Foundation Year Overview
If you do not meet the requirements for direct entry into our BSc (Hons) Biology degree, our Foundation Year can provide an alternative route into your degree.
Keele University is consistently ranked among the top universities for student satisfaction, and we have over 70 years’ experience of teaching a foundation year to students. On the Keele Foundation Year, you’ll study on campus, joining our community from the outset, and you will have access to a range of support.
Read on to find out about:
- Foundation Year indicative modules for the September intake
- Foundation Year entry requirements
- How to apply
- UCAS code for this course
The information within this page is for students wishing to start their studies in September. If you would like to start this course in January, please visit our January pages for further details.
Course Content
Our Foundation Year allows you to develop your critical thinking, academic reading, writing, and communication study skills along with subject-specific knowledge and skills which will be invaluable in your academic studies and beyond. Upon meeting the progression criteria and successfully completing our Foundation Year, you will automatically progress into your Keele undergraduate degree with the confidence that you have the skills, and knowledge needed to successfully complete your course.
This Foundation Year is a two-semester programme which provides a tailored pre-degree programme of study to better prepare you for the BSc (Hons) Biology degree. For example, the Foundations of Life Sciences module will look at basic cell biology in terms of structure and function and go on to examine how cells obtain their energy and raw materials. It considers how organisms interact and analyses the effects of climate change on ecosystems. Course content has been developed in collaboration with degree teaching teams, so that by the time you begin Year 1, you will be ready to excel at your studies, as the majority of our Foundation Year students do.
Find out more about the Keele Foundation Year, including information about teaching and assessment methods by visiting the Foundation Year homepage.
Course Structure
The module details given below are indicative and will give you a good idea of the range of subjects that we teach. We regularly review our teaching to ensure that the modules we offer are up-to-date; therefore, the modules available to study are liable to change.
Semester One Core Modules
Semester Two Core Modules
Option Modules
In addition to the modules above, students will study an additional 15 credits in semester one and 30 credits during semester two from a range of modules.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate’s application. Read more about our undergraduate entry requirements for United Kingdom, European Union and International students
- Between 40-56 UCAS points from at least 1 A level/level 3 qualification or equivalent, or
- Relevant work experience
AND
- GCSE English Language at grade 4 (C), or Level 2 Functional Skills, or
- IELTS 5.5 (with 5.5 in all subtests)
AND
- GCSE Mathematics at grade 4 (C) or above
How to Apply
UK or EU students will need to apply for BSc (Hons) Biology with Foundation Year (UCAS code C103) through UCAS at www.ucas.com.
Direct Entry Students
If you are a UK or EU student, already have your qualifications, are not expecting any further results and only wish to apply to Keele, please contact the Admissions Office directly.
International Entry
International students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this course have the opportunity to study an International Foundation Year programme.
These courses are designed to prepare international students to enter into Keele University undergraduate degrees.
All applications for the International Foundation Year and International Degree Programme can be made through UCAS using the UCAS codes below.
Y002 - International Foundation Year (IFY)
Y008 - International Degree Programme (IDP)
