Engineering Foundation Year

Study level: Foundation year
Engineering student wiring their project

If you're looking to start a career in the engineering industry, this foundation year provides opportunities to develop your knowledge and skills in a range of mathematical and business principles, as well as the theories and concepts of electrical and mechanical engineering.

Year of entry

Location

CU Scarborough (Scarborough)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

1 year full-time

Course code

UCAS Code: H101
CUCLF028

Start date

September 2023
November 2023
January 2024
March 2024
May 2024
July 2024

The information on this page is for 2022-23 entry and should be used as guidance for 2023-24 entry. Please keep checking back on this course page to see our latest updates.


Course overview

Our Foundation Year courses offer an introduction to your chosen subject and are an ideal route to degree level qualifications, helping you develop the necessary skills for further study.

A highly-respected discipline, this qualification gives you broad and diverse career paths, from law, to business and even medicine. Engineers are always in demand and with the right skills and a degree level qualification, this industry can lead you to frequent travel, passion projects and a very fulfilling career.

This Foundation Year is ideal for those looking to start a career in the engineering industry. It provides you with opportunities to develop fundamental knowledge and skills in a range of mathematical and business principles, as well as the theories and concepts of electrical and mechanical engineering. 

The course enables students who successfully pass to automatically progress to the Electro-Mechanical Engineering BEng (Hons) degree at CU Scarborough, subject to meeting specific entry criteria.

Why CU Scarborough

We offer a style of education which is flexible and designed to fit around your life, allowing you to benefit from a modern, forward-thinking higher education institution, reinforced by the quality and reputation of Coventry University. We aim to provide career-focused courses, wherever possible, coupled with placement opportunities to help prepare you for the world of work. We are dedicated to making higher education accessible and enjoyable to everyone, so we keep our fees low and made it a policy to cover one module at a time, allowing you to become a specialist in each topic before moving onto the next.

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What you'll study

If you want to start a career in the engineering industry, this course aims to provide the fundamental knowledge and skills needed in a range of mathematical and business principles, as well as the theories and concepts of electrical and mechanical engineering. If you successfully pass all modules you can continue your studies with us on to year one of the BEng (Hons) Degree in Electro-Mechanical Engineering, subject to meeting specific entry criteria.

Academic and Professional Practice

This module is aimed at creating a culture of careful learning and self-reflection, where you’ll be encouraged to recognise the strengths and weaknesses and take ownership of your development. You’ll be introduced to a range of skills that will aid you throughout the programme and further study, such as time management, planning and resource management and interpersonal skills.

In addition, you also gain employment skills such as, digital proficiency in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint etc.), team management, communication, planning skills and more. We will also cover plagiarism, referencing, library skills and professional standard skills, alongside lectures on ethics, health and safety and technical skills, so that you receive thorough, full-circle training.

Fundamental Engineering Mathematics

This module provides you with fundamental mathematical knowledge and skills required to understand engineering and physical concepts. You’ll be equipped to turn real-world problems into mathematical problems and present mathematical and logical arguments. Gaining the ability to use and apply algebraic methods and trigonometry, you’ll also cover key concepts crucial to the fundamental principles in engineering, including, geometry, algebra, calculus, trigonometry and computation of volumes. We also work with you to develop key organisation skills and project management basics to aid your development and learning ability.

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Fundamentals

Covering the laws of electric circuits and electrical engineering, this module aims to introduce a basic analysis and design of electric circuits using DC and AC power sources. Assisted by our professional academics, you’ll have the opportunity to work with industry standard software to analyse techniques and identify and solve problems on electrical circuits. You’ll also understand the basic laws of magnetism as applied to electrical circuits.

Mechanical Engineering Fundamentals

This module delves into the fundamental knowledge of mechanical engineering principles and concepts. Underpinned by the application of mathematics and physics, concepts covered include fundamentals of energy, design, manufacturing, materials and engineering mechanics. You’ll also gain specific knowledge in mechanics, transport phenomena and thermodynamics.

Modules

  • This module creates a culture of careful learning and self-reflection, where you’ll be encouraged to recognise the strengths and weaknesses and take ownership of your development. You’ll be introduced to a range of skills that will aid you throughout the programme and further study, such as time management, planning and resource management and interpersonal skills.

    You will also gain employment skills such as digital proficiency in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint etc.), team management, communication, planning skills and more. We will cover plagiarism, referencing, library skills and professional standard skills, alongside lectures on ethics, health and safety and technical skills.

    Compulsory

  • This module provides you with fundamental mathematical knowledge and skills required to understand engineering and physical concepts. You’ll be equipped to turn real-world problems into mathematical problems and present mathematical and logical arguments. We also work with you to develop key organisation skills and project management basics to aid your development and learning ability.

    Compulsory

  • Covering the laws of electric circuits and electrical engineering, this module will introduce a basic analysis and design of electric circuits using DC and AC power sources. Assisted by our professional academics, you’ll have the opportunity to work with industry standard software to analyse techniques and identify and solve problems on electrical circuits. You’ll also understand the basic laws of magnetism as applied to electrical circuits.

    Compulsory

  • This module delves into the fundamental knowledge of mechanical engineering principles and concepts. Underpinned by the application of mathematics and physics, concepts covered include fundamentals of energy, design, manufacturing, materials and engineering mechanics. In addition, you’ll gain specific knowledge in mechanics, transport phenomena and thermodynamics.

    Compulsory


How you'll learn

Unlike traditional institutions, there are no end of year exams. Instead, learning is assessed through coursework and phase tests, which is more reflective of a working environment.

You can expect up to 20 hours of learning activities per week, made up of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, online classes and independent learning.

The learning outcomes of modules, assignments and projects will be clearly stated. Your work will be marked according to how well you achieve these learning outcomes and your final feedback will refer to each outcome, as well as providing an overall percentage grade.


Assessment

Assessment methods vary and include, practical class and project performance, written practical reports, project thesis, oral presentations, tutorial tasks and assessments which take place at the end of each six-week block.

Course Breakdown:

  • Coursework
  • Interactive Assessments

Job ready

On completion, you should be able to:

  • Develop appropriate research and analysis techniques, alongside the ability to undertake reliable market research activities.
  • Showcase an understanding of the principles of engineering, along with comprehension of global, national and local contexts.
  • Apply appropriate presentation and evaluation tools to establish the significance of research data produced.

Entry requirements

Engineering Foundation

40 UCAS tariff points. All Foundation courses require 5 GCSEs at A-C including Maths and English, and at least one A2 level or a BTEC equivalent qualification.

If you don’t fulfil the entry criteria your application may be considered on an individual basis, taking in to account any work experience, other qualifications and/or any training you have completed. Please call or email for further information.

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Are you eligible for the CU Support Scheme?

We believe every student should have the opportunity to dream big, reach their potential and succeed, regardless of their background.

CU Support Scheme

Engineering Foundation

40 UCAS tariff points. All Foundation courses require 5 GCSEs at A-C including Maths and English, and at least one A2 level or a BTEC equivalent qualification.

If you don’t fulfil the entry criteria your application may be considered on an individual basis, taking in to account any work experience, other qualifications and/or any training you have completed. Please call or email for further information.

CU Scarborough welcomes international students from all around the globe. If you are an international student and are interested in applying for a Foundation Year, HNC, HND or Degree course you can do so by completing our online application form.

Once your application form has been processed you will receive the outcome of your application via your given email address.

Please be aware you will need the following information in order to make your application:

  • All academic transcripts
  • Copies of degree/diploma certificates or work reference if employed
  • One academic reference
  • International students are required to have English language proficiency level to IELTS 6.0
  • Your personal statement
  • Copy of your current passport

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Fees and Funding

2023/24 tuition fees.

Student Full-time Part-time
UK £7,950 per year Not available
International £18,300 per year Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Funding and Finance page.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

  • We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

    If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.


Facilities

We’ve spent £14 million on a brand new campus building. It’s a purpose-built, state of-the-art development that is one of the most modern facilities in the UK.

It includes a library, IT suites, mock law court, engineering and science labs, cafe and lots of individual and group study spaces. Next to us is Scarborough’s new leisure village. The complex includes an Olympic legacy swimming pool, sports hall, fitness suite, all weather pitches and the new Scarborough Athletic football ground.


Careers and opportunities

The strength of the course lies in preparing students for further study, cementing the core principles of business ready to expand on this knowledge at degree level.

If you successfully pass the Engineering Foundation year, you are guaranteed a place on year one of the Electro-Mechanical Engineering BEng (Hons) Degree at CU Scarborough.


How to apply

  • Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University. 

    1Accreditations

    The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

    2UK and international opportunities

    Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

    3Tuition fees

    The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For Home Students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

    For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

    4Facilities

    Due to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.

    Student Contract

    By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. The 2023/24 Contract is currently being updated so please revisit this page before submitting your application. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

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