Foundation Program

The Swinburne College Foundation Program pathways into most Swinburne University bachelor programs but is especially suited to those students looking to study business, design, information technology, business or engineering.

Discover more ➞

Foundation Program

The Swinburne College Foundation Program pathways into most Swinburne University bachelor programs but is especially suited to those students looking to study business, design, information technology, business or engineering.

Discover more ➞

Course Code: SF-SFP CRICOS Course Code: 113264C

Duration:

8 months full time or equivalent part time

Campus:

Hawthorn

Intakes:

February, June, October

Mode of study:

Face to face*

*Some lectures may be delivered online

Bachelor pathways

The Swinburne Foundation Program is a pathway course for international students who have completed Year 11 high school and are intending to study a bachelor course at Swinburne University. The program focuses on solidifying students’ fundamental academic skills and preparing them for a seamless transition into university studies.

On successful completion of the Swinburne Foundation Program, you’re guaranteed a place in your preferred degree at Swinburne as long as you meet the bachelor degree entry requirements and prerequisites. If you don’t wish to transfer directly into a bachelor program, you can keep studying in a supportive environment through one of our UniLink diploma programs, before entering the first year of a Swinburne bachelor degree.


The Foundation Program is a great alternative for international students that:

  • Did not complete Year 12 of high school in Australia and do not have an equivalent overseas qualification
  • Know what they want to study at university and would therefore benefit from a Foundation Program that offers more targeted academic skills and discipline knowledge

Skills you’ll learn

  • Linguistic and numeracy skills required for university study
  • Developing solutions to problems in local or international contexts
  • Research-based decision-making skills
  • Best practices for academic integrity
  • Enhancing knowledge through technology
  • Fundamental principles within business, design, information technology, business and engineering fields.

Entry requirements

Minimum academic entry requirements

Successful completion of Australian Year 11 or equivalent overseas qualification

English language entry requirements (international students only)

  • IELTS overall band of 5.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 5.0, OR
  • Swinburne’s English for Academic Purposes EAP4 Upper Intermediate with overall 65%, and all skills 60% or above, OR
  • An equivalent qualification approved by Swinburne University

* International students must also meet English language requirements

Study structure

To qualify for the Swinburne Foundation Program, students must successfully complete eight units of Study comprising 6 core units of study and 2 elective units.

Core units

  • CMS00001 Global Communication
  • COM00002 Academic and Communication Skills A
  • COM00003 Academic and Communication Skills B
  • COS00005 Information Technology
  • INV00001 Innovation and Change
  • MTH00011 General Mathematics

Elective units (students choose 2 units)

  • DDD00002 Design Fundamentals
  • DPD00001 Product Development, Design and Technology
  • GRA00004 Drawing and Illustration
  • MGT00002 Introduction to Management
  • MKT00003 Marketing
  • MTH00012 Foundation Mathematics

Progression requirement

Students completing the Foundation Program must achieve at least 65% average overall and a 60% average in Academic and Communication skills A and B for entry into a bachelor degree. Note that some degrees require a higher percentage overall for entry.

Students intending on progressing to:

  • An Engineering course, must complete MTH00012 Foundation Mathematics.
  • A Design course, must complete at least one of DDD00002 Design Fundamentals OR GRA00004 Drawing and Illustration

Foundation Program structure

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