This foundation pathway in health, life and biosciences is designed to provide you with the scientific academic skills and content you need to be successful in your chosen undergraduate degree. 

It will improve and enhance your English language in a scientific, academic context. You’ll strengthen your ability to express yourself through speaking and writing and boost your understanding when reading or listening. You’ll learn how to use academic sources, like articles, books and lectures, and how to structure and write critical assignments or give academic presentations.

You’ll also explore key topics within modern sciences and consider how these affect society, with a compulsory Science and Society module. You'll look at issues such as the philosophy and history of science and the ethical challenges of scientific and technical development, including AI. This module will also prepare you for university study by discussing the cultural norms, ideas and practices of academic culture in the UK in comparison with other perspectives from around the world to understand the nature of science and the values and assumptions that may be obscured at first.

For the remainder of your health, life and biosciences foundation pathway, you’ll study your chosen optional modules. You might choose to study a combination of biology and chemistry and learn about the biology of the human body alongside the chemistry of treatment, drug research and prescribing. You may prefer to combine biology and maths for natural sciences or study a combination of chemistry and maths for natural sciences.

This Health, Life and Biosciences foundation pathway is a full-time, 120-credit programme. Students study four 30-credit modules. All students undertake a minimum of 15 hours of live, face-to-face study on the pathway, in addition to an average of 20 hours of self-study a week. This includes preparation for live sessions, homework, completion of assignments, revision and any other work set by your teachers.

The Health, Life and Biosciences foundation pathway is typically taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, and small group classes, which help you prepare for your undergraduate degree studies. Face-to-face teaching is complemented and supported by innovative technology with elements of digital learning and assessment embedded into the programme.

Every student is assigned a personal tutor. They will provide you with the regular opportunity to review your learning, academic progress and general well-being as you progress through your studies.

The nature of assessment varies by module. Most modules are assessed through a combination of coursework and final examinations. The type of assessment may include:

• Essays
• Exams
• Practical laboratory examinations

See each module page for more details.

You will study the following modules on this pathway:

• English for Scientific Academic Purposes or Academic Expression & Critical Thinking*
• Science & Society

You will choose one module combination:

• Biology & Chemistry
• Biology & Maths for Natural Sciences
• Chemistry & Maths for Natural Sciences

*You will either study English for Scientific Academic Purposes or Academic Expression & Critical Thinking, depending on your level of English when you start the programme.

All of the modules support your subject and linguistic skills development as they encourage you to analyse concepts and develop ideas in your chosen subject area.

Upon accepting an offer for the King’s International Foundation Programme, you are required to pay a deposit of £5,500 to secure your place by the deadline, which will be stated in your offer. If you do not pay the deposit or provide evidence of financial sponsorship by the deadline stated in your offer, your offer will expire, and King’s reserves the right not to reinstate the offer.

This deposit is payable when you firmly accept an offer (unconditional or conditional) to study with us and will be offset against your tuition fees when you join King’s.

Payments are made online through the King's Apply portal.

All students need to pay the deposit, with the exception of sponsored students. If you are being sponsored by an employer or your government, for example, you will need to provide a valid Financial Guarantee letter. Please contact our Admissions team if you have any questions.

Application fee: £75

Our King’s International Foundation Programmes require a non-refundable application fee before you can submit your application to be considered. This step is built into the application process. Please note that payment of an application fee does not guarantee that you will receive an offer for your chosen programme, as many of our programmes are competitive.

If you apply for a pathway and receive a rejection your application fee will not be refunded. If you then choose to apply for a different pathway you will need to pay another application fee.

Please ensure that you carefully read the information about your chosen pathway and modules before applying.

Note: if you receive an offer, our King’s International Foundation Programme will also require a deposit to secure your place. This is in addition to the application fee; however, the deposit is used as a partial payment of the tuition fees upon enrolment. Your offer letter will include details of any deposit you must pay, deadlines, and payment methods. You should not make a deposit payment unless instructed to do so as part of an offer.

Find out more about how to apply for the International Foundation Programme.

In addition to your application and tuition fees, you can also expect to pay for:

• Accommodation and living costs
• Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses
• Books if you need your own copy or they are required for your module
• Library fees and fines
• Society membership fees
• Personal photocopies
• Printing course handouts
• Stationery
• Graduation costs

Please see our student Terms and Conditions for further fee details, including our refund policy.