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Foundation Programme

Location

Ghana

Intake

2024

Study method

On-campus

Duration

Full-time

What is a Foundation Programme

A foundation programme or foundation course is designed to prepare secondary school graduates adequately to be able to gain admission to a Bachelor’s or undergraduate degree programme at an international university.

What is the TAG Foundation Programme?

The TAG international Foundation programme establishes a pathway for students wishing to gain seamless entry into undergraduate programmes at the Lancaster University Ghana Campus (LUG), Lancaster University campus in the United Kingdom or any other international university. It is also the only programme in Sub-Saharan Africa to have received full accreditation by the British Accreditation Council.

Students who excel academically have the opportunity to be placed on the Provost’s List, a prestigious award recognised by prospective employers.

Who should do the Foundation Programme?

Our 1 year Foundation programme is a requirement for WASSCE, SSCE, GBCE, NECO and equivalent graduates, provided they have the accepted grades. Some students applying with GCE ‘O’ Level /GCSE/IGCSE, IB, French Baccalaureate and OIB results may be required to take the Foundation Programme prior to undergraduate studies as well. Speak to our Admissions Team to find out if you meet our admission requirements, and to find out our language requirements.

Foundation Programme entry requirements

You must be at least 17 years old and must also meet the applicable academic requirement for the results you are applying with. A list of detailed requirements is on the right side of this page.

Planning to join us in January 2024

Admission Officer
Lancaster University Ghana

Course Structure

Trimester 1
Trimester 2
Trimester 3
  • Critical Thinking, Research & Academic Writing I
  • Foundation Maths
  • Digital Information Skills
  • Critical Thinking, Research & Academic Writing II
  • Introduction to Project Management
  • Innovative Management & Leadership
  • Critical Thinking, Research & Academic Writing III
  • Pathway-Specific Modules (modules below)

Pathway-specific modules

BUSINESS

Accounting & Finance

Two electives from:
• Introduction to Management Accounting
• Introduction to Marketing
• Introduction to Economics

Economics & International Relations

Two electives from:
• Introduction to Economics
• Introduction to Management Accounting
• Politics & Society

Business Studies

Two electives from:
• Introduction to Management Accounting
• Introduction to Marketing
• Introduction to Economics

Marketing

Two electives from:
• Introduction to Marketing
• Introduction to Economics
• Introduction to Management Accounting

LEGAL & SOCIAL SCIENCES

Law

• Legal Perspectives
• Politics & Society

Politics & International Relations

Two electives from:
• Legal Perspectives
• Politics & Society
• Introduction to Economics

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY*

Computer Science

• Introduction to Computer Programming
• Fundamentals of Information Systems

TAG’s STEM pathway programme for Engineering* in the Science & Technology stream starts in October each year.

Term 1 comprises the same common core modules as the other Foundation pathways.

TERM 1 
•   Critical Thinking 1 (7 contact hours per week = 63 contact hours / 9 weeks)
•   Foundation Maths (7 contact hours per week = 63 contact hours / 9 weeks)
•   Digital Information Skills (7 contact hours per week = 63 contact hours / 9 weeks)

TERM 2
•   Intro to Project management (7 contact hours per week = 63 contact hours / 9 weeks)
•   Pure Maths 1 (10 contact hours per week = 90 hours / 9 weeks)

TERM 3 
•   Pure Maths 2 (10 contact hours per week = 90 hours / 9 weeks)
•   Mechanics 1 (Maths) (10 contact hours per week = 90 contact hours / 9 week)
•   Intro to Physics (Part 1) (7 contact hours per week = 63 contact hours / 9 weeks)

TERM 4 
•   Mechanics 2 (Maths) (10 contact hours per week = 90 contact hours / 9 week)
•   Intro to Physics (Part 2) (7 contact hours per week = 63 contact hours / 9 weeks)

All Foundation modules are equally weighted, with progression from one trimester to the next. Completion of the Foundation Programme requires a pass mark of 50 per cent in each module.

*The progression requirement for the STEM Engineering pathway is in line with the Law pathway, i.e. 70% required overall with no individual module below 60%.

Fees and Funding

Tuition fees for our Foundation programme is $7,000 per annum. Our priority is to support every student to make the most of their life and education, and we have a large range of available scholarships and anyone can apply.

For more information on our scholarships click here.

Additional costs

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Grade Requirements

To gain admission into our Foundation Programme, you must be at least 17 years old and must also meet the applicable academic requirement from the list below:

WASSCE

Grade C6 in the best 6 subjects, to include three core subjects and three electives. Core subjects must include English Language, Mathematics and Integrated Science or Social Studies.

SSCE Candidates

Credit passes (A_D) in six (6) subjects comprising three core subjects, including English Language and Mathematics plus three (3) relevant elective subjects.

GBCE Candidates

Credit Passes (A-D) in six (6) subjects comprising three core subjects including English Language and Mathematics plus three (3) relevant elective subjects.

GCE ‘O’ Level /GCSE/IGCSE

C pass in at least 5 subjects, to include English and Mathematics in addition to at least one-year completion of GCE at Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Level.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Grade 4 in any three HL subjects plus English and Mathematics at HL Grade 4 or SL Grade 5

French Baccalaureate (Bacc)

10 overall plus 10 in English and Mathematics

Option International Baccalaureate (OIB)

10 overall plus 10 in English and Mathematics

Other

decided on a case by case basis.

Foundation pathways

The Foundation Programme offers three pathways into undergraduate studies:

Business Stream (Term 3)

  • Accounting & Finance – Core module: Critical Thinking III (Two electives from Introduction to Management Accounting / Introduction to Marketing / Introduction to Economics)
  • Economics & International Relations – Core module: Critical Thinking III (Two electives from Introduction to Economics / Introduction to Management Accounting / Politics & Society)
  • Business Studies – Core module: Critical Thinking III (Two electives from Introduction to Management Accounting / Introduction to Marketing / Introduction to Economics)
  • Marketing – Core module: Critical Thinking III (Two electives from Introduction to Marketing / Introduction to Economics / Introduction to Management Accounting)

Law and Social Sciences Stream (Term 3)

  • Law – Modules: Critical Thinking III / Legal Perspectives / Politics & Society
  • Politics & International Relations – Core module: Critical Thinking III (Two electives from Legal Perspectives / Politics and Society / Introduction to Economics)

Science and Technology Stream for Computing (Term 3)

  • Critical Thinking III / Introduction to Computer Programming / Fundamentals of Information Systems

Science and Technology Stream for Engineering (Term 2)

  • Intro to Project Management / Pure Maths 1

Science and Technology Stream for Engineering (Term 3)

  • Pure Maths 2 / Mechanics 1 / Intro to Physics (Part 1)

Science and Technology Stream for Engineering (Term 4)

  • Mechanics 2 / Intro to Physics (Part 2)

All Foundation pathways include units that focus on theoretical and practical content useful and relevant to chosen undergraduate studies at the university.

We integrate theoretical learning with a practical application while trying to make learning as fun and as interactive as possible. In the process, students learn how to think critically in everything they do – be it in academic research and writing, in debating, or when honing their presentation skills.