Foundation Studies Program (Standard) (X0F)
Foundation Studies programs are a direct academic pathway to first-year undergraduate degree study, or equivalent. The programs act as a bridging course for international students who wish to study a university undergraduate degree course but don’t yet meet academic requirements and/or have the English language skills for tertiary study.
The Program is also designed to allow students to experience a focused study in an area of special interest or in specific disciplines that will better prepare them to study across the various sectors of their selected university course. It also helps students set and articulate goals and improve their self-management capabilities and confidence.
- Duration: 8 - 9 months
- Location: Hobart’s Sandy Bay Campus (Semester 1, Semester 2, IPC Semester 3)
- CRICOS Code: 0100808
All units are worth 12.5 credit points.
Core units (4 units):
- XDP001 – English One
- XDP002 – English Two
- XPD003 – English Three
- XDP010 – Foundation Mathematics
Elective units (4 units): Students select a minimum of three compulsory stream units, plus one other stream unit.
- XPD007 – Calculus
- XPD008 – Design & Society
- XPD009 – Chemistry
- XPD011 – Macroeconomics
- XPD012 – Marketing Design & Strategy
- XPD013 – Media Studies
- XPD014 – Microeconomics
- XDP016 – Physics
- XPD018 – Psychology
- XPD019 – Statistics
Structure over two semesters
Semester 1 – four units:
- XDP001 – English One
- XDP010 – Foundation Mathematics
- Elective One
- Elective Two
Semester 2 – four units:
- XDP002 – English Two
- XPD003 – English Three
- Elective Three
- Elective Four
Foundation Studies program (Standard) option can be undertaken in one of five content streams. In addition to core units, students select a minimum of compulsory stream units, plus other stream units (see table below)
| Stream | Compulsory stream units | Recommended other stream units |
Additional unit requirements for specific degrees |
| Arts | Choose a minimum of three from: • Psychology • Design & Society • Statistics • Media Studies |
• Marketing Design & Strategy | N/A |
| Business | Choose a minimum of three from: • Macroeconomics • Microeconomics • Marketing Design & Strategy • Statistics |
• Media Studies • Design & Society |
N/A |
| Law | Choose a minimum of three from: • Psychology • Macroeconomics • Microeconomics • Statistics |
• Marketing Design & Strategy • Media Studies • Design & Society |
N/A |
| Life Science | • Chemistry • Statistics • Psychology |
• Calculus • Physics |
• Advanced Diploma of Applied Science (Nautical Science) and Advanced Diploma of Applied Science (Marine Engineering) require Statistics and either Physics or Chemistry. • Bachelor of Surveying and Spatial Sciences requires Statistics and Calculus. • Bachelor of Nutrition Science requires Statistics Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science requires Statistics. • Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine requires Chemistry. |
| Physical Science | Choose a minimum of three from: • Calculus • Statistics • Chemistry • Physics |
• Design & Society • Macroeconomics • Microeconomics |
• Bachelor of Engineering (Specialisation) with Honours requires Calculus and either Physics or Chemistry. • Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine requires Chemistry. • Bachelor of Marine and Antarctic Science prerequisites are dependent on major. • Marine Biology requires Chemistry and Statistics. Oceanography requires Calculus and Physics. • Bachelor of Medical Research requires Chemistry. • Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honours requires Chemistry and Statistics. |
For International Students – Completion of the equivalent of Year 11 of Australian secondary school, plus IELTS 5.5 (no band less than 5.0) or equivalent.
English Language Proficiency
| Program | Option | IELTS |
| Foundation Studies | Fast-track | 6.0 (no band less than 5.0) |
| Standard | 5.5 (no band less than 5.0) | |
| International First Year Diploma | Science – ICT, Business | 5.5 (no band less than 5.0) |
| Graduate Certificate in Business Studies | 6.0 (no band less than 6.0) |
More information about Accepted Equivalents to IELTS and Country Specific Qualifications, go to Entry Requirements page.
To successfully complete the program, students must achieve a 50% pass in all units, including English. Successful completion of a Foundation Studies Program allows students to progress to an undergraduate degree course at the University of Tasmania.
Each course requires a specific Grade Point Average (GPA) from the Foundation Studies Program for entry, and this varies from course to course. A GPA is calculated from the results of all units studied.
Each degree course has a minimum GPA requirement beginning at 4.0 (which equates to a minimum pass in the Foundation Program). The maximum GPA achievable from a Foundation Studies Program is 7.0.
International students
2024 Total Course Fee (international students): $23,251 AUD
Please note that this is an indicative fee only.
Scholarships
For information on international scholarships available at the University of Tasmania International Pathway College, please visit the Scholarships page.
