The UFP was conceived as an alternative to A-Level courses for international students wishing to gain entry into British universities.
Although the structure of A-Levels has been changed in recent years to adopt a more holistic, coursework-based approach, the University Foundation Programme offers still less emphasis on end-of-year exam performance and as such is considered more manageable for students whose first language is not English.
Some institutions offer a faster-track course; students on these programmes enrol in January, graduate in August and commence university in October.
Some providers of the University Foundation course or Programme will have different entry points throughout the year, offering students greater flexibility.
They are not eligible for entry into Oxford or Cambridge, as these institutions usually receive excessive numbers of applicants through the conventional A-Level route.