Materials Science and Engineering with a Foundation Year, BEng (Hons)

The Engineering integrated Foundation Year programme is a common one which leads on to any of our branches of engineering. It is not a stand-alone qualification, but is the first year of a 4-year BEng degree.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and backgrounds for the Engineering Foundation Year. Each application is considered on a case-by case basis, depending on the educational background and work experience of the applicant.

For A level or IB students, our standard offer is BBB - BCC at A level, or 26 at IB.

Students studying for BTEC or other vocational qualifications, who might not have the right pre-requisite Mathematical background for Year 1 entry, may also apply for this scheme. BTEC entry requirements for the Foundation Year are DDD, with D in all Mathematics modules.

All applicants are also expected to hold minimum B grades at GCSE (or equivalent) in Mathematics and all sciences, including at least two A grades.

Mature students with relevant work experience, or access courses with a good mathematical and science content, are also considered for this scheme; an interview may be required.

The College of Engineering uses a variety of teaching methods including; taught/lecture-based, small group work, laboratory-based, project/assignment-based, use of Blackboard. Increasingly lectures are exploring the use of lecture recording, blended learning and flipped learning.  

Full details of the methods used within each module can be found within the module descriptors in the subject specific handbooks. 

This course offers some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.

There are opportunities for Welsh speakers to study this subject through the medium of Welsh and our dedicated academy, Academi Hywel Teifi, is here to support you throughout your time at Swansea University. We offer you:

• An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
• The option to receive your personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually - we will then communicate with you in your language of choice.
• Access to generous Welsh-language study scholarships or bursaries.
• Access to modules taught wholly or partly in Welsh.
• The option to write and submit your coursework or exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be marked in Welsh.
• A Welsh-speaking academic tutor.
• One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.
• An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.

To see further details about the level of provision delivered in Welsh on this particular degree scheme, please see the Welsh-language course page for further information.

Since 2011, there has been a 40% increase in the number of students studying through the medium of Welsh at Swansea University and our TEF* data over the last two years shows that Welsh-medium students are high achievers in regards to employability (*Swansea University TEF return 2017 and 2018).

As a student studying on the foundation year, don’t worry that you will miss out on an accredited engineering degree. You won’t. The courses are accredited by a range of professional institutions. Depending on which course you choose, will depend on which Professional Body accredits your degree.

The various examples of accreditation organisations include IET, IMechE, IOM3, IChemE, RAeS.

The following academic staff will be teaching on the Foundation year of your Engineering degree:

• Dr Enrico Andreoli
• Professor Cris Arnold
• Dr Cecile Charbonneau
• Dr Charlie Dunnill
• Dr Karin Ennser
• Dr Anthony Higgins
• Dr Stefano Taccheo
• Dr Chengyuan Wang
• Dr Alison Williams
• Professor Geraint Williams
• Dr Natalie Wint

Annual tuition fees for entry in the academic year 2020/21 are as follows:

Fees for full time Undergraduate UK/EU students may be increased in subsequent years of study by an inflationary amount determined by Welsh Government.

Fees for full time Undergraduate International students will increase by 3% for each subsequent year of study.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but are not limited to):

• Parking and travel to and from campus
• Printing, photocopying, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
• Purchase of books or texts
• Printing and binding
• Gowns for graduation ceremonies

The tuition fees for the Materials Science and Engineering degree do not cover costs incurred personally by the student such as the purchase of books or stationery, printing or photocopying costs.

Recommended textbooks for this course are available in the library. All software needed for the course is available on the Engineering network, for use within our PC rooms at Swansea University.

Free wireless internet access is available across the whole of the University campus and halls of residence.

Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

• Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
• Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
• Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
• Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
• Advice and guidance on postgraduate study and funding
• Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

Here in the College of Engineering, we are very proud of the excellent career prospects of our Engineering graduates.

We are continually striving to improve the employability of our students, by cultivating strong relationships with graduate employers and by ensuring our students are as prepared as they can be for the world of work. Find out more about our Careers & Employability service within the College of Engineering here.

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal academic mentor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

• Academic writing
• Maths and statistics
• Critical thinking
• Time management
• Digital skills
• Presentation skills
• Note taking
• Revision, memory and exam techniques
• English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

Providing the best student experience possible is of the utmost importance to us at the College of Engineering, and we have well-established systems and support staff in place in order to facilitate this. We have regular Maths, Chemistry and Software Cafes for students to develop their skills within these areas. Find out more about the student support we offer here.

Your degree programme may already give you an option to study or work abroad but in addition to this you can also consider an international summer programme.

These programmes are open to all our undergraduate students and include culture and study tours, volunteering programmes and internships across destinations such as China, Zambia, South Korea, Japan, Europe and Canada. Programmes are typically 2 – 6 weeks long and funding is available. See our Summer Programmes for further information.

Apply now – UK, EU and international students.

For further guidance please visit our how to apply pages.

If you are an international student please find more information about our Foundation Year at The College here.