Foundation Studies
Course information for - 2024 entry
Offered at 2 locations
- Duration
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The course is completed over 8 months full time March – November.
- Start dates
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27 March 2023
Overview

The Foundation Studies Program provides a pathway to ACU undergraduate degrees for students who wish to study at university but do not have a recognised Year 12 qualification. If you are a domestic student you can choose to study on campus in Blacktown or Melbourne or fully online live from anywhere else in Australia, or you could choose a mix of on-campus and online study. If you are an international student, you can choose to study in Australia at the Melbourne or North Sydney campus or fully online live from outside of Australia. As a Foundation Studies student, you will be immersed in the distinctive culture of the university throughout the course. You will be provided with all resources for the program including textbooks, laboratory equipment and online resources. You will become familiar with ACU facilities, resources and systems and in the academic expectations and assessment models used in undergraduate degrees at ACU. Class sizes will be small and staffed to provide a highly supportive learning environment. Foundation Studies aims to equip you with the knowledge, skills and confidence to succeed at undergraduate level at ACU. Regardless of whether you study on-campus or online you will be provided with live personalised support to assist you with progression to your degree program at ACU.
Course details
Course structure
To complete the Foundation Studies, a student must complete 80 credit points (cp).
Course map
AQF framework
Entry requirements
An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
Domestic Students
To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must:
- be 18 years or over by the census date of the first relevant study period of enrolment
- have not achieved an adequate Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) or equivalent for entry to ACU;
- have not completed other eligible qualifications that meet the minimum entry requirements for entry to ACU.
International Students
To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must:
- have completed the equivalent of year 11 (completion of senior high school in countries where this is not considered equivalent to an Australian year 12). Refer to the minimum academic entry requirement by country ;
- have a minimum English language proficiency level of IELTS 5.5 with no individual band lees than 5, or equivalent. Applicants whose intended undergraduate degree requires an English proficiency level of IELTS 7 or above, must have a minimum English proficiency level of IELTS 6 with no individual band less than 6, or equivalent OR at least one full-time year of study of an Australian secondary or tertiary qualification at AQF Diploma level or higher. For more information please see: Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
- Additional instructions for international studies under 18 years of age.
Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2024 Admission.
English language requirements
International Students
To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must:
- have completed the equivalent of year 11 (completion of senior high school in countries where this is not considered equivalent to an Australian year 12). Refer to the minimum academic entry requirement by country;
- have a minimum English language proficiency level of IELTS 5.5 with no individual band lees than 5, or equivalent. Applicants whose intended undergraduate degree requires an English proficiency level of IELTS 7 or above, must have a minimum English proficiency level of IELTS 6 with no individual band less than 6, or equivalent OR at least one full-time year of study of an Australian secondary or tertiary qualification at AQF Diploma level or higher. For more information please see: Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
- Additional instructions for international studies under 18 years of age.
Pathways
Further study
Students who successfully complete the course with the required Grade Point Average are eligible for direct entry to undergraduate degrees at ACU.
Fees
Course costs
ACU will cover the full cost of your Foundation Studies course fees.
Payment options
You should be able to concentrate on getting good marks instead of worrying about how you’ll pay your fees. We have a number of options that can help you ease the financial burden, including government assistance, scholarships and income support.
Scholarships
You could be eligible for one of the hundreds of scholarships we award each year to help students from across the university with the cost of studying, accommodation or overseas study opportunities. Some of our scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, but these aren’t just for the academically gifted; ACU also recognises excellence in community engagement and leadership. We also offer a range of scholarships for those who may be struggling financially or who have faced other barriers to accessing education.