The entry requirements listed here are a guide to the types of qualification you need to apply for the International Foundation Programme (IFP) and the information you will need to provide as part of your application.

Academic qualifications

Below is a list of indicative entry requirements for the most commonly used qualifications on IFP applications. This list does not include all countries that we accept students from. We are happy to consider other qualifications or combinations of qualifications, so please do get in touch with us at internationalprogrammes@kent.ac.uk if you need to confirm specific entry requirements.

Country Qualification
International A levels with a minimum of C, D, D
International AS levels with a minimum of C, C, C
International iGCSEs with a minimum of 3 x Bs/6s and 2 x Cs/4s
International IB Diploma with a minimum of 24 points; we also welcome applications from IB Certificate students who have achieved 4s in all subjects
Bahrain Tawjihiya (General Secondary Education Certificate) with an overall grade of at least 80%
Bangladesh Bangladeshi Higher Secondary Certificate with at least 3.0/5.0 or above
Belgium Certificat d’Enseignement Secondaire Supérieur/Diploma van hoger Secondair Onderwijs with an overall grade of 60% or above
Brazil Certificado do Ensino Médio/Certificado de Conclusão do Ensino Médio with an overall average grade of at least 7.5/10
Chile Licencia de Educación Media or Licencia de Enseñanza Media with a final overall grade of at least 5.0/7.0
China Senior High School Graduation Certificate or Transcript with an average score of 70% if the student has completed Year 11 (Huikao year, the second year of high school). Senior High School Graduation Certificate or Transcript with an average score of 60% if the student has completed Year 12 (Gaokao year, the third year of high school)
Colombia Bachiller Académico with an overall grade of Desempeño alto and average grades of at least 70%, 7/10 or equivalent
Cyprus Greek Cypriot Apolytirion with at least 16.0 overall final result (no A levels required)
Northern Cyprus Turkish Cypriot Lise Bitirme Diplomasi with at least 6 overall average
Egypt Thanawiyya al-A’aamaI (General Secondary Education Certificate) with an overall grade of at least 80%
France French Baccalaureat 10/20 (pass)
Germany German Abitur at 3.3
Ghana West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) with at least 5 passes at grade C6
Greece Greek Apolytirion with at least 16.0 overall final result (no A levels required)
Hong Kong HKDSE with at least 332 in 3 modules; a mixture of core and elective subjects excluding Chinese Language and Liberal Studies
India Higher Senior Secondary Certificate/Standard XII with 50% for CBSE/CISCE/NIOS/WBSE/Maharashtra Boards; 55% for other Boards
Indonesia Ijazah - Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA)/Certificate of Completion of Academic Secondary School with a minimum final grade of 70% or 7/10
Iran Iranian High School Graduation Diploma with at least 70% or above
Japan Kotogakko Sotsugyou Shomeisho (Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate) with a final grade of at least 3.5/5, 7/10 or equivalent
Jordan Jordanian Tawjihiya General Secondary Education Certificate) with at least 80% or above
Kazakhstan Kazakhstani Certificate of General Secondary Education with at least 3.5/5 overall or above
Kenya Kenyan Certificate of Secondary Education with at least 5 subjects with grade B or above
Kuwait Shahadat-al-thanawia-al-a'ama (General Secondary School Certificate) with an overall grade of at least 3.0/4.0, 80% or equivalent
Libya Libyan Secondary Education Certificate with at least 65% or above
Malaysia Malaysia Sijil Pelajaran (SPM) with at least an average grade of B or above. Students should have A or B grades in any required subjects.
Mexico Bachiller (General/Preparatoria) with an average grade of at least 7.5/10, 75% or equivalent
Nigeria West African Senior School Certificate Education (WASSCE) with at least 5 passes at grade C6/6 or above
Oman Omani Thanawiya Amma with at least an overall grade of 80% or above
Pakistan Intermediate Certificate/Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) with a final grade of at least 60%
Qatar Al-Thanawiya Aama/General Secondary Education Certificate (GSEC) with at least an average grade of 80% or above
Russia Russian Attestat (School Leaving Certificate) with at least 3.5/5 or above
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabian Tawjihiya with at least an overall grade of 80% or above
Singapore GCE O level or GCE A level with at least CDD
South Africa South African Matriculation with at least 60% overall
South Korea Korean High School Diploma with an overall average grade of at least 70% or above
Taiwan Taiwanese Senior High School Leaving Certificate with a final grade of at least 70%
Thailand Certificate of Upper Secondary Education with an average GPA of at least 2.0/4.0 or 60% in relevant subjects
Turkey Turkish Devlet Lise Diplomasi or Lise Bitirme Diplomasi (Private High School Diploma) with a final grade of 3.5/5 or 70% overall
UAE Emirati Tawjihiya with an overall grade of at least 80% or above
Uganda Ugandan Certificate of Education (UCE) with at least five subjects at grades 1-4
Ukraine Certificate of Complete General Secondary Education with at least 5 passes of 8 or above.
USA High School Diploma/GED/(HiSET)/TASC with a minimum final GPA of at least 2.8/4.0; no APs required
Vietnam Vietnamese Upper Secondary/High School Graduation Certificate with an average final grade of at least 7/10

English language requirements

All IFP applicants are required to show that their English language ability meets our minimum standards of English, equivalent to IELTS 5.0 with a minimum of 5.0 in all skills. For further details, see our English language requirements page.

If you require a visa to study in the UK, you are required to undertake a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as IELTS or PTE. 

Personal statement

You need to include a personal statement with your application. These are some things to think about when writing your personal statement.

  • Why are you applying for the IFP? What do you want to progress to after the IFP and what interests you about the subject?
  • Why do you think you would be suitable for this course? Why do you want to study in the UK?
  • Do you do any extra-curricular activities? For example; do you belong to a club, or do you volunteer or work?

If you have any questions about your personal statement or are not sure what to include, please email us at internationalprogrammes@kent.ac.uk and we will be happy to help.

Architecture applicants

If you are applying to study Architecture when you have completed the IFP, you will need to provide a portfolio of your work. Please visit Kent School of Architecture and Planning for advice on what to include in your portfolio and how to present it.

Music applicants

If you are applying to study a music course, you will need to provide a portfolio of your work. It should contain the strongest examples of music you have performed, recorded, mixed, composed or arranged. Find out more about the music portfolio requirements

Progression requirements

Details of the progression requirements and the standards you need to achieve are available on the course information page for your chosen degree.You can find your degree course page at www.kent.ac.uk/ug

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