International Foundation Studies

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International Foundation Studies

A pathway for international students

Introduction

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If you’re an international student who hasn’t met the University of Canberra’s entry requirements for your preferred UC undergraduate degree, the International Foundation Studies program is an accredited pre-university Pathways program that can help you achieve your goal of a university education.

The program has been designed to build your study capabilities and prepare you for university life, in which you’ll study units that introduce you to the knowledge and skills needed for a university education in Australia. Once you’ve successfully completed the International Foundation Studies program, you’ll be eligible for entry into the first year of a University of Canberra undergraduate degree. 

How does it work?

How does it work

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The International Foundation Studies program is completed over three trimesters (12 months) full-time at UC’s Bruce campus. You’ll take 12 units, covering topics and study in areas such as English, mathematics, technology, arts and humanities, and society and legal studies.

Completion of the International Foundation Studies program guarantees you direct entry into the first year of any University of Canberra undergraduate degree (except for the Bachelor of Midwifery).

To gain direct admission to UC, you must successfully complete all 12 units and meet the Grade Point Average (GPA) required for academic entry into the bachelor’s degree of your choice at UC. You may also need to meet a series of inherent requirements to successfully complete your International Foundation Studies course.

Am I eligible?

Am I eligible

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To be eligible for the International Foundation Studies program, you’ll need to be an international student and to have completed the equivalent of year 11 in Australia to join the program. The academic entry requirements (PDF, 709KB) show you the equivalent requirements in other countries.

Note: a certified provisional examination result is considered if final results are not available.

You’ll also need to meet the English language requirements with an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall score of 5.5 (or equivalent) with no band less than 5.0 (or equivalent). The English Language Requirements table shows these equivalencies.

Each University of Canberra undergraduate course has a different progression grade from the International Foundation study program*. Please refer to the link here for more information. You can search for undergraduate courses in the digital handbook. No University of Canberra undergraduate courses require specific subjects in the Foundation program.

*Note that Nursing Courses require an IELTS test result of 7.0 in addition to your Foundation results.

*You must be at least 17 years of age to apply for this program.

How to apply

How to apply

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To apply for the International Foundation Studies program:

  • complete the online application form in UC’s online application portal
  • upload all relevant certified documentation, such as your birth certificate or passport and academic transcripts, as requested on the form.

If you would like extra support with your application, you can use one of our approved international agents.

Program fees

Program fees

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The 2023 cost for the International Foundation Program is $24,696.

You’ll need to pay your course fee when you enrol. You may also need to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee.

Find out more about international fees and costs

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