University of London International Foundation Programme

Course Content

The College offers the following pathways with four subjects:

• Mathematics and Statistics
• Economics
• International Relations
• Social Psychology OR Pure Mathematics

Mathematics and Statistics

The course offers an overview of key mathematical methods and statistical concepts frequently applied to economics, management, finance and related areas. Topics include: an overview of arithmetic, algebra and calculus; insight into concepts of probability; an introduction to financial mathematics; basic knowledge of how to summarise, analyse and interpret data and introductions to modelling the linear relationships.

Economics

The course offers a broad overview of the key economic concepts and their applications to everyday situations and current economic affairs. Topics include: an introduction to the nature and scope of economics; competitive markets; market failure and government intervention; managing the economy; development and sustainability of the recent financial and economic crisis.

International Relations

This course offers a basic introduction to International Relations (IR), its classical and contemporary theories, schools of thought and research areas.

It has three major aims:

• To provide an introduction to IR as a social scientific discipline, its history, key contributors and methodologies
• To consider key ways in which knowledge derived from IR can be applied to real-life contexts
• To provide tools that support students in critical thinking and argumentation

Social Psychology

The course provides a broad introduction to concepts, theories and methodologies used in the study of Social Psychology. Topics include: an overview of the subject; the self in social context; interpersonal relations; group and inter-group relations and cultural phenomena.

OR

Pure Mathematics

This course develops proficiency in working with range of mathematical methods including logic and proof by contradiction, algebraic equations, trigonometric functions and expressions, co-ordinate geometry vectors and calculus. The theoretical concepts underlying these areas are explored and related to working methods and application which together build on the elementary techniques of mathematics.

Special written online study materials

Your online study materials, coupled with the tuition you receive at your institution and the essential textbooks, will guide you through your studies. The study materials we provide include:

• A full subject guide for each course you study.
• Access to a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) with contains supplementary learning resources and opportunities including audio-visual tutorials, academic interviews, self-testing activities and online discussion forums.
• A student handbook containing practical information and advice.
• A University of London email account and web area which you can use to manage your personal information.

Assessment

This course is assessed by an unseen written examination. Candidates who pass all four courses are awarded the University of London Foundation Certificate with a grade of ‘Pass’, ‘Merit’, or ‘Distinction’.

Exams are held in late April/early May each year.

Students who marginally fail one course are eligible to resit that examination in July of the same year.