Stepping stone to success
THIS year, eight high-achieving Foundation in Science (FiS) students won International Medical University (IMU) scholarships to pursue their undergraduate degree in the form of full or partial tuition fee waivers for displaying academic excellence, extracurricular participation and leadership qualities.
One of these students, Gan Wen Chong, obtained a full scholarship to pursue a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Medical Biotechnology.
On what he gained from his year-long FiS studies, Gan answered, “FIS has definitely boosted my self-confidence. I discovered my purpose, thanks to the exposure and bountiful experiences in my foundation year in addition to all the wonderful people I met.”
Chan Yee Qian was among the many hopefuls who applied for the IMU scholarship to pursue a Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons).
“My parents knew there would be a lot of competitors for the scholarship, so they were surprised when they heard the good news. Most importantly, they were proud and happy,” Chan said.
On what she thinks are the necessary qualities to secure a scholarship, Chan said: “I think determination and hard work are very important.”
“My FiS studies taught me more than I could have imagined. I learnt how to manage my time wisely, how to communicate well with others and how to not give up even when facing an obstacle.
“Overall, the FiS taught me both hard skills and soft skills that not only helped me secure the scholarship, but will also be useful to me in my future career.”
Another recipient of the partial scholarship to pursue a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Dietetics with Nutrition is Yen Pei Ling.
When asked how the FiS programme helped her, Yen said, “The FiS studies laid a solid foundation in my healthcare professional learning journey. Although it was quite intense, it was fun to have a group of peers with the same interests and dedicated lecturers whom I developed a bond with.
“One special feature of the FIS in IMU is the Cross Boundary Studies (a community service project) in the third semester, which provided me with a platform to develop my soft skills and gave me an idea on how to initiate a project on our own. This module has enriched my experience and broadened my perspective.”
IMU’s FiS programme aims to prepare students academically and holistically for undergraduate studies. With that in mind, the teaching methodology and assessment methods are aligned to the methodologies used in the undergraduate programmes. Students benefit as it gives them early exposure and a head start to the undergraduate learning environment.
The FiS is an important foundation year, which aims to prepare students to be independent learners. The teaching faculty consists of carefully selected, well qualified and experienced staff with specific skill sets that make them ideal pre-university level academicians.
The team has a clear understanding of subsequent undergraduate degree programme requirements and are assisted in this regard by degree level academics, who also advise the students on their available undergraduate pathways.
The FiS has three intakes a year – April, July and September. These convenient start dates will enable a smooth transition to the preferred degree courses upon successful completion of the programme.