For students who have completed their own country’s formal secondary school leaving certificate or qualification(s). Students must be at least 17yrs+ by 01 September preceding the course start date. Students must have attained a minimum English Language level of IELTS 5.0 prior to starting the course. Our pathway specific entry tests must be taken by applicants.
Our aim
This is to prepare students fully for UK undergraduate life at some of the country’s very best universities.
The course structure:
Four pathways: STEM, BEM, Humanities & Creative Arts
STEM
(Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
- Choice of subjects (subject to timetabling) from: Mathematics; Further Mathematics; Psychology, Chemistry, Biology and Physics
- English Language and preparation for IELTS
- The Extended Project Qualification (AQA)
- Any practical work will take place at Cardiff Sixth Form College during STEM Practical Week ad be assessed by CSFC
- Attendance at the annual Cambridge Science Festival
- Complete a programme of work experience related to university and career ambitions, which may take place in London or Kent
BEM
(Business, Economics and Management)
- Choice of subjects (subject to timetabling) from: Business, Economics, Politics, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Modern Languages, English Literature, Government & Politics and History
- English Language and preparation for IELTS
- The Extended Project Qualification (AQA)
- Complete a programme of work experience related to university and career ambitions, which may take place in London or Kent
Humanities
- Choice of subjects (subject to timetabling) from: History, Geography, Economics, Business, Government & Politics, History of Art, Psychology, English Literature and Modern Languages
- English Language and preparation for IELTS
- The Extended Project Qualification (AQA)
- Complete a programme of work experience related to university and career ambitions, which may take place in London or Kent
Creative Arts
- Choice of subjects (subject to timetabling) from: Art & Design, Photography, History of Art, Modern Languages, Business and Mathematics
- English Language and preparation for IELTS
- The Extended Project Qualification (AQA)
- Complete a programme of work experience related to university and career ambitions, which may take place in London or Kent
Assessment
The Dukes UFC is assessed and moderated by Dukes Colleges:
Cardiff Sixth Form College (STEM) and Earlscliffe (BEM, Humanities and Creative Arts)
Internal tests, assignments, essays, projects, end of term examinations and science practical work all contribute to the assessment process.
IELTS and the EPQ are externally graded.
The final Dukes UFC grade will be awarded at Pass (40%), Merit (65%) or Distinction (85%).
Universities may make conditional offers through UCAS as follows, for example:
- Candidate must attain an overall score of at least 65% on the University Foundation Year course
and
- A minimum overall score of 6.5 in IELTS
and
- At least a C grade in the EPQ
This is purely for illustration. Some universities will include the EPQ in any conditional offer and others will not.
The Dukes University Foundation Certificate (DUFC) gives students a choice of pathways yet each is underpinned with serious academic content and assessment, thereby giving leading universities both confidence in its integrity and in their decisions to make our DUFC students conditional offers.