Keep your pre-u options open
DONE with school? Wondering what’s next? Choosing an appropriate programme to start your educational journey can be such a hassle for some, yet so easy for others. Deciding on which degree to pursue can be made easier by going through a one-year preparatory course, also known as foundation studies.
Tertiary education will be different from what you have been used to in school. Foundation studies will help you to adapt and learn new learning habits before you commit to pursuing a degree.
Taking the first steps
A foundation programme will help prepare you for tertiary education. The oneyear Foundation Studies programme at Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur (IUKL) provides students the fastest access to their desired degree programme after their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia or O-Levels.
IUKL offers two foundation programmes – Foundation in Science and Foundation in Arts. Unlike other foundation programmes, which are highly specialised, and thus narrow down students’ choices for their degree programmes, IUKL foundation studies are designed to keep students’ options open.
The idea is to provide students a wider range of programmes when pursuing their bachelor’s degrees.
A slice of the world through science
Science is not restricted to experiments in labs. There is a whole world to discover as it is the foundation of so many fields. If you opt for the Foundation in Science at IUKL, you can choose between the engineering option and non-engineering option.
For students who aspire to take up engineering, be it civil, mechanical, electronics and electrical or automotive technology, the engineering option, which gives more weight to physics and mathematics, will equip you with a solid base of knowledge for you to excel in an engineering programme.
The non-engineering option, which focuses on chemistry and biology, aims at preparing students for a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy, health science, food science, biotechnology and agriculture.
Art inspires creative thinkers
Art isn’t solely the act of creating or producing something, but also the capability to generate useful ideas. Through IUKL’s Foundation in Arts, students will acquire knowledge and skills needed to embark on various degree programmes in the fields of architecture, communication, information technology, education, language studies and business and accounting.
The programme also provides students with two options to choose from. The architecture option is perfect for those who are enthusiastic about architectural design and wish to pursue it as a career. Elective subjects include Introduction to Architecture and Architectural Graphics, Painting and Sketching, and Application of AutoCAD. Students in the business, IT and language studies option will be exposed to the fundamental knowledge required in a business/ communication/IT degree programme and soft skills to boost their presentation ability and confidence.
Should I opt for foundation or diploma?
To answer this question, you must first consider two factors. The first is your preferred duration of study. You need only one year after SPM or O-Level to complete your foundation programme and enrol in a bachelor’s degree. If time is your concern, you should consider this option seriously.
The second factor is your field of study. If you are not able to decide on your field of study after SPM or O-Level, it’s advised that you first attend a foundation programme that provides you a wider option of fields at the bachelor’s degree level and allow yourself another year to think about it. However, if you can identify your area of interest quite decisively, you might want to consider a diploma programme instead.
Register with IUKL
To figure out which field of study is best for you, book a free counselling session with IUKL. Alternatively, you are invited to attend IUKL’s Info Day on Mar 23 and 24 from 10am to 4pm. Registration on-thespot will entitle you to a RM3,000 tuition fee rebate. For more information, call 1800 88 STUDY (78839), email inquiry@iukl.edu. my or visit www.iukl.edu.my