The Foundation Year if for students with a passion for Mathematics and/or a particular interest in its applications to Economics and Finance. The course is designed for students that have not achieved the grades required for accessing the BSc degree directly. The Foundation route enables those students to spend a year at University consolidating their school-level Mathematics knowledge whilst acclimatising to University-style assessments.
The Foundation route will allow you to improve your school-level Mathematics skills and acclimatise to University teaching and assessment styles. Upon completion you will satisfy the requirements to join one of our Mathematics-based degrees in the following year.
The minimum GCSE English Language is 4. [Note that the Foundation route is only open to UK/EU students]
International Students (EEA and Non EEA) coming to study in the UK, may need to apply for a visa or entry clearance to come to the UK to study. The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course. There are different rules for:
For more information see our main Visa page.
You can apply through UCAS for our Mathematics Foundation Programme. [Note that the Foundation route is only open to UK/EU students]
There are many sources of funding available for our Mathematics Foundation Programme students at City and our Student Centre provides award-winning financial advice and support to help you fund your studies.
Future Finance offers students loans of between £2,500 and £40,000 to help cover tuition fees and living expenses. All students and courses are considered. All loans are subject to credit checks and approval for further details please visit the City Finance website.
Find out how UK/EU students can receive £2,000 in their first year of study.
A day in the life of a City Mathematics student
Watch this short video for an insight into life studying Mathematics at City.
At City, you have the option to complete a work placement of 9-15 months between your second and third year, enabling you to gain professional experience. If you complete a placement, you will graduate with a BSc (Hons) Mathematics with Placement degree upon successfully completing the programme. Students that complete a placement year have been found to be more likely to achieve higher grades, secure a graduate-level job and earn a higher salary.
Placements can offer the opportunity to contribute to real-world projects. Our students have previously secured placements and internships at organisations such as Axa, Barclays, Bloomberg, Disney, EY, GE Capital, IBM, J.P. Morgan, Microsoft, Toyota and Warner Music.
The School of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering has its own dedicated placements team, the Professional Liaison Unit (PLU). The PLU provides you with support and guidance in securing a relevant placement, through longstanding relationships with a diverse range of companies. The PLU also collaborates with our Careers Service to support you if you wish to take a summer internship at the end of an academic year.
At the heart of cosmopolitan London, City is perfectly situated in the vibrant area of Clerkenwell. Close to many innovative and well-known businesses with strong ties to our students and alumni, City is the ideal place to be a Mathematics student and take your first steps towards an exciting future.
Course timetables are normally available from July and can be accessed from our timetabling pages. These pages also provide timetables for the current academic year, though this information should be viewed as indicative and details may vary from year to year.
Please note that all academic timetables are subject to change.
We offer an extensive support network during your time here at City, University of London – from Learning Support (including disability support) and counselling to financial and career advice – leaving you free to enjoy every opportunity campus life has to offer.
Find out more about the different types of student support available.
Chat to our current students and read their blogs to gain an insight into studying at City and learn more about our undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
To make sure that you can begin or continue your studies with us during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have reviewed and adapted our courses to ensure a safe learning environment for our students and staff. We have modified the way some of our courses are delivered, with many programmes being made available online.
Contact us to find out more about how our programmes will be delivered.
The Foundation Year employs continuous assessment based around frequent class tests and group work. Students can also expect a higher number of contact hours per week (around 14 hours) in the form of teaching and tutorials, than in the subsequent years of the BSc where self-study plays a larger part.For Years 1, 2, and 3 this is the same as for BSc Mathematics.
You will be assessed using a variety of methods including examinations, coursework and practical skills.
The approximate percentage of the course assessment, based on 2018/19 entry is as follows:
50% written, 50% coursework.
The Foundation Year, has a strong focus on your core subject, Mathematics. You will also explore applications of Mathematics to Economics and Statistics. A Programming module will familiarize you with basic programming structures and the underlying mathematical logic. Finally, you will receive training on basic employability and transferable skills. Subject to a minimum Foundation Year average of 60%, you will progress to your chosen Mathematics degree the following year.
The Foundation Year consists of 120 credits. You will take the following six core modules:
You will take the following core modules:
The programme specification contains more information on how the course is organised, the requirements for progression for each part and credits required for awards.
Students who successfully complete the Foundation course may progress onto the following programmes at City:
Find out how studying at City, University of London helps you to improve your job prospects.