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International Foundation Programme in Engineering and Science (Accelerated)

Academic Year 2021/22

A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be registered. All programmes of the University are subject to the University's Quality Assurance processes. All degrees are awarded by Queen's University Belfast.

Programme Title

International Foundation Programme in Engineering and Science (Accelerated)

Final Award
(exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes)

University Foundation Certificate

Programme Code

NTO-AIF-EN

UCAS Code

HECoS Code

100184

ATAS Clearance Required

No

Mode of Study

Full Time

Type of Programme

Undergraduate Certif

Length of Programme

1 Academic Year(s)

Total Credits for Programme

120

Exit Awards available

INSTITUTE INFORMATION

Teaching Institution

INTO Queen's

School/Department

INTO

Quality Code
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code

Higher Education Credit Framework for England
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/higher-education-credit-framework-for-england

Level 3

Subject Benchmark Statements
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements

The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/quality-code/qualifications-frameworks.pdf

Accreditations (PSRB)

The British Council

Date of most recent Accreditation Visit 11-05-18

REGULATION INFORMATION

Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations
(Please see General Regulations)

None.

Programme Specific Regulations

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
English Language Requirements:
For the International Foundation Programme in Engineering & Science (Accelerated) candidates will normally be required to have an English Language test score, taken within the last two years, of IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in each sub-skill. Candidates with IELTS 6.0 overall with 5.5 in writing and no less than 5.0 in the other sub-skills will be considered on a case by case basis.

General Academic Requirements:
Students must normally have successfully completed 12 years of school education (or the local equivalent to meet the same standard) with good grades. Students with only 11 years of education will normally be Referred to Centre , the exceptions being Vietnam, China, and Hong Kong (see Country Specific Requirements A.1 below).

Minimum Academic Requirements from Internationally Recognised Examinations:
Students who have completed the International Baccalaureate (IB) with a minimum 22 points may be accepted. Applicants with the IB Careers-Related Programme will not be accepted.

Students who have studied UK GCSE, IGSCE or O-level will need to be approved via the Refer to Centre route before they can be accepted, the exception being students who achieve a minimum of 5 subjects at CCCCC including Maths and, preferably, English. Note that such students may have slightly limited university options following the IFP.

Students who have a minimum of an E grade at UK A2 level or 2 x E Grades at UK AS Level may be accepted; such students may have slightly limited university options. Native Language AS-Levels/A-levels are not accepted).

All applications for progression to Midwifery Sciences and Nursing will be referred to Centre (RTC).

For Non Standard Entry - Refer to Centre (RTC):
Applications from countries not listed and applications which fall marginally below the stated entry requirements will be referred to the Centre for a final decision.

Age restrictions:
All students commencing courses for the September start date must be 16 years old by 01st September of that calendar year. For the June intake for the Extended course, students must be 16 before registering at the centre. For all other start dates, students must be 16 years old by 01st September of the preceding calendar year (and therefore have turned 17 before 01st September of the year they progress to university).

Entrance requirements are kept under review and are subject to change.
Applicants are advised to check the latest information online at;
http://www.intostudy.com/en-gb/universities/queens-university-belfast/courses

Award:
To be eligible for the award, all students must take and satisfactorily complete (pass) modules to a value of 120 CATS points.

The pass mark for all academic modules is 40%.
The pass mark for the English Language and Study Skills (ELSS) module is 50% overall (IELTS 6.0), with a minimum of 40% in each sub-skill (IELTS 5.5).
The ELSS module is assessed using an INTO ELSS examination (benchmarked against CEFR and IELTS).
Results are reported as a percentage with 35-39% being equivalent to IELTS 5.0, 40 -49% equivalent to IELTS 5.5; 50-59% equivalent to IELTS 6.0, 60-69% equivalent to IELTS 6.5, etc.

Re-sits
A student who fails a module at the first sitting shall normally be permitted one further attempt to achieve a pass for that module. The module will normally be retaken at the next available opportunity. The maximum mark available for academic modules retaken in this way will be a pass mark of 40%.

The ELSS module mark is not capped on re-sit.

Students who fail any module at the second attempt may be required to withdraw from the programme.

Progression:
Holders of the University Foundation Certificate may progress to Year One of the University degree only if they have achieved, as a minimum requirement, the level of performance in both academic modules and English Language and Study Skills as specified in the progression requirements for specific degree programmes.

Students who successfully complete the International Foundation Programme and meet the specified course requirements are guaranteed progression onto the first year of an undergraduate degree programme at Queen’s University Belfast. They also qualify to apply for entry to other universities in the UK and elsewhere.

The International Foundation programme is acceptable for entry to undergraduate degree programmes at Queen’s, with the exception of Agricultural Technology, Medicine, Dentistry and Social Work. Because of the competition for places and the limited number of placements available, the normal progression guarantee does not apply to degree programmes in Midwifery Sciences or Nursing.

The INTO brochure provides detailed and up-to-date information about the English language requirements and grade profile needed for specified degrees at Queen’s University. The International Foundation programme is acceptable for entry to many undergraduate degree programmes at Queen’s, with the exception of Agricultural Technology, Medicine, Dentistry and Social Work.

Students with protected characteristics

None.

Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations

(Please see General Regulations)

No

EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF PROGRAMME

1. Provide students with a high quality education and learning experience at pre-undergraduate foundation level.

2. Prepare students for progression to Year One of a range of undergraduate degree programmes at Queen’s University Belfast.

3. Provide a qualification to allow alternative progression routes for those students who either (i) do not meet the entry criteria for progression to undergraduate degree programmes at Queen’s University Belfast, or (ii) who do meet the entry criteria for progression to undergraduate degree programmes at Queen’s University Belfast but wish to follow an undergraduate course at another university.

5. Assist international students to become accustomed to student life in the UK and to provide practical experience of the learning, teaching and assessment methods found in Queen’s University Belfast and in other UK universities.

6. Cultivate a commitment to good practice in academic work and provide students with the necessary personal, interpersonal and key skills to enable them to develop as independent, self-directed learners.

4. Enhance the subject knowledge, learning skills and English language ability of students to enable them to communicate and study effectively and confidently at undergraduate level at Queen’s or in another English medium university.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning Outcomes: Cognitive Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

1. Interpret criteria and specifications and plan their implementation.
2. Identify, analyse and solve a range of science based problems using appropriate techniques and principles.
3. Formulate solutions to problems through the synthesis of ideas from a range of sources.
4. Assess the implications, risks or safety considerations involved in specific situations and conditions.
5. Assess and analyse problems that involve a degree of complexity, taking account of conflicting priorities and the wider impacts and limitations in decision-making.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Students’ cognitive skills are developed through lectures, seminars, tutorials, group-work, presentations and report writing.

Methods of Assessment

Students will be assessed through formative and summative examinations, class tests, group project work, fieldwork and coursework.

Learning Outcomes: Transferable Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

1. Use computers and information technology effectively.
2. Manage time and resources, prioritise and work to deadlines.
3. Work and learn independently.
4. Interact professionally with peers, staff and others, including appropriate written and oral skills.
5. Work effectively as a member of a group or team.
6. Communicate effectively in writing, verbally and through graphical media.
7. Evaluate qualitative and quantitative data.
8. Use online computer sources for information retrieval and critically appraise the information and sources.
9. Develop and implement sustainable practices with an understanding of the impact on climate change.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Students’ transferable skills are developed through lectures, seminars, tutorials, group-work, presentations and report writing.

Methods of Assessment

Students will be assessed through formative and summative examinations, class tests, group project work, fieldwork and coursework.

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge & Understanding

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of a range of science topics.
2. Demonstrate a knowledge of mathematical facts, principles and statistical techniques relevant to a variety of discipline areas and use them to solve real life problems.
3. Analyse and combine information from a variety of sources and apply science concepts to practical situations and topical issues.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Students’ knowledge and understanding is developed through lectures, seminars, tutorials, group-work, presentations and report writing.

Methods of Assessment

Students will be assessed through formative and summative examinations, class tests, group project work, fieldwork and coursework.

Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

1. Apply knowledge and understanding, cognitive and transferable skills within each subject module as well as across modules at programme level.
2. Demonstrate competence in a range of appropriate practical techniques and skills relevant to science.
3. Demonstrate the ability to communicate scientific ideas in a range of formats, including formal scientific reporting.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Students’ subject specific skills are developed through lectures, seminars, tutorials, group-work, presentations and report writing.

Methods of Assessment

Students will be assessed through formative and summative examinations, class tests, group project work, fieldwork and coursework.

MODULE INFORMATION

Stages and Modules

Module Title

Module Code

Level/ stage

Credits

Availability

Duration

Pre-requisite

 

Assessment

 

 

 

 

S1

S2

 

 

Core

Option

Coursework %

Practical %

Examination %

English Language and Study Skills

IFYF001

1

30

YES

YES

18 weeks

N

YES

40%

0%

60%

Foundation Physics

IFYF008

1

30

YES

YES

18 weeks

N

YES

40%

0%

60%

Foundation Chemistry

IFYF009

1

30

YES

YES

18 weeks

N

YES

40%

0%

60%

Foundation Biology

IFYF010

1

30

YES

YES

18 weeks

N

YES

40%

0%

60%

Further Mathematics for Engineering and Science

IFYF015

1

30

YES

YES

18 weeks

N

YES

40%

0%

60%

Foundation Mathematics (Business, Science, Engineering and Architecture)

IFYF019

1

30

YES

YES

18 weeks

N

YES

40%

0%

60%

Notes

Please note that the British Council accredits the ELSS module for this programme.