school or college. In many cases these students will need tuition in English language and this is an integral part of the programme.