— PREPARING STUDENTS FOR AN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
GEMS Certificate in International Foundation Studies
The GEMS Certificate in International Foundation Studies is a transformative one-year programme certified in partnership with City & Guilds that bridges the gap between secondary education and university study for international students.
The successful completion of the certificate in International Foundation Studies fulfils the prerequisites required for Level 3 of the the UK Qualifications Framework, allowing individuals without UK A-Levels to continue their education at a UK University.
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Accredited by a certifying body with over a century of experience.
Awarded in partnership with City & Guilds
The GEMS IFP is awarded by City & Guilds, a Royal Chartered Institute and registered charity with over 140 years of commitment to education and social mobility. As a government-recognised awarding body, City & Guilds brings both credibility and a genuine mission to help people develop skills that change lives. Their charitable status reflects a dedication to accessible education rather than profit, ensuring the programme serves students’ long-term interests whilst maintaining alignment with UK Qualifications Framework (RQF) Level 3 standards.
— GEMS Certificate in International Foundation Studies
Programme Overview
The GEMS Certificate in International Foundation Studies (GEMS IFP) is a transformative one-year programme that bridges the gap between secondary education and university study for international students. The GEMS IFP is awarded by City & Guilds, a Royal Chartered Institute and registered charity with over 140 years of commitment to education and social mobility. As a UK government-recognised awarding body, City & Guilds brings both credibility and a genuine mission to help people develop skills that change lives.Their charitable status reflects a dedication to accessible education rather than profit, ensuring the programme serves students’ long-term interests whilst maintaining alignment with UK Qualifications Framework (RQF) Level 3 standards.
Duration: One academic year (34 weeks for September entry, 26 weeks for January entry)
Study Mode: Full-time with 20 contact hours per week
Total Credits: 120 credits with UCAS tariff recognition equivalent to A-Level standards
The programme offers two carefully designed pathways to match students’ academic interests and career aspirations:
Pathway A
Humanities Track:
Business
Economics
Sociology
Government & Politics
Maths for the Humanities
Research Methods
Academic Skills
English for Academic Study
Pathway B
STEM Track:
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Computing
Maths for the Sciences
Research Methods
Academic Skills
English for Academic Study
All pathways include core modules in Academic Skills, Mathematics, and Research Methodologies. English for Academic Purposes is woven throughout every subject area to ensure students develop both language confidence and subject expertise simultaneously.
Student Benefits
Students benefit from accessing a UK-standard education whilst remaining close to family and cultural support systems. The programme’s intensive integration of English for Academic Purposes across all subjects significantly reduces university attrition rates, as graduates arrive equipped with both the linguistic proficiency and study skills critical for academic success.
The City & Guilds qualification provides a foundation for lifelong learning, supporting students’ ongoing personal and professional development throughout their careers. This reflects the awarding body’s commitment to removing barriers to educational opportunity and creating pathways to prosperity.
The programme recognises that further education is transformative and aims to prepare students not just for their next academic step, but for meaningful contributions to their communities and chosen fields.
Graduate Outcomes
The programme opens doors to undergraduate study at leading universities across the globe.
Graduates fulfil the requirements to progress to institutions including Russell Group universities, the University of London, University of Greenwich, University of Surrey, and partner institutions in Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and Canada.
AAB
average entry grades
(A-Level Equivalent)
98%
progress
to undergraduate study
85%
secure places at their first-choice university
92%
complete their undergraduate programmes successfully
AAB
average entry grades
(A-Level Equivalent)