Your pathway to academic
success starts here

Let our highly-experienced teachers help you to develop the academic skills you need to match your real-life ambitions.

Prepare for university with Bell

Our Teaching and Learning Manager, Heather, explains about our pathway programmes and why they’re so beneficial to students looking to go on to university in the UK or anywhere else in the world.

Be your best at university

Your commitment to succeed and our excellent track record of Bell students progressing to top universities in the country, will make great partners.

We will work together to create a solid foundation – of subject knowledge, language confidence and academic skills – designed to maximise your potential for success at university.

Why Cambridge?

Cambridge is a very popular student city, and hosts some of the UK’s most prestigious academic institutions. Studying at Bell Cambridge, the home of our Pathway courses, is the ideal way to prepare for university and provides many opportunities to fully immerse yourself in the life of a UK student.

Our Bell Cambridge school offers a beautiful campus environment, within easy reach of the city centre, surrounded by large gardens and impressive study, social and leisure facilities.

Studying at Bell Cambridge

University foundation programmes

Start face-to-face lessons in June, September or January, and from day one, we will focus on advancing your skills in preparation for your chosen undergraduate degree. Select a programme that best fits your long-term career ambitions, from your choice of Business, Humanities, or Science & Engineering Foundation programmes.

Let us support you to successfully get into the right university for you and maximise your success with your studies. Get a guaranteed place at a UK university when you successfully complete your University Foundation course.

 

A guaranteed place at a UK university

We guarantee you will be offered a place at university in the UK, after you have completed our University Foundation Programme.*

For those looking to study in English-taught institutions around the world, we provide global application support and have a strong history of securing international admissions.

*Minimum pass grade of 40%, a score of 5.5 or above in each component of the IELTS test and an attendance record of at least 90%.

A record of success

We are proud of our excellent track record with Bell students progressing to top universities for their subject area, such as the University of Edinburgh, University of Manchester, and Loughborough University in the UK, and international institutions like the DElft University of Technology in Belgium, and Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland.

Our students have also gone on to study a wide range of courses, including classic subjects such as Chemistry, History and Law, as well as more specialist degrees like English and European Law, Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence, and Ecology, Conservation and Environment.

Why choose Bell for your University Foundation Programme?

Personalised learning and support

At Bell, you will meet with your academic tutor each week to discuss and plan your progress, with tailored tutorials, and bespoke feedback. You will also benefit from useful advice, guidance and individual support from our impartial Higher Education Advisory Service.

With classes capped at 12 students, often fewer, you are ensured focused attention and a tailored educational journey.

This personalised approach, coupled with an environment that prepares you for university life while providing a supportive bridge from school, ensures a smooth transition to higher education.

Application support

Our support throughout the university application process ensures you’re not confined to a specific subject, location, or university, allowing you to pursue the best course that aligns with your aspirations.

We will work together, every step of the way – like helping you to write a personal statement and prepare for university interviews – and also support you to prepare for university life.

Academic quality

Our University Foundation Programmes are defined by our high academic standards, highlighted in our ‘Excellent’ 2023 ISI inspection report which praised our curriculum and teaching. This foundation is further enhanced by an external speaker programme, and the oversight of a distinguished university external examining team to ensure a comprehensive educational experience.

Visiting speaker programme

You will have regular talks led by visiting university lecturers and speakers and the opportunity to meet representatives from top UK universities. Visiting speakers are experts in their field and give lectures and workshops on a range of topics related to the subjects offered on the course.

Recent visiting speakers have been Professor Princewill Omorogiuwa of HULT International Business School delivering a masterclass on Branding; Professor Richard Toye from the Department of History at University of Exeter; and Rupert Brown, an Academic Skills Lector at Christ’s College, University of Cambridge.

Testimonials

  • Valeria

    Mexico

Testimonials

Our university partners

Bell has partnered with over 30 universities across the UK, to give our students a wide range of options for their undergraduate studies.

University pathways

Our pathway courses are designed to set you on the road to success, preparing you to study at a university anywhere in the world.

  • Business University Foundation

    3 Terms

    23 September - 4 July 2025

  • Business University Foundation (Fast track)

    2 Terms

    6 January - 11 April 2025

    28 April - 4 July 2025

  • Humanities University Foundation

    3 Terms

    23 September - 4 July 2025

  • Master’s preparation programme

    1 - 3 Terms

    6 January - 11 April 2025

  • Science & Engineering University Foundation

    3 Terms

    23 September - 4 July 2025

  • University counselling & career advice

    50 minute sessions

View all courses