Study Foundation Courses in Australia

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Have you always dreamt about studying in Australia and you can’t wait to get on that plane to start your new adventure?

It’s no surprise as Australia has always been the preferred study destination by Malaysian students right after the UK and Ireland. 

Home to Vegemite, koala bears and kangaroos, Australia holds the second place of the top 10 countries for international students to choose to pursue their higher education.

What is Foundation Studies?

Foundation study is a pathway for both the locals and international students. There are two groups of students who usually pick the foundation studies over the other available programs. Firstly, students who have completed their secondary education and are planning to pursue higher education. However, it is limited to students who have completed their secondary education and those who have not met the entry requirement for their desired undergraduate program. 

Why Study Foundation?

  • One of the flexible options for students who have just completed their SPM.

  • Provides the opportunity for students to gain direct entry into a university.

  • Most foundation programs provide relevant subjects according to their chosen stream, preparing them for their degree program. 

  • Uses the same teaching style through lectures and tutorials, hence providing students with an opportunity to be familiar with learning and be prepared for their degree program.

Why Study Foundation in Australia?

According to the QS World Rankings, aside from being one of the countries filled with cute koala bears and kangaroos, Australia has numerous universities ranked in the Top 100 in the world. 

The education system in Australia provides students with a wide range of undergraduate courses to pursue and is globally one reason why Australia has been the top three countries that international students often choose to study. Rest assured, Australian higher education owns some of the most sought after courses globally, including Psychology, Engineering, Business, Economics and Social Sciences. Mostly it’s the flexibility and the quality of the education system that makes international students opt for Australia as a study destination. 

Doing a foundation in Australia allows international students to experience first hand the various teaching methods applied in Australian universities. This would help international students to prepare and ease themselves better when they transition into an undergraduate program. Australian universities encourage students to be independent in making decisions. Upon completing the Foundation program, international students will be able to gain direct entry into an undergraduate program into any Australian university. In addition to studying, Australian universities also emphasize soft skills such as project management, laboratory works, communication skills, and many more. 

If international students are interested in scientific research, Australia is one of the countries that are at the forefront of new technology and innovation. It is an added advantage for international students to study in Australia to pursue a science field degree as the country has impressive technologies and resources. 

International students are also given a chance to work part-time in Australia while studying. This can be an option to earn extra income for those who would like to taste the local cultures and travel within Australia. 

Study Areas Covered in Foundation Studies

There are various types of undergraduate degree programs that Australian universities offer for both local and international students. Studying a subject covered in the degree pathway could increase your chances of being accepted into your chosen program.

These are several streams of foundation studies offered in Australia: 

  • Science: Covers studies physics, scientific communications, mathematics, engineering principles and computing. 

  • Computer Science & IT: Covers subjects in database, algebra, web development, business information systems and web development. 

  • Health Science: Studies in health challenges, anatomy, chemistry and physiology. 

  • Engineering: Covers physics, material technology, computer science, and chemistry.

  • Business: Studies in accounting, marketing, statistics, microeconomics and mathematics.

Academic Entry Requirement for Foundation Studies

The entry requirement for the foundation program is relatively lower than the university undergraduate (Bachelor) programs. 

Most of the institutions require students to have completed Year 11 or Year 12 as secondary/ high school qualification, which is equivalent to SPM in Malaysia or IGCSE, UEC, etc. 

SPM

Minimum 4 passes

STPM 

Minimum 2 passes

UEC

Minimum 2 passes 

For more information on the entry requirement, please contact Excel Education 

English Entry Requirement for Foundation Studies

IELTS

Overall 5.5 with no individual band lower than 5.0

PTE

Overall 42 with no score lower than 36

SPM/STPM

Minimum C in English

For more information on the English entry requirement, please contact Excel Education 

Top Colleges to Study Foundation in Australia

University of Technology Sydney College (UTS)

Programme 

Foundation Studies 

Intake

March, June, & September 

Duration

Standard: 8 months 

Extended: 12 months 

Indicative Fees (2021)

Standard: AUD $28, 000 

Extended: AUD $ 40, 000

Griffith College

Picture Credits: Griffith University 

Programme 

Foundation Program

Intake

January, June, & October 

Duration

2 Semesters (8 months) 

Indicative Fees (2021)

AUD $22, 700

University of Tasmania (Provider: UP Education)

Picture Credit: University of Tasmania

Programme 

Foundation Studies 

Intake

February, July & November

Duration

Fast Track: 1 semester (approx. 5 months) 

Standard: 2 semesters (approx. 8 months) 

Indicative Fees (2021)

Fast Track: AUD $18, 000

Standard: AUD $20, 800

Deakin College (Provider: UP Education)

Picture Credits: Deakin University 

Programme 

Foundation Studies

Intake

March, June, & October 

Duration

Standard: 8 months 

Extended: 12 months 

Indicative Fees (2021)

Standard: AUD $24, 260

Extended: AUD $ 30, 960

La Trobe College

Picture Credits : La Trobe University 

Programme 

Foundation Studies:

  • IT, Business & Humanities
  • Engineering & Computer Science 
  •  Health & Life Sciences

Intake

February, June & October 

Duration

2 Semesters (8 months 

Indicative Fees (2021)

AUD $29, 900

Charles Darwin University (Provider: UP Education)

Picture Credits: ABC News 

Programme 

Foundation Studies 

Intake

February & November

Duration

2 Semesters (8 months)

Indicative Fees (2021)

AUD $ 20, 800

Swinburne University of Technology (Provider: UP Education)

Programme

Foundation in:

  • Design
  • Arts
  • Business
  • Science & Engineering 

Intake 

February, June & October 

Duration

8 months 

12 months (for Science & Engineering)

Indicative Fees (2021)

AUD $ 25, 380

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About the Author

Rebecca Visvanathan

Caffeine addict that’s constantly on the run!

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