Foundation Year is usually a one-year pre-university program designed to prepare students for entry into first year of Bacehlor’s Degree. However, through a lot of inquiries that AAS received, we find that not a lot of students fully understand the concept of Foundation study. They may wonder why they should study Foundation Year and what are the benefits of completing a Foundation program.
Continue to read and find out more about Foundation Year in Australia and whether study a Foundation Program suits you or your children.
1. What is Foundation Year?
Foundation Year is actually equivalent to Australian Year 12 in terms of qualification. After completing Australian Year 11 or its equivalent, students can choose to enter a Foundation Program. Upon completing the Foundation study, students can proceed to undergraduate studies at universities, allowing them to enter university at the same time as those who completed Year 12.
Foundation studies are programs specifically designed for international students and are usually offered by various universities in Australia. For example, the University of Queensland (UQ) offers Foundation studies at UQ College, while the University of Sydney offers Foundation studies through Taylors College.
What is it like to study a Foundation Program?
As the Foundation Year is designed to prepare students for entry into a Bachelor’s Degree, the study mode of the Foundation Year is very similar to studying at universities. Unlike regular 9am – 3pm high school, Foundation students have a flexible schedule and only need to attend classes they have registered for. They have the freedom to arrange their own timetable even on school days.
2. Pros and Cons of Foundation Program
Disadvantages of Foundation Studies
- You won’t get a High school graduate certificate
Most students begin Foundation studies right after completing Year 11 instead of continuing with the remaining high school studies. As a result, they do not receive a graduation certificate from their high schools.
However, you should know that employers are more concerned about your latest qualification. In other words, employers would not really look at your high school certificate if you complete a degree afterwards.
- Lack of Cultural Diversity
As most Foundation programs are only open to international students, you might not be able to make friends with local students. Some may think that it would lose the meaning of studying abroad.
Yet, Foundation Year is only a one-year program. Students will then progress to a Bachelor’s Degree and have another 3-4 years to immerse themselves in the local culture and make friends with people from diverse backgrounds at the university.
Advantages of Foundation Studies
- Less stressful than public examinations
Foundation students can enter Year 1 of undergraduate programs in universities as long as they meet the set academic results during their Foundation year. Students don’t have to compete or compare with other students.
In contrast, public exams like the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) are a ranking system that adjusts university admission scores based on the overall performance of students each year. In such exams, students must outperform their peers in order to secure admission to their desired undergraduate programs.
- Adapting to university life in advance
As the study mode and program design of Foundation studies are similar to university programs, students can easily adapt to university life. Based on AAS experience, students who progress from a Foundation program to undergraduate studies tend to be more efficient in transitioning to the new stage of learning in university compared to international students who directly enter undergraduate programs.
- Entry requirements are relatively low
Generally, students with a basic level of English proficiency (around IELTS 5.5) and satisfactory academic performance (specific requirements vary by institution) can enrol in a Foundation program.
If students have already decided on the university and degree they would like to pursue, undertaking a Foundation year is highly recommended.
3. Entry Requirements of Foundation Programs
Students can submit their applications for Australian Foundation programs when they are studying in Year 11 in Australia or equivalent in other countries. Although the entry requirements vary among different programs, they all assess students’ English proficiency and academic performance.
For Australian Year 11 students, they can provide their ongoing English or English as an Additional Language (EAL) unit results, as well as their overall academic transcript. For other international students, they can provide their IELTS or PTE scores to fulfil the English language requirements, along with certified and translated copies of their Grade 11 academic results.
English language requirements:
For the Group of Eight (Go8) universities in Australia, the minimum requirement is an overall IELTS score of 5.5 with no single band score below 5.0. Other English language proficiency tests such as TOEFL or PTE scores may also be accepted.
Academic requirements:
Regarding academic performance, the requirements typically range from an average academic score of 55% to 80%, depending on the Foundation program and university. For more details, please contact us.
4. Considerations of Applying for Foundation Studies:
1. Duration
Some Foundation programs offer different lengths of courses for students with different levels of English proficiency. There are extended, standard, and fast-track Foundation program options. In general, students with better English results may be eligible for shorter Foundation programs.
However, different institutions have their own standards and requirements. For instance, an IELTS score of 5.5 may be sufficient for entry into the Standard Foundation Program at UQ, but only qualify for the Extended Foundation Program at the University of Melbourne, which takes longer to complete.
2. English course
For students who fail to meet the English requirement, some schools provide English programs before their Foundation studies. Students and parents need to consider whether to retake the English tests or directly enrol in the English program.
3. Choice of Bachelor's Degree
As Foundation studies are usually packaged to a Bachelor’s Degree, students also need to decide on the intended Bachelor’s degree when applying for the Foundation program.
AAS consultants will provide professional and comprehensive advice to help students choose the most suitable degree based on their background, including factors such as their strengths, interests, parental expectations, and migration intentions. Contact AAS now.
4. Entry requirements
The entry requirements for the Foundation program vary depending on the intended undergraduate degree. The requirements mentioned in part 3 are based on some common degrees, such as business, IT, and engineering. However, if a student is considering a health-related degree, the entry requirements will be higher.
5. Choice of subjects
The subjects taken during Foundation will be highly relevant to the chosen undergraduate degree. For example, if the intended Bachelor’s degree is in engineering, the Foundation program may include subjects such as physics, biology, and chemistry, rather than management, literature, or design. Each school has its own rules regarding subject selection.
5. Progress to University
Based on AAS’s experience, 80% to 95% of Foundation students can successfully progress to university. The admission rate varies among different universities. The University of Melbourne and Monash University have stricter requirements for their Foundation programs, resulting in an admission rate below 90%. On the other hand, UQ and Queensland University of Technology (QUT) have a higher admission rate due to the additional support and assistance provided to international students.
Generally, the Foundation year is not very challenging. Students who are unable to progress successfully usually either do not study at all or have poor attendance. However, with the right learning attitude, most students can successfully gain entry into university.
6. What Happens to Students Who Fail Their Foundation Studies?
If a student fails to pass their Foundation studies, they will not be accepted into any undergraduate program at the university. The school will then provide the student with two options:
- Correct their behaviour and repeat the Foundation program for another year.
- Return to their home country and give up their study in Australia.
If a student with a good study attitude still fails the Foundation studies, the school may allow them to transfer to another institution to continue their studies in Australia. They can apply to universities with lower entry requirements or apply for a diploma program that bridges to the second year of university studies.
AAS advises all students, regardless of their stage of education, to study hard and strive for their best.
Free Consultation & Application Services For International Students
Interested in studying a Foundation Program in Australia? Please don’t hesitate to contact AAS for help. We offer free consultation and university application services for international students.
At AAS, we are dedicated to helping our clients make informed decisions about studying in Australia.
Talk to us now![Read more about the article [🇦🇺2024 AU Migration Strategy] 3 Main Impacts on International Students](https://i0.wp.com/aaseducation.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/van-tay-media-pc_HmXZ0e_w-unsplash.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1)
