Foundation Programme
Our Foundation Programme is an intensive year 13 academic programme that provides an alternative to A Levels for British and international students and leads to direct entry to a wide range of UK universities.
The programme is modular with 3 examinations are taken within the duration of the course. This allows students to build up their score and have a good idea of the level they are achieving as the course progresses.
Foundation Programme course durations and start dates
| Duration | Starts | English Requirement (Minimum) | Available At |
| 1 year | September 2025 | IELTS 5.0 and successfully passing the college interview process. | Abbey College Cambridge, DLD College London, Abbey College Manchester |
| 18 month | January 2026 | IELTS 4.5 and successfully passing the college interview process. | Abbey College Manchester |
| 2 year | September 2025 | IELTS 4.0 and successfully passing the college interview process. | Abbey College Manchester |
Why Study Foundation Programme?
Unlike many foundation programmes, our destinations are not limited to a choice of one or two partne universities. This means students are free to progress to a wide range of UK universities, including many UK top 20 ranked and Russell Group institutions.
How are Foundation Programmes taught?
The programme offers a range of subject-related pathways, which give access to complementary subjects at university. Each pathway is made up of a number of modules, depending on which pathway you choose you might have a choice of modules, they may be all compulsory, or a mix of elective and compulsory modules.
Each module is assessed individually, with three assessment points through each term and an opportunity to resit modules if necessary. Students achieve an overall score based on all their individual module assessments.
Progression from the Foundation Programme
Our foundation students can progress to a wide-range of top-ranked universities. University destinations in recent years have included Durham University, the University of Bath, King’s College London, the University of Manchester, City, University of Warwick, and the University of York.
Foundation Programme University Destinations
2021-25 Foundation Programme Students, Top 50 Ranked UK University Destinations*
| Rank | University |
| 3 | Durham University |
| 7 | University of Bath |
| 8 | University of Warwick |
| 10 | University of Bristol |
| 12 | Loughborough University |
| 13 | University of Sheffield |
| 14 | University of Exeter |
| 15 | Lancaster University |
| 16 | University of Birmingham |
| 17 | University of Southampton |
| 18 | University of Liverpool |
| 19 | King’s College London |
| 20 | University of York |
| 22 | University of Glasgow |
| 23 | University of Aberdeen |
| 25 | University of Edinburgh |
| 26 | University of Leeds |
| 27 | University of Manchester |
| 28 | Cardiff University |
| 30 | University of Nottingham |
* Rankings based on the 2026 Times University League Table.
Foundation Programme Subjects
Foundation Programme Subjects Available
| COURSE | ABBEY COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE | DLD COLLEGE LONDON | ABBEY COLLEGE MANCHESTER |
| Advanced Mathematics & Economics | Y | ||
| Art & Design | Y | ||
| Biomedical Science | y | ||
| Business & Economics | Y | Y | |
| Business & Mathematics | Y | ||
| Business Management & Economics | Y | ||
| Computer Science & Mathematics | Y | ||
| Creative Art | |||
| Economics & Mathematics | Y | ||
| Engineering | Y | Y | Y |
| Environmental Science | Y | ||
| Fashion Management | Y | ||
| Humanities | Y | ||
| Medicine | y | ||
| Science | Y | ||
| Social Sciences | Y | ||
| Sport | Y |
Special features
An exclusive agreement gives our Fashion Management and Art students the option to progress on to study at the London, Milan, or Paris school of the prestigious Istituto Marangoni. Students can also progress onto fashion programmes at other top universities.
Our Medicine pathway is accepted by the medical schools of Aston University, Brunel University, the University of Buckingham, the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), the University of Nicosia, St George’s University Grenada, Queen Mary University of London (Malta campus), the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and the American University of Antigua.
