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Physical Sciences with Foundation Year

  • BSc (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time including foundation year
  • 29/09/2025
  • Undergraduate
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More about University of Birmingham

Course options

2025-2026
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Course summary

Our inspiring Physical Sciences Foundation Year is an integrated foundation degree, giving you access to our highly ranked physical sciences undergraduate courses. If you do not have the qualifications necessary to apply directly for first-year entry, this could be the course for you.

The Physical Sciences Foundation Year can lead to Bachelors degrees in computer science, mathematics, nuclear science and physics (excluding theoretical physics or theoretical physics and applied mathematics).

Once you’ve completed the course successfully and have met the subject-specific progression criteria, you will automatically join your chosen first-year course.

The foundation year provides an excellent opportunity to study at a leading research-focused university without the required qualifications needed for first-year entry. All teaching takes place on the main Birmingham Edgbaston campus, the home of the majority of our undergraduate degrees. As such, you will have access to the same excellent facilities as other students, for example, the state-of-the-art library, sports centre and the stunning new outdoor space: the Green Heart.

Subject options

This course offers the following subject options:

  • Computer Science with Foundation Year
  • Mathematics with Foundation Year
  • Nuclear Science & Eng. with Foundation Year
  • Physics with Foundation Year

Modules

Please visit https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/subjects/physics-and-astronomy-courses/physical-sciences-foundation-year for module details.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BSc (Hons) • Full-time including foundation year • 4 Years

Start dates

  • 29/09/2025

Apply by
29 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
FGI0
Institution code:
B32
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

University of Birmingham has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

This course is not accepting applications from students requiring a Student visa. For more information, please contact the course provider.

Apply by
29 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
FGI0
Institution code:
B32
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

A level - BBB - AAB

Offers will depend on combinations of A levels taken: Applicants taking A level Maths are not considered. BBB including Physics. ABB including at least one of Chemistry, Computer Science or Economics. AAB in 3 other subjects. GCSE: Minimum B in GCSE Mathematics, if not taken at a higher level. General Studies not accepted.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

BTEC Diplomas will be considered in combination with A Levels on a case-by-case basis dependent on the subjects taken. BTEC applicants may be required to undergo a problem solving test. Applicants taking these qualifications are advised to contact the University before making an application.

Access to HE Diploma

60 credits overall with at least 45 at Level 3 out of which 30 are at Distinction including 12 in Mathematics + 12 in Physics and 15 at Merit.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 32 points

32 overall with the following at higher level: 555 including Physics. 655 including at least one of Chemistry, Computer Science or Economics. 665 in 3 other subjects. Applicants taking Higher Level Maths are not considered.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)

Accepted in place of a non-required A level with the equivalent grade.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

Accepted in place of A levels with the following grade equivalencies: D2 = A*; D3 = A; M2 = B. Combinations of A levels and Principle subjects are accepted. NB required subjects must be offered (see A level Section)

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

The most common grades on entry for this course are above our standard offer. This does not mean that you need to achieve higher grades than our offer to be admitted.
We make alternative offers through our contextual admissions schemes which are typically 1 or 2 grades lower. You can find information on these schemes using the link below.
You can check your eligibility to receive an offer for this course using our Offer Calculator using the same link.

Learn more on the University of Birmingham website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9535Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535Year 1
Scotland£9535Year 1
Wales£9535Year 1
Channel Islands£9535Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9535Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

For details of the annual tuition fee for International Students please see the course web page listed in the 'course details' section above.
If you are made an offer to study by the University, the yearly tuition fee will be stated in your offer letter.

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