Foundation DIPLOMA PROGRAM STRUCTURE
The Foundation Diploma is flexible: the varying lengths of study plan options recognize that some students will need to spend more time on English language and study skills development so that they can benefit fully from the credit-bearing courses available to them.
This preparatory groundwork ensures successful completion of the Foundation Diploma program, and gives you the best chance to excel on your undergraduate degree.
Program duration
Your English level on entry into the Foundation Diploma program determines its length:
| TOEFL/IELTS equivalent* | Your Foundation Diploma length |
|---|---|
| 500PBT/60 iBT/5.0 IELTS | 2-semester program |
| 437PBT/41 iBT/4.0 IELTS | 3-semester program |
| 397PBT/30 iBT/3.0 IELTS | 4-semesters (1 semester of English for Academic Purposes followed by the 3-semester program) |
* You do not need an official TOEFL or IELTS score to join the Foundation Diploma. You are able to complete the Study Group English test to determine your language level. Request to take our test.
Study Plan options
Starting in January 2011
| Spring semester 2011 |
Summer semester 2011 | Fall semester 2011 |
Spring semester 2012 | Summer semester 2012 | Fall semester 2012 |
Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-semester Foundation Diploma |
Sophomore (2nd) year entry to a degree | vacation | Associate's degree: May 2012; Bachelor's degree: May 2014 | |||
| 3-semester Foundation Diploma | Sophomore (2nd) year entry to a degree | Associate's degree: December 2012; Bachelor's degree: December 2014 | ||||
| English for Academic Purposes | 3-semester Foundation Diploma | Sophomore (2nd) year entry to a degree | Associate's degree: May 2013; Bachelor's degree: May 2015 | |||
Starting in May 2011
| Summer semester 2011 | Fall semester 2011 | Spring semester 2012 |
Summer semester 2012 | Fall semester 2012 |
Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-semester Foundation Diploma |
Sophomore (2nd) year entry to an undergraduate degree | vacation | Associate's degree: December 2012; Bachelor's degree: December 2014 | ||
| 3-semester Foundation Diploma | Sophomore (2nd) year entry to an undergraduate degree | Associate's degree: May 2013; Bachelor's degree: May 2015 | |||
| English for Academic Purposes |
3-semester Foundation Diploma | ||||
Starting in September 2011
| Fall semester 2011 | Spring semester 2012 | Summer semester 2012 | Fall semester 2011 |
Spring semester 2012 |
Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-semester Foundation Diploma |
vacation | Sophomore (2nd) year entry to a degree | Associate's degree: May 2012; Bachelor's degree: May 2014 | ||
| 3-semester Foundation Diploma | |||||
| English for Academic Purposes |
3-semester Foundation Diploma | Sophomore (2nd) year entry to a degree | Associate's degree: December 2012; Bachelor's degree: December 2014 | ||
Course structure
On the Foundation Diploma program, you have the opportunity to study up to 9 undergraduate courses – each bearing 3 academic credits. These courses are taught in the International Study Center by university faculty. The curriculum is structured as follows:
| Type of course | 2-semester program | 3-semester program | 4-semester program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academic credit-bearing | Four in semester 1 and five in semester 2. | Academic courses are introduced more gradually: two in semester 1, three in semester 2, and four in semester 3. |
There are no credit-bearing courses in semester 1. You follow the 3-semester Foundation Diploma curriculum in semesters 2 , 3 and 4. |
| English language | 5 hours per week of English language in semester 1, but in semester 2 you focus entirely on academic credit courses. | 15 hours per week in semester 1, 10 hours per week in semester 2 and five hours per week in semester 3. | In semester 1, you study only English for Academic Purposes (20 hours per week). You then follow the 3-semester Foundation Diploma curriculum. |
