International Development and Languages with Foundation Year

Take the first steps towards a role in international development and languages with this foundation year course.

This foundation year is for you if you don't yet meet the entry requirements of our undergraduate degree, if you've taken some time away from studying, or you need a bit of extra support before starting a university course.

You'll study with us on campus for a year, through ICP. You'll get the knowledge and academic skills needed to take on a bachelor's degree, learning how to analyse information, carry out research, and improve your academic writing.

The skills you'll learn will help you work in teams as well as on your own in culturally diverse workplaces. You'll develop your understanding of new workplaces and environments, and how to adapt to new environments.

Once you complete this foundation year, you'll be ready to move onto the first year of our BA (Hons) International Development and Languages.

Course highlights

• ICP is based on the University of Portsmouth campus so you'll have access to all facilities, support and societies

• When you finish your foundation year successfully, you get a guaranteed place on BA (Hons) International Development and Languages

• Get used to how lectures, seminars and tutorials work, so you can move onto your degree ready for success

• Learn how to meet the demands of taking on a bachelor's at university

Careers and opportunities
By studying international development and languages, you can work towards fluency in a foreign language (or two) while also thinking about how to improve global social challenges such as poverty and hunger, environmental sustainability, universal education and health care.

After this foundation year, you'll have the skills you need to move straight on to our BA (Hons) International Development and Languages degree, which includes a year spent overseas on a placement.

You'll build your language skills in a country where your chosen language or languages are spoken, while also applying what you've learned to work with not-for-profit organisations.

After graduation, you'll be prepared for a career in organisations around the globe, in roles such as in government, teaching and working with non-government organisations (NGOs).

Placement year
Once you've completed your foundation year and moved on to your full Bachelor's degree, you'll do a year abroad based in one or more countries where your chosen language is spoken. This enables you to build linguistic and cultural fluency, and also provides an opportunity to study abroad and/or gain valuable longer-term work experience in international development.

We'll give you all the support you need to find a work or study abroad placement that prepares you for your career, and we'll continue to mentor you throughout your placement.

Previous students have completed a variety of activities on their year abroad including:

• Work placement with Ashinaga Africa Initiative (Senegal)

• Work placement with Otra Cosa Network (Peru)

• Study at Wuhan University (China)

Course Modules

The University of Portsmouth is passionate about creating career-focused modules that do more than support your studies, they empower your academic journey and prepare you for what comes next.

We design modules that have:

• Clear themes and skills development as you progress through each year
• Assessments that feel meaningful, often based on real-world tasks rather than isolated exams
• Career-enhancing opportunities such as placements, live projects, enterprise and volunteering

For a full list of the modules you will study on this course, please visit the link to the course page.

https://www.port.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-international-development-and-languages?studyMode=5-years-with-foundation-year&startDate=september-2026#modules

You'll be assessed in a number of ways on your foundation year, including:

• assignments
• oral presentations
• exams
• lab reports
• portfolio
• court reports

Typically, you can expect to have two assessments per module.