Frequently Asked Questions
About NCUK
- There's no NCUK Centre anywhere near my home, what can I do?
- What is NCUK?
- Why should I study on an NCUK accredited foundation course?
- What if I want to take a chance and apply to universities outside NCUK?
University Applications
- What if I want to study a course not covered at any of the universities?
- How many choices does NCUK give me?
English Language Skills
About NCUK
There's no NCUK Centre anywhere near my home, what can I do?
You can still complete an NCUK course at one of our UK or Ireland NCUK Centres.
What is NCUK?
NCUK is an organisation owned by 11 Universities (our “founder” universities). It specialises in preparing international students for study at the 11 Universities, though its courses are formally recognised by universities elsewhere in the UK, Australia and Ireland.
No other foundation course in the UK has this wide recognition.
Why should I study on an NCUK accredited foundation course?
There are three important reasons to choose an NCUK course:
• When you pass your foundation course you are guaranteed a place at an NCUK university
• We have a special arrangement with UCAS which means we can fast track your application and get results to you much more quickly
• Your application is made free of charge to an NCUK university
What if I want to take a chance and apply to universities outside NCUK?
NCUK will not be able to assist with your application in any way. Unless you have already been offered a place by Manchester University, you will not be guaranteed an offer anywhere, and you will not be guaranteed a place.
University Applications
What if I want to study a course not covered at any of the universities?
The only subject not covered by the NCUK universities is agriculture. For all other subjects, NCUK provides a wide range of courses at its universities, all of whom understand the NCUK Foundation Course and how to make fast track offers to students.
How many choices does NCUK give me?
You apply to six NCUK universities. We will work hard with both you and each NCUK university to get a minimum of two conditional offers.
English Language Skills
What about IELTS (International English Language Testing System)?
You do not need to study IELTS. Your EAP (English for Academic Purposes, part of the NCUK core syllabus) course prepares you much better for university study, and this is why we make EAP part of all our courses. All NCUK universities specify their English entry requirements in terms of an EAP grade.