September 2024 Start Courses at Abbey College Manchester

Abbey College Manchester offers a range of high-quality GCSE, A-Level, and International Foundation Programmes for students looking to start their studies in September 2024.

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Study GCSE in September 2024

Student in GCSE class at Abbey College Manchester

General Certificates of Secondary Education (GCSE) represent the first stage on the path to study at a UK university. Many institutions will ask for at least 5 GCSE passes for entry, including English or IELTS and Maths.

In 2023 63% of GCSEs awarded to Abbey College Manchester students achieved grades 9-4 (A** – C).

September 2024 GCSE study options at Abbey College Manchester

Course Duration Subjects available Progress to
GCSE One Year
(September 2024 – July 2025)
Compulsory Subjects:

  • English Language
  • Mathematics

Optional Subjects (Choose 4 from the following):

  • Art & Design
  • Biology
  • Business Studies
  • Chemistry
  • Economics
  • English Language
  • French
  • Further Mathematics
  • Mathematics
  • Photograph
  • Physics
  • Religious Studies
 A-Level

International Foundation Programme

Why study GCSEs?

Depending on the duration of studies, GCSE students will take between 5-6 subjects. GCSEs provide an introduction to the UK education system, offering students a breadth of subjects, time to familiarise themselves with the academic rigor of the UK education system and improve their English (English Language or IELTS is a compulsory GCSE subject). GCSEs also provide a natural pathway to A Levels, and students who have taken GCSEs tend to perform better in higher level examinations.

How are they taught?   

GCSE course content is broken up into topics, with an emphasis on understanding the connection between topics within the wider context of the subject.  The exams are linear which means they are all taken at the end of the course.

Assessment

GCSEs are assessed by an end of course exam. Some subjects will also by coursework or practical work.

General Certificates of Secondary Education (GCSE) represent the first stage on the path to study at a UK university. Many institutions will ask for at least 5 GCSE passes for entry, including English or IELTS and Maths.

In 2021 91% of GCSEs awarded to Abbey College Manchester students achieved grades 9-5 (A** – C).

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Study A Level in September 2024

Female student in A Level class at Abbey College Manchester

Advanced Level courses, commonly known as ‘A-Levels’ are the most widely recognised qualification for entry to UK universities.

In 2023, 81% of A Levels awarded to Abbey College Manchester students achieved grades A* – C

September 2024 A Level study options at Abbey College Cambridge

Course Duration Subjects available Progress to
A Level 2 Years

(September 2024 – July 2026)

 

 

  • Accounting
  • Art & Design
  • Biology
  • Business Studies
  • Chemistry
  • Economics (Subject to Demand)
  • English Language
  • Environmental Science
  • Mathematics
  • Further Mathematics
  • Modern Foreign Languages
  • Photography
  • Physics
  • Psychology
  • Religious Studies
  • Textiles
Undergraduate course at university

IELTs is an additional subject taught alongside A-Levels for those who require it.

Why study A-Levels?

Most students will take three A-Level subjects over the duration of their studies. A-Levels offer a good balance between subjects specialisation and choice, allowing students to focus on the subject that really interest them with the option of maintain breadth of subject choice. A-Levels offer progression to the widest range of universities, both in the UK and abroad.

 How are they taught?

Course content is divided into different topics, and students are encouraged to develop and understand the links between them. Learning is underpinned by the key concepts of the skills of the subject, with a strong focus on their practical real-world application.

 Assessment

A-Levels have a linear structure, which means that all exams take place at the end of the final year. Most A-Level subjects are assessed by written examination unless the course has a large practical element (such as in Art or Photography) or coursework such as Geography.  All science A-Levels have a practical endorsement which does not contribute to the final score, but is compulsory to pass the A-Level.

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Study International Foundation Programme in September 2024

Student in Foundation class at Abbey College Manchester

Our International Foundation Programme (IFP) is an intensive year 13 academic programme that offers international students direct entry to a wide range of UK universities.

In 2023, Abbey College Manchester students achieved an average overall score of 65% on our International Foundation Programme.

September 2024 International Foundation Programme Study options at Abbey College Manchester

Course Duration Subjects available Progress to
International Foundation Programme 2 Years

(September 2024 – July 2026)

 

 

  • Business & Economics
  • Business & Mathematics
  • Creative Art
  • Economics & Mathematics
  • Engineering
  • Environmental Science
  • Humanities
  • Sport
Undergraduate course at university
International Foundation Programme One Year
(September 2024 – July 2025)
  • Business & Economics
  • Business & Mathematics
  • Creative Art
  • Economics & Mathematics
  • Engineering
  • Environmental Science
  • Humanities
  • Medicine
  • Sport
Undergraduate course at university

Customise your International Foundation Programme

Students have the option to combine modules from different Abbey College Manchester Foundation Programmes to creat their own programme.

Why study International Foundation Programme?

One advantage of our foundation programmes is that the destinations are not limited to a choice of one or two partner universities. This means students are able to progress to all but three UK universities, including many top-ranked Russell Group institutions.

How are they taught?

Students choose two subject strands to make up the pathway, e.g. maths and physics for engineering.  Key skills in taught alongside the main subjects.  Each subject strand is modular with the examinations taken in December, March and June.  there is the opportunity to resit up to two units in June.   The medicine pathway has a slightly different structure because three subject strands are chosen.  IELTS is taught alongside the IFP for those who require it.

Assessment

Students will achieve a percentage score for the programme; typical offers from universities require 45% – 85% for entry to degree programmes.

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Sports Programme

Abbey College Manchester Football Studies Student In Class

 

Students at Abbey College Manchester can apply to participate in professional sports training programmes whilst they study. We offer professional coaching in Football, Cycling, and Tennis.
Participation in our sports programmes provides the perfect preparation for students wishing to progress to a sports-related degree at university, or who wish to continue training at a high level whilst they study,
Sports training sessions are offered alongside GCSE, A Levels, and International Foundation Programmes at no extra cost.

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Pre-Sessional Programme

Students who do not achieve our academic or English entry requirements can enrol on a 1 year Pre-Sessional Programme. Providing students achieve the required level of academic and English language, they will then be able to progress onto our 1 year GCSE programme, 2 year A-Level programme, or 1 year International Foundation Programme.

Pre-Sessional Programme is designed to raise students’ academic and English abilities and prepare them to join one of our academic programmes.

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Why Study at Abbey College Manchester?

  • We offer a  small, friendly, welcoming community
  • British and International students integrate and learn together
  • An Innovative and flexible course offering
  • We provide a pathway to world-class northern universities
  • We are experts at preparing students for challenging courses such as medicine

For the past thirty years we have been proudly based in the heart of Manchester, in that time that we have embraced some of the city’s best qualities; innovation, pragmatism, a sense of humour and a practical spirit.

We have welcomed several thousand students from around the world and the local area into our friendly college community, and we take pride in helping our students to achieve personal and academic development, and to move on to world-class universities, many of which like our local University of Manchester, are located in our region.

We are the smallest of the three Abbey DLD colleges, and have the highest proportion of British students studying with us, which makes classes and life in college an interesting and invigorating mix of local and international cultures.

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Our courses are for students between 15-20 years of age

Students must be aged between 14-20 years in order to study at our college.
Please complete your contact number including country code*

 

Abbey Manchester
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