Benchmarking the NCUK International Foundation Year (IFY)
At Ecctis, we offer expert analysis and evaluation to help institutions, awarding organisations, test providers and regulators understand how qualifications align worldwide. With a commitment to quality and customer collaboration, our team works closely with clients to deliver tailored benchmarking solutions that meet their specific needs and objectives. This case study shows how we worked with NCUK University Pathways to provide an independent, evidence-based evaluation of their International Foundation Year programme, supporting its recognition across multiple global education systems.
Client: NCUK University Pathways
Country: United Kingdom, Hong Kong, United States, Australia, Canada
Timescale: 2024
We are proud to have partnered once again with Ecctis to benchmark the NCUK International Foundation Year programme. Building on our collaborations in 2014 and 2019, this latest project reinforces our commitment to academic quality and global recognition.
The expertise and professionalism of the Ecctis team were clear throughout — they provided rigorous analysis, thoughtful insights, and robust evidence that support both our university partners and our students worldwide.
Their independent benchmarking offers us an internationally trusted evaluation of our programme and ensures NCUK qualifications continue to open doors for students. With Ecctis’ support, we can confidently demonstrate that our programme meets high international standards and empowers students to succeed globally.
About NCUK
NCUK empowers international students to unlock their potential and achieve their goals at top universities around the world. Established by leading universities, NCUK offers high-quality pathway programmes designed to support students every step of the way, from academic preparation to university admission. With a global network of over 135 Study Centres in more than 40 countries, NCUK works closely with schools, universities, governments, and investors to create opportunities for learners from over 120 nationalities. Thanks to a strong emphasis on academic excellence and student success, 89% of NCUK students go on to achieve a 2:1 or higher at university. So far, over 55,000 students have progressed to more than 60 university partners, including nine ranked in the QS World Top 100 (2026).
Project context and scope
In 2024, NCUK partnered with Ecctis to complete a follow-up review and independent evaluation of the International Foundation Year (IFY) programme in the context of the education systems in the UK, Hong Kong, Australia, US and Canada. The International Foundation Year (IFY) is a pre-university foundation programme, designed by NCUK in collaboration with NCUK University Partners, that prepares students for first-year university entry. This evaluation followed previous benchmarking evaluations completed by Ecctis in 2014 and 2019, but this time also included a comparison of the IFY in the context of the Canadian education system, focussing on the upper secondary qualification in Alberta.
Methodology
Ecctis applied its well-established methodology for credential evaluation, which comprised a detailed review of the NCUK IFY in terms of:
- Entry requirements
- Duration
- Content and structure
- Modes of learning and assessment
- Modes of learning assessment
- Learning outcomes and assessment objectives
- Associated outcomes.
To support the overall comparative analysis, the study reviewed a sample of five IFY subject modules against similarly-focussed subjects in the selected international education systems, where available. This sample included: Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Business Studies and Economics.
Quality assurance and control mechanisms and processes were also considered as part of this benchmarking exercise
Project outcomes
Through this independent evaluation, Ecctis found the NCUK IFY comparable to:
- GCE A Level standard, UK
- Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) standard, Hong Kong
- Advanced Placement standard, US
- Senior Secondary School Certificate of Education standard, Australia
-
Alberta High School Diploma standard, Canada (Alberta)
When a minimum of grade D is achieved in all IFY modules and at least 72 NCUK points have been obtained.
This study equips NCUK with further supporting evidence to provide stakeholders, including universities, employers, recognition agencies and students, with a clear indication of the overall level of the IFY programme relative to other recognised national pre-university level qualifications.