Curtin Malaysia’s foundation programs a critical stepping stone to tertiary study

Miri – 22 February 2018 – Domestic and international students who are keen to enrol into  undergraduate degrees at Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) but do not fully meet  the academic requirements or English language requirements for entry into their choice degree programs, can opt to join its foundation programs in full or in part based on their academic attainments.

The current Semester 1 intake for foundation courses is open for enrolment before commencement of classes on 28 March 2018.

Curtin Malaysia’s Foundation Studies courses are intensive, focused courses that not only develop and prepare students for undergraduate studies, but also challenge them to become active learners who can acquire, interpret, communicate and apply knowledge within and across disciplines, and cultivate the integrative thinking required in a complex and rapidly changing world.

The courses comprise one-year or two-semester courses in Engineering and Science, Commerce, and Arts (Media) streams, which are accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).

Upon successful completion, the students are guaranteed entry to the university. Curtin Malaysia has a very high success rate in this regard, with almost 100 percent of its Foundation students being offered places in relevant undergraduate courses at its Faculty of Engineering and Science, Faculty of Business, and Faculty of Humanities each year.

“Our Foundation courses provide a solid foundation for students to adopt to university education more confidently, both in terms of level and style of education,” said Curtin Malaysia Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Beena Giridharan.

“Students are provided a wide range of academic support designed to enhance student development and leadership, and our academics are highly skilled and experienced teachers and scholars who encourage full student participation.”

Professor Giridharan added that Foundation students also benefit from low student-lecturer ratios in classrooms and a variety of modern, diversified teaching methods including workshops, tutorials, introduction to research methods, laboratory projects, group work, oral and multimedia presentations.

The students learn in modern, innovative learning spaces equipped with the latest learning technologies such as distributed learning and flipped classrooms, a modern library, well-equipped engineering and science laboratories, and computer labs. They also have access to online learning resources available to all Curtin students.

For growing numbers of students locally and abroad, foreign branch campuses like Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia), Curtin University’s largest international campus and global hub in Asia, offer the perfect combination of quality, affordability and location.

Given the high cost of tertiary education in many of the traditional international education destinations, Curtin Malaysia offers an ideal, cost-effective alternative to studying in Australia as students study courses identical to those at its parent campus in Perth at Malaysian fees.

Furthermore, they go through an undifferentiated learning experience with similar modes of delivery, online study resources and student support services, and with the advent of distributed learning technology, bi-directional online delivery of units and real-time student engagement between campuses.

In addition, many of the Curtin courses it offers are highly ranked in the world and accredited by professional bodies nationally and internationally. Through the Washington Accord, Curtin University’s qualifications are recognised worldwide and its climb up the global university rankings to the top 1 percent of universities according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU 2017) has inevitably strengthened its global reputation.

There is also no difference in the degrees earned as they are conferred directly by the main campus, and students can choose to complete their degrees at the main campus or Curtin’s other campuses in Singapore or Dubai.

Curtin Malaysia is very internationally-focused with over 4,000 students from over 50 countries and academic staff from some 15 countries further strengthen its international outlook.

Aiming to produce graduates of the highest calibre, it provides students opportunities to develop leadership roles through a variety of student development programmes and student club activities.

To find out more about Curtin Malaysia’s current intake, potential students and their parents are invited to visit its campus for consultations with student recruitment staff between 9 am to 5 pm Mondays to Fridays and from 9 am to 1 pm on Saturdays. Potential students are advised to bring their examination results for on-the-spot assessments and applications.

Curtin Malaysia will also be represented at various education and recruitment events in Miri and elsewhere in Sarawak, as well as in Sabah and West Malaysia until March. Details can be found at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.my/how-to-apply/recruitment-events/.

Curtin Malaysia is currently offering an early bird rebate of RM500 to students who enrol for the current intake and settle their fees before 27 February 2018.

In addition, those with outstanding results in the SPM, STPM, O-Level, A-Level and UEC examinations can apply for Curtin Malaysia Merit Scholarships offering significant tuition fee waivers. Full details can be obtained at scholarships.curtin.edu.my.

For further information on Curtin Malaysia’s Foundation courses, contact marketing officer Stevenson Tan at 019-885 6076, or by email to stevenson.tan@curtin.edu.my or enquiries@curtin.edu.my. Alternatively, potential students can express interest and enquire at www1.curtin.edu.my/future/enquiry.htm.

Potential Foundation students are encouraged to apply for Curtin Malaysia’s current intake.
Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Beena Giridharan.