First up is Dr Dani Diaper, head of our Medicine pathway, who teaches future doctors, scientists and healthcare professionals. She is a published scientist in high-ranking academic journals and textbooks who has spoken at international conferences on topics as important as motor neuron diseases and dementia. A STEM ambassador too, Dr Diaper is also known to school students outside of UFP, giving career talks on science and neuroscience. She graduated from King’s College London and Bath University, joining UFP in 2018.

What degrees do you have and where did you graduate from? 
I have an undergraduate degree, a BSc (Hons) in Molecular and Cellular Biology, from Bath University. A couple of years after that I enrolled on a masters, an MSc in Neuroscience at King’s College London. After getting a distinction in my masters, I was offered a PhD placement at King’s to look into the molecular neuroscience underlying motor neuron disease and FTLD, a type of dementia.   

What were you doing before you joined UFP? 
Before joining UFP, I was a post-doctoral researcher trying to understand the disease mechanisms of motor neuron disease and FTLD. This job involved designing experiments, lab research, data analysis and collaborations with other clinical research groups. I was also responsible for supervising final year undergraduate and postgraduate students doing their lab projects and dissertations. 

Can you remember your first time in a science lab? 
Yes, I did some work experience at a factory that made sterile medical and research supplies. I spent the summer holidays working in the microbiology and tissue culture labs – I was so excited to be there. I loved the practical, hands-on aspect of it and also completing reports for my supervisor, who then used that information to make sure that the products met the high standards for sterile equipment. I remember being amazed that you could grow human cells so easily in a dish in the lab!  

Why did you decide to start teaching? 
While working as a post-doc, I realised that one aspect of the job I really enjoyed was the time spent with students guiding them on their lab work and project write-ups. We would sit and have lengthy discussions about what their data meant and how to improve their research. It was always satisfying when a concept clicked for a student; we would be poring over their data, looking to apply our knowledge to their data set, and then you would see their face light up and eyes widen as suddenly things made sense to them.  

What’s the most rewarding part about your job? 
It’s that ‘ah-ha’ moment. Perhaps a student has been stuck on a particular topic or concept for a while and it’s my job to try to find different ways of explaining it. When the pieces come together and the student looks really proud of themselves for having persevered, that feels great.  

What’s so special about the UFP Medicine pathway? 
For all the modules that the students take, the teachers focus on knowledge application. This means not just learning the topics, but really understanding them and being able to use that knowledge to work out the answer to a problem. All through the minor and major modules, the different teachers are all really committed to helping students do the best they can. 

What kind of qualities do you hope to see in your students? 
Commitment and a pro-active attitude to learning. Students who are prepared to put in the necessary hard work are always rewarded. And being friendly too – it’s always a much more enjoyable class when there’s a sea of friendly faces! 

Can you describe some of the exciting lab work that students get to experience on this foundation? 
A really popular lab is the heart dissection. We dissect a mammalian heart and look at the different structures and how they suit the job that they do, their function. When learning biology, so many of the images that we draw knowledge from are nice, neat illustrations. But by doing the heart dissections, we see that the reality is not as neat and tidy as the drawings! 

What are the most challenging parts of this course? 
It is very intensive. Occasionally, I see students who think that UFP is an easy option. It’s not – it’s equivalent to A-Levels, so it’s a lot of hard work. And it’s delivered within a year, so right from the start students have to knuckle down and start revising. To make sure that students are keeping up with the syllabus, we have frequent progress tests, exams and written coursework. 

For students who want to become doctors, will they learn everything they need to know to prepare them for medical school? 
I hope so! During the first three months, we really focus on applying to medical school, writing a solid personal statement and exploring a student’s motivation for wanting to become a doctor. We look at current medical affairs, ethics, the issues facing the medical world and spend time understanding the healthcare system here in the UK (the NHS). The aim of the first term is to support students to perform their best at interview. In the second and third terms, we focus more on anatomy, physiology and pathology. 

What about students who don’t want to be doctors  – can they still join the Medicine pathway? 
Certainly! In fact, one of the things we discuss in this course is the many different roles in healthcare and the kind of skills you need to work in this area. The topics that we cover in medicine would be of interest to anyone wanting to go on and study a degree in a healthcare-related field, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and biomedical sciences. 

Where’s your favourite place near the college campus to go for a quiet moment? 
Well, I cycle into work, which takes about 40 minutes, so that’s my quiet time really. Once I get to the cycle paths on the back roads, away from the traffic lights and car horns, I get the chance to reflect on the day. Or mentally re-organise my ‘to do’ list! 

What are your three favourite things about London? 
Ooh, only picking three things, that’s tough! I love the range of museums and galleries, from the big ones such as the Science Museum and the Tate to the smaller hidden gems. And also the access to global cuisine; whichever type food you feel like, there will be a restaurant serving it somewhere in London. It’s like travelling the world for the cost of a tube fare! Finally, there are some really special green spaces and parks that you can escape to in London. Did you know that London is the largest urban forest in the world – it’s officially a forest?! 

Which scientist do you most admire and why? 
Carol Grieder, who co-won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2009 for her work on telomeres and the enzyme telomerase, which are linked to cancer and ageing. She actually had a tough time at school, with low grades and poor college entrance scores. It turns out she had dyslexia so had to work out a more creative way of learning and had to persevere to make it to university. She’s a fantastic scientist, who carries out robust research, and is committed to making her lab a supportive place to work. 

Tell us something people might not know about you. 
I once took part in the Cold Water Swimming World Championships in Finland. A large swimming pool had been cut into a frozen-over lake and we had to race from one end to the other. The air temperature was around -10C and we weren’t allowed to wear wetsuits, but you could wear a bobble hat.  

Find out more about the UFP Medicine pathway and which universities you can progress to here.

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Any students who want to enter UK further education need to apply through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). And here at UFP, we offer every student a full UCAS advisory service.  

We believe the level of support we offer our foundation students is really quite special and so are the people behind it.  

Joanne Scarr is UFP’s director of studies. Her job is to support students with their university applications. She knows exactly what’s needed to get people to their first-choice destination and onto a degree course that will truly suit them.  

We chatted to Joanne about her time with UFP and the UCAS process. Here’s our interview:

You’ve helped thousands of students get to university, so you play a big part in people’s futures. How does that feel? 
It feels very satisfying being able to help students achieve their aims and they frequently come back during their first year at university to thank us. Their experience at UFP is often the first time that students have lived away from their families and we guide them through every step of the application process. 

How long have you worked at UFP?
Over 25 years. 

Can you tell us about some of the changes you’ve seen in that time?  
When I started working at UFP, David Game College was based in South Kensington and UFP had just a handful of students. The course has grown and grown over the years, moved to Notting Hill Gate, and then here to the City of London in 2017. And I’ve been with UFP every step of the way! The range of nationalities has increased and we now have over 30 countries represented this year on the course. It’s always exciting to meet the new students every year. 

What did you study at university? 
Linguistics & Education. 

Can you explain the UCAS process? 
UCAS is the online system for applying to UK universities – it is one application form, which can be sent to a maximum of 5 universities. 

How do you support students through this process?
We will help you every step of the way – from starting the online application with you, to guiding you through the process of writing your personal statement, to advising you on choosing suitable universities and degree subjects. 

What is the timeline to apply to university? 
If you start at UFP in September, you will complete your UCAS before Christmas, and if you join us in January, you will complete it late March. 

What if a UFP student wants to study a degree abroad?
UFP is most suited to preparing students for a degree at a UK university, but it is possible to apply to universities outside the UK, and we can also help you with those application forms. 

What one piece of advice would you give students hoping to start an undergraduate degree in the UK? 
Work hard on your IELTS (International English Language Testing System)!

Interested in studying a foundation course? Get in touch with our team or submit an application.

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This foundation pathway prepares you for undergraduate degrees in everything from Advertising to Journalism, Film Studies to Philosophy and from History to Law.  

Students from this foundation course progress to some of the best universities in the UK. In the past few years alone, we’ve had graduates go to some very high-ranking universities, including: 

King’s College London for History 

 The University of Edinburgh for Politics 

 University of Bristol for Sociology 

University of the Arts London (UAL) for Advertising  

University of Warwick for Law with Social Sciences 

Join a course starting in January 2022 – for university entry in September 2022 –  to be considered for this scholarship.  

We are also running a similar scholarship for Engineering & Computing students, also worth up to £3000 off the fees.   

Get in touch today to find out more or apply online.  

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Do you aspire to great things in engineering or computing? Could you be the next Steve Jobs, Elon Musk or Ada Lovelace?

Students keen to join UFP’s Engineering & Computing pathway have the chance for up to £3000 off foundation course fees thanks to an academic scholarship.

It is part of our commitment to STEM subjects.  Supporting students in these specialisms is very important to us. So we want to hear from all those bright minds out there who dream of being the innovators and entrepreneurs of tomorrow.  

Like UFP, UK universities are strongly supporting engineering applications, with many offering part scholarships too.    

We would love to hear from as many female applicants as possible. Follow the link here to find out more about the scholarship and how to apply:  https://test3.ufp.uk.com/course/foundation-engineering-computing/ 

Enrol in our January 2022 intake for a chance to be eligible for the scholarship.

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Have you received your WAEC result yet? We’d love to hear from all you students in The Gambia, Ghana and Nigeria thinking about what to do next with your grades.

Here at UFP, we can help. Take a new step and come to London to study because it’s officially the world’s best student city,  according to the prestigious QS Best Student City Rankings 2022.

Why pick UFP?

We specialise in preparing international students for university entry to world-class destinations. Our foundation programme has more than 30 student nationalities. So you can feel right at home here in our cosmopolitan city, among a multi-cultural, inclusive college community.

Students can do a one-year course with UFP and be ready for university entry in September 2022.

Our foundation pathways suit most undergraduate degrees. They are accepted by most British universities, with many of our students progressing to Russell Group destinations.

Since UFP started in 1989, we have never failed to place a student at a top university upon successful completion of our foundation programme. So you can be confident you’re in safe hands!

Find out more about our courses or you can apply for our January 2022 intake online.

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We currently offer six different foundation pathways, but if there is a course combination you don’t see listed, we can make it happen for you! 

In reality, all of our courses are individual to each student – because our syllabuses are specially designed to make sure the subjects you focus on are the best starting path for you. We teach the fundamentals in the first term and allow students to select modules from the wide range on offer in the second and third terms, so they can gradually begin to specialise.  All students study 3 minor modules and 3 major modules.  

Our current foundation pathways are: 

Architecture, Art & Design 

Business & Finance 

Engineering & Computing 

Law, Humanities & Social Sciences 

Medicine 

Science & Pharmacy 

Tailored foundation
If you want to study a combination of subjects that are not listed on our website or in our course brochures then you can! By offering a tailored programme, which it custom-built especially for you, you have the flexibility to apply for more specialised degrees at university. These degrees might be slightly less conventional than normal – for example in bioengineering or business and media. Or you might want to study business and biology together at university.  

There are many different combinations we can make work for you here at UFP so that you study subjects that can open more doors for you with your university education.  

‘Sometimes a student finds it difficult to make up their mind about what they want to study,’ says course director Mr Kaveh. ‘The great thing about this mix and match is that it allows you to choose more than one degree subject.’ 

For students considering an undergraduate degree in business and media, you might want to study UFP majors in economics, business organisation and photography or graphic design. For a degree in bioengineering, you might want to study biology, mathematics and physics with us.  

Or for a degree in mechanical engineering with business, you would choose to study our major foundation modules in further maths, physics and economics. For a law and business degree, it would be economics, business organisation and law.  

Almost any combination with UFP is possible! 

Talk to one of our course advisors to find out more or apply online today to join a course starting in September (2021) or January 2022 for entry into university in September 2022.

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Fast-track foundation pathways 

We are here to help. If you can’t face repeating another two years of study, our one-year University Foundation Programmes offer the best alternative. Whether you are a UK-based or international student, we will support you to reach your full potential and achieve the right grades for an undergraduate degree at a world-class destination. We offer 6 different foundation courses, that prepare you to study dozens of different degrees.   

What are the benefits of joining UFP? 

One-year progamme
You might feel in limbo at the moment, but we can get you to university, where you belong. With two start dates, you can join a course in September or January and can still take up a university place in September 2022.  

Rigorous academic standards
We won’t lie, we expect a lot from our students. But we also deliver on our promises of progression to university and success on your degree. Our teachers are highly qualified and are specialists in their field. These standards will allow you to make a smooth transition to undergraduate degree level. We are also one of the only foundations externally moderated by 5 leading universities.  

Exceptional university preparation
We like to see ourselves as something of a transition college: you get student support that really takes care of you, that gives you the room to get better at managing your own studies and learning the vital study skills you’ll need for an undergraduate degree. And that’s alongside a full UCAS service.   

Courses are specially tailored and offer a bite-size ‘teach and test’ approach (a huge hit with our students!), which removes a lot of pressure. By focusing on continual assessment rather than one big end-of-year exam, we ensure students stay on track and any learning issues are picked up on early so they can be remedied.  

Our successful approach is shown by the prestigious universities our leavers progress to and the many 1:1 and 2:1 degrees UFP alumni go on to achieve.  

World-class destinations
You might have missed out on a place to study at a top Russell Group destination like King’s College London (KCL) or University College London (UCL) or maybe you were excited about studying in Scotland or the north of England at first-class institutions like The University of Edinburgh or The University of Manchester. We regularly send students to these destinations and many more across the UK. Our students receive multiple university offers every year.   

Over 30 years’ experience
Being the older one in the business comes with advantages! Our long-standing reputation in the British education market means we are afforded trust and respect by the Russell Group universities and many others, with our foundation courses accepted by over 90 UK universities.  

State-of-the-art facilities 
UFP is part of David Game College, and is based at a former university campus in London, so we are lucky enough to have outstanding facilities, including university-grade science labs and an inspiring Architecture, Art & Design department. Or you can choose to study at our beautiful Bath campus (Bath Academy), in the south west of England.  

 You can apply online today or talk to one our course advisors to find out more.   

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Preparing for the IELTS exam can be challenging and it is essential that students prepare themselves as fully as possible to ensure the best chance of success. At the UFP, we offer IELTS classes throughout the entire academic year to ensure you are completely prepared to sit the exam. Here are some valuable tips that will help you maximise your chances at success on exam day.

1. Immerse yourself in English and make use of authentic materials

Listen to news and podcasts regularly via free websites such as the BBC. Dive into a new TV series. Watch talks by experts on a variety of topics at www.TED.com. Newspaper articles are a great resource, as they are often of a similar length and complexity to the Reading texts in the IELTS exam. Use online news resources such as The Guardian and get into the habit of jotting down new vocabulary. Get stuck into a good book, either fiction or non-fiction and underline and look up new words and phrases. Always remember: vocabulary is key to gaining high marks in IELTS.

2. Make use of model answers

Model answers to Writing tasks 1 and 2 are a useful resource for understanding and copying key vocabulary and sentence and paragraph structure. You can find these online or in IELTS textbooks.

3. Remember that with writing: Practices makes Perfect

When you achieve feedback on your writing, always re-write your response following your teacher’s advice and comments, correcting any spelling and grammar errors. You can then send your work to be graded again, to see how your grade has improved.

4. Replicate exam conditions at home

Completing practice tasks under exam conditions (in silence, no phone, dictionary or distractions and under a strict time limit) will help you with time management when you sit the real exam. This is particularly useful for the Writing section where you need to practice completing Task 1 in 20 minutes and Task 2 in 40 minutes!

5. Read as much as possible in English

Reading is key to building vocabulary and gaining an awareness of sentence and paragraph structure that you can replicate in your own writing. But don’t just read dry, academic IELTS texts! Try:
• fiction books. Some great Young Adult authors are: JK Rowling (fantasy), SophieKinsella (Romance/Drama), Jodi Picoult (Romance/Drama), Stephen King (Horror)
• non-fiction books, such as historical accounts or biographies.
• newspaper articles (available online for free at sites such as The Guardian, The BBC, The Daily Mail)
• journal articles (available online for free)
• magazines

6. Make use of online IELTS resources

Pick up useful tips from specialist websites like ielts-simon.com or ieltsliz.com.

7. Record yourself

The best way to practice Speaking outside of class is to record and listen to yourself. Use your phone to record yourself talking about a variety of topics, for example a holiday you enjoyed or a tv programme you are currently watching. Listen to the recordings and critique your grammar, accent and pronunciation.

8. Learn what your common mistakes are (and learn from them)

Always read your teacher’s feedback carefully and take note of the mistakes you are commonly making. Is your main weakness grammar? Spelling? Sentence structure? Pinpoint your weak areas and work on these.

9. Be consistent, persistent and self-motivated

Remember that you are ultimately responsible for your own learning. Make sure you attend every class and do your homework. Read and take on board feedback from your teacher. Read, speak and listen to English as much as possible. Keep a record of new vocabulary and revise your lists regularly. Be an active learner.

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