[:en]Medical Foundation Diploma[:de]Test [:]

Course description

The aims of this programme are:

• To provide international students with a high quality pre-undergraduate education, with outcomes comparable with GCE A levels.
• To prepare students for study at undergraduate level in English-language universities. The programme is designed to meet the requirements of partner universities.
• To enhance the English language ability of students to enable them to communicate and study effectively and confidently at undergraduate level in an English-language university.
• To certify a student’s academic English language skills in a way that is recognised by partner universities, without the requirement for further assessment of English language ability.
• To develop the learning skills, subject knowledge and related capabilities required for successful study at undergraduate level in an partner university.
• To cultivate a commitment to good practice in academic work.
• To provide students with the necessary personal and key skills to enable them to develop as independent, autonomous learners.
• To give students practical experience of different methods that may be used to develop and assess their learning.

What you will study

Completing and passing the following modules will give you the opportunity to enter a Medical-related degree course at University (subject to meeting the entry requirements for the university):

• Mathematics for Science
• Biology
• Chemistry

And one of the following English courses:

• English for Academic Purposes for non-native speakers of English
• English for Academic Purposes for Proficient Users for students who have previously studied in English but need a an English language qualification for visa purposes
• Research and Communications Skills for students who already have an English language qualification such as IELTS

How you will learn

The intention is to provide a fully supportive learning environment in which students can seek advice and guidance at any reasonable time and in which their progress and development can be closely monitored.

All students must have a personal tutor and informal access to the Academic Manager and to other teaching staff at any reasonable time during English Domain’s working week. It is expected that the majority of the academic staff contributing to the delivery of the programme will be allocated one or more personal tutorial groups of not more than 16 students, which will focus on pastoral care and university entrance counselling.

English Domain will provide a Student Handbook. The Student Handbook will form the basis of the students’ induction and act as a reference document throughout the programme. The template is designed to be customised. The main body of the Student Handbook covers systems and regulations that concern the student; the Appendices will be completed by English Domain, to give a module outline of each subject; the summative coursework schedule (with assessment outlines and dates), the academic calendar and any local (or English Domain) information it feels would be useful for the student, which should include what is expected of the students at English Domain.

In addition to university entrance counselling, students will have access to the web sites of partner universities, including prospectuses and relevant departmental and university publications, such as residential accommodation details. Representatives of partner universities are encouraged to visit English Domain to help counsel students on suitable university course choices.

Method of Assessment

The Medical Foundation Diploma is assessed 30% by Coursework and 70% by examination. All assessments are set and moderated by English Domain.

Entry requirements

Normally students entering the standard Medical Foundation Diploma (two-semester full-time study programme) are expected to have successfully completed 12 years of school education to a defined level and have an English language level of at least IELTS 5.0 or equivalent.

English Domain is responsible for assessing and verifying standard entry qualifications. Records of the qualifications of all students admitted must be retained in individual student files, which are subject to audit as part of the quality assurance processes.

Non-standard entry: applicants with qualifications other than those published by English Domain may be admitted to the programme subject to English Domain’s approval, which must request an evaluation of non-standard entry qualifications by the Non-Standard Entry Team. English Domain will evaluate the applicant’s qualification and decide whether he/she can be admitted to the Medical Foundation Diploma. Students accepted by English Domain will be allocated a ‘Code’ which must be used when the student is registered.

English Domain reserves the right to require applicants with non-standard qualifications to take one or more entrance tests before admission to the programme.

Occasionally students may have prior qualifications that are not recognised by some of the partner universities. In such cases students may be admitted to the programme using the non-standard entry process but English Domain will indicate that the student may have restricted progression options (i.e. certain universities and/or programmes will not accept the student irrespective of his/her performance on the Medical Foundation Diploma, but other universities will). For such students, the limitation on progression must be explicitly indicated to the student in English Domain’s offer letter.