Materials Engineering with Foundation Year

This course is primarily for candidates who have not studied the prerequisite subjects needed for first year entry, or have not met their expected entrance requirements due to adverse situations, or because of their previous sport performance commitments, as well as mature students returning to education or care leavers.

Our Foundation Studies programme at Loughborough is designed to help a range of students realise their university ambitions. Our streamed approach enables you to progress on to one of multiple courses within your chosen stream – giving you further time to decide which course is right for you.

The foundation programme would suit:

Students who have not studied the prerequisite subjects needed for first year entry on a preferred course;
Students who did not meet the expected entrance requirements due to adverse situations (including illness or caring responsibilities);
Mature students or care leavers;
Students performing at elite athlete level who have the added challenge of combining study with high-level sporting competition.
As a student on the course, you will be a full member of the University, enjoying access to the Students’ Union, clubs, societies, sports facilities and support departments, and the outstanding student experience Loughborough University offers.

This course is placed within the Engineering, Maths and Physical Sciences stream which is one of our four Foundation streams. Foundation courses in this stream include:

• Aeronautical Engineering with a Foundation Year

• Automotive Engineering with a Foundation Year

• Bioengineering with a Foundation Year

• Chemical Engineering with a Foundation Year

• Civil and Architectural Engineering with a Foundation Year

• Computer Science with a Foundation Year

• Electronic and Electrical Engineering with a Foundation Year

• Materials with a Foundation Year

• Mathematics with a Foundation Year

• Mechanical Engineering with a Foundation Year

• Natural Science with a Foundation Year (maths or physics major)

• Physics with a Foundation Year

• Product Design and Technology with a Foundation Year

• Sport Technology with a Foundation Year

Why complete a foundation year

Completing a foundation year within the Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences Stream will enable you to progress onto the first year of our Materials Engineering or any course, provided the relevant progression criteria are met.
Completing a foundation year can be a real attribute to your overall degree success. It not only opens doors to courses that may have previously looked closed, but also provides a sound base on which to establish a successful academic career. Many who have completed the foundation pathway have also said how beneficial it was to them in supporting their transition into university life.
Our foundation course is taught in-house by university staff.
The Foundation Studies course also offers the opportunity for students performing at a very high standard in their chosen sport, looking to join one of our sporting performance programmes, who wish to study at Loughborough, but do not have the required qualifications. It is ideal for students who wish to combine their performance sports training with academic study. If you think your sport profile qualifies you to be considered for the elite athletes programme, please contact performancesport@lboro.ac.uk before applying.

For a full list of areas studied, see the 'What You'll Study' section of the course page on our website.

Foundation modules are assessed by a combination of written exams and/or coursework assignments.

Some modules are continually assessed throughout the year. Typical coursework assignments include laboratory reports, essays, presentations, assessed tutorials, workshops and peer review (review fellow students’ performance). It is expected that for every hour you are in a structured class, you should spend two hours of your own time researching, writing up, learning work or doing set questions etc.