The Foundation Studies Program (FSP) is a university preparation program specifically designed to assist students who need additional support to advance their academic skills in order to meet the admission requirements for undergraduate studies.
Students enrolled in this program will develop a wide range of essential study skills, including academic English skills, research skills, literacy and numeracy skills. It also provides subject specific knowledge necessary for successful progression into the chosen areas of studies such as Business, Humanities, Information Sciences, Engineering and Computer Science.
Guaranteed Admission into UOWD
Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to gain admission into a suitable undergraduate program. However, in addition to the academic requirements, students should successfully achieve a minimum IELTS Score of 5.0 (Equivalent to EMSAT score of 1100).
Accreditation and Recognition
The program is accredited by the UAE Ministry of Education - Higher Education Affairs and is fully recognised within the UAE, and is also quality assured by UOW Australia, which is registered with the Australian Tertiary Education and Quality Standards Agency (TEQSA), the national regulator of higher education in Australia.
Entry requirements
The admission requirements for the Foundation Studies Program take into consideration the rules and guidelines of the Ministry under Decree 200/2004 and Decree 133/2005 and any other relevant Ministerial Decrees of the Ministry of Education.
The minimum entry requirement is a UAE Secondary School Leaving Certificate (Shahadat Al-Thanawiya Al-Amma) with a minimum score of 50% or its equivalent from other internationally recognised curricula.
The table below provides examples of equivalence as determined using standard conversion tools such as WES International Grade Conversion Guide for Higher Education (http://www.wes.org/gradeconversionguide/index.asp) and Classbase (http://www.classbase.com).
Table 1: Admission Requirements for Foundation Program
| Country | Qualification | Minimum Entry Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| UAE | Shahadat Al-Thanawiya Al-Amma (Secondary School Leaving Certificate) | 50% |
| Bangladesh | Higher Secondary Certificate | 40% or GPA 2.0/5.0 |
| Arab countries | General Secondary Education School certificate | 50% |
| India | Senior Secondary Certificate (CBSE), State Board Examinations, ISC | 35% |
| Iran | Pre University Diploma Certificate and Diploma | 10 |
| Kenya | Kenyan Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) | Grade “D” |
| Nigeria | Senior School Certificate Examination WAECO/NECO | 7 subjects with a minimum of pass |
| Pakistan | Pakistani Intermediate Certificate or Higher Secondary School Certificate | 35% |
| UK |
Ordinary (O) Levels/GCE/GCSE/IGCSE,
AS and/or A Levels
|
7 subjects at a minimum of grade C in O-Levels/GCE/GCSE/IGCSE |
| Sri Lanka | Ordinary (O) Levels, AS and/or A Levels | 7 subjects at a minimum of grade C |
English Language requirements
All instructions at UOWD are carried out in English and students will need to demonstrate an adequate level of English language proficiency in order to enrol into the Foundation Program at the University.
Program Requirements and Structure
The program is offered as a full-time program over a period of two semesters. An integral part of the program will be the advice and guidance regarding progression pathways within UOWD. The advice and guidance sessions are designed to assist students in choosing the relevant pathway and also to develop student engagement.
The program consists of 48 credit points and is offered over two regular semesters. It is divided into two main streams:
| Stream 1 | Stream 2 |
|---|---|
| (Business, Humanities and Information Systems) | (Engineering and Computer Science) |
| Semester 1 | Semester 1 |
| Mathematics 1 | Mathematics 1 |
| Business and Consumer Studies | Physics |
| Skills for Academic Study 1 | Skills for Academic Study 1 |
| English for Academic Study 1 | English for Academic Study 1 |
| Semester 2 | Semester 2 |
| Mathematics 2 | Advanced Mathematics 2 |
| Skills for Academic Study 2 | Skills for Academic Study 2 |
| English for Academic Study 2 | English for Academic Study 2 |
| Computing Studies | Computing Studies |