International Foundation Year entry requirements
General entry requirements
Find out more about the entry requirements for the International Foundation Year at the University of Sussex International Study Centre.
| Entry requirements | International Foundation Year |
| English language*† | Academic IELTS for UKVI 5.0 overall (min 5.0 in writing) |
| Academic | Good High school graduation grades or equivalent. Check the country-specific entry requirements below |
| Age | Applicants must turn 18 by the 1st September of the year they are due to complete their ISC course and progress |
| Nationality | Only available to international (non-UK and non-EU students) |
| Additional | For Engineering route: Student will require either GCSE Mathematics grade 6 or equivalent. For Life Sciences route: Student will require GCSE Biology and Chemistry (or combined science to include biology and chemistry) grade 6 or equivalent. |
If you are applying to study in the UK under the Student visa route it may be necessary for you to submit a Secure English Language Test (SELT) as part of your visa application.
Find out more about valid test providers and approved test centre locations for tests taken on or after 6 April 2015. To find out if you are exempt from the SELT requirement and to find out about acceptable English language tests please contact us.
*If you do not need a Student visa, or are exempted in another way, we can accept equivalent proof of English.
†English language requirements for International Foundation Year Medicine route: Academic IELTS for UKVI 6.0 overall (min 6 in writing and 5.5 in all other components)
You can start your studies with a UKVI approved Secure English Language Test (SELT), provided you have met all the programme entry requirements.
The test results must have been achieved in the past 24 months and meet the minimum English equivalency score for your chosen programme.
- IELTS Academic for UKVI
- Trinity Integrated Skills in English UKVI
- Pearson PTE Academic UKVI
- LanguageCert Academic SELT
- PSI Skills for English UKVI (4 components)
You will need to obtain a SELT with the required minimum score to make a Student Visa application in order to come to campus.
Additional English language test accepted:
| Your country | Academic qualification(s) you need |
| Algeria | Bacc de l'Enseignment Secondaire with grade average of 10 inc relevant subjects |
| Bahrain | Tawjahiya (Secondary school leaving cert) average grade of 70% or above, with 60% in relevant subjects. |
| Bangladesh | Year 12 (HSC): GPA 3.5 overall (Relevant subjects GPA 3.25 if required) (Note 1: Maths at HSC is required for Science and Engineering |
| Brazil | Certificado de Ensino Médio 6.0 with relevant subjects at 6.5 or above. |
| Brunei | Cambridge O Level- Minimum 4 subjects required grades 1-6 |
| Cambodia | Year 11 - Grade B in 4 subjects (include relevant subjects) Diploma of Upper Secondary school - Grade C in 4 subjects (include relevant subjects) |
| China | Year 11 (Senior High 2):70% overall and min 60% in 4 academic subjects (including relevant subjects) Year 12 (Senior High 3): 60% overall and min 60% in relevant subjects Huikao: 70% Vocational Schools - can be accepted for Business IFY only Year 11 (vocational school): 75% average with minimum of 60% in 3 academic and 1 vocational subject passes or above Year 12 (vocational school): 65% average with minimum of 60% in 3 academic and 1 vocational subject passes or above Specialised/Technical Schools Year 11 (specialised technical school): 75% average with minimum of 60% in 3 academic and 1 technical subject passes or above (For Science & Engineering pathways technical subjects must be in a related field) Year 12 (specialised technical school): 65% average with minimum of 60% in 3 academic and 1 technical subject passes or above (For Science & Engineering pathways technical subjects must be in a related field) |
| Colombia | Bachillerato 60% with relevant subjects at 65% or above |
| Ecuador | Titulo de Bachiller En Ciencias overall grade 7.5 with minimum 7 in relevant subjects |
| Egypt | Year 12 (GSEC): 65% overall with 50% minimum in relevant subjects; Year 11 (GSEC): 70% overall and 60% in relevant subjects |
| Ghana | Successful completion of the West African School Certificate (WAEC) or Senior School Certificate average grade 1-6 (A-C) in 4 or more subjects |
| Hong Kong | Form 5 (all school): Pass in 3 relevant subjects or if 2 subject pass 5% above pass HKDSE: 221 in 3 relevant subjects (Level 2 in relevant subjects or Form 5 Pass) |
| India | Year 11: 65% overall including 55% in relevant subjects. Year 12 (HSC): 55% overall (Note: 55% in relevant subjects required can be taken from Year10, 11 or Year 12) |
| Indonesia | Grade 7.0 SMU 2 or Grade 6.5 SMU 3 – (4 relevant subjects required) |
| Iran | Successful completion of High School Diploma (3 years) with overall GPA 14/20 including relevant subjects |
| Japan | Successful completion of Kotogakko (Year 12) with grade average or 70% or GPA 3.5/5. Year 11 with 75% or GPA 4/5 may be considered, subject to age |
| Jordan | Year 12 (GSEC): 70% overall and 50% in relevant subjects |
| Kazakhstan | Successful completion of ATTESTAT/Certificate of Secondary Education (Grade 11) with grade average 4 and 5 |
| Kenya | Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE): grades C to D in 4 or more subjects, including relevant subjects. |
| Korea | SH3: Grade D/60%-69%/ Rank 6 overall and in relevant subjects Where SH3 is accepted also accept Korean CSAT at the same Rank SH2: Grade C/65%/ Rank 5 overall and in relevant subjects |
| Kuwait | 70% overall with 60% in relevant subjects |
| Laos | Upper Secondary School Diploma / Baccalaureate: 4 subjects consisting of GPA 7.0/10 (grade B) and 6.0/10 (grade C) in relevant subjects |
| Libya | Successful completion Secondary Education Certificate with average of 80% |
| Macau | Form 5 (all schools): 60%+ average with relevant subject pass Form 6 (all schools): 55%+ average with relevant subject pass |
| Malaysia | SPM/UEC school: Form 5, Senior 2 / Senior Middle 2, Term 1, Term 2, Mid-Year, Mid-Term, End of Term, Final Year Transcripts - Grades of A- D achieved in 5 relevant academic subjects to include English and Maths. UEC Senior 2 / Senior Middle 2 with aggregate of not more than 32 points for 5 relevant academic subjects inc English & Mathematics. |
| Mexico | Successful completion of Bachillerato at a average of 75% and above |
| Moldova | Attestat/Certificate of Secondary Education (Grade 11) Average grade 3 |
| Morocco | Diplôme du Baccalauréat with grade average of 10 inc relevant subjects |
| Nigeria | Successful completion of West African School Certificate (WAEC) or Senior School Certificate with 1-6 (A-C) in 4 or more relevant subjects |
| Oman | Year 12 (General Education Diploma): 70% overall and 60% in all subjects including relevant subjects |
| Pakistan | Year 12 (HSC / Intermediate Certificate (Part I & II)) or Polytechnic Diploma: 50% overall with passes in min 4 subjects. Year 11 (Intermediate Part I): 60% overall with passes in min 4 subjects. (Note: 50% in relevant subjects required, must be taken from the year assessed.) |
| Paraguay | Overall Average Minimum Grade 3.0/5.0 |
| Peru | Secundaria Común Completa – GPA “A” (old 14/20) |
| Qatar | New certificate, QSSC - min. 5 subjects, all 5 grades A - Cs (minimum 70% in relevant subjects and overall in percentage scale) Thanawaya Ama Qatari (School Leaving Certificate) overall 70% and 60% in relevant subjects |
| Russia | Successful completion of ATTESTAT/11th grade with a minimum GPA of 4.0 |
| Saudi Arabia | Tawjihiya (General Secondary Education Certificate)/ = high school graduation. An overall passmark of 70% or above, inc relevant subjects No lower than 60% in these subjects. |
| Singapore | Secondary 4: Term 2 or Mid-Year transcript - Grades of A- C achieved in 5 relevant academic subjects to include English and Maths |
| Sri Lanka | Sri lankan GCE O level: Grade B in 5 subjects including relevant subjects Sri lankan GCE A level: Grade C in 2 subjects including relevant subjects |
| Taiwan | SH3 / Year 12 55% or SH2 / Year 11 65%. Including Math 55% at SH3 or SH2. Grades A (80-100% = Highest/4), B (70-79% = Average/3). C (60-69% - Pass/2). 3 Year JCD: 60% GSAT - 33 from 4 relevant subjects (for relevant subject requirement: can refer to SH3 subject result 75% Vocational High School Year 3: 55% or Year 2: 65% |
| Thailand | Successful completion of MAW 6 with average GPA 2.0 in relevant subjects including Maths and Sciences or successful completion of MAW 5 with GPA 2.5 |
| Tunisia | Baccalaureate - minimum 10 points inc relevant subjects. |
| Turkey | Devlet Lise Diploması (High School Completion) - 50% overall with minimum 50% in relevant subjects |
| UAE | Tawjihiyya (School Leaving Certificate): An overall passmark of 70% or above, no lower than 60% in relevant subjects. |
| Ukraine | Successful completion of ATTESTAT/11th grade with a minimum GPA of 7.0 |
| USA | Grade 11 - GPA 2.75 or Grade 12 2.50. GED: 600 overall with 150 in 4 subjects, including prerequisites |
| Uzbekistan | Attestat/Certificate of Secondary Education (Grade 11) min GPA 4.0 |
| Vietnam | Year 12 7.5 plus successfully completed 1 year of further year of study. |
| Zimbabwe | O levels : 4 passes at A-C including relevant subjects |
- IGCSE / GCSE / O-Level: 5 passes with grade 4 minimum or grade C, including native language
- A levels/AS levels: 24 UCAS points (native language accepted)
- IB first year - 24 points or IB Certificate IB - 22 points
- GED 600 overall with 150 in 4 academic subjects
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