The foundation courses in Australia for international students are intense one-year preparatory studies, but the duration may occasionally be changed depending on the needs of the student. Programs may be completed in nine months by students who are capable of fast learning. In order to provide students extra time to get ready for their degree studies, some courses are lengthier. Some foundation courses feature a flexible framework that enables students to enrol at various points during the year and with varying academic or English language aptitude levels. It is a shortcut to heaven, where you acquire all your skills in a short span of time.
In addition to having adorable koala bears and kangaroos, Australia, according to the QS World Rankings, has many universities in the top 100 in the world. Australia has consistently ranked in the top three nations where overseas students prefer to study because of the extensive selection of undergraduate programmes. You may be confident that Australian universities offer some of the world's most in-demand courses, including those in psychology, engineering, business, economics, and social sciences. The main factors influencing overseas students' decision to study in Australia are its flexibility and high standard of education.
Foundation Courses in Australia - Highlights
Eligibility |
Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 3 GPA on the scale of 4 GPA |
Entrance Exam (Average Score) |
TOEFL: 52 | IELTS: 6.0 |
Exam Type |
Semester Wise |
Course Duration |
8 months to 16 months |
Course Fees |
AUD 8,000 to AUD 21,000 |
Courses Types |
Full-time |
Top Recruiting Companies |
Amazon, Google, Facebook, Wipro, HCL Technologies, Ebay, etc. |
Starting salaries offered |
AUD 10,000 to AUD 110,000 |
What is Foundation Studies?
According to the student's choice of undergraduate study, foundation courses are typically organised into subject streams, such as business, the humanities, or science studies. The majority of foundation courses include a variety of required and elective areas, with English language support frequently serving as a key component. Numerous universities also provide "bridging" courses, which are condensed, intensive courses that are intended for students who are about to enrol in a degree programme but do not yet meet the prerequisites or who want to improve their readiness for university study.
Why Study Foundation Courses?
- One of the adaptable choices available to students who have just finished their bachelor's or secondary education.
- It gives students a chance to get direct admittance into a university.
- Most foundation programmes include subjects that are pertinent to their chosen stream and will help them be ready for their degree programme.
- It uses a consistent teaching approach across lectures and tutorials, allowing students to become accustomed to studying and preparing for their degree programme.
International students can gain first-hand knowledge of the various teaching techniques used in Australian universities by completing a foundation programme there. After finishing the Foundation programme, international students will be eligible to enrol directly in an undergraduate degree at any Australian university. Australian universities emphasise soft skills like project management, laboratory work, communication skills, and many more in addition to academics.
Study Areas Covered in Foundation Studies
Universities in Australia offer various foundation course study fields. Studying a subject covered by the international pathway curriculum of the institutions will increase your chances of getting accepted by top universities in Australia.
You should consider these main disciplines for university preparation:
- Science - studies in physics, scientific communication, mathematics, engineering principles and computing.
- Computer Science & IT - studies in databases, algebra, web development, and business information systems.
- Health Science - studies in health challenges, anatomy, chemistry and physiology.
- Engineering - studies in digital electronics, physics, materials technology, computer science, and chemistry.
- Commerce/ Accounting - studies in accounting principles, introductory marketing and management principles, microeconomics, statistics and mathematics.
In addition to specific subject studies, many institutes help Australian international students with project management, communication skills, academic English, learning at university, technology laboratory work, and more. Introductory pathways offered by Australian universities also prepare students for other areas like biosciences, liberal studies, media and communication, hotel management, international tourism, arts, fashion design, etc. These are courses that can be pursued in a short period of time but gives you a wide range of opportunities.
Top Universities in Australia offered Foundation Courses
Australia is one of the nations that are at the forefront of cutting-edge new technology and innovation, which may interest overseas students who are interested in scientific research. As Australia possesses amazing resources and technologies, studying there to earn a degree in the sciences is advantageous for overseas students.
Additionally, international students are offered the opportunity to work part-time while studying in Australia. For people who want to travel throughout Australia and see the various cultures, this is a possible way to make extra money.
University |
QS Ranking |
Courses Offered |
duration |
Fees |
University of Technology Sydney College (UTS) |
137 |
Arts, Science & Business |
2 Semesters (8 months) |
AUD $28, 000 |
Griffith College |
201-250 |
Arts, Science & Business |
2 Semesters (8 months) |
AUD $22, 700 |
University of Tasmania |
273 |
Arts, Science & Business |
2 Semesters (8 months) |
AUD $18, 000 |
Deakin University |
217 |
---- |
2 Semesters (8 months) |
AUD $24, 260 |
La Trobe University |
304 |
IT, Business & Humanities Engineering & Computer Science Health & Life Sciences |
2 Semesters (8 months) |
AUD $29, 900 |
Charles Darwin University |
651-700 |
---- |
12 months |
AUD $ 20, 800 |
Swinburne University |
293 |
Design, Arts , Business Science & Engineering |
12 months |
AUD $ 25, 380 |
Entry Requirement for Foundation Studies in Australia
Students must have finished or be almost finished with the end-of-school diploma from their native country in order to enrol in a foundation course. Additionally, they must adhere to the English language's spoken and written standards. It's crucial to speak with the course provider for specifics because the exact criteria differ amongst courses. A foundation course that is successfully completed may grant admission to particular degree courses and even the second year of a related degree.
English Language Requirement for Foundation Courses in Australia
English Test |
Standard |
Intensive |
Extensive |
IELTS |
Overall 5.5, Writing 5.5 with no band less than 5.0 |
6.0 – no band less than 5.5 |
5.0 – no band less than 5.0 |
TOEFL iBT |
52 – Writing 19, Speaking 14 and Listening and Reading 5 |
69 – Writing 19, Speaking 16, Reading 10, Listening 9 |
40 – Writing 15, Speaking 14, Reading and Listening 5 |
TOEFL IBT Paper Edition |
52 – Writing 19, Speaking 14 and Listening and Reading 5 |
69 – Writing 19, Speaking 16, Reading 10, Listening 9 |
40 – Writing 15, Speaking 14, Reading and Listening 5 |
Pearson Test of English |
Overall score of 42 with 42 in Writing Communicative Skills with no other communicative skills score below 36 |
50 – no band less than 42 |
36 – no band less than 36 |
Duolingo English Test |
85 Plus performance in long turn answers. |
95 Plus performance in long turn answers. |
75 Plus performance in long turn answers. |
Admission Process to study Foundation Courses in Australia
It's simple to apply to Australian institutions, but it does take some time and careful planning. Remember that the institution you are applying to, your neighbourhood Australian visa office, and education consultants in your home country are all resources you can turn to for assistance and counsel.
These are the 5 steps to the perfect recipe for success:
Step 1: Choose your course and education provider
Step 2: Apply
Step 3: Have your application processed
Step 4: Accept your offer
Step 5: Prepare for departure
Step 1: Choose your course and education provider
Do thorough research on the programmes, organisations, and places. Consider which specialisations will best suit your desired job path among the areas of specialisation available through various courses.
Step 2: Apply
It's time to apply once you've decided on a course and an education provider. You should make sure you meet the academic and English language criteria before applying. Typically, international students submit their applications online or by mail directly to Australian universities.
Most application forms require you to supply:
- your personal details
- certified proof of your level of English language proficiency
- details of your previous academic qualifications, such as academic transcripts
- your course preferences — the course(s) you are applying for
- a summary of your employment experience.
Step 3: Have your application processed
When the education provider receives your application, it will be evaluated and you will be informed of the outcome. Your application may take a few weeks (longer for postgraduate applications) to be processed.
Step 4: Accept your offer
If your application is accepted, you will be sent a letter of acceptance as well as an acceptance form. Before accepting the offer, read the letter of the offer carefully and check for any conditions that may apply. You must meet these requirements before the institution will issue a Confirmation of Enrollment (CoE). Tuition fees may also be required before your institution issues a CoE.
Step 5: Prepare for departure
Now that you've been accepted, you'll need to apply for a student visa. You can apply for your student visa using either your letter of offer or your CoE, but you must provide proof of your CoE before your student visa will be granted.
Documents Required to apply for Foundation Courses
It's pretty common to forget your hall ticket on exam day or lose your ID Card right before the exams. We aren't going to let that happen since we prepared a checklist for you:
- Applicants for diploma-level courses must have a minimum grade point average of 60% in their Class XII exams.
You will be required to certify that you have met one of the following English language competency levels for the majority of courses:
- IELTS: 5.5 overall scores (no band less than 5.0)
- TOEFL Internet: 55 out of 100. Section score of at least 9, speaking (16), reading (10), and writing (10). (18)
- PTE: 42-49 overall score (no section score less than 40)
- University of Cambridge - Advanced (CAE): 162 overall (no section score less than 154)
- VU Achieved English - English for Academic Purposes (EAP) (Level 4)
Foundation Courses Tuition fees in Australia
University |
Tuition Fees |
University of Queensland |
$39,100 |
Monash College |
$31,960 |
Griffith College |
$23,000 |
RMIT University |
$20,000 |
University of Tasmania |
$18,000 |
Deakin University |
$24,000 |
University of Sydney |
$28,000 |
Scholarships to study Foundation Courses in Australia
All the scholarships can help you get closer to your dreams and fulfil them. Scholarships provide financial assistance to students in order to help them pay for their college education. These funds allow students to receive an education that they would not have received otherwise. Scholarships build community support and connect people to brands who might not otherwise be exposed to them.
Scholarship |
Funds |
The University of New South Wales (UNSW) |
$16,400 |
Murdoch University |
$15,000 |
Curtin University |
$10,000 |
Deakin University |
$9,000 |
University of Sydney |
$10,000 |
Edith Cowan University |
$20,000 |
the University of Queensland |
$25,000 |
La Trobe University |
$26,900 |
QUT |
$14,000 |
University of Melbourne International Scholarships |
$30,000 |
RMIT University |
$45,000 |
Career Opportunities after Foundation courses in Australia
Among the top nations with the greatest average income, Australia comes in fifth. Due to the numerous job opportunities, higher potential salaries, and higher ROI percentages in these fields, many international students are choosing to major in business, management, and STEM.
Job Title |
Range |
Senior Accountant |
AU$60k - AU$96k |
Finance Manager |
AU$74k - AU$143k |
Marketing Coordinator |
AU$48k - AU$70k |
Assistant Accountant |
AU$46k - AU$69k |
Software Engineer |
AU$48k - AU$99k |
Solutions Architect |
AU$94k - AU$190k |
Project Manager |
AU$65k - AU$145k |
Data Scientist |
AU$64k - AU$123k |
Senior Software Engineer |
AU$92k - AU$155k |
Software Engineer |
AU$54k - AU$104k |
Software Developer |
AU$52k - AU$97k |
Environmental Consultant |
AU$50k - AU$83k |
Operations Manager |
AU$59k - AU$160k |
Data Scientist |
AU$64k - AU$123k |
Senior Software Engineer |
AU$92k - AU$155k |
Mechanical Engineer |
AUD$55,000 to AUD$110,000 |
Chemical Engineer |
AUD$57,000 to AUD$117,000 |
Industrial Engineer |
AUD$47,000 to AUD$105,000 |
Aeronautical Engineer |
AUD$52,000 to AUD$123,000 |
Well, that was extensive coverage but we have got more information for you at AECC. AECC is the right place for you to expedite your education endeavours with assistance in all aspects, from finding accredited courses to an ideal destination and a leading institution. The expert counsellors provide guidance and will bring your dreams to life.