Birmingham, Nottingham, Coventry, Keele and Lincoln: large universities with lower living costs than London and direct rail links to the capital.
Birmingham City University
City Centre Campus (Curzon Building), Birmingham · BCU International College (Navitas) · intakes September, January and May
| Route · Programme | Leads to | Length | IELTS | Fee (GBP) | Scholarship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MASTER’S Direct entryMA Media Production (applied through the college; 2:2 in a media or arts subject) | Birmingham City University master’s | 12 months | 6.0 | BCU postgraduate fee (17,710 a year) | BCU PG award £3,000 (to confirm) |
| PRE-M Pre-Master’sbusiness and management, art management, built environment, law (1 semester)computing, media, art, design and fashion (2 semesters) | A BCU master’s | 1–2 semesters | 6.0 | 8,000 · 16,400 | £3,000* |
| IY1International Year One — accounting, economics and finance, business, marketinghealth science, education, sport, built environment, computing, engineering, film and technology | Year 2 of a BCU degree | 2 semesters | 6.0 | 16,320 · 16,480 | £3,000* |
| FDN University Foundationbusiness, accounting, marketing, psychology (1 or 2 semesters)media, law, health, education, sport, built environment, computing, engineeringarchitecture, art, design, fashion, jewellery | Year 1 of a BCU degree | 1–3 semesters | 5.5 | 8,000 · 15,810 · 19,500 | £3,000* |
| ENG Pre-sessional English | A BCUIC pathway | 6–16 weeks | ask us | 2,040–6,000 | — |
*Partial scholarship £3,000: £2,000 at the college plus £1,000 at the university for 85% attendance and 60% attainment (all nationalities). The MA Media Production direct route is listed by the college as an entry point beside the pre-master’s; the degree is taught and awarded by Birmingham City University, and the college’s published fee for BCU postgraduate study is £17,710 a year. Navitas colleges: fees are the 2026/27 whole-stage fees; intakes September and January (May/June at some colleges). IELTS 5.5 with 5.5 in each skill for foundation and first-year routes, 6.0 (5.5) for most pre-master’s; PTE Academic and other tests accepted. A 50% deposit is typical (pre-master’s often in full). Pass the pathway with the required grades to progress.
Lincoln Bishop University (formerly Bishop Grosseteste University)
Lincoln · specialist in education, early years and psychology · direct application through Oxford International · September intake
| Route · Programme | Leads to | Length | IELTS | Fee (GBP) | Scholarship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MASTER’S MA Early Years Education and other postgraduate degrees | Lincoln Bishop master’s | 12 months | 6.0 | 14,925 after £2,000 award | automatic £2,000 |
| BACH Undergraduate degrees | Lincoln Bishop bachelor’s | 3 years | 6.0 | 14,380 a year | ask us |
Fees for 2026/27.
Which routes are open to you depends on your country of application: ask MultiPath.
Keele University
Keele campus, Staffordshire (near Stoke-on-Trent) · Keele University International College (Navitas) on campus · intakes September, October and January (pre-master’s May)
| Route · Programme | Leads to | Length | IELTS | Fee (GBP) | Scholarship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDN Foundationbusiness, computing, engineering, law, humanities and social scienceshealth and science (science, nursing)health | Year 1 of a Keele degree | 2 semesters (1 semester 8,000) | 5.5 | 16,500 · 18,000 · 20,000 | £1,000–£3,000 |
| FDN Pre-Medicine Pathway (foundation → Keele CertHE Medical Biosciences → MD at St George’s University, Grenada) | Medicine (MD) via St George’s University | 1 + 1 + 4 years | 5.5 (7.0 for MD entry) | 20,000 | £3,000 + £3,000 + SGU award |
| IY1International Year One — businesscomputingengineering | Year 2 of a Keele degree | 2 semesters | 5.5 | 16,500 | £2,000–£3,000 |
| PRE-M Pre-Master’sbusinesscomputing | A Keele master’s | 1 semester | 6.0 | 10,500 | £1,000 |
International Scholarship Awards 2026/27 are first come, first served on application with a 50% deposit (foundation £1,000–£2,000, International Year One £2,000–£3,000, pre-master’s £1,000; academic excellence awards higher). Accepts PTE, TOEFL, Duolingo and Oxford ELLT. Navitas colleges: fees are the 2026/27 whole-stage fees; intakes September and January (May/June at some colleges). IELTS 5.5 with 5.5 in each skill for foundation and first-year routes, 6.0 (5.5) for most pre-master’s; PTE Academic and other tests accepted. A 50% deposit is typical (pre-master’s often in full). Pass the pathway with the required grades to progress.
Nottingham Trent University
City Campus, central Nottingham · Nottingham Trent International College (Kaplan) on campus · intakes January, March, June, September
| Route · Programme | Leads to | Length | IELTS | Fee (GBP) | Scholarship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDN Foundation CertificateBusiness, Law and Social SciencesComputingScience and EngineeringArt, Design and Media | Year 1 of an NTU degree | 2 terms | 5.0–5.5 | 16,710 · 17,660 · 17,660 · 19,110 | £3,000 (paid £1,000 a year) |
| IY1International Year One — BusinessComputing | Year 2 of an NTU degree | 2 terms | 5.5 | 16,990 · 17,840 | £2,000 |
| PRE-M Pre-Master’sBusiness, Law and Social SciencesComputing | An NTU master’s | 2 terms | 5.5 | 18,070 | £1,000 |
Outstanding Achievement awards for 70%+ (unlimited) and £500 for early payment. A Foundation Certificate in Art and Design at KICL leads to NTU’s London campus (£21,660). Kaplan colleges: fees are for the 2-term course starting 11 January 2027 (also March, June and September starts); 2.5- to 4-term versions with extra English cost more. UKVI IELTS 5.5 (minimum 4.5 in each skill) for a 2-term Foundation Certificate, 5.5 (5.0) for International Year One and Pre-Master’s; shorter IELTS for longer courses. Deposit £5,000. Progression needs the required grades and good attendance (the exact mark is on the offer).
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston campus, Birmingham (Russell Group) · Foundation pathways taught on campus by the Birmingham International Academy, recruited through Kaplan; also KICL routes from London · intakes September and January (some November)
| Route · Programme | Leads to | Length | IELTS | Fee (GBP) | Scholarship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDN Foundation PathwaySocial Sciences, Business and LawEngineering and Physical SciencesLife and Environmental SciencesMedicine and Health (on campus) | Year 1 of a Birmingham degree | 1 year | 5.5 (5.5) | 24,480 · 26,400 · 26,400 · 26,400 | £5,000 progression (20 awards) |
| BACH Direct entry to Birmingham bachelor’s degrees through Kaplan (international fee-payers) | Birmingham bachelor’s | 3 years | 6.0–7.0 | per degree | university awards |
| IY1International Year One in Law (new January 2027)in Engineering (KICL, London) | Year 2 of a Birmingham degree | 2 terms | 5.5 | 21,660 · 25,390 | — |
| PRE-M Pre-Master’s (KICL, London) | A Birmingham master’s | 2 terms | 5.5 | 24,970–25,630 | — |
BIA Progression Award for Academic Excellence £5,000 for the first degree year (90%+ in the foundation, recommended students). Autumn 2027 foundation fees rise to £25,320–£27,300. Direct bachelor’s entry via Kaplan is not open to students who would pay UK home or EU fees, nor to BSc Accounting and Finance, Medicine or Dentistry. Kaplan colleges: fees are for the 2-term course starting 11 January 2027 (also March, June and September starts); 2.5- to 4-term versions with extra English cost more. UKVI IELTS 5.5 (minimum 4.5 in each skill) for a 2-term Foundation Certificate, 5.5 (5.0) for International Year One and Pre-Master’s; shorter IELTS for longer courses. Deposit £5,000. Progression needs the required grades and good attendance (the exact mark is on the offer).
University of Nottingham
University Park campus, Nottingham (Russell Group) · University of Nottingham International College (Kaplan) on campus · intakes January, March, June, September
| Route · Programme | Leads to | Length | IELTS | Fee (GBP) | Scholarship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDN Foundation CertificateBusiness, Law and Social Sciences (incl. arts and humanities)Science and Engineering | Year 1 of a Nottingham degree | 2 terms | 5.5 | 23,110 · 25,380 | £5,000 (12 awards) |
| IY1International Year One in Business (on campus; also from KICL London at 18,990) | Year 2 of a Nottingham business degree | 2 terms | 5.5 | 23,260 | £5,000 (12 awards) |
| PRE-M Pre-Master’sBusiness and ManagementLaw and Social SciencesScience and Engineering | A Nottingham master’s | 2 terms | 5.5 | 27,270 · 25,410 · 27,690 | £3,000 (8 awards) |
Kaplan High Performers Award for 70%+ or full attendance, on recommendation. Some degrees (for example BSc Economics) are not open via International Year One; we check the progression list for your subject. Kaplan colleges: fees are for the 2-term course starting 11 January 2027 (also March, June and September starts); 2.5- to 4-term versions with extra English cost more. UKVI IELTS 5.5 (minimum 4.5 in each skill) for a 2-term Foundation Certificate, 5.5 (5.0) for International Year One and Pre-Master’s; shorter IELTS for longer courses. Deposit £5,000. Progression needs the required grades and good attendance (the exact mark is on the offer).
University of Wolverhampton
International Study Centre run by Malvern International, Wolverhampton (West Midlands) · intakes January, May and September 2027
| Route · Programme | Leads to | Length | IELTS | Fee (GBP) | Scholarship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRE-M Pre-Master’s | A Wolverhampton master’s | 1 term · 2 terms | 5.5 | 9,500 · 12,000 | ask us |
| IY1International Year One | Year 2 of a Wolverhampton bachelor’s | 1 year | 5.5 | 17,600 | ask us |
| FDN International Foundation Programme | Year 1 of a Wolverhampton bachelor’s | 1 year | 5.5 | 17,600 | ask us |
Pathway fees for 2027 intakes. Direct undergraduate and master’s applications are also possible through Malvern.