Foundation Year in Sciences

Programme duration : 1 year
Delivery language : English
Deadline to apply : 22 August 2025

The Foundation Year in Sciences is designed to equip students with all the skills required to succeed at the university level, and to be successful in any undergraduate programme in sciences.

During the Foundation Year, students will study Optics and Electrokinetic and will review mathematics studied in high school in detail, learn to run experiments, and how to report on them. Students will acquire basic knowledge of programming in the Computer Science course. The Methodology course will develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, and teach students how to manage their time. In the Active Science course, students will build on their knowledge and skills to manage a scientific project of their choice. They will also study a foreign language (French for non-French speakers).

The teaching methodology involves lectures and tutorials, laboratory sessions, projects, written technical reports and oral presentations.

Throughout the Foundation Year in Sciences, students will interact with the students from the Bachelor in Physics and be part of events organised by the Sciences and Engineering Department

At the end of the Foundation Year in Sciences, students will be prepared to enter any science-based undergraduate programme.

Admission to the programme is very selective; the following are minimal criteria to apply for admission into the Foundation Year:

  • French Baccalaureate with a minimum final average of 12/20
  • Ministry of Education curriculum:
    General stream/Art stream: minimum average of 80%.
    Advanced stream/Elite stream/Science stream: minimum average of 75%.
    or Other high school systems: high school certificate equivalent to the UAE Ministry of Education high school with minimum average of 80% or equivalent
  • Recent EMSAT-English with a Minimum score of 1250 with a validity of 18 months
    or valid Academic-IELTS 5.5 with a validity of 2 years
    or valid TOEFL-IBT 71 with a validity of 2 years
  • Mathematics competencies
    High School grade in Mathematics at or above 80%
    or EMSAT Mathematics with a score at or above 1500
    or SAT Mathematics with a score at or above 600
  • Competencies in one other Science subject (Physics, Chemistry or Biology – including SVT)
    Subject taken in school with minimum 80% (or equivalent) in Grade 10, 11 or 12
    or EMSAT in one Science subject (Physics, Chemistry or Biology) with a score at or above 900

Admission is subject to capacity constraints. Applicants might, therefore, be placed on a waiting list.

Other Countries Education’s Systems

Conditions apply on other foreign curriculums according to the admission’s policy set by Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. Please contact the Student Recruitment office by email: admissions@sorbonne.ae for more details.

Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi is committed to considering applications from all students regardless of their country of origin, income, gender, religion or physical condition.

Programme tuition fees:
34,500 AED per semester* (approximately US $ 9,400)
Payment of fees:
click here

*The fees presented for each program do not include administrative fees. Terms and conditions apply

Scholarships*

HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Scholarship for Emirati students

Admitted Emirati nationals and children of Emirati mothers’ are awarded a full scholarship covering tuition and study related fees for their Bachelor Programmes (and Foundation year, if any)

Current high school students may apply through NAPO, whereas the graduates of previous years can apply on the Apply Now page.

Academic Excellence Scholarships (for the 1st semester of enrolment)

• 15% scholarship on tuition for the 1st semester of joining

New joiners with excellent academic results in high school are eligible following the below criteria. Starting from the second semester, they can apply for the 25%-75% academic excellence scholarship scheme.

  • Government schools: 90% in the advanced stream, or 95% in the general stream.
  • American system: CGPA of 3.6 out of 4.0 or minimum average of 90%.
  • British system: “A” grade or higher in three “AS-Level” subjects or “A” in the equivalent “A-Level” Subjects, plus “B” grade or higher in six O level subjects.
  • SABIS: minimum average of 85%.
  • International Baccalaureate: IB diploma with minimum score of 5 out of 7 in all courses – three of those subjects must be higher-level courses.
  • French Baccalaureate: minimum average of 14 out of 20.

Academic Excellence Scholarship (starting from the 2nd semester of enrolment)

• 25%-75% Academic Excellence Scholarship

Based on the academic results obtained during the previous semester at SUAD, students are eligible to the academic excellence scholarship granted semester by semester. The scholarship scheme is progressive (25% to 75% and the minimum average grade to be eligible is 12/20. A specific scholarship is available for the 2nd semester of the Foundation Year. For more information, please contact admissions@sorbonne.ae

Other Scholarships

10% French Curriculum Schools Scholarship for the 1st semester of enrolment

Students holding a French baccalaureate obtained in one of the GCC countries are eligible for a 10% discount for their first semester. Starting from the second semester, they can apply for the 25%-75% academic excellence scholarship scheme.

Sponsored scholarships

Total, Chalhoub and Ardian Foundation, offer specific scholarships based on academic excellence and/or financial circumstances to selected students.

The deadline for submitting an application is communicated by University email each semester to all enrolled students. Applications are submitted via the online application form. Incomplete and late applications will not be assessed.

Scholarships can’t be combined. For more information, please contact admissions@sorbonne.ae

Preferential rate: 10% Family discount

Students who have a first-degree relative currently enrolled in an undergraduate or a postgraduate programme are eligible for a 10% discount.

*Conditions apply