Course summary
The Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) offers a new and exciting route into studying for a degree, attracting ambitious and driven students who are willing to learn and advance. If you have non-standard qualifications or do not quite meet the admissions requirements we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to study a four year programme which includes an Integrated Foundation Year. The Integrated Foundation Year will help you develop the theoretical/practical and academic skills you need, in order to successfully progress to the full award. Featuring a reduced tuition fee in the first year, our four-year courses will enable you to successfully follow the degree pathway of your choice while gaining essential study skills. The foundation year of your chosen degree will be studied on a full-time basis and is aimed at supporting the transition to higher education. Years two, three and four are then studied as a standard degree programme. By studying at the University of Northampton, you can be sure that:
- You will experience student life at the University’s £330 million Waterside Campus. Come along to an Open Day and find out more.
- Students enrolling on this course at Northampton will be provided with their own brand new laptop* to keep at no additional cost. All sports clubs and societies are free to join at Northampton and every essential course text book is available via the library, meaning you won’t have to purchase copies. For more information on this visit our website (northampton.ac.uk/benefits).
- At UON we guarantee a room in our Halls of Residence for all new full-time, first year students who apply and accept their room offer by June 2025 - and we won't ask for a deposit for September 2025**
- Our expert academics teach in small groups supported with one to one assistance. Our academics and students form a tight bond, providing individualised support and guidance whilst challenging students academically.
- Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd.
- We’re so confident in our careers and employability support that if you achieve at least a 2:2 degree and complete either our Employability Plus Gold programme or achieve a Changemaker Gold Certificate during your time studying with us, but still haven’t secured full-time employment 12 months after graduating, we will secure a three – six month paid internship for you or support you into postgraduate study.
Modules
Stage 1a: • Transition to University – Learning to Learn (compulsory) • Investigating Your Subject (compulsory) • Foundations in Life Sciences (compulsory) • Negotiated Learning Project (compulsory) Stage 1b • Introduction to Ecology (compulsory) • The Physical Environment (compulsory) • Lab and Field Skills (compulsory) • Geohazards (compulsory) • Life on Earth (compulsory) • Environmental Pollution (compulsory) Stage 2: • Data Technologies (compulsory) • Environmental Law and Justice (compulsory) • Fieldwork Module (compulsory) • Impacts of Pollution (compulsory) • Biogeography (designated) • Weather and Climate (designated) • Adaptations to Life on Land, in Water and Air (designated) • Terrestrial and Freshwater Ecosystems (designated) Stage 3: • Research Project and Dissertation in the Environmental Sciences (compulsory) • Sustainable Resources Management (compulsory) • Pollution Monitoring and Control (compulsory) • Biodiversity and Conservation (designated) • Water Resource Management (designated) • Communicating Climate Change (designated) • Monitoring The Earth's Surface (designated) Module information is quoted for 2024 entry. Please note that modules run subject to student numbers and staff availability, any changes will be communicated to applicants accordingly.
Assessment method
A wide range of assessment is used including: • field surveys • reports • oral presentations • field reports • time constrained tests • end of year examinations.
Professional bodies
Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.
- Environmental Sciences, Institute of
How to apply
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:
- F751
- Institution code:
- N38
- Campus name:
- Waterside Campus
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Foundation
- Year 1
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 64 points
A level - DEE - DD
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - MPP
Access to HE Diploma - P: 45 credits
Scottish Higher - CCCC - BCC
AS
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF) - MPP
Pearson BTEC Diploma (QCF)
Pearson BTEC 90-Credit Diploma (QCF)
Pearson BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (QCF)
Pearson BTEC Certificate (QCF)
Scottish Advanced Higher - DD
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 24 points
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)
Extended Project
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H4, H4, H4
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal - P3, P3, P3
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma - MPP
OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma
OCR Cambridge Technical Subsidiary Diploma
OCR Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma
OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate
OCR Cambridge Technical Certificate
AQA Level 3 (Foundation) Technical Level (360 glh)
AQA Level 3 Technical Level (540 glh)
AQA Level 3 Technical Level (720 glh)
AQA Level 3 Technical Level (1080 glh) - MPP
T Level - Pass (D or E)
Student Outcomes
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
England | £9535 | Year 1 |
Northern Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
Scotland | £9535 | Year 1 |
Wales | £9535 | Year 1 |
Channel Islands | £9535 | Year 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
Provider information
University of Northampton
The University of Northampton
Waterside Campus
University Drive
Northampton
NN1 5PH