Certificate in
Foundation Studies

Registered as UP International College Foundation Studies Programme

Prepare to study at university

  • Skills for studying, in English
  • Academic reading and writing
  • Learn about academic integrity, e.g. APA referencing
  • Learn presentation skills and meet new friends in group projects
  • Develop critical thinking skills
  • Learn independent study skills

Programme delivery

Partnered with AUT, UP Education has been delivering foundation programmes for over 20 years. All teachers are trained and registered with the Teachers Council of New Zealand.

We also place great emphasis on student welfare and ensure a high standard of care. Our dedicated staff are experienced in looking after the educational, practical and social needs of students.

Subjects

Core subjects

In this subject, students will:

  • Engage in academic discussions and improve their presentation skills
  • Develop language and research skills that are necessary for writing academic essays
  • Practise a range of strategies for reading and understanding complex academic texts
  • Develop summary and paraphrasing skills
  • Use citations and references in the APA Style
  • Practise critical thinking and independent study skills that are essential for successful university studies
  • Learn to take effective notes using a range of strategies and techniques
  • Undertake independent research

Topics include:

  • Study skills
  • Exam techniques
  • Academic listening and note-taking
  • Listening for organisation in lectures
  • Lecture comprehension and note-taking practice
  • Microsoft Word Intermediate – Advanced
  • Microsoft Excel Intermediate – Advanced
  • PowerPoint
  • Referencing (The Harvard System)
  • Research project
  • The case study (case analysis report)
  • Oral presentations

Topics include:

  • Geographical features of New Zealand
  • New Zealand social customs
  • Consumer issues in New Zealand
  • Education
  • New Zealand politics
  • Treaty of Waitangi
  • Major historical events
  • Conservation in New Zealand
  • The New Zealand legal system
  • Employment in New Zealand

Elective subjects: Not all subjects may be offered each term

Mathematics

This course is about the statistical, mathematical, or numerical analysis of data collected through polls, questionnaires, and surveys.

If you want to apply for an Engineering degree, you must do this subject. The course is about the part of mathematics in which letters and other general symbols are used to represent in formulae and equations.

If you want to apply for an Engineering degree, you must do this subject. The course looks at collecting, analysing, interpreting and presenting data.

Sciences

There are two courses, Cell Biology and Organisms Biology. The courses are about the study of  living organisms.

There are two courses, Physics Mechanics and Physics Electricity. The courses are about the sciences concerned with the nature and properties of matter and energy.

Elective subjects: Not all subjects may be offered each term

Arts

There are two courses, one about social media and one about film studies.

In this course you will develop your ideas and skills to use in an application portfolio of work for AUT’s undergraduate Art and Design and Architecture programmes.

There are two courses, one about the Design industry and one about the history of Design and how it affects different societies.  

Commerce

There are two courses, Accounting 1 and Accounting 2, which are about the process of measuring, processing, and sharing financial and other information about businesses and corporations.

This course looks at the behaviour of decision takers within the economy, such as individuals, households and firms.

This course looks at large-scale or general economic factors, such as interest rates and national productivity.

This course looks at the business of promoting and selling products or services.

This course looks at organisational behaviour and managing resources.

Other subjects coming soon:

Assessments

We prepare students for assessments that will get them into AUT’s degree programmes.

Our assessments are benchmarked against international standards and are a stepping stone to achievement.

All assessments are internally assessed. The final mark for subjects is made up of a combination of tests, assignments, projects and presentations.

Orientation

Orientation is a great way to start your study journey. During your orientation, you will be provided with a range of information of the support services we provide, living, studying, and working in New Zealand, your timetable and study materials, etc.

Please note that at Online Orientation, we strongly recommend a laptop with Windows system and installed with Google Chrome as the browser for the best user experience.