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Foundation

Found a course that you'd like to apply for? Here are the next steps:

Apply for Foundation

Our Foundation Diploma course offers an excellent transition between A-Level (or equivalent) and more specialised degree courses by allowing you to explore a wide range of disciplines.

We've broken down the steps to applying below.

How to apply

Applications for September 2024 are now closed. Applications for September 2025 will open at the start of November 2024. We recommend that you apply by 31 March for Foundation. We'll consider applications received after this date, but places may be limited.

Before starting your application, make sure to read through our Portfolio Guidelines, English Language requirements and entry requirements.

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Apply directly to Foundation

If you're looking to study Foundation Diploma, you can apply to us directly online

Apply via an Educational Agent

We have Educational Agents all over the world to help guide you through the application process

Entry requirements

We accept a wide range of qualifications. The requirements for entry in 2025 are outlined below.

Entry Qualifications

Entry to a Foundation course usually follows two years of sixth form study, but we also consider relevant and equivalent Level 3 qualifications.

You’ll need to achieve a Level 3 qualifications as listed here:

  • A minimum of two GCE A Level passes at Grade C or above. One of these will normally be in a relevant creative subject.
  • Two BTEC Subsidiary Diplomas/BTEC Extended Certificate at Merit, or a combination of BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/BTEC Extended Certificate and A Level qualifications.
  • An IB (International Baccalaureate) scores equivalent to 64 UCAS points from your Higher Level and Standard Level subjects. We’ll accept the equivalent in relevant individual IB certificates.
  • A UAL Extended Diploma Pass.
  • A BTEC/OCR (Tech) Extended Diploma at Merit, Pass.
  • A Pass from a VTCT or City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Theatrical, Special Effects, Hair and Media Make-up
  • A minimum of 64 UCAS points from other Level 3 qualifications.

Due to government funding rules, home fee paying applicants who are under 19 when the course starts must hold GCSE/IGCSE Grade C/4 or above in English and Maths to be able to enrol onto this course.

If a student doesn't have GCSE/IGCSE Maths and English at Grade C/4 or above and they're under 19, then we'll not receive funding. We're unable to enrol applicants who don't hold these qualifications or an acceptable equivalent. We're unable to accept Functional Skills, Key Skills or ALAN (Adult Literacy and Numeracy) tests in place of Maths or English from applicants who'll be under 19 when the course starts.

If you're a home fee paying applicant from the EU, you must also hold equivalent Level 2 qualifications in Maths, as assessed by NARIC, and an appropriate English Language qualification.

Please note that AUB doesn't request information about criminal records from our applicants.

Qualifications by Country

Austria – Successful completion of the Reifeprüfungzeugnis or Matura requirement is an overall average grade of 2.

Bangladesh - Successful completion of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) with a GPA of 3.5/5 or above.

Belgium – Successful completion of the Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs, with an overall result of 5/10 or 11/20.

Bulgaria – Pass Diploma za Sredno Obrazovanie with an overall average mark of at least 5.0.

China – Successful completion of the Chinese Senior Secondary School Certificate with a minimum overall pass mark of 65% OR Pass CAFA International Foundation Year with a minimum of 70%.

Cyprus – An overall score of at least 17 in Apolytirion of Eniaio Lykeio or Greek Cypriot Apolyterion.

Czech Republic – A score of 2.9 or higher in the Maturita.

Denmark – Successful completion of the Studentereksamen with an overall result of 6/12.

Egypt - Successful completion of Hanawiyya al-A’aamaI (General Secondary Education Certificate) with an overall grade of 80% or above.

Estonia – Successful completion of Gümnaasiumi Lõputunnistus with an overall average result of 4.0 or above in all subjects, and Riigieksamid (National Exams) with average result of 70% in tests taken.

Finland – Successful completion of the Ylioppilastutkinto / Studentexamen with a result of 4/6 (cum laude).

France – A good pass (grade 10 or above) in the Baccalaureate. Baccalaureate à Option Internationale/Baccalaureate de l’Enseignement du Second Degré.

Georgia - Successful completion of the Certificate of Full General Education (Sashualo Ganatlebis Atestasi) with a minimum average grade of 8/10 or above.

Germany – A minimum overall grade of 3.0 in the Abitur Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife/Zeugnis der Reife/Reifezeugnis. A minimum grade of 10 on the English component of the Abitur will meet minimum English Language requirements.

Ghana – Successful completion of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) with at least five subjects at grades A-C.

Greece – A minimum overall score of 17 in Apolytirion of Eniaio Lykeio or Greek Cypriot Apolyterion.

Honduras - Complete the Bachillerato/Bachiller with a minimum score of 70% or above.

Hong Kong – Successful completion of the Hong Kong Secondary Diploma of Education (HKSDE).

Hungary – 3.0 or better in the Erettsegi.

Iceland – Successful completion of Iceland Studentsprof with minimum of 7 in English when taken as a compulsory language.

India – Achieve 55% or above in Standard 12 from a recognised exam board.

Indonesia - Successful completion of the Ijazah - Sekolah Menengah Atas/Madrasah Aliyah (SMA/MA)/Certificate of Graduation from Academic/Islamic Secondary School with average grades of Baik/Good or 70% or above overall.

Iran Successful completion of High School Diploma with a GPA of 13/20 or above.

Ireland – Pass FETAC: 3 subjects with Merit. Or Irish Leaving Certificate (Irish Highers) grades H3, H3, H4 one of which must be in a relevant Art, Media or Design subject.

Italy – A minimum of 70 points in Diploma di Esame di Stato (formerly Diploma di Maturita).

Japan – Successful completion of the Japanese Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate with a minimum overall pass mark of 3 OR successful completion of JCFL Study Overseas Art and Design college program.

Kenya - Achieve A-level grades CC or above OR successfully complete the Kenyan Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) with an average grade of B or above

Kuwait - Successful completion of the Shahadat Al-Thanawaya Al-Aama/General Secondary Education Certificate with a minimum overall score of 75% or above

Latvia – Good grades (7 – 8) in the Atestats par visparejo videjo izglitibu, plus a grade 8 for English.

Lithuania – Brandos Atestatas overall grade 6 plus 50% overall grade at state examinations.

Malaysia – Successful completion of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) with an average grade of B4 or above.

Mexico Successful completion of the Bachiller/Bachillerato with a grade of 70% or above.

Netherlands – Successful completion of the VWO Diploma with an overall result of 6/10.

Nepal Successful completion of the Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC)/Intermediate with an average grade of 60% or above.

Nigeria – Successful completion of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) with at least five subjects at grades A-C.

Norway – Vitnemal: den Videeregaende Skole Examen Artium (with 4 in key subjects including English).

Oman – General Education Diploma with a minimum 80% mark.

Pakistan Successful completion of the Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC)/Intermediate with an average grade of 60% or above.

Paraguay - Complete the TItulo de Bachillerato with a score of 60% or above.

Peru - Complete the Certificado Official de Estudios de Edcuacion Secundaria with a final grade of 14/20 or above.

Philippines Completion of Senior High School Diploma with 90% or above.

Poland – Successful completion of the Matura with an overall result of 60%.

Portugal – Diploma de Ensino Secundário / Certificado de fim de Estudios Secundários with an average score of 16.0 in all subjects.

Romania – Pass Romania - Diploma de Bacalaureat with grade 7 or above.

Russia – Successful completion of the Attestat with grade 3 overall.

Slovakia – Slovakia-Vysvedčenie o Maturitnej Skuske with a minimum of grade 2.0 (chvalitebny) in all subjects with the majority at grade 1.0 (vyborny).

South Africa – Successful completion of the South African National Senior Certificate with grades ABBBB/76666.

South Korea – Successful completion of the South Korean High School Diploma with grades above mi (70-79).

Spain – Pass Título de Bachillerato with an average mark of 5.5 or higher.

Sri Lanka - Achieve grades of CC or above in the Sri Lankan General Certificate of Education

Sweden – Minimum grade of C/15 in the Avgångsbetyg/Slutbetyg från Gymnasieskola.

Switzerland – Pass Cantonal Maturity Certificate or a Federal Maturity Certificate, or a professional Maturity Certificate at grade 4.

Taiwan – Successful completion of the Taiwanese Senior High School Leaving Certificate with a minimum overall pass mark of 65%.

Thailand - Successful completion of the Certificate of Basic Education (Maw 6) with grades of 3/good overall.

Turkey – Successful completion of the LISE Diplomasi with an overall grade of 70% or above.

Ukraine Successful completion of the Certificate of Complete General Secondary Education with average grades of 10/12 or above.

United Arab Emirates Successful completion of the General Secondary Education Certificate with grades of 80% or above.

Uruguay - Complete the TItulo de Bachillerato with a final grade of 8/12 or above.

USA – Successful completion of a High School Diploma with a GPA of 3.0 or above.

Vietnam – Successful completion of and evidence of Tot Nghiep Pho Thong trung Hoc (Upper secondary School Graduation Certificate).

Have a question?

We understand that applying to university can be a confusing time. We've answered a few of our frequently asked question below but if you have any unanswered questions about any stage of the application process, including the AUB applicant portal, you can contact our Admissions team on admissions@aub.ac.uk.

You can also call us on 01202 363225 or 01202 363228.

Applications for September 2025 will open in early November 2024. We recommend applying before 31 March 2025 as we may close the course to new applications at this point.

You'll receive a confirmation email and login details to the AUB applicant portal when we receive your application. Admissions will contact you with a portfolio request and once this has been reviewed we'll send you our decision. If you’re successful, you'll most likely receive a conditional offer.

If you're 16-18 and living in Wales, Scotland or Ireland and looking for the UK Government to fund the Foundation Diploma course, their advice is to study in the college or University close to where you live.

There are rare circumstances where you can choose a course in a different area, please contact admissions@aub.ac.uk to discuss you eligibility before making your application.

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