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.
Study GCSE in September 2024
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:
Optional Subjects (Choose 4 from the following):
| 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).
Study A Level in September 2024
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)
|
| 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.
Study International Foundation Programme in September 2024
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)
|
| Undergraduate course at university |
| International Foundation Programme | One Year (September 2024 – July 2025) |
| 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.
Sports Programme
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.
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.
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.
*Please note that the UK Government has announced on 29th July it intends charging VAT on all independent education tuition and boarding fees from January 1st 2025. This means that the second and third term of this academic year for all independent education establishments in the UK will be subject to VAT. The college has to charge students for the total amount of VAT, but is working to establish the level of increased cost the college can absorb so as to keep the actual fees increase figure as low as possible. There will therefore be a revised invoice sent to you in December 24 which will include the confirmed VAT amount due on tuition and boarding fees for the second and third term.
